OPFT Announces Song of Heavenly Thanks, Beyond the Fringe! & More

The Nineteenth Century Club will present the acclaimed Avalon Strings in a performance of Beethoven's "Song of Heavenly Thanks," Wednesday, Feb 3 at 3PM. 178 N. Forest Avenue, Oak Park. Admission is free. All freewill donations will benefit Oak Park Festival Theatre's Intern Scholarship Fund. Refreshments are available.

About the The Avalon String Quartet: "Formed in 1995 at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, the Quartet came to the fore after participating in Isaac Stern's Chamber Music Workshop at Carnegie Hall in 1997. As a result, Mr. Stern invited the Avalon Quartet to perform in the Isaac Stern Chamber Music Encounters in Jerusalem and presented the ensemble's Carnegie Hall debut at Weill Recital Hall. The quartet captured the top prize at the ARD Competition in Munich (2000) as well as the First Prize at Concert Artists Guild Competition in New York (1999). The quartet is in residence at Northern Illinois University, a position formerly occupied by the distinguished Vermeer Quartet. As a part of their residency, they perform four programs annually in Chicago and DeKalb, and the members teach individual studios and coach chamber music at the school. This follows previous residencies at the Juilliard School and at Indiana University South Bend."

About the Nineteenth Century Club - "The Nineteenth Century Club promotes social responsibility and life-long learning by providing philanthropic opportunities and multicultural programs for an intergenerational, ethnically diverse audience." Receiving Oak Park Landmark Status in 2010. The Nineteenth Century Club was established in 1891 by a group of far-sighted women who realized that education and civic involvement were essential elements in building a community. The Nineteenth Century Club was been a leader in providing opportunities for women and in developing support systems for families within the community. Upon its incorporation in 1909, the Club adopted as its purpose "the intellectual advancement of its members, the promotion of higher social, educational, and moral conditions in the community, and a united effort toward the higher development of humanity."

Beyond the Fringe - New Spring Show Announcement

Due to a conflict in schedule for Alan Ruck (Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Spin City), Stones in His Pockets will no longer be Oak Park Festival Theatre's springtime show. Oak Park Festival Theatre is happy to announce their new spring production, Beyond the Fringe!

About the show: "A forerunner to such legendary British shows as Monty Python's Flying Circus, Beyond the Fringe is a British comedy revue written by Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett, and Jonathan Miller. Covering everything from satirizing the British war effort to a one-legged actor auditioning for Tarzan, come re-live the 1960's with this influential night of comedy!"

Beyond the Fringe features Artistic Director Jack Hickey. David Mink, who directed five shows for OPFT (All My Sons, Tartuffe, Blithe Spirit and others), returns to head this revue. Beyond the Fringe opens on Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. and runs until Sunday, May 6, 2012, with previews March 29 to 31. Performed at the Madison Street Theatre.

"It's a Fringe Benefit, Baby!"

OPFT invites, "Don your most smashing Carnaby Street gear and make our "happening" in honor of Oak Park Festival Theatre's Spring production of Beyond the Fringe." The annual Spring Gala will take place Saturday, March 24th, 2012 from 7-10pm at the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright built Unity Temple, 875 Lake Street, Oak Park.

"This swinging 60's London themed benefit will include hors d'oeuvres, music from the 1960s, a cabaret including scenes from Beyond the Fringe, a silent auction, and much more! Guest are highly encouraged to dress up in themed attire, awards will be given to the best dressed! Oak Park Festival Theatre will also be honoring the Park District of Oak Park with the Marion Karczmar Award."

Marion Karczmar Award - The Karczmar Award is named for Oak Parker Marion Karczmar, who founded Festival Theatre in 1975. It is given to people or organizations in recognition of their support of Festival Theatre.

The Park District of Oak Park - created in 1912, serves the recreational needs of the 53,000 residents of Oak Park, providing over 3,000 recreation programs and special events annually. Overseen by a Board of five elected officials, the District owns an Administrative Center, two outdoor pools, an indoor ice rink, the Oak Park Conservatory, Cheney Mansion, Pleasant Home, a gymnastics center, seven recreation centers plus 13 parks totaling 80 acres of parkland.

Oak Park Festival Theatre - Oak Park's only Equity theatre and the Midwest's oldest professional theatre performing the classics outdoors - is currently celebrating its 38th year of theatrical excellence and is embarking on its second year-round season producing outstanding productions of the plays of William Shakespeare and other classical authors, as well as important contemporary plays by some of the world's greatest playwrights. More information on Oak Park Festival Theatre is available at OakParkFestival.com or by calling 708-445-4440.

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