St. Charles' 2nd Annual Theater Fest Set for 7/6-22

Once again, visitors and residents of St. Charles are invited to Applaud, Create, and Get Away as arts and business organizations across the city reunite for the second annual St. Charles Summer Theater Festival. Devised by John Gawlik, Artistic Director for Fox Valley Repertory, the first festival was inaugurated in July, last year. Returning to St. Charles, July 6 - 22, 2012, the upcoming festival will condense the community's creative charm into weekends of concerts, dramas, new play-readings, and interactive art demonstrations.

The festival will highlight performances ranging from nostalgic classics, to innovative, new material. Fox Valley Repertory's presentation of the musical revue, Some Enchanted Evening, combines Chicago's hottest talents from Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre with some of the best loved songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Across town, the Steel Beam Theatre will host a staged reading of screenwriter and Hollywood actress, Beth Raines' new screenplay, The Awakening Time. Meanwhile, Fox Valley Rep's Collider New Play Project brings together playwrights from around the country and scientists from Fermilab to create and present staged readings of three new plays that explore art, technology, science, and the meaning of life and universe. For kids, Seussical Jr. will be lighting up the Steel Beam stage as well as Disney's High School Musical at Fox Valley Rep. Between these and dozens of diverse programs such as art classes at Fine Line Creative Arts Center or free outdoor music events in downtown St. Charles, festival-goers can attend multiple arts programs over any of the three weekends in July.

The city of St. Charles boasts a wide variety of distinguished visual and performing arts organizations. By tailoring this unique accessibility, the Summer Theater Festival opens opportunities for both casual and devoted arts enthusiasts to gather, relax, and enjoy some of the city's finest talent.

Theaters participating in this inaugural event are Fox Valley Repertory, Steel Beam Theatre, Arcada Theatre, along with special events from St. Charles Singers, Fine Line Creative Arts Center, St. Charles Park District with support from the City of St. Charles, the St. Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau, City of St. Charles Visitors Cultural Commission, St. Charles Arts Council, and Illinois Arts Council.