By Angela Shea – “Kankakee County Super Fan”
It was a hot, but lovely evening, when I ventured out to see You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. I arrived planted my chair and headed to the Peanuts Party for dinner. Family and friends weren’t able to join me, so I was all by myself. However I was anything but lonely. Everywhere I looked, there was a friendly face. Some of them I knew, like Michael and Alex at the Rock Raffle tent. Some of them I didn’t, like Norm and Jan, with whom I shared a picnic table and conversation about theatre, symphony and community involvement.
It was while getting my Oberweis that I first saw it… the darkness lurking at the edge of the sky and moving slowly our way. I was sure it would just blow right over us. My radar didn’t show anything. Nothing to worry about!
When Linus took to the stage to sing about Beethoven Day, his moment was interrupted by a voice. I expected to hear “Wah wah, wah wah wah wah” but instead heard “After checking the radar, we are going to clear the state for a 20 minute rain break.” Some people headed to their cars, others pulled out umbrellas. A quiet rain started but Mother Nature must have yelled “Sing out Louise!” because that quiet rain suddenly became a torrential downpour. In about 30-seconds, anyone without an umbrella (including me) was soaked to the skin.
I really have no idea how long the rain delay lasted. Time flies when you’re having fun and those of us still in front of the stage were having a blast. If you, dear reader, know me at all, you know I started singing….”Singing in the rain, just singing in the rain…..” Emily and I were ready to pull out some of our New Images show choir moves! Once the rain stopped and the stage was dried, the show continued.
I am forever grateful to Acting Out Theatre for what they have brought to our community every summer for the last 9 years. I know there is a large team involved, but Sharon Richardson is certainly the spark that ignited them and I love her for that.
Julie Gindy has as entire section of brain that is devoted to stage design. A traditional theatre setting has the luxury of being able to move large sets on and off the stage, or drop them from the rafters. One minute, you’re in the middle of downtown, the next at the Paroo house, a moment later you’re at the water tower. Outdoor theater doesn’t have that option. Each year, Julie creates an entire world in a limited space.
Since the first year that they took me “Into the Woods” I have anticipated each summer’s Acting Out Theatre production the way a kid anticipates Christmas. When the show is announced, I spend the next year wondering where it will be staged, thinking about who will be perfect in each role, and listening to the soundtrack.
Next year’s production will be A Chorus Line. Hmm…is there room behind the Paramount theatre?