at Prairie Lakes Community Center, 515 E. Thacker, Des Plaines, Illinois 60016 MAP
THE SOUND OF MUSIC - - An Unqualified Success!
Produced by Frank Skony and Michelle Cunningham
Director: David Belew
Assistant Director/Choreographer: Becky Brown
Musical Director: Richard Schwegel
Set Design: Toby Nicholson
Lighting Design: Paul Kerwin
Costumers: John Gion and Theresa Kerrigan
Stage Manager: Sheila Wheeler
TOBY NICHOLSON
Set Design
Toby Nicholson has done a lot of sets for the Children's Theatre of Winnetka. Many of the shows are turn of the (last) century like OKLAHOMA!, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN and THE MUSIC MAN. He's told the director, "that's it with houses and removeable porches."
The challenge for the children's theatre designer is that the stage height is eleven feet. "Try designing a two-story house that is under eleven feet... one that lets the actors get in the door, too! Fortunately, they are children and you can get away with a six-foot door."
"The exciting thing about The Sound of Music at the Prarie Lakes Community Center is that there is a large stage with a twenty-eight foot high proscenium! Von Trapp's villa can be eighteen feet with a nine foot staircase leading up to the second floor! And the Von Trapps can escape up a twenty foot section of the Alps! It's heaven."
Tthis fall, Mr. Nicholson will be designing and choreographing THE KING AND I for the children's theatre and designing CRICKET IN TIMES SQUARE for Lifeline Theatre in Chicago as well. In his spare time, he will be rehearsing a dancing part in Ballet Legere's production of The Nutcracker.
Before moving to Chicago, David ran Piranha Productions, a theatre company in El Paso, Texas. Piranha Productions found a special niche in the theatrical community by producing midnight theatre as well as traditional shows. The midnight shows played to sold out crowds every Friday and Saturday night, and included such classics as CANNIBAL CHEERLEADERS ON CRACK and PARDON MY INQUISITION OR KISS THE BLOOD OFF MY CASTANETS.
Piranha Productions used this money to support its goal of presenting shows during normal performance hours that otherwise couldn't have been produced. Some of these shows included Edward Albee's EVERYTHING IN THE GARDEN, Paula Vogel's THE BALTIMORE WALTZ, and COME BACK TO THE FIVE AND DIME, JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN.
During the daytime hours, David is a Project Manager for the American Bar Assn in Chicago. He is the Music Director and a Board member of Metropolitan Community Church Illiana in Highland, Indiana. David holds a BA in Vocal Performance from the University of Texas at El Paso, and is currently pursuing a BS in Information Technology at the University of Phoenix. He lives in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago with his partner Eric and the cutest dog in the world, Amos.
"This production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC is worthy of an audience. The material is one of the greatest musical scores ever. I’ve run across many college-age folks who have never seen [the show], either on stage or on film. Amazing! Winnetka Theatre at the Prairie Lakes Community Center in Des Plaines is the place to witness a fine production of one of the 'must-see' musicals. Let the sound of music rein in your heart."
Review by Tom Williams, ChicagoCritic.com
"Drop by the Prairie Lakes Community Center in Des Plaines before the show closes on October 26. The Winnetka group has set the bar high, and they deserve your support."
