Audience members become part of the action in this type of show as actors interact with the patrons before and during the show, as well as during meal course breaks. "How the West Was Done In" takes place on a 1960's Hollywood western movie set with jealous and overzealous actors, a frustrated film crew, and two British hippies who get mistaken for actors. Tensions boil over and someone ends up dead. The audience will be able to gather clues throughout the evening and vote for the guilty party. Audience members can dress up in western duds or come as flower children if they so wish. Dressing up is not a requirement to attend. GreenMan Theatre awards prizes for most original costume and to select patrons who guess the culprit correctly.
"How the West Was Done In" is a spoof of Hollywood, the 1960's, and classic westerns such as "True Grit," "Blazing Saddles," "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," "Destry Rides Again," and "High Noon," among others. The show features several musical and dance numbers to help entertain the audience, who will enjoy a full course family style Italian meal. It is an originally written work from GreenMan Board Members Thomas-Davidoff, who also directs, and Zeitler. This pair previously sent up "Casablanca" with last year's murder mystery show "Here's Looking at You...Dead!"
Show dates are Feb. 17-18-24-25-26. Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7 PM and the Sunday performance begins at 6 PM. Doors open an hour before showtime for a cash bar as the characters mingle with the audience.
Reservations can be made online
here or by calling 630-464-2646.
This event is GreenMan's fundraiser for the year, and it allows them to produce their season schedule, including lesser known and diverse productions, as well as offering theater education classes, such as stage combat and auditioning skills, to the community. The fee of $50 includes the show, the multi-course meal, and parking. You'll be hard pressed to get all that for that price at a venue downtown, so save some money, gas, and time by enjoying a local show while supporting the theater arts. This event does sell out, and quickly, so people who are interested in attending the show should make their reservations as soon as possible.
"How the West Was Done In" features Lauren Anders, Marilyn Connolly, Mario D'Agostino, Vicky Giannini, James Harper, Lynn Sciaraffa Homeier, Tom Hughes, Alissa King, Stan Kosek, Grace Martinez, Shazad Mehta, Jerry Moore, Heather Northway, Elizabeth Owsley, Alice Rebecchi, Dan Rocha, Carl Zeitler, and Jim Zervas.
