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St. Charles hosts theater festival
Fox Valley Rep presents Theo Ubique’s remount of “Some Enchanted Evening” at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles during Theatre Fest. | Courtesy of Fox Valley Repertory
St. Charles Summer
Theater Festival
Events July 6-22
Venues in St. Charles
Complete schedule and ticket information at summertheaterfest.org or (800) 777-4373
Updated: July 4, 2012 5:08PM
Science and the arts collide in St. Charles this month, with staged readings of plays developed through a partnership between Fox Valley Repertory and Fermilab.
In a partnership called Collider, playwrights from around the country were matched with Fermilab scientists to create their works — with science playing a role in each one. Audiences can hear the results of their collaboration when three new plays hold staged readings as part of the second annual St. Charles Summer Theater Festival.
“You can come hear a brand new play read aloud for the first time,” said John Gawlik, artistic director for Fox Valley Repertory.
The festival, which runs from July 6 to July 22 at various venues throughout the city, offers a variety of performances and hands-on art experiences for people of all ages. With a theme of “Applaud, Create and Get Away,” the festival features such favorites as “Into the Woods,” “Some Enchanted Evening,” “Seussical Jr.” and “High School Musical.”
Art classes include painting, beginning weaving, blacksmithing and basic welding.
Weekly concerts will be held on Thursdays in St. Charles Park District’s Lincoln Park, and the Arcada will host performances by Kevin Costner & Modern West and Big Brother Band & The Holding Company.
“On top of that, you can enjoy downtown St. Charles as well,” Gawlik said.
Event and ticket information can be found at summertheaterfest.org or by calling (800) 777-4373.
This is the second year for the summer theater festival, which brings together the various performances venues and arts organizations in St. Charles.
“We had a plan to continue to build it, and do it in a way where each organization can contribute, but it doesn’t put a huge strain on what they do,” Gawlik said. “The challenges are to make sure we have a lot of different productions up — comedy, musical, drama — so there’s a variety of options.”
All in all, it promises a good time. “And,” Gawlik said, “you’re helping to support the arts as well.”
