Posted by admin on April 1, 2013 at 4:38 pm
My two younger sisters and I were always fascinated by music, live theatre and old movie musicals. Gene Kelly and Judy Garland were our heroes; White Christmas and The Sound of Music were our movie rentals of choice; and seeing Forever Plaid at the Royal George Theatre in Chicago was one of the highlights of our childhood.
My Mom’s brother lives here in Chicago and my family would take trips from Troy, MI (my hometown) every year or two to see him. When I was 11 years old (in the mid-1990′s), we all got in the car and drove to the Windy City for one of those visits.
One of the events on the itinerary was to see a production of Forever Plaid at the Royal George Theatre. We had no idea what to expect but my family always enjoyed attending live theatre performances. I don’t remember too many details but I do recall sitting absolutely fascinated by the four talented men putting on a perfect show.
Sometime soon after this trip, my Mom bought the original cast recording and proceeded to listen to it often. When I was old enough to start my own CD collection, one of the first things I did was borrow it from her.
After I got cast in this show, my Mom went to break out her Forever Plaid cast recording. She couldn’t find it! It was then I realized that I had borrowed her copy, 15 years after our trip to the Royal George. She let me keep it but insisted that I burn her a copy while I was home visiting in February.
I have been listening to that recording for over 15 years. When I decided to major in theatre and become a professional actor, Forever Plaid was on the top of my dream show list. Two years ago, I was lucky enough to play the role of Frankie in Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings at Weathervane Playhouse in Newark, OH. And now, after dreaming of doing the original Plaid for half my life, I am honored to make my Chicago area theatre debut in the role of Jinx here at Fox Valley Repertory.
Ryan Naimy (left) in "Forever Plaid" with Rob Riddle, Andres Enriquez, and Robert Deason.
Forever Plaid is a heartfelt, nostalgic and charming piece of theatre. You’ll get the references. You’ll know the songs. You’ll even find yourself humming along. And with the cast and creative team Fox Valley Repertory has assembled for this production, you don’t want to miss it!
This show will always have a special place in my heart and I know it will find its way into yours.
-Ryan Naimy, aka Jinx in Fox Valley Rep’s “Forever Plaid,” playing March 28 – May 19, 2013. For more info, visit www.foxvalleyrep.org/ForeverPlaid.
—
RYAN NAIMY (Jinx) is thrilled to be making his Fox Valley Repertory debut! Originally from Troy, MI, Ryan spent the last five years based out of New York City and made the big move to Chicago in January 2013. Ryan played Peter Pan on the Disney Wonder cruise ship, toured the country with Curious George, and has even played a dog…and a pig. Favorite shows/roles: Next to Normal (Gabe, Michigan premiere), Sweeney Todd (Tobias), A Chorus Line (Paul), You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Linus), Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings (Frankie), Hairspray (IQ) x 2, Evita with Lauren Kennedy. He is a proud Illinois Wesleyan University graduate, BFA Music Theatre. www.RyanNaimy.com
Continue Reading
Posted by admin on January 23, 2013 at 1:21 pm
Whether you have been going to the theater to see comedies, dramas and musicals for years or theater-going is a brand new adventure, you have probably realized the wonderful shared experience created with your fellow audience members. Much like gathering together for a sporting event or seeing a movie, the theater allows us to laugh or cry, cheer or scorn as a new story unfolds.
What theater offers that is different than other entertainment is the live story. Tonight this performance with all its human flaws will only be seen once because from performance to performance there are slight variations, but the biggest reason is you – the audience – changes from night to night.
What you and your fellow audience members bring into theater with you (did you have a good or bad day? are you in the mood to laugh? are you going through a tough time right now?) collectively shapes your response to the story onstage. There is nothing like the anticipation of sitting in the audience before the lights dim. The excitement and hushed voices around you as you wait for the show to begin. It can be electric. And with the right show, the night can truly be an amazing shared moment.
At Fox Valley Rep we plan a subscription season of five shows that were each chosen especially for the Fox Valley. These plays and musicals will each take you on a wonderful journey from a modern day murder mystery (The Art of Murder) to the 1950s for a final concert by teen idols (Forever Plaid) then to a 1960s bachelorette musical (Why Do Fools Fall in Love?) and onto an evening at a Manhattan Penthouse in the 1930s that celebrates the great music of Cole Porter (Let’s Misbehave), and finally to a heart-warming family holiday show (Making God Laugh).
Five nights to share with family, friends and new acquaintances as you look across the aisle and see young and old all smiling and ready to participate together in the joy of theater. We hope you consider subscribing to this exciting season now.
-John Gawlik, FVR Artistic Director
Continue Reading
Posted by admin on December 3, 2012 at 12:02 pm
The Fox Valley Rep Youth Ensemble are getting ready for their opening performance of “Cinderella” this Saturday.
Ten-year-old Ashley Przybylski plays the Milkmaid and Girl at Ball and is very excited to be a part of the Youth Ensemble for the very first time, and wrote a blog about the rehearsal process. Please read on!
–
As opening night of Fox Valley Rep Youth Ensemble’s production of Cinderella draws near, rehearsal has entered the final stages. This week, the cast began rehearsing on the stage. Most nights we are running through the entire performance twice. We are all very excited to see it coming together.
Also this week, the cast had fittings for their costumes. It was a lot of fun to see what we will be wearing on stage.
–
“Cinderella” will be performed on the Pheasant Run Mainstage in December. A suggested donation of $10 is much-appreciated at the door. Please join us!
December 8 – 22, 2012
Saturdays @ 10:30am
Sunday, December 9 @ 7pm; Friday, December 14 @ 10:30am
www.foxvalleyrep.org/Cinderella
Continue Reading
Posted by admin on November 7, 2012 at 1:28 pm
The Fox Valley Rep Youth Ensemble are hard at work rehearsing their upcoming production of “Cinderella.” Fifteen-year-old Elisabeth Reuter, a sophomore at St. Francis, is thrilled to be playing the part of Cinderella, and wrote a blog about the rehearsal process. Please read on!
–
Rehearsal for Cinderella began about 2 weeks ago, and I must say they are going great! So far we have learned a variety of songs like the classic “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” and new songs like “The Prince is Giving a Ball”. From waltzing to a possible salsa type dance during the bows, the cast is learning all different types of dance to add to our show. The auditions were originally meant for 6th through 12th grade but this show was opened up to some younger kids, who will be shining stars in their parts as the mice. One of these mice, Kaia Ebel, 10 years old and a 4th grader, said that she only knew one person coming into the show and now she knows a lot and has made a ton of new friends. Sophia Prette, another mouse, 13 years old and an 8th grader, said that this show is helping improve her dancing and she loves “mouse camp”. The cast has also been practicing in character shoes that they will be wearing during the performance. Even in the early stages of rehearsal, I can see the show coming together and I know that the ending product will be fantastic!!
-Elisabeth
“Cinderella” will be performed on the Pheasant Run Mainstage in December. A suggested donation of $10 is much-appreciated at the door. Please join us!
December 8 – 22, 2012
Saturdays @ 10:30am
Sunday, December 9 @ 7pm
www.foxvalleyrep.org/Cinderella
Continue Reading
Posted by admin on August 8, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Meet Allison Cole. She is a 13 year old 8th grader, and had the chance to perform with the Fox Valley Rep Youth Ensemble for the first time in this summer’s “High School Musical.” Here’s what she had to say about her experience with us!
–
Each day of play practice is very organzied. They send out e-mail before hand to let us know what we will be doing on the next practice.
The fitting days also went good and smooth. When it was your turn you had our own section where we brought our own clothes for our chacters that we thought would work or that the costume had to chose from. If it needed altering she would put pins where it needed to be altered.
Another thing is the dances the director has came up with is easy to learn. She tells you where to stand and how to do it. If you don’t understand them she’ll stop and take the time to break it down.
During Tech week the big thing is to be PATIENT. Because the final touches on the dances, lines, costumes, etc. are going on. It is kind of crazy and you are there for MANY hours a day. BUT then you think to yourself it’s ALL worth it once Opening Day is there. You start to relax and have fun. My favorite part of the show is the bowing because that is when you no they are clapping for you and your performance. You feel good because you know you did your best and they loved it. You even get noticed outside of the theather. After a show, me and my family went to Portillo’s afterwards and I had 2 different people come up to me and say they just seen the show.
Now backstage is all together different. YOU have to make sure all your costumes are back there and ready to be changed into. You have to let the costume helpers know if you need help. But a lot of the times we’d just help eachother if we could. Also if you are on scholarship one of the duties is to help setup or take down the set. I asked which one they need help with and it was mostly taking down the set.
I really enjoyed this 1st experience on the big stage. I made alot of new friends I hope to keep in touch with and plan to try out for another show next summer.
Thank you,
Allison Cole
The cast of HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL. Trademanphoto.com
RYAN NAIMY (Jinx) is thrilled to be making his Fox Valley Repertory debut! Originally from Troy, MI, Ryan spent the last five years based out of New York City and made the big move to Chicago in January 2013. Ryan played Peter Pan on the Disney Wonder cruise ship, toured the country with Curious George, and has even played a dog…and a pig. Favorite shows/roles: Next to Normal (Gabe, Michigan premiere), Sweeney Todd (Tobias), A Chorus Line (Paul), You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Linus), Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings (Frankie), Hairspray (IQ) x 2, Evita with Lauren Kennedy. He is a proud Illinois Wesleyan University graduate, BFA Music Theatre. www.RyanNaimy.com
