Theatre Department Staff

Artistic Director of Theater
Alison Dornheggen
p: 847-256-9694
Email: adornheggen@wilpark.org

Wendy Avon
Kate Black
Becca Jeffords
Chris Kostuchowski

Announcements:

Wilmette Children's Theater season lineup is now available below. Take a look to see what shows are coming, dates and audition information!

Don't let summer pass you by! This short session is a great time to try a theater class - join us for some fun! Click here to see what we've got planned.

  • Theater Department Staff

    Wendy Avon has been teaching performing arts to children for more than 15 years. She is a graduate of Columbia College, where she studied theater and dance. She has acted in Chicago theatrical productions, professional films and commercials.

    Kate Black is a freelance stage manager living in Chicago Illinois. She stage manages for Wilmette Children's Theater and co-teaches the Technical Theater class. She holds a BFA in Stage Management from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. Before moving to Chicago, Kate lived in and worked in New York City.

    Alison Dornheggen has been working in the Chicago theatre community as an actor, director, fight choreographer and administrator for the past 15 years. She is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago, where she majored in Acting and Directing. In 2008, she took a hiatus from Chicago to become the Graduate Theatre Fellow for the Arts Management program at American University in Washington, DC. She has worked with the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Oak Park Festival Theater, Caffeine Theatre, Steep Theatre Company, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, Women's Theatre Alliance, 20% Theatre Company, The Factory Theater and greasy joan & co. She currently is an ensemble member, as well as marketing and development coordinator, for Babes With Blades Theatre Company, a female based theatre company which specializes in the art of stage combat.

    Becca Jeffords is a lighting designer for theatre, dance, concerts and other live events. She is based out of Chicago, but works nationally. Some credits include designs at Cherry Lane Theatre (NYC), The New York Fringe Festival, Chicago Children's Theatre, Raven Theatre, About Face Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, Redmoon and Steppenwolf. In addition to designing Becca has taught at universities across the country, including Northwestern University, Wheaton College, Grinnell College, and Georgia State University. For more information on her work please visit www.beccajeffords.com.

    Christine Kostuchowski received her bachelor's degree in Speech and Performing Arts from Northeastern Illinois University. She has appeared in local community theater productions and has an extensive background in technical theater as a director, costumer, stage manager, and make-up consultant.

  • Children's Theater

    Children's Theater is designed to provide a live theater experience for participants and the audience.

    Wilmette Children's Theater productions are now open to those in 5th - 8th grade. The Minis division is now for actors in 1st - 4th grade. Requests for audition appointments should be emailed to auditions@wilpark.org on or after the date listed and should include the following information:

    • Name of child auditioning
    • Current grade of child auditioning
    • If the child auditioning has any audition experience (All levels of experience are welcome to audition!)

    Can't make the audition date? Contact auditions@wilpark.org

    ROCK OF AGES (Middle School Edition)

    • Performances: October 5 - 14, 2018
    • General auditions will be held on Saturday, July 28
    • Callbacks will be on Monday, July 30
    • Requests for general audition appointments may be made starting July 9

    This family friendly version of the Broadway hit, ROCK OF AGES is a classic boy-meets-girl story told through all things '80's. Bust out the Aquanet and jump in your Camaro as you rock out to Bon Jovi, Twisted Sister, Journey and more! (Running time is approximately 60 - 75 minutes.)

    A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD KIDS (Minis Division)

    • Performances: February 1 - 10, 2019
    • General auditions will be held on Sunday, October 21 (no callbacks for this production)
    • Requests for audition appointments may be made starting October 1

    Centered around the characters of the beloved children's books, A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD follows the unlikely pairing of the cheerful Frog and the grumpy Toad during the year through all of the wonderful creatures and animals they encounter along the way. (Running time is approximately 30 - 35 minutes.)

    SHREK Jr

    • Performances: March 8 - 17, 2019
    • General auditions will be held on Monday, December 11 and Tuesday, December 12
    • Callbacks will be on Wednesday, December 12
    • Requests for general audition appointments may be made starting November 12

    Follow the adventure of everyone's favorite Ogre and the other lovable fractured fairy tale characters as they attempt to appease the law of the land to save their beloved swamp. (Running time is approximately 60 - 75 minutes.)

    ANNIE KIDS (Minis Division)

    • Performances: April 26th - May 5, 2019
    • General auditions will be held on Saturday, February 9 (no callbacks for this production)
    • Requests for audition appointments may be made starting January 22

    The story of little orphan Annie is back, and condensed to hit everyone's favorite moments within the original musical. (Running time is approximately 35 - 40 minutes.)

  • Wilmette Improv Troupes

    The Wilmette Improv Troupes are designed for students ages 9 and up, and are directed by acclaimed Wilmette Children's Theater Director, Wendy Avon. Students will master the craft of improvisation and show off their skills with a variety of performing opportunities both in house and in the community. Troupe members will have the pleasure of performing improv games designed to build self-confidence, as well as improve their audition and acting skills. Ten performances are scheduled for the season. Ready for the next exciting season of Improv Troupes? Auditions will be held October 15. Watch your Fall Explore Guide for more information! For questions or concerns, contact Director Wendy Avon at wavon@wilpark.org.

  • Click Here for the full lineup of Sounds of Summer 2018!

    ***ABBA SALUTE Rescheduled Performance! August 24 at 8p.m. Everyone's favorite dancing queens are returning for their reschedule date! Join us as we welcome Abba Salute back to the Wallace Bowl stage for the final concert of the 2018 season!

    The Center for the Arts proudly presents Footloose this summer

    Stage Adaptation by DEAN PITCHFORD and WALTER BOBBIE
    Music by TOM SNOW
    Lyrics by DEAN PITCHFORD

    Directed by Geoffrey Bleeker Mudd
    Musical Direction by Michael McBride
    Choreographed by Jenilee Houghton

    General auditions: Saturday, 4/14 from 10am - 6pm
    Callbacks April 16 and 17 (evenings)

    Please email auditions@wilpark.org to schedule an audition appointment or for more information. You will need to prepare 32 bars / 30 second cut of an up-tempo or pop selection and be prepared to dance. (No character shoes necessary, please wear sneakers or other similar footwear.)

    Rehearsals will begin mid May.
    Tech: July 7 - 11
    Performances: July 12 - 14, 19 - 21 and 26 - 28 (Thursday - Saturday evenings)