The Joliet Drama Guild is in the middle of rehearsals for its upcoming production “The Fantastiks.”
“The Fantasticks” is one of the most classic musicals of all time and the Joliet Drama Guild is excited to bring a brand new production to life to the theater at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park. Show times are May 3-5, May 11-12 at 7:30 p.m. and May 6 at 2 p.m.
The Fantasticks is a funny and romantic musical about a boy, a girl, and their two fathers who try to keep them apart. The narrator, El Gallo, asks the audience to use their imagination and follow him into a world of moonlight and magic. The boy and the girl fall in love, grow apart and finally find their way back to each other after realizing the truth in El Gallo’s words that, “without a hurt, the heart is hollow.”
“Try To Remember” a time when this romantic charmer wasn’t enchanting audiences around the world. The Fantasticks is the longest-running musical in the world and with good reason: at the heart of its breathtaking poetry and subtle theatrical sophistication is a purity and simplicity that transcends cultural barriers. The result is a timeless fable of love that manages to be nostalgic and universal at the same time.
The musical is being directed by Michelle Heermann, with musical direction by Marty Kaspar.
The cast is as follows:
- El Gallo: Matt Dodge
- Luisa: Kristy Kesselring
- Matt: Michael Mendoza
- Hucklebee: John Hehl
- Bellomy: Dan Jagodzinski
- Mortimer: Elyse Lorenz
- Henry: Lee Bric
The Guild also has plans in place for summer as well. It http://jolietdramaguild.orgwill present Meredith Wilson’s “The Music Man” July 27, 28 and 29 and August 3,4 and 5. Auditions will be May 7 and 8, with callbacks on May 10. Applications are currently being accepted for a music director. They are are also looking for assistants to these positions. Also, if you are interested in being a part of the production team behind the scenes; stage manager, assistant stage manager, stage crew, lighting designer, set designer, sound designer, and anything else you might like to do. All interested parties should submit a letter of interest to directorselection@joiletdramaguild.org along with a resume.
For over 80 years, the Joliet Drama Guild has entertained residents of Joliet, Will County, and surrounding areas. Located at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theater on the edge of historic downtown Joliet, the Guild seeks to provide quality live entertainment at a low price. The Guild has actors and audience members that are in the second, and in some cases, third generation of involvement.
For more information on the guild and on upcoming shows visit jolietdramaguild.org