You Can’t Take It With You

You Can’t Take it With You introduces audiences to the freethinking Sycamore family and the mayhem that ensues when their daughter’s fiancé brings his conservative, straight-laced parents to dinner on the wrong night. Sweet-natured Alice Sycamore falls for banker’s son Tony Kirby. But when she invites her snooty prospective in-laws to dinner to give their blessing to the marriage, Alice’s peculiar extended family — including philosophical grandfather Martin Vanderhof, hapless fledgling ballerina sister Essie and fireworks enthusiast father, Paul — might be too eccentric for the staid Kirbys.

by: Kauffman and Hart
Directed by: Jason Gerace
Outdoors at Austin Gardens, 167 Forest Ave- Oak Park
Rehearsals start May 21, 2018
Performances are June 16-July 22, 2018

The African Company Presents Richard III

What do the words of a dead White poet mean to a group of Black actors? Everything, actually. After all, these are artists forced to spend their days disguised as maids and waiters. Hiding their gifts along with their feelings, until the sun sets and the time comes to discover themselves in Shakespeare’s poetry. His writing demanding that everyone find their own way through his words, haters be damned. A backstage story like no other – funny, furious and uniquely American. Forty years before the Civil War, the African Grove Theatre Troupe in New York sets about staging a production of Richard III. But when a major (and white) New York company scores a big name star to be featured in their own production of Richard, they are determined to shut down the African company’s show at any cost.

by: Carlyle Brown
Directed by: Ron OJ Parson
Outdoors at Austin Gardens, 167 Forest Ave- Oak Park
Rehearsals start July 2, 2018.
Performances are July 28-September 1, 2018