Arts & Entertainment

'Moonlight and Magnolias' to Open 84th Season at TWS

The Theatre of Western Springs will open its 84th season with 'Moonlight and Magnolias,' running Sept. 6-16. The comedy chronicles an intense Hollywood script writing session for 'Gone with the Wind.'

(TWS) aims for the funny bone with the first play of their 84th season.

written by Ron Hutchinson and directed by TWS Artistic Director Rick Snyder, tells the story of Hollywood producer David O. Selznick and his seemingly endless script problems with the film, Gone with the Wind.

Set in 1939, Selznick is trying to adapt the beloved book, Gone with the Wind into a Hollywood production, but things just aren't going well. He's had to fire the director, and script after script keeps falling flat. On top of that, he's had to suspend production, which means he's losing $50,000 a day in payments to the movie's cast and crew while he figures out what to do.

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In a desperate effort to nail down the script, he pulls Victor Fleming off The Wizard of Oz and locks him, along with script doctor Ben Hecht, in his office until a new script is ready. However, Hecht hasn't read the book and thinks the movie will likely bomb.

To get Hecht on board, Fleming and Selznick act out the book—to much hilarity—in the middle of all the chaos of producing a Hollywood movie.

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The play opens at the Theatre of Western Springs, 4384 Hampton Ave., on Sept. 6 and runs through Sept. 16. It features a standout cast of local performers including Bridget Bittman, of La Grange, playing Miss Poppenghul; Tim Feeney, of Downers Grove, as Ben Hecht; Harry Hultgren, of La Grange, as David O. Selznick; and Jonathan Kraft, of Indian Head Park, as Victor Fleming.

Tickets are $18 and $20 and can be purchased at the theatre's box office or online at www.theatrewesternsprings.com. Free parking is available in the theatre's parking lot.

Show Schedule:

  • 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays – Sept. 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15
  • 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 9 and 16
  • 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15
  • 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9

For more information about performances this season, .


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