Sean Grennan's MAKING GOD LAUGH to Play Fox Valley Rep, 11/7-12/29

Fox Valley Repertory concludes their 2013 theater series with Sean Grennan's holiday family comedy, "Making God Laugh." Directed by Fox Valley Rep's very own artistic director, John Gawlik, performances will take place on the Pheasant Run Resort Mainstage November 7 - December 29, 2013. (4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL; box office 630-584-6342).

Making God Laugh will preview Thursday, November 7 through Friday, November 15, 2013. The show will open Saturday evening, November 16, 2013 and continue through Sunday, December 29, 2013.

Tickets are priced at $32 on Fridays (and limited Thursday performances), and at $42 on Saturdays and Sundays. Dinner packages, group discounts and overnight rates are also available.

Inspired by the Woody Allen joke, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans," Sean Grennan's newer work follows two empty-nesters as they welcome home their grown kids over three holidays, each ten years apart. Over the course of these three decades, not only do the hairstyles change, but their life adventures continue to evolve - dreams are crushed, relationships develop, unresolved issues surface, and yet old family traditions remain.

"From Christmas in the 90's, New Year's in 2000 and Easter in the present, our audience will find this comedy entirely relatable to their own family dynamics," says Director John Gawlik. "And while there are moments that will have you rolling with recognition, there are also heartfelt moments that go deep and are truly touching."

The cast of Making God Laugh features (in alphabetical order): Caron Buinis, Jesse Dornan, Christina Gorman, Michael Joseph Mitchell, and Tom Moore.

John Gawlik, Wheaton native, directs the show after recently directing the Chicago Premiere When the Rain Stops Falling at Circle Theater (Jeff Award for Director and Production) and performing in Broadsword at The Gift Theatre. Favorite acting credits includes: Bill Sykes in Oliver at Drury Lane, Blizzard '67 with Chicago Dramatist, The Lonesome West and Beauty Queen of Lennane with the Gift Theatre, A Skull in Connemara at Northlight (After Dark Award, Ensemble) and The Great Society with Famous Door. Additional directing credits include The Ruby Sunrise which was named one of the Top Ten shows of 2009 by TimeOut Chicago Magazine, the Jeff Nominated production of W;t, and the Jeff Award winning The Good Thief for The Gift Theatre. John is artistic director of Fox Valley Repertory and an ensemble member of The Gift Theatre.

Making God Laugh runs Thursday, November 7, 2013 through Sunday, December 29, 2013. Show times are: Fridays & Saturdays @ 8pm, and Sundays @ 2pm. Special Thursday performances are November 7 & 14 @ 8pm, and November 21, and December 5 & 12 @ 2pm. There is an added performance on Wednesday, December 4 @ 2pm. No performance on Friday, December 13. The show is rated PG13.

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and is sponsored in part by the DePaw University Canine Campus, Woman's Touch Healthcare, U.S. Bank, Daily Herald and MCC Technology.

Pheasant Run Resort is located at 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL. For tickets, call the Pheasant Run Box Office at 630-584-6342, or visit www.ticketmaster.com. Additional performance information may be obtained at www.foxvalleyrep.org.