Theatre of Western Springs presents 500th production - 'Slaughterhouse-Five"

The Theatre of Western Springs (TWS) presents its 1st Mainstage play of the 85th season - its 500th since the theatre’s founding in 1929 – the absurdist classic “Slaughterhouse-Five,” by Eric Simonson from the novel by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. and directed by TWS Artistic Director Rick Snyder. 

Performances take place from Sept. 5 – 15, 2013, at the Theatre of Western Springs, 4384 Hampton Ave. 

Schedule:

8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays – Sept. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14

2:30 p.m.        Sundays, Sept. 8 and 15

2:30p.m.         Saturday, Sept. 14

7:30 p.m.        Sunday, Sept. 8 

“Slaughterhouse-Five,” written by Kurt Vonnegut and first released in 1969, jumps through time with its protagonist Billy Pilgrim. It’s a whirlwind of the past, present and future. Billy Pilgrim has become “unstuck in time,” causing him to travel back and forth in time experiencing and re-experiencing the events of his life between World War II Germany, 1950s suburban America and the planet Trafalmadore.

“I wanted to do something daring and impressive for the 500th show at the Theatre of Western Springs,” TWS Artistic Director Rick Snyder said. “I was a cast member in this play many years ago when it was first produced by Steppenwolf Theatre and have always wanted to revisit the story as a director.”

The production of “Slaughterhouse-Five” is based on Kurt Vonnegut’s classic American novel that captured the hearts and minds of many generations.

“It is a quirky, through-the-looking-glass look at one man’s experience with war and alien abduction and how he chooses to reconcile with both these events,” Snyder said. “Based on Vonnegut’s real life experiences and his vivid imagination, much of the play is humorous, poignant and unreal. I encourage you to join us as 30+ TWS members come together in a spectacular ensemble production of light and sound never before seen on the TWS stage.”

Tickets to “Slaughterhouse-Five” are $18 and $20. Call the box office at 708-246-3380. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.theatrewesternsprings.com. Free parking is available. 

Last season at TWS, Snyder directed “Moonlight and Magnolias,” “Ghost in the Machine,” “Dracula” and “The Trip to Bountiful.” He most recently directed “In the Company of Men” at Chicago’s Profiles Theatre.

As an actor, director and teacher, he has enjoyed nearly 40 years of professional experience in theater, television and film. He has been an ensemble member of Steppenwolf Theater Company for 30 years having appeared in more than 40 productions.

Snyder’s many directing credits at Steppenwolf include “Orange Flower Water,” which received critical and audience acclaim both in Chicago and at the Galway Arts Festival in Ireland. He also directed “God of Carnage” at the Goodman Theatre.

Rick won a Jeff Award for his direction of “Killer Joe” at Profiles Theatre. He has also directed at The American Theater Company, Northlight Theatre, Writers' Theatre and Strawdog Theatre. 

In 2010, the Wall Street Journal named him "...one of the finest directors in Chicago."

Playwright Eric Simonson

Eric Simonson is an American writer and director in theatre, film and opera. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from Lawrence University, and he moved to Chicago in 1983, where he helped found Lifeline Theatre. In 1993, he became a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

He was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical in 1993 for “The Song of Jacob Zulu.” 

His plays and adaptations at Steppenwolf include “Nomathemba” (written with Ntozake Shange and Joseph Shabalala), “Carter’s Way” and “Honest” (for First Look). Other plays include “The Last Hurrah,” “Work Song: Three Views of Frank Lloyd Wright” (with Jeffrey Hatcher), “Edge of the World” and “Lombardi: The Only Thing” and “Speak American.” 

His work has been produced in Japan and throughout the United States, and his adaptation of “Moby Dick” at Milwaukee Repertory was chosen as one of Time Magazine’s top ten productions of 2002.

Simonson’s adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five” (originally produced at Steppenwolf in 1996) received an Off-Broadway premiere.

Author Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

One of the 20th century’s greatest authors and pacifists, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., was born in Indianapolis in 1922. He gained experience writing for his high school’s daily paper, but because of fatherly pressure, studied chemistry at Cornell University. He discovered his passion for writing while working for the Cornell Daily Sun. 

He enlisted in the army in 1943 and was captured in the Battle of the Bulge and held as a POW in Dresden. To wait out the bombing of Dresden, Vonnegut and his fellow POWs hid in a meat cellar deep under the slaughterhouse, hence the title of one of his most famous novels.

Vonnegut is known for his dark humor and use of science fiction, but his stories have their root in moral vision and social commentary.

During the 1960s he published a collection of short stories and four more novels including “Slaughterhouse-Five,” which gave him broad critical acclaim. He continued to write prolifically until his death in 2007.

CAST

Reggie                           Benton Bullwinkel of Lemont

Mother                          Carrie Cerri of La Grange

Wild Bob/German Soldier   Mike Bolton of La Grange

Billy Pilgrim                    Tim Gannon of Lagrange Park

Boy Billy                        Grayson Goodwin of Western Springs

Young German Soldier/     Drew Halliday of Hinsdale

GI Soldier                               

Rosewater/                  Tom Gess of Indian Head Park

German Soldier

Hobo Soldier/       Jonathan Kraft of Indian Head Park

Kilgore Trout  

Tralfamadore Voice/      Chris Bruzzini of Melrose Park

German Soldier

Lily/Dotty                       Debbie Angelillo of Oak Brook

Weary GI/Optometrist/   Dean Pershing of La Grange

Ranger

Chetwynde                       Rich Kropp of Glen Ellyn

Man                                   Bill Love of La Grange

Lazarro                             Tom McGregor of Brookfield

Optometrist/Innkeeper      John Mueller of La Grange

Optometrist/                      Jeff Miklos of Westchester

Campbell/Scout/GI Soldier                

Optometrist/Father/   Rick S. Snyder of Lagrange Park

Radio Voice

Grandmother/                  Jan Mahlstedt of Burr Ridge

German Woman

Old German Innkeeper/ Craig Mahlstedt of Burr Ridge

Optometrist/Photographer

Montana                             Jen Torchia of Lombard

Derby/German Soldier    Charles Kennett of Brookfield

Valencia                        Bernadette Boyle of Wheaton

Rumford/Addam                     Stan Kosek of Villa Park

Barbara                                   Sarah Herndon of Lisle

Fritz                         Dave Bremer of Western Springs

GI Soldier                     Tim Feeney of Downers Grove

GI Soldier                    George Levy of Clarendon Hills

GI Soldier                       Kaelin Reichmann of Hinsdale

GI Soldier                          Adrian Murphy of Brookfield

CREW

Director -                                Rick Snyder of Wheaton

Stage Manager -                    Cal Turner of Naperville

Assist' Stage Man.-            Sue Wisthuff of La Grange

Assistant Stage Manager -  Joe Mills of Westchester

Costumes -                   Arlene Bibbs of West Chicago

Costumes -                           Patti Roeder of Oak Park

Costumes -                           Carrie Cerri of La Grange

Costumes -                   Bernadette Boyle of Wheaton

Dramaturg -        Steven Goodwin of Western Springs

Hospitality -                            Carol Clarke of Hinsdale

Lighting Design -          Ben Fallon of Western Springs

Lights -                           Linda Bugielski of La Grange

House Manager -           Mike Janke of Downers Grove

Makeup -                        Darla Goudeau of La Grange

Makeup -                               Eileen Crow of Hinsdale

Program Editor -                       Ed Barrow of Hinsdale

Program Editor -                     Marion Reis of Wheaton

Props -               Tim Feeney of Downers Grove         

Publicity -            Janet Gassmann of Western Springs

Set Construction -          Harry Hultgren of La Grange

Set Design -                  Bob Baker of Western Springs

Set Dresser -             Cheryl McKay of Clarendon Hills

Set Dresser -                 Debbie Angelillo of Oak Brook

Set Painting -      Janet Gassmann of Western Springs

Set Painting -                        Carrie Cerri of La Grange

Sound  -                     Jack Calvert of Western Springs

Tech Director -                      Thad Hallstein of Chicago