GreenMan Theatre Troupe is set to open Lanford Wilson’s “The Rimers of Eldritch” at First United Methodist Church in Elmhurst.
The “The Rimers of Eldritch” opens Oct 15 and runs for three weekends through Oct 31.
“The Rimers of Eldritch” is the first show of GreenMan’s 2010-2011 season. Performances start at 7:30 pm Friday and Saturday, and 2 pm on Sunday.
Lanford Wilson’s award winning play
centers on the residents of Eldritch, a small Midwestern town. A homeless man has been shot and killed; and although everyone knows who pulled the trigger, not everyone knows why. Who are the “Rimers”? Wilson has invented this word from rime – the heavy hoarfrost that appears on frosty cold late autumn nights. The play uses flashbacks to tell the story of the town and how the town’s residents are affected by the shooting. “The Rimers of Eldritch” contains adult situations and may not be suitable for all audiences.
The large ensemble cast includes several actors from Elmhurst: Lynn Homeier, Cheryl Rice, Chuck Jacobson and Jim Zervas. Other local actors cast in the production include, from Hinsdale, Dorothy Attermeyer, from Darien, Denise Marie D’Asto, and from Oakbrook Terrace, Jerry Moore. Cast members Howard Raik and Daniel Rocha are from Oak Park; Edward C. Barnett, Carol Bair and Jim Bruner are from Schaumburg. Other actors in the cast include Jeri Garcia [Arlington Heights], Bibi Lebechi [Chicago], Olivia Landa [North Riverside], Faith Harbert [Romeoville], Monika Belcik [Schiller Park], and Kyle Rath [Willowbrook].
Lanford Wilson has received numerous awards for his work, including multiple Obie awards and the Pulitzer Prize in Drama for “Talley’s Folly.” His many plays include “Book of Days,” “Balm in Gilead,” and “The Hot l Baltimore.” He won the Drama Desk Vernon Rice Award for “The Rimers of Eldritch.” Dark, moody, and searing in its honesty, the play has been described as a dramatically modern “Our Town.” When the shocking truth about the shooting is finally revealed, no one has been untouched by the taint of the brutal crime. Behind the scenes, GreenMan Artistic Director David Soria directs the production. Jim Ocasek [Elmhurst] will design the set and lights, and Benjamin Vargas [Addison] will design costumes; Tim Ahlberg [Oak Park] is the assistant director, and Alice Rebecchi [Elmhurst] is the stage manager.
The production will take place at the First United Methodist Church, 232 S. York Rd., in Elmhurst, opening October 15th and running three weekends through October 31st.
There will be post-show discussion with the actors following each performance
Performances are Fri and Sat nights at 7:30 and Sun matinees are at 2 pm. Tickets are $15, and $13 for students and seniors. Student and other groups are welcome. For more information about the production call 630-464-2646.
GreenMan Theatre Troupe is a non-profit 501[c]3 organization whose mission is to provide a source of cultural enrichment and pride for the community by presenting diverse, quality productions and providing opportunities for personal growth in the theatrical arts. GreenMan has been presenting plays in Elmhurst since being founded in 2003 by Jill Perez, David Soria, and Carole Thorpe. Past productions include “Pride and Prejudice,” “The Odd Couple,” and “Dracula.” GreenMan also offers classes and workshops for members and the community and welcomes new members and participants in all aspects of theatre production. GreenMan programs are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
