Chicago Based Set Designer Celebrates 40 Years

Rick Paul is a nationally known treasure in the set designing industry and this year marks his 40th year of designing. Here in Chicago, Paul was the set designer for the world premiere of "Grease," produced by Chicago's Kingston Mines Theatre Company opening on Feb. 5, 1971 where Grease began. Rick Paul continued his creative endeavors with too many productions and movies to list. His home is a treasure trove of movie and musical theater memorabilia, full of records and programs of shows dating back to his own childhood when he used to sneak into theaters downtown at intermission to see anything and everything that came through town.

Designing Drowsy is so true to his own life, he owns almost all of the set decorations in his own home. "To be honest, I am Man in Chair" Rick said during a rehearsal for Drowsy. His vast knowledge of the Broadway and Music Theater scene that has long since gone, inspires the cast and crew to find the magic he sees in every show he has ever worked on in his 40 years. He has no Internet, no voice mail and communicates via snail mail and in person, showing up to two rehearsals a week. Like the shows main Character, Man in Chair, Paul's music all comes from records; stacks of records. He is a rare bird and a gem to Chicago and the nation's theater scene and his 40th year, is starting off with a bang.

Rick Paul's set can be seen in Big Noise Theatre Company's spring production of The Drowsy Chaperone. Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm, (No show Sunday, April 24 and a special 2 show Saturday, April 30 at 3pm and 8pm)

WHERE: Prairie Lakes Theatre 515 E. Thacker Street,
Des Plaines, IL 60016 http://www.desplainesparks.org

TICKETS: $23 (adults), $21 (seniors 65+) & $16 (kids), Call 847-604-0275 or online at www.ovationtix.com or www.bignoise.org tickets are on sale now!