A wonderful job of taking a situational comedy written by
Oscar Wilde and bringing it to the stage.  The accents of
the actors are top notch and the performance is a treat
for lovers of Oscar Wilde.  I would like to have seen the
other play originally listed for this time slot:  "The Rope",
and hopefully it will have another chance to come here.

Donna Black, who plays Lady Bracknell, was last seen
at Village Players in the role of Abby Brewster in "Arsenic
and Old Lace."  She was a hit then and this is another hit
for her again.  I would encourge all of Oak Park to see
the show and support our local efforts.  Please take the
time to enjoy a local production.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
Directed by Bryan White

Act One

l895 London Early Evening
The manor house of Algernon Moncrief

15 Minute Intermission

Act Two

The Garden in the Afternoon
The country estate of Jack Worthing
  in Woalton, Hertsfordshire
 

Act Three

The sitting room in the Early Evening
 

The country estate of Jack Worthing

CAST

Jack                       Scott Anderson

Algernon                Santosha Chantal

Lady Bracknell      Donna Black

Gwendolen             Kerri Van Auken

Cecily                    Vanessa Lenski

Lane & Merriman  Steve Pridmore

Miss Prism              Regina Webster

Dr. Chasuble           Philip M. Carlin

~Who's Who In The Cast~

Scott Anderson (Jack): Scott loves to act. Whether
on stage, independent films, or in real life, he has
 been doing the "thespian thing" since the sixth grade.
The son of an Air Force Colonel, Scott has lived across
the U.S. and overseas. After graduating from L.A. Tech.,
he lived briefly in Memphis and Orlando, finally
settling in Chicago. As a Sr. Art Director for PLAYBOY,
Scott enjoys the freedom to grow as an artist in other
creative outlets like acting and movie making, recently
completing his first small film, The Race. Scott has
studied at Second City. Improv Olympic, the Piven Theatre
Workshop, and was last seen as Michael and Barry in
Tony n' Tina 's Wedding. He is proud to be included in
the cast of Earnest and hopes you laugh out loud.

Donna Black (Lady Bracknell): Donna is very happy to be
returning to Village Players. Her most recent role was
Abby Brewster in Village Players production of Arsenic
and Old Lace. Besides theatre she does print, industrials,
and film work in the Chicagoland area. She finds joy in
all of these things and hopes to give enjoyment to all
of you this evening.

Phillip Carlin (Dr. Chasuble): Phil has been "trodding
the boards" for the last six years, appearing in some
35 productions in the Chicagoland area since his 1995
debut as The Old Man in Joliet Theatre Guild's production
of Prelude to a Kiss. He has been seen on area stages as
a general, businessman, duke, banker, doctor, impresario,
schoolmaster, psychoanalyst, and similar senior types,
plus a couple of Shakespeare's older guys. As Dr. Chasuble,
this is his first opportunity to play a "man of the cloth".
Bless.

Santosha Chantal (Algernon): Santosha is delighted to
be making his debut appearance here at Village Players
Theatre. He received his BA in Theatre Arts from Berea
College in 1994 and an MFA in Performance from Roosevelt
University this past Spring. Though he was born and
raised in The Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, he loves
the Chicago city life. Some of his favorite roles include
Rosencrantz m Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead,
Mosca from Volpone, Reverand Paris in The Crucible,
and Dr. Scheaffer from Guess What's In My Pocket.
 

Vanessa Lenski (Cecily): Vanessa recently received her
BFA from Roosevelt University in Theatre Performance.
Some of her favorite roles include Dome in Tartuffe,
Laura in The Glass Menagerie, an Ensemble member in
Savage Love, and Natalie, Millicente and Bean Pole in
Guess What's In My Pocket? This is Vanessa's first
Village Players Production. She is very excited to be
working for such a great group. Vanessa would like to
give a special thanks to Bryan White and the cast of
Earnest. This run is for my momster.

Steve Pridmore (Lane & Merriman): Steve is excited to be
working with Village Players Theatre again. He is
originally from Panama City Florida and came to Chicago
to attend the Theatre Conservatory at Roosevelt University.
He is currently a senior BFA Performance Major at
Roosevelt. Most recently you've seen on stage in Tserk
an ensemble based Circus Arts production, The Crucible,
Working, Much Ado About Nothing, Company, and last Fall's
Village Players production of The Diary of Anne Frank.

Kerri Van Auken (Gwendolen): Kern has just completed an
MFA degree in Performance from Roosevelt University.
Recently she had the opportunity to collaborate with
the funny and talented members of The Brick Theatre in
Guess What ~ In My Pocket. After years of scene work in
the classics, Kern is thrilled to get to do the whole
entire play. Many thanks to her friends, family, and
Othello McHenry-her dashing British muse.

Regina Webster (Miss Prism): Regina is pleased to be
making her debut with the Village Players in this most
British of plays. Other credits include: the Duchess of
Plaza Toro in Gondoliers and Lady Blanche in Princess
Ida with the Park Ridge Gilbert & Sullivan Society,
Eulalie Shinn and Mrs. Paroo in The Music Man for St. Tars
Players. Catch her this Spring at the Wood-stock Opera
House as the Actor/Emcee in a benefit for Animal Outreach.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Village Players Theatre
708-524-1892
 

The Importance of Being Earnest Production!
Oak Park, IL - Village Players Theatre announces the
4th Mainstage production of their 2001 -2002 season.
 

The Importance of Being Earnest opens January 18th
and runs every Friday, Saturday & Sunday through
February 17th 2002. Performance Times are at 8:00 P.M.
on Friday & Saturday and 2:00 P.M. Sundays (No Sunday
matinee on January 27). Ticket prices range $8.00-$18.00.
Special Group discounts are available. Call
1-708-222-0369 for ticket reservations and 708-524-1892
for group and/or more information. Join this talented
cast as they present Oscar Wilde 's trivial comedy for
serious people at Village Players Theatre in Oak Park,
Illinois. This clever cast & hilarious script is sure
to delight one and all.

Director: Bryan White
Stage Manager: Carrie Hunter
Set Designer: Angela Jackson
Costume Designer: Suzanne Mann
Technical Director & Light Designer: Brian Archer

Cast: Scott Anderson, Donna Black, Phillip Carlin,
Santosha Chantal, Vanessa Lenski, Steve Pridmore,
Kerri Van Auken, Regina Webster
 
 

Village Players Theatre is a non-equity professional
theater located in Oak Park, IL at 1010 W. Madison St.
 - North of 290 and East of Harlem Ave.

This is the Village Players 41st Season of quality
entertainment. For additional information on the
Village Players Theatre visit their Web site at
www.village-players.org

Village Players Theater
 1010 West Madison
Oak Park, Illinois

Reservations: 708-524-1892

 "Our mission is to promote the cultural arts through education and
public performances.  We have a unique and  valuable performance
venue, and we will strive to continue to bring variety and quality to
our productions.  Those  artistic achievements that have endured
over these many years are due to the generosity of the theater going
public,  and we hope we can count on their valued support for our
41st season and in the years to come."  Village Players Theater