Photo: Steve Malone, Managing Artistic Director
The new Lake Forest Theatre announced its inaugural three-show season, including THE SECRET GARDEN, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, and A CHORUS LINE in the 309-seat John & Nancy Hughes Theatre at the Gorton Community Center, which just underwent a 1.5 million dollar renovation.
It’s an ambitious first season for the new musical theater production company, which is helmed by actor and theater administrator Steve Malone. Tickets are priced at $49—right in line with the Marriott Theatre, one of the nation’s largest musical theater producers, a mere 9 miles away. But money doesn’t always equal quality, so it will be interesting to see what happens with the new operation that promises live orchestras and top-quality production value.
Lake Forest Theatre will hire non-union performers for now, and the 25-member cast for THE SECRET GARDEN–which will be directed by Malone–features Edward Fraim as Archibald, Edward MacLennan as Craven, and Elizabeth Mazur as Martha.
Abigail has worked as an actor/director in Chicago for over ten years, and along with husband Jason Epperson founded Lotus Theatricals in 2015, and PerformInk Chicago and Kansas City in 2016 (where she serves as Managing Editor of both publications). When not talking shop, Abigail is raising three padawans with Jason, drinking lots of coffee, converting school buses into RV's, and eating all the foods at Disney World. You can find her on Twitter @AbigailTrabue
