Country Theatre Workshop's 'Cheaper by the Dozen' opens
Thursday July 3, 2008
The Country Theatre Workshop's dinner and dessert theater presentations of the comedy "Cheaper by the Dozen," will begin July 10 at the theater north of Cissna Park.
The play is based on the true-life story of time and motion study and efficiency experts Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, who try to run their household of 12 children according to the way they would run an efficient factory.
Older daughter Anne (Alisa Snider of Manteno) believes that the way her parents run their household makes them seem ridiculous to everyone else at the high school she attends, especially the boys.
But, according to Dramatic Publishing, "Dad pushes ahead with better organization for his large and delightful family. He puts up a chart for the young people to initial after completing each household task, uses a rung as an imaginary bathtub to demonstrate how to take a really efficient bath and appoints a utilities officer to levy fines on wasters of electricity.
"While the situations are often uproarious, there's a serious reason. Dad has a heart condition which he's keeping secret. The children don't understand them. Anne, the oldest, rebels. Both Dad and she are miserable at the lack of understanding between them. Then in a deft and moving scene, Dad becomes aware of how much Anne has grown up." The play was adapted by Christopher Sergel from the book by Frank Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, who as adults narrate the play. They are being portrayed by Bryan Breymeyer of Paxton and Mary Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick's daughter, Sarah, portrays Ernestine as a girl.
Frank Gilbreth Sr. is portrayed by Tyler McMahon of Kankakee, and Lillian Gilbert is being played by Sharla Ronchetto of Bourbonnais.
Portraying the other Gilbert children are Amanda Winkle of Bourbonnais as Martha; Kyle and Kayla Ronchetto, both of Bourbonnais, Bill and Jackie; Anthony Lietz of Milford, the younger Frank Jr.; Kayla Siemers of Milford, Lillian; Eli Fellows of Cissna Park, Bob; Christiaan Feugen of Champaign, Dan; Michael Duling of Paxton, Fred; and London Laura Sofiya Clark of Milford, Baby Jayne.
Rounding out the cast are Wendy Shelquist of Bourbonnais as Mrs. Fitzgerald, Dwight Judy of Hoopeston as Dr. Burton, Shane Johnson of Manteno as Joe Scales, Frank Winkle of Bourbonnais as Miss Brill, and Michael Hunger of Manteno as Larry.
The play is directed by Maureen Hunger and Kris Snider. The sets were constructed by Brian Zecher, costumes are by Robin Shuda and hair and makeup is being overseen by Rosie Labriola-Mann.
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