Wheaton Drama, Inc. in downtown Wheaton, IL is pleased to announce performances of Into the Woods with the following cast: Lucinda – Kristin ArntzenCinderella’s Mother/Grandmother/Giant – Jean AustinRapunzel (May 23 & May 31) - Julie BayerRapunzel’s Prince – Jonathan BoothJack’s Mother – Bonnie DobkinNarrator/Mysterious Man – Jerry A. DudgeonSteward/Wolf – Zachary GibsonSleeping Beauty – Michelle HoCinderella’s Stepmother – Amelia KloskowskiJack – David LynnLittle Red Ridinghood – Marina MagnelliBaker’s Wife – Sara MalloyRapunzel – Jane MarshallFlorinda – Meg McGarryWitch – Heather MillerCinderella’s Prince – Mitchell OwensBaker – Michael R. SitrickSnow White – Debbie TruebloodCinderella’s Father – Stuart VanceCinderella – Clarissa YearmanA classic Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine musical, Into the Woods examines the world of fairy tales in a way which is funny, dramatic and thought-provoking. The original Broadway production won three Tony® Awards, including Best Score and Best Book of a Musical.Craig Gustafson is directing, assisted by Stan Austin, Shahni Barstatis, and Bruce Ebner. Rebecca Poole is the production manager. Music director is Matthew McGrath. Tracy Adams is the choreographer. Debbie Trueblood and Bruce Ebner are the stage managers.Performances of Into the Woods are May 17 through June 9 at Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale Street, downtown Wheaton, IL 60187. Shows are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $21 each, except Thursdays, which have a special price of $18 per ticket. Into the Woods is presented by special arrangement with Music Theatre International.The 2013-2014 season includes Lend Me a Tenor, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, And Then There Were None (Ten Little Indians), Steel Magnolias, and The Music Man. Additional shows include Romeo & Juliet (2013 Summer Studio Show), a musical cabaret (2013 Summer Fundraiser), and It's A Wonderful Life - Radio Show (2013 Holiday Fundraiser).Show tickets and information available at www.wheatondrama.org or call 630-260-1820. Follow us on Twitter @WDIpublicity.See More

Wheaton Drama, Inc. is presenting Romeo & Juliet as the 2013 Summer Studio Show. Set in modern-day New Orleans, this adaptation is a gritty, rock-and-roll fueled take on William Shakespeare’s famous tragedy. While the classic language is retained, this version has a shortened running time and women inhabit several roles traditionally played by men.Staged in the air-conditioned comfort of Playhouse 111, Wheaton Drama’s Romeo & Juliet is an exciting, accessible way for audiences to experience the passion and drama of the titular star-crossed lovers and their families’ violent feud. The cast is: Lady Capulet - Trish Ambrosio; Romeo - Garrett Ard; Sampson - Eric Faler; Rosaline - Emma Gotter; Paris - Phoenix Heart; Friar Laurence - James Hill; Friend to Juliet/Street Performer - Katie Kanturek; Police Officer/Street Performer - Emily Karnick; Fortune Teller - Jessica Keith; Capulet - Rod Kelly; Nurse - Kathy Martin; Gloria - Katheryn Pucillo; Peter - Eberr Reyes; Police Officer/Street Performer - Ish Rios; Balthasar - Dan Stromquist; Mercutio - Andrew Trygstad; Abraham - John Trygstad; Montague - Tom Viskocil; Prince/Mayor - Sharon Voss; Tybalt - Eric Waddick; William - Danny Weber; Benvolia - Lynda Wellhausen; Juliet - Nikki Wilson; Lady Montague - Leah Rae Witt.Jeni Dees is directing, assisted by Jo-Ann Ledger. Jackie Haiser is the production manager. Katie Lawrence and Katie Pucillo are the fight choreographers. Stage management is by Jackie Haiser and Michelle Gomeztagle.Performances of Romeo & Juliet are June 28 at 8pm, June 29 at 8pm, June 30 at 3pm, July 5 at 8pm, July 6 at 8pm, and July 7 at 3pm at Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale Street, downtown Wheaton, IL. Tickets are $10 each. Seating is General Admission. This show contains mature themes and stage combat. Wheaton Drama closes the 2012-2013 season with Into the Woods, performed May 17 through June 9. The 2013-2014 season includes Lend Me a Tenor, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, And Then There Were None (Ten Little Indians), Steel Magnolias, and The Music Man. Additional shows include a musical cabaret (2013 Summer Fundraiser) and It's A Wonderful Life - Radio Show (2013 Holiday Fundraiser).For show tickets and information, please visit http://www.wheatondrama.org, or call 630-260-1820. Follow on Twitter at WDIpublicity. See More

Wheaton Drama, Inc. (WDI) announces auditions for Full Circle. This World War II drama by Erich Maria Remarque (All Quiet on the Western Front) and Peter Stone (1776) is set in Berlin at the end of World War II. A young woman and an escaped prisoner discover that sometimes there are more important things than just surviving. When a Gestapo Captain begins to suspect who they really are, the struggles between identity, love and responsibility threaten to overtake them all.Full Circle is directed by Sean Ogren, assisted by Suzanne Ogren. The production manager is Amy Johnson. Elyse Willis is the stage manager.Auditions are Sunday, January 27 and Monday, January 28, 2013 at 7pm at Wheaton Drama’s Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale in downtown Wheaton, IL. Callbacks, if necessary, will be Tuesday, January 29 at 7:30pm. The first read-through is scheduled for January 30.Those auditioning should email the director at seanogren@gmail.com to receive an audition appointment and required materials. These are non-Equity auditions. There is no pay. All roles are open. Those cast will be required to pay a nominal fee for Wheaton Drama membership. Newcomers are welcomed and membership status does not affect casting.CHARACTER BREAKDOWNPlease note that character age will be a secondary choice when considered alongside acting choices. German and Russian dialects will be required.ANNA - 28 and attractive, but run down by five years of life in war. Believes that surviving is everything. Wary...but very, very smart.ERIC ROHDE - Around 30, an escapee from a German prison. The charm, courage, and attraction of this man have been seriously tampered with; that these qualities are still alive and in evidence speaks well for the degree to which they existed before.SCHMIDT - Early 30's, a captain in the Gestapo. He is a man of intelligence, wit, and some attractiveness. He is educated and articulate, but he is neither an intellectual nor a fanatic—merely an opportunist.GRETE - 22, blonde, abundantly put-together. Naive. Concerned more about appearances than actions. Provides a fair amount of the play’s lighter moments.KOERNER - Past 50, the janitor who has suddenly been promoted to the position of Block Warden. His expression is habitually stern, abetted somewhat by the severe way he combs his hair and the sterility of the steel-rimmed glasses he wears. Also an opportunist, but his pedantry keeps him from achieving anything worthwhile.KATZ - Middle 50's, an escaped prisoner, Jewish. Will require some stage combat. RUSSIAN CAPTAIN - 32, slim and fair. He is well educated, speaks fluent German, and is very good - and very smart - at what he does.MACK - In his middle 20's, a Gestapo man. Has allowed his constant disapproval of most things to distort his face into a perpetual sneer.MAURER - 30-ish, another Gestapo man. Large and stupid. He rarely, if ever, speaks, but the acts of inhuman brutality that constitute his duty and his pleasure form the great equalizer. NOTE: Stage combat experience a plus.RUSSIAN SERGEANT & RUSSIAN SOLDIER - Very similar in age and build to MACK & MAURER. Want to work with two actors to portray all four roles (and both dialects) if possible. Full Circle is performed March 15-April 7, 2013. Performances are at 8pm Thursdays-Saturdays and 3pm Sundays. Tickets are $13 for Thursdays and $16 Fridays-Sundays.For show tickets and information, please visit http://www.wheatondrama.org, or call 630-260-1820. Follow on Twitter at WDIpublicity.###See More