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Central prepares ‘24-Hour Theatre Project’
Updated: November 19, 2012 2:08PM
Sure, every theatrical production is unique.
But this Saturday, the Hinsdale Central Drama department is putting on something so distinctive, that truly there never will be anything like it again. It is the “24-Hour Theatre Project,” the brainchild of drama club sponsor Sonia Gecker, who is also a new teacher in Central’s English department.
Some 40 students showed up to act, another 11 wanted to write, seven wanted to direct and about a dozen wanted to be in the crew. This is a no-cut drama club activity, Gecker explained, meaning whoever shows up can participate. She was absolutely amazed with the response, and this is not a new undertaking for her. She introduced the 24-hour theater concept to Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire where she taught prior to coming here, and it grew steadily over five years.
On Friday, the writers will meet with Gecker who will give them a line of dialogue and a prop which is to be used in an unconventional way. Each writer must incorporate those elements into their play and will also be assigned a certain number of actors.
The writers will then have to come up with an eight- to nine-page short script which they will have to turn around to Gecker sometime early — maybe even as early as 5 a.m. — on Saturday. About 8 a.m., Gecker will gather the directors to pass out the scripts. The directors and the writers can meet for a few minutes before the actors are called in.
The rest of the day is spent in rehearsals with a break for lunch and a technical rehearsal in the afternoon. At 7 p.m. the audience is invited in to the Central auditorium for the performances.
The suggested donation for admission is $5. For more information, call (630) 570-8000.
Team Andrew
The Park family lost 17-year-old Andrew to leukemia in June, but they continue to fight the disease and serve other patients and their families by raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This Sunday, Oct. 21 is the Light the Night Walk, and for the third year in a row, the Park Family and its Team Andrew will participate, though sadly this year the team walks in Andrew’s memory. Andrew’s dad, Joe Park, has an ambitious goal to raise $20,000, but more than the money, he hopes to strike a crippling blow to the disease.
Park has documented his family’s struggle with grief, a struggle that has strengthened their passionate commitment to fighting cancer and supporting cancer-fighting families in his blog http://andrewsfightonestepatatime.blogspot.com. To donate, visit http://pages.lightthenight.org/il/WSuburbn12/JPark.
Alive at 25
This is important parents of teen drivers: on Oct. 27, the Hinsdale Police Department will present its program Alive at 25. It is a four-hour session which includes instruction, a lot of discussion, videos and practical, real-world situation decision-making situations, according to officer Michael Coughlin. Coughlin and Erica Huff from the Oak Brook Police Department will lead the session. It is specifically targeted to new teen drivers and goes over the graduated driving laws with them. One of those laws is that the parent of a 16- or 17-year old driver can send a letter to the Secretary of State and revoke the teen’s license at any time. To register for the free class, call Coughlin at (630) 789-7084 or email mcoughlin@villageofhinsdale.org or Huff at (630) 368-8734 or ehuff@oak-brook.org. ~.
