"Highly recommended.."
Suburban Journals of  Chicago Inc


 




Free Readers Ensemble



Wm. B. Sullivan Realty & Co.
Estate Planning and General Law

RAVINIA
"A Great time in a
Wonderful Place" SJC 







June 13, 2010


© Suburban Journals of  Chicago Inc. photo
Oak Park Village Players are in Difficult Times
commentary by Ed Vincent

Oak Park Village Players Theater has been a great venue for local and regional performances for many years but a few weeks ago that almost all came to an end.  Their building is worth some $600,000.00, with $180,000 owed at a fixed rate of 4% for ten years by Mike Kelly. They are currently unable to make their $5,500.00 monthly expenses.  They were forced to let all of their paid staff go and saving the theater fell onto a few folks on the board to try and make it work.

It is sad that this has happened again to a theater that once or more in the past almost came to an end.  We have been reviewing there for many, many years and never had an idea of how poor the financial situation had gotten to, in the past, or even this latest fiasco.

Currently the Oak Park Village Players are almost $30,000.00 in the red.  They are paying almost $400.00 a month in interest charges for some of the debt.  They have some notable financial backers, institutions and banks, and still short on cash.  Mike Kelly had been a big help in the past, but with the loss of his banks he is gone from the scene, that combined with some poor business moves helped get them where they are today. 

The arts must always be aware and plan with a head for  business in all of their choices, working like paternal twins with identical goals in all  regards.  Arts are a great delight but they too must pay their bills. 

Leaders in the past had also made some errors from time to time, but too many will lead to times this severe.  Bellissima Opera, with a good local following, was told only a week before their schedule show at the theater that they could not be paid according to their reported contract, worth some $1500.00 plus some of the seat sales.  Bellissima Opera had another cancellation from the Oak Park Village Players and this was also under contract according to our sources for an additional $5000.00 and a percentage of the seat sales.  The second event was an opera, La Traviata, and at a very good price.  There was also an amount of $2000.00 that was given by a private sponsor to help pay for the La Traviata and that money was spent by the Oak Park Village Players for something else, not good business.

Hopefully, enough of the right people, a mix of business and arts will  come forward to help this great local treasure to survive well into the future.  I would also hope that the Oak Park Village Players would make things right with Bellissima Opera and honor their contracts with this local company once they are back on their feet again.

If you can help in any way please give the current Managing Director of the Oak Park Village Players a call and speak with her or email.
708-524-1892 or rfoley@village-players.org

Links to past Bellissima Opera events
Below, and reviews of Oak Park Village Players.

  1. EAST MEETS WEST IN “A NIGHT OF OPERA - Oak Park Newspaper

    Oak Park Newspaper, Oak Park Journal, News, Oak Park Illinois, Rentals, Sales.
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2010-Bellissima-Opera-VTP-June12-13.html - Cached

  2. Bellissima Opera's Outreach, Featuring Soprano Christine Steyer ...

    Oak Park Newspaper, Oak Park Journal, News, Oak Park Illinois, Rentals, Sales.
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2010-OPRFHS-Christine-Steyer-performance-Jan-7th.html - Cached

  3. Oak Park Newspaper

    Bellissima Opera Productions · CDBaby.com to Purchase the Recording Come And Meet the Artists at Their New CD Debut in Oak Park on February 10, 2008 see ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/2008/2008-Night-In-May-CD-review.html - Cached

  4. Oak Park Newspaper

    Bellissima Opera Productions' Madama Butterfly Music by Giacomo Puccini Sung in Italian with English Narration and Translation Friday June 8th, 8:00, ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2007-Madama-Butterfly-June8-24.html - Cached - Similar

  5. Oak Park Newspaper

    He also recently sang the role of Alfredo in Bellissima Opera's La Traviata and Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly. Mr. Martorana has made a specialty of the ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2007-Menotti-concert-OakPark-Oct-13th.html - Cached - Similar

  6. Suburban Journals

    Bellissima Opera's Outreach, Featuring Soprano .... Bellissima Opera Outreach. "A wonderful effort to bring the love of songs, in all of its forms to ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/ - Cached - Similar

  7. Oak Park Newspaper

    Bellissima Opera's La Traviata Saturday July 26, 8pm ET New Buffalo, MI Tickets: $20, $10 seniors & students " A beautiful production loaded with talent in ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2008-TOSCA-DuPage-Opera-July.html - Cached - Similar

  8. Past Oak Park Journal Stories

    Friday, May 30th, 8:00 pm Barrows Auditorium, Billy Graham Center Wheaton College Bellissima Opera Shall · Perform Highlights from their new CD "A Night in ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/past-stories1.html - Cached - Similar

  9. Oak Park Newspaper

    Bellissima Productions, the producers of last season's highly praised La Traviata. Fully staged, sung in Italian with narration and translation ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2006-Upcoming-local-singers-opera-01.html - Cached

  10. Oak Park Newspaper

    Bellissima Opera will be performing highlights from their new CD. A Night in May (cdbaby.com) and other favorite songs and arias. Franco Martorana, tenor ...
    oakparkjournal.com/2008/2008-Franco-for-Dad-May-30th.html

 reviews of Oak Park Village Players.

  1. Village Players Theater brings the Pulitzer Prize and - Oak Park ...

    (Oak Park, IL)--Village Players Theater is excited to bring the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning musical "A Chorus Line" on its Mainstage as part of ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-Chorus-Line-2010.html - Cached

  2. EAST MEETS WEST IN “A NIGHT OF OPERA - Oak Park Newspaper

    (Oak Park, IL) Oak Park's Bellissima Opera returns to Village Players Theater with ... Village Players Theater is proud to be a vibrant part of Oak Park's ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2010-Bellissima-Opera-VTP-June12-13.html - Cached

  3. Village Players Theater is proud to announce two - Oak Park Newspaper

    Nov 1, 2009 ... VILLAGE PLAYERS TRAINING CENTER ANNOUNCES FALL INTENSIVE WORKSHOPS ... The goal of the Village Players Professional Training Center is to ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2009-Village-Players-Offers-classes.html - Cached

  4. Village Players of Oak Park has a New - Oak Park Newspaper

    Oak Park, IL - Village Players Performing Arts Center announces the hiring of new Artistic Director, Dan Taube, a long-time Chicago theater veteran. ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2009-Village-Players-New-director-Dan-Taube.html - Cached

  5. Oak Park Newspaper

    (OAK PARK)"You Can't Take It With You", written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, is the first show from Village Players Theater's "New American Classics" ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2009-Village-Players-You-Cant-Take-it-with-You.html - Cached - Similar

  6. Lost in Yonkers is Playing at Village Players - Oak Park Newspaper

    Oak Park Newspaper, Oak Park Journal, News, Oak Park.
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-Lost-in-Yonkers-2010.html - Cached

  7. Oak Park Newspaper

    The play is directed by Village Players company member Doug Long. ... Village Players resides at 1010 West Madison Avenue in Oak Park. ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-2007-Elephant-man.html - Cached - Similar

  8. Oak Park Newspaper

    The Village Players Theatre's production of this play is worth seeing ... Village Players cheers up the winter blues with the Classic Comedy BORN YESTERDAY. ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-plays-2007-Born-Yesterday.html - Cached

  9. Oak Park Newspaper

    Jun 1, 2003 ... “Children of Eden”, playing at Village Players in Oak Park .... Village Players Theatre in Oak Park, IL announces it's season finale!' ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-Children-of-Eden-2003.html - Cached - Similar

  10. Oak Park Newspaper

    Feb 9, 2003 ... To Kill A Mockingbird, playing at Village Players in Oak Park ... Park schools and with additional classes at Village Players. ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-2003-Mockingbird.html - Cached - Similar

  1. Oak Park Newspaper

    Oak Park, IL- Back by popular demand the Village Players Theatre will revive ... Presented in the main stage space of the newly renovated Village Players ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-2007-Ebenezer.html

  2. Bat Boy - Oak Park Newspaper

    The Village Players: Bat Boy: The Musical is about to begin. ... Presented on the Mainstage of the Village Players Performing Arts Center located at 1010 ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-plays-2009-BatBoy-musical.html - Cached - Similar

  3. Amadeus - Oak Park Newspaper

    Village Players Performing Arts Center presents .... Presented in the Mainstage Theater of the Village Players Performing Arts Center located at 1010 ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-2009-Amadeus.html - Cached

  4. Theater-plays1

    February 17th 2002 at the Village Players in Oak Park. review by Ed Vincent ... at Village Players in the role of Abby Brewster in "Arsenic and Old Lace. ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-Being-Earnest2002.html - Cached - Similar

  5. Oak Park Newspaper

    Village Players Theatre - a professional non-equity theatre located at ... Village Players Theatre is a non-profit organization founded in 1959 ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-2003-Creve-Coeur.html - Cached - Similar

  6. Oak Park Newspaper

    "I admire Betty," says Occhipinti, "and all of us at the Village Players have ... There is a saying around the Village Players and it goes something like ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-2007-Trip-to-Bountiful-Atwood.html - Cached - Similar

  7. Oak Park Newspaper

    Village Players Theater in Oak Park has done an incredible job with their ... Oak Park, IL— Village Players Performing Arts Center presents the Stephen ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-2009-Sunday-in-the-Park-with-George.html - Cached

  8. Village Players Theatre Junior Ensemble - Oak Park Newspaper

    Jun 6, 2004 ... This adaptation is a World Premiere event for Oak Park and the Village Players Jr. ensemble. Mr. Peters has done a nice job to make the tale ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-2004-Crown-jr-ensemble.html - Cached

  9. Oak Park Newspaper

    Darkhouse Entertainment, Village Players Performing Arts Center and the Park District of Forest Park have joined forces to create MURDER MANSION, ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2008-Haunted-Hse-Village-Players-Forest-Park.html - Cached - Similar

  10. Oak Park Newspaper

    of the newly refinished Village Players Theatre is welcome ... theatrical lighting in Chicago, but this is his first Village Players production. ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-2007-Bars-Girl-on-the-Piano.html - Cached

  1. Oak Park Newspaper

    Find out this summer when they go The Full Monty at Village Players! ... Newcomer Tyler Dean makes his Village Players debut as Jerry. ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-2008-The-Full-Monty.html - Cached

  2. Village-Theater-Cherry-Orchard - Oak Park Newspaper

    tickets on line at www.village-players.org or 1 hour before show time at the ... Village Players Theatre is a non-equity professional theater company ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-Cherry-Orchard-2002.html - Cached

  3. A Night at the Opera - Oak Park Newspaper

    Sunday, March 12, at Village Players Theater in Oak Park may very well start the drama of a new ... Village Players may now be performing in the new Village ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2006-Night-at-the-Opera-OakPk-March-12th.html - Cached - Similar

  4. On Friday, June 6, 2003, Ms. Diane Fisher - Oak Park Newspaper

    Jun 6, 2003 ... The Village Players in Oak Park has been performing now for some 42 ... This year the Village Players of Oak Park did not even bother to ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-2003-Post-Let-Go.html - Cached

  5. LOVE IN THE MIDDLE AGES - Oak Park Newspaper

    The cast includes author Scott Urban, Jeff Jones and Guy Klinzing—both direct from Village Players' acclaimed production of The Full Monty, as well as Danon ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2008-VPT-love-in-the-middle-ages.html - Cached - Similar

  6. Oak Park Newspaper

    Louer, who joined the Village Players as casting director this fall, was choreographer ... Village Players Theatre, located at 1010 Madison St., Oak Park, ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-2006-buddy-holly-story.html - Cached

  7. Oak Park Newspaper

    Village Players keeps getting better and better and this show ... Village Players Theatre presents Williams' Pulitzer prize-winning masterpiece February 12 ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-2006-Streetcar.html - Cached

  8. Theater-plays1

    Nov 25, 2001 ... Village Players is looking wonderful and headed in the right ... 41st season and in the years to come." Village Players Theater.
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-Arsenic-Old-Lace2001.html - Cached

  9. Oak Park Newspaper

    The Village Players Concert Series & Linda M. Smith, Ltd. present ... at the Oak Park Village Players Theater 1010 W. Madison, Oak Park, IL 60302 ...
    oakparkjournal.com/2006/2006-story-of-artemisia-june-17.html - Cached

  10. FODfest (Friends of Daniel Pearl) - Oak Park Newspaper

    Where: Village Players Performing Arts Center, 1010 W. Madison Street Oak Park IL 60302. Who: performers include singer-songwriter Michael Smith, ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2009-Village-Players-Daniel-Pearl-night-Oct-28th.html - Cached

  1. Day in Our Village on Sunday Was a - Oak Park Newspaper

    Carl Occhipinti, the Artistic Director of Oak Park Village Players will be retiring after many years with the organization. From an organization that almost ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2009-OakPark-Day-in-our-village.html - Cached

  2. Oak Park Newspaper

    Madama Butterfly at Oak Park's Village Players presented another treat for the arts, another musical gem from the multitalented Bellissima Production's ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2007-Madama-Butterfly-June8-24.html - Cached - Similar

  3. Oak Park Newspaper

    La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi will be performed on Friday, May 26th at 8:00 pm and Sunday, May 28th at 3:00 pm at Village Players Theater, 1010 W. Madison, ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2006-La-Traviata-Oak-Park-May-26.html - Cached

  4. Oak Park Journal Newspaper

    This is a town that is watching it's Village Players fall to new low ends and the Festival Theatre struggle with it's attendance. The Park Board could buy ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/Editorial-Page.htm - Cached - Similar

  5. Oak Park Newspaper

    from his fine work at our own Village Players theater. In this role Joe gets to use his humor and singing talents to give ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/2009/2009-Man-LaMancha.html - Cached

  6. Past Oak Park Journal Stories

    Lost in Yonkers is Playing at Village Players Theater in Oak Park .... Village Players Performing Arts Center presents Amadeus Oak Park, Il-'Season of ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/past-stories1.html - Cached - Similar

  7. Theater-plays1

    Village Players Theatre presents Thornton Wilder's – Our Town, March 1 through March 31 at the Village Players Theater, 1010 W. Madison, Oak Park IL. ...
    oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-Our-Town2002.html - Cached

  8. Feature Stories

    "A Lovely Sunday For Creve Coeur" By Tennessee Williams at Village Players running through April 6th 2003. Highly Recommended OPJ ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/feature_stories.html - Cached

  9. Suburban Journals

    Village Players Theater brings the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning musical "A Chorus Line" part of its New American Classics. ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/ - Cached - Similar

  10. Oak Park Festival Theater - Oak Park Newspaper

    Jul 18, 2004 ... Oak Park residents may remember that she directed CRIME OF THE HEART for Village Players a couple of years ago. ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2004-romeo-juliet-festival.html - Cached

  1. Oak Park Newspaper

    *denotes Circle Theatre Company Member. Special thanks to Katie Johnston, Erika Goodman, Keith Bunin, Lee Peters, and Village Players. Time: the present ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../CircleTheatre-2004-credeaux-canvas.html - Cached - Similar

  2. Oak Park Newspaper

    Franco Martorana for his songs and to the Village Players ... FAVORITES FROM THE SILVER SCREEN will be presented at Village Players on ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-2007-Silver-screen-Feb.html - Cached

  3. Oak Park Newspaper

    The Last Five Years, a powerful, emotional musical for two actors that premiered in Skokie and went to Broadway, inaugurates Village Players Theatre's new ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2006-village-players-last-5-years-march12-26.html

  4. Oak Park Newspaper

    Oct 17, 2005 ... Village Players Theatre of Oak Park Presents Dracula review by Ed Vincent ... Oak Park's Village Players, with a cast ready for Broadway. ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2005-village-players-dracula-announce.html - Cached

  5. Theater-plays1

    Players, Village Players, TinFish Productions, and Wheaton Drama. In addition to the stage, Tom also does commercial, film, and print work. ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../CircleTheatre-RedRyder2002.html - Cached

  6. Oak Park Newspaper

    Village Players. 1010 West Madison Oak Park, Illinois. Reservations: 708-524-1892. Website. 00. Oak Park Festival Theatre · Oak Park Area Arts Council ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/Arts-Local.htm - Cached

  7. Village Player's Black Box Production "How I Learned - Oak Park ...

    Mar 15, 2009 ... Appearing as Peck, Village Players Artistic Director, ... Presented in the Blackbox Theater of the Village Players Performing Arts Center ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-2009-BlackBox-How-I-Learned-to-Drive.html - Cached

  8. Oak Park Newspaper

    http://suburbanjournals.com/TheaterReviews/Village-Theater-2007-Silver- ... http://suburbanjournals.com/2006/2006-Village-players-Opera-singers-Nov-10th- ...

    Show map of 105 East Main Street, St Charles, IL 60174-1927
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2008-Franco-Martorana-Luciano-tribute-3-other-Tenors-May-3rd-review.html - Cached - Similar

  9. Oak Park Newspaper

    Presented in the Play Ground Theatre of the newly renovated Village Players Theatre located at 1010 W. Madison. Plenty of parking is available on the street ...
    oakparkjournal.com/.../2008-Village-Players-Paul-McKenna-Meagen-Wells-Feb-23rd.html

  10. Oak Park, IL - Oak Park Newspaper

    Jun 11, 2009 ... Village Players of Oak Park has a done a wonderful job of bringing ... Presented in the BlackBox Theatre of the Village Players Performing ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Village-Theater-2009-jesus-train.html - Cached

  1. Oak Park Newspaper

    Village Players Theater Proudly Presents The First Annual Classical Vocal Concert Series 2006-07 Season From Italy with Love ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2006-Upcoming-local-singers-opera-01.html - Cached

  2. Oak Park Newspaper

    Village Players Theatre Oak Park's Center for Performing Arts Presents: ... Tickets available at www.village-players.org or by calling 866-764-1010. ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2008-Village-Players-Children-lesser-god-feb-1-24th.html

  3. Oak Park Newspaper

    Village Players Theatre, 1010 W. Madison St., Oak Park, IL 708-524-1892 ... which unfortunately has a short run a Village Players and will ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/2006/2006-VPT-Book-of-Leaves.html

  4. 2009-16in-softball-h - Oak Park Newspaper

    Jul 19, 2009 ... "It's an honor for our village to be an integral part of this tribute to the greatest players of Chicago's great game," ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2009-16in-softball-hall-of-fame-chicagoland-opening-July.html - Cached

  5. Oak Park Newspaper

    THE BLACKBOX at Village Players, 1010 W. Madison, Oak Park Advance tickets are suggested: 1-866-764-1010 www.village-players.org ...
    oakparkjournal.com/.../2009-Paul-McKenna-Village-Players-March-27th.html

  6. Oak Park Newspaper

    Jul 20, 2007 ... HARRY POTTER'S LAST BOOK IS CELEBRATED VILLAGE WIDE IN OAK PARK ... match earlier in Mills Park has some fine players who won the ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../2007-Harry-Potter-Fest-OakPark-July-20th-report.html - Cached - Similar

  7. Oak Park Newspaper

    Village Players Theatre Oak Park's Center for Performing Arts Presents: You Never Can Tell by George Bernard Shaw to be reviewed ...
    oakparkjournal.com/2008/2008-Village-Players-you-can-never-tell.htm

  1. Theater-plays1

    Village Players Theater is located at 1006 Madison Street in Oak Park, easily accessible by car, train or bus. “Godspell” runs through February 6 and ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/Theater-plays1-past.htm - Cached

  2. Oak Park Journal Newspaper

    River Forest Public Library, Village Players Theatre and at the Oak Park Art League. Her work is part of the permanent collection at Concordia University ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Mel-Thompson-Artist-VOP-3-8-2001.html

  3. Oak Park Newspaper

    currently showing. "A Lovely Sunday For Creve Coeur" By Tennessee Williams · at Village Players running through April 6th 2003. ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/Page3-Arts.htm

  4. Theater-plays1

    Village Players; ALL THAT HE WAS with Transplant Theatre Co. at the. Athenaeum; LOST IN YONKERS at Morton College; and A LITTLE NIGHT ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../CircleTheatre-Show-and-Tell.html

  5. Oak Park Journal Newspaper

    at the Village Players theater in Oak Park. Dimitri (Eduardo Von), Popova (Jenny Sanchez), and Luka (J.J. Romero) from El Oso ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/Stories2001/Bear-OSO-review-2001.htm

  6. Oak Park Newspaper

    Sarah Good, Salem Village Rebecca Nurse, Salem Village ..... numerous productions with Peninsula Players and Notre Dame Summer Shakespeare. ...
    www.oakparkjournal.com/.../Steppenwolf-2007-Crucible.html - Cached - Similar









only search Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.





© Suburban Journals of  Chicago Inc.
published by Suburban Journals of  Chicago Inc.