Summer Stock 2009!

Classic plays presented for summer audiences!

Something's hot at Prana this summer! 
Two weekends of great summer entertainment - classic summer stock!

First up - The Front Page!  This hilarious poke at the media (circa 1920s but still incredibly timely) is a fast-paced farce starring Prana's top comedic actors!   Chicago's most hard-boiled reporters are sitting around the newsroom waiting for a notorious murderer to hang ... but he escapes ... and, as you might imagine, mayhem ensues ... and of course ... all is not exactly as we were told!  Written by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, two former Chicago news reporters, The Front Page was a smash hit on Broadway  and has been turned into four movies!

The Front Page was performed Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27 at 7 p.m. 
Director: Roberta Weiner
Assistant Director: Phil Bassett

 

 

Cast, in order of appearance
 
  1. McCue, Reporter, City Press – Beth Hobbs
  2. Wilson, Reporter, American- Stephanie Toronto
  3. Endicott, Reporter, Post – Erica Brouillette
  4. Murphy, Reporter, Journal – Joseph Duda
  5. Schwartz, Reporter,  Daily News – Rachel Pollinger
  6. Bensinger, Reporter, Tribune – Jinny Pollinger
  7. Walter Burns, Editor, Herald Examiner – Erin Clancy
  8. Woodenshoes Eichorn, a Policeman – Robbie Seymour
  9. Diamond Louis, a Gangster – Phil Bassett
  10. Hildy Johnson, Herald Examiner – Alessandro Arena-DeRosa
  11. Jennie, Court Cleaning Lady – Frankie Servidio
  12. Mollie Molloy, a “North Clark Street Tart” with a heart of gold – Sara Lucchini
  13. Sheriff Hartman – Ben Rutberg
  14. Peggy Grant, Hildy’s fiancée – Meg Lacey
  15. Mrs. Grant, Peggy’s mother – Rachel Pollinger
  16. The Mayor – Colleen Fitzpatrick
  17. Mr. Pincus – Joseph Duda
  18. Earl Williams, escaped convict – Crockett Henderson
 


 

Next - Pollyanna! Forget all the stereotypes you've heard about this classic American story - that it's sugary sweet and all about naive optimism!  The title character is actually a recently orphaned girl who has learned to look for the bright side of things to help her overcome the loss of her parents and her life of poverty.  She brings this philosophy to the strict Vermont town where she is sent to live with stern Aunt Polly and gradually begins to work her magic ... until ... of course ... complications ensue.  Lots of great parts for Prana's top character actors who understand how to get under the skin of characters nothing like themselves.  Based on the novel by Eleanor H. Porter, which sparked nearly 20 sequels and several movies, including the 1960 Disney version.


The show was performed Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11 at 7 p.m.

Cast, in order of appearance

Mrs. Ford, the minister’s wife – Maddy Totman
Mrs. Snow, the “lifelong invalid” – Frankie Servidio
Milly Snow, Mrs. Snow’s daughter/doubles as Dr. Mead – Jenna Ferland
Miss Polly Harrington, mistress of the Harrington homestead and Pollyanna’s aunt – Meg Lacey
Nancy, Miss Polly’s housemaid – Haley McIsaac
Old Tom, Miss Polly’s gardener/doubles as Mrs. Benton – Colleen Fitzpatrick
Mary, Miss Polly’s scullery maid – Avery Boice
Pollyanna – Ashley Arnold
John Pendleton, the recluse with a secret/doubles as Mrs. Payson – Beth Hobbs
Dr. Thomas Chilton, the kindly doctor with his own secret – Joseph Duda
Jimmy Beam, an orphan boy – Evan Londoro-Ayr

Director Roberta Weiner
Assistant Directors, Phil Bassett and Sarah Bassett
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

photos by Lisa Arnold, www.luminessencestudio.com

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