Beaudry Previews Timber Lake Playhouse 2012

Artistic Director James Beaudry is bringing the excitement back to Timber Lake Playhouse, Illinois’ longest running professional summer theatre, located just outside of Mount Carroll. Following a VIP preview on June 6, the 2012 season kicks off June 7 with Guys & Dolls, a classic song-and-dance musical comedy from Broadway’s Golden Age that is fun for all ages. Individual tickets for Guys & Dolls and the entire season are available beginning Monday, May 21, at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org and at the TLP box office. In addition to producing seven productions this year, Beaudry is also overseeing some new efforts designed to add to the audiences’ experience.

Now in his third season as Artistic Director, Beaudry previously worked with TLP as a performer, choreographer and director on and off since 2001. Says Beaudry, “Our seven shows this summer are some of the most fun and heartwarming pieces of theatre we’ve done in a long time. We’ve assembled a stellar company of designers, performers, directors, choreographers and musicians from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta and everywhere in between including three performers from Sterling, Dixon and Milledgeville . I’m honored that so many wonderful artists are thrilled to bring their talents to Mount Carroll every summer to help us continue this joyous summer tradition. Audiences will be happy to see many of their favorite guest artists returning this summer, as well.”

In addition to Guys & Dolls, the summer lineup includes Working, based on the famous Studs Terkel book using the actual words of everyday men and women as they share their humorous, heartfelt and harrowing stories; Footloose, a contemporary song and dance spectacular featuring all the hit songs from the 1984 film and many more; Boeing Boeing, one of the world’s most acclaimed farces with its romantic entanglements, mistaken identities and non-stop physical comedy; Cabaret, the unforgettable Kander & Ebb musical about life before the rise of the Nazi party--full of songs that have become standards over the last 45 years; and Some Enchanted Evening: The Songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein, a glorious and romantic night of music that will make you remember what it was like falling in love for the first time. The Magic Owl Children’s Theatre at TLP will also present You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, a full sized musical for families, children and everyone who grew up with Charles Schultz’s beloved Peanuts characters.

“We’ve already had a great response from subscribers and groups for this year’s shows, and some of our matinees already close to sold out,” said Beaudry.

Every summer, close to 25,000 tickets are sold to shows at TLP. “Many people who see our shows travel quite a distance to be here,” Beaudry explained. “Since we are about four miles outside of Mount Carroll, a lot of patrons don’t know about its resurging downtown area. A lot of great new restaurants, shops and artists have really brought the business district back to life, and it’s exciting to see.” But the town isn’t exactly on the way home for patrons from Clinton, IA, Dixon or Freeport.

“To give people the opportunity for a full evening out, for the first time we will be offering beer and wine to our patrons before AND after the shows and during intermission. We are also hoping to offer specialty cheeses to enjoy before the show. We are making some nice upgrades to the public areas in front of the theatre where people will be able to sit before and after shows, socialize with friends and company members and enjoy a summer afternoon or evening.”

While TLP only produces shows in the summer, Beaudry says his job is a year-round one. “I am able to work as a freelance director and choreographer in our ‘off-season’ when I’m in Chicago, but the operations of the Playhouse don’t stop. While our Managing Director, Melissa Mattingly Parsons, with Assistant Managing Director, Tina Stretton, work hard all year to make sure everything is ready to go by the time May comes around, I spend a large part of the winter and spring traveling around the country auditioning performers and interviewing technical staff and designers. I hire about 55 people annually, and they represent a broad range of early career theatre artists and more established actors, directors and choreographers who are valuable resources for our college students as they move into the professional theatre world.”

The guest artists for TLP’s 2012 season include Emmy Award winner and legendary Chicago director, Chuck Smith; Artistic Director of Bailiwick Chicago, Lili-Anne Brown; New York choreographer Will Taylor, who can be seen on tour this summer with Kristin Chenoweth; and favorite returning TLP performers Karl Hamilton, Samantha Dubina, Brandon Jess Ford, Alexandra E. Palkovic and Sharriese Hamilton. “Our directors & choreographers for 2012 have worked on Broadway and at some of the best theatres in Chicago and around the country. It’s a testament to the TLP experience and the connection they feel to our audiences that these artists continue to count us as one of their homes,” Beaudry said.

Subscriptions for the TLP 2012 season are on sale now for $110, allowing you to see all six mainstage shows at a discounted rate. Subscribers can reserve their seats immediately. General tickets are available through the box office beginning May 21 during regular business hours, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily. For more information about the upcoming season, visit www.timberlakeplayhouse.org or call .