GreenMan New Comers Kick Up Their Heels in
"How the West Was Done In"
Elmhurst, IL – When GreenMan Theatre's new show "How the West Was Done In" opens on Friday February 17, there will be several excited cast members appearing in their first production of this sort. Elmhurst residents Lynn Sciaraffa Homeier, Heather Northway, and Alice Rebecchi join Chicago's Vicky Giannini, Schaumburg's James Harper, Alissa King of Carol Stream, Dan Rocha of Oak Park, and Streamwood resident Elizabeth Owsley as newcomers in a GreenMan dinner theatre murder mystery. "How the West Was Done In" by GreenMan members Carolyn Thomas-Davidoff and Carl Zeitler 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," "High Noon," and several more.
Even though Homeier, Owsley, Rebecchi, and Rocha have appeared in other productions with GreenMan Theatre, their murder mysteries offer a different theatrical dynamic than a traditional play. For starters, the audience sits at tables of 10 spread out around the large banquet hall at Angelo's Ristorante. The main action occurs in the center of the room. The actors cannot stay in one spot for too long as there are 18 people in the cast. When not the focus of a scene, actors move around the room among the audience. In the social atmosphere of a dinner theatre production, actors, as their characters, interact with the audience members before the show and during the meal breaks. This aspect appeals to Harper. "Being a first timer, this has been an amazing experience for me. I think I'm most looking forward to the audience participation portion when we go out into the crowd in character and interact," he said. The production features several songs and Harper relishes that, too. "I do love to sing, so I am grateful that I get to sing 3 songs in the show."
Rebecchi is familiar with the rehearsal process of this type of production, but has never been "onstage" when the show begins. She was a rehearsal assistant for last year's show "Here's Looking at You...Dead!" and that required her to fill in for actors who had schedule conflicts. By the time the show opened, she had portrayed virtually every character in rehearsal. Rebecchi looks forward to the actual performance. "This year is especially fun as I get my own character and am actually in the show," she said. Rebecchi also came up with the original song "You Can't Get a Man with a Pen" for her character, who is the screenwriter of the Hollywood western that's rehearsing scenes throughout the play.
Giannini acknowledges the challenges of this type of production. "Sometimes interacting with the audience is even a bit scary because it can change the outcome of a scene or song," she said. Nevertheless, she looks forward to the challenge. "The show is full of fun one-liners, great characters, and some really enjoyable music. I am sure any audience member (or cast member) will have the time of their life watching and performing in this hilarious murder mystery."
For Homeier, the best part of the production is working with fun people. "Everyone in the cast has a great sense of humor. We are working hard and enjoying every minute of it," she said. The murder mysteries start with a script, but actors are encouraged to add things of their own to help polish the final product. "Another really great thing about this show is that we have been able to suggest new ideas during the rehearsal process. I actually made a line suggestion that was added to the show," Homeier added.
Northway appreciates how this type of theatre can impact an audience. "I think that interactive dinner theatre brings such a great excitement to theatre goers different from that which you usually find at a show. It is my hope that we can reach out to them, fill them with our energy, and send them home with the excitement that is live theatre," she said.
"How the West Was Done In" will run for 5 performances only in the banquet room at Angelo's Ristorante at 247 N. York in Elmhurst. 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. Advance reservations can be made on the website 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, a full course meal, and parking. This event does sell out, and quickly, so people who are interested in attending the show should make their advance reservations as soon as possible.
