RIP First Street Playhouse

[Craig T Gustafson]

<font face="Times New Roman"><font size="4">The Pillowman will be the last show at First Street Playhouse. The corporation is remaining alive, but (A) a name change will most likely happen and (B) they're finally leaving the hell hole.

Julane Sullivan started a theatre by herself. You have to be nuts to do that. But she did it and it's lasted into its seventh season. And of course everybody in community theatre Knew How To Do It Better. Except that some of the brightest people I know and I tried to start a theatre a couple of years before Julane did. We geniuses worked for three months and couldn't agree on so much as a name for the company. We never got it off the ground. Julane had the balls to just go ahead and do it.

Could it have been done better? Probably.
Was it done at all? Yep. And for me that's the bottom line. Julane let me do some of my best work and direct some shows nobody else would have touched.

The new board has done terrific work in keeping the theatre just barely alive and they're finally getting out of the crumbling, money-sucking building.

So here's what I'd like, if you're up for it. If you're not, don't post, 'cause I'll just delete it.

Post some of the good memories of First Street, for public consumption. Are there loads of bad ones? Yep. I've got a ton of them. Whenever I've done a show there, Tums stock went through the roof. Not interested. I'm looking to send off the final production with a commemoration of the work that's been done there. If you want to post a separate thread on this forum discussing all aspects, positive and negative, go for it. This particular thread is only looking for the positive aspects.

For instance, thanks to Julane Sullivan and First Street, I have the following shows on my directing r?sum?:

Lend Me a Tenor
Luv
Sylvia
Wonder of the World
You Can't Take It With You
Noises Off
Nunsense
Rumors
Taming of the Shrew
The Pillowman

I remember the cast of Noises Off being so happy with the show that they asked me if an open-ended run would be possible.

I remember the cast party/orgy after Tartuffe.

I remember the pride the cast had in performing the midwestern premiere of Wonder of the World and actually living through the performances.

We had a stuntman trick in Luv that was so good, people swore they actually saw Jim Quan dive off of that bridge when it was really Mike Krcil.

In Noises Off, we didn't have a set for the blocking rehearsals and the cast was freaking out in a major way. They couldn't picture the set. By the time the run ended, they were so confident that when we had a power outage one day, they kept going -- doing a door-slamming farce in total darkness.

There are people I've met at First Street who have become close friends and theatre associates. If I hadn't worked with David Belew at First Street, I doubt I would have been cast in his production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Summer Place.

So please post the good things that happened, onstage or off. The people you worked with, the friends you made, the work you did that you're proud of having done. If you don't want to log in on this forum, send it to me at [email protected] and I'll post it here for you.

Please come out and see The Pillowman. It's the last one.

Thanks!
Craig

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The Pillowman Ticket Info:
Click Here

The Pillowman Review:
Click Here

The Pillowman Pictures:
Click Here
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<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ November 08, 2007 12:32 PM: Message edited by: Sgt. Bilko ]</font>

[skyhill]

Positive memories about First Street:
Meeting my good friend Leigh Mussay while doing ?Luv.?

Doing ?Luv? ? a three person play with NOTHING but talking in a THREE WEEK rehearsal process and performing a damned good show.

The night the tornado hit the Lowake Inn during ?Cheatin?.?

Playing a different role in ?Cheatin?? the last weekend we performed.

Having a ball doing ?Cheatin?? with the cast members that were in it. For a show that I had very little expectation about, I really enjoyed doing that one. Sincerely.

Getting to do a role like Einstein in ?Picasso at the Lapin Agile.?

Kicking ass playing Einstein.

Getting to say ?You madame, are a pusillanimous little wombat faced git? and cracking up a little every time I said it knowing I had nailed the interp and the audience never laughed. I love it when I do it right and the audience doesn?t get it.

Getting to direct and appear in ?Complete History of America (Abridged).?

Waiting for the laughter to subside at the opening of Act II when we brandished super soakers and pointed them at the audience during ?CHOA (Abridged).? It is one of my all time favorite theatre memories. So?s the night the Lowake Inn got hit by the tornado.

People believing that most of ?CHOA (Abridged)? was improvised when VERY LITTLE of it was. I love it when people believe that what was said on stage was fresh.

Doing my first Shakespearean role in ?Taming of the Shrew.?

Appearing in assless pants in ?Taming of the Shrew? and hearing the gasp every night when the audience saw that I was. (which is another one of my top 10 favorite theatre moments ? bringing the total to 3 at First Street ? hard to knock the good stuff I did there)

Cleaning the theatre the night before opening during ?Shrew.?

But I digress?..

I was rehearsing ??.Virginia Woolf? in the space that became First Street Playhouse the summer before it opened. Julane played Martha, and I remember her talking about the possibility of building a theatre in this space that was CRAMMED full of clutter. I laughed a little every time she said it. The following February I sat in a couch in First Street Playhouse watching ?Lend Me a Tenor.? For all the bad, and there was a lot, I had a really good time there. I really did. It will be sad to see it go.

Randy Knott

[Craig T Gustafson]

<font face="Times New Roman"><font size="4"><font color="Blue">From Tamara Grisko:</font>

Hi Craig.
I can't seem to login to the HostBoard no matter what I try, so here is my response for this post:


Boy did this post feel like a punch in the gut, only because in some ways it was completely unexpected while somehow not surprising. That building worked against that theatre every time it could. My young daughters and I helped clean out the original storage dump that became the theatre space. My dad and I painted the walls purple, my husband hung the drop ceilings in the bathrooms, I helped pick out carpet and fabric for the comfy seats, and ran around like an idiot before the Grand Opening production of "Lend Me A Tenor". Running around like an idiot is a theme that resonates with all of us that have had the privelege and pressure of working at First Street. I always wanted to get in on the ground floor of a new upstart theatre, I just didn't know that phrase would also be literal in the case of First Street.

I directed/produced the third show at First Street, "The Imaginary Invalid", with a lot of help from what became the mainstays there...Craig and Lars for certain. While I was very pleased with the end result of this show, even proud, it bears mentioning that I did not direct another show again until just last year. I did, however, work on many of the productions over the years, and always felt a kinship with everyone that ever worked there, in any capacity. Still do.

My daughter made her theatrical debut at First Street in "Alice In Wonderland", she was 6, and is now 12. She went on to do three other kids' shows there. She also produced her third grade Batavia project by interviewing Julane and filming the theatre in all of its grit and glory. I am now very pleased to have this for posterity.

I made it on the First Street stage twice...once on what was ostensibly the worst set ever built, for "Private Lives". For the mockery that set and our directory became, and maybe because of it, I had one of the most bonding experiences with that cast that I've ever had. The second was with Craig and Randy and many others in the 1940's Radio Show in the Fiore theatre. Another very rewarding and educational experience!

I always wished I had the time to contribute more to the organization and administration of First Street, but with two small children, that was not a lion I was able to tame. We moved away from Batavia a year ago, to Katy, Texas and it is because of all of my experiences with First Street that I am now on the staff of a local, non-profit theatre here. Thank you, Julane.

I am very sad that this little theatre with the comfy seats will be no longer. I sincerely hope that the idea of it will remain in whatever new location is found.....it was a memorable experience for anyone to see live theatre in a living room environment. An idea I wouldn't mind copying some day, but I'll never have the hootspah to do what Julane did, create something from nothing. I also sincerely hope that she truly knows how many lives she has touched, and when the smoke clears, only fond memories will remain for everyone.

Good luck with the transition to a new location. Thanks for the memories! </font></font>

[Dan Muir]

Having been treading the boards since the ripe old age of nine, I've been through several of the western burb's theaters, and subsequently stayed with them only long enough to cultivate feelings of disillusionment ranging from boredom to all-out contempt (anyone who knows me has heard the stories far too many times). Sometimes it took a few years, sometimes only one week of rehearsal! I never burned bridges when I left, but if I ever went back, it was to remind myself why I left running and screaming into the dark in the first place.

Not so with First Street.

I am proud to say that I was part of the innaugural production, Lend Me A Tenor. I was priviliged to see the transformation of a creaky old warehouse space turn into a glowing, new, exciting theater. Every night I came to rehearsal, something new was added. Seeing the broken down couches and sofas come back newly upholstered, the mottled cement floor covered with brand new burgundy carpet, and the battered sandstone walls boasting a fresh paint job brought back the excitement of being part of something big. Witnessing someone's dream come true was an exhilerating thrill that I felt every time I stepped into the theater. The shows I did there were few, counting on one hand, and far between, but I have great memories of the shows I did, and the ones I saw. Among them....

Being back onstage (during Tenor) with an old friend with whom I'd lost contact 11 years earlier......

Pulling out all the stops for one of my most favorite character performances, Mr. Henderson in You Can't Take It With You. Those few minutes I was onstage were some of the most fun moments I ever had, especially finding the new places all the papers went that went flying when I backed into the snakes. Behind the set, on top on the set, in between flats, on top of I-beams. We found even more papers during strike ....

Singing with a great group of incredibly gifted vocalists during the NICOTH Benefit. I was just discovering my singing talents, and being included with some of the best singers in community theater today was quite an honor. It wasn't long afterwards that I found the courage to audition for my first opera.....

During Tenor rehearsals, Julane needed headshots taken for the lobby, and I was still photographing at that time, so I also became a First Street independant contractor. Out of boredom one day, I decided to try drawing a group caricature of the Tenor cast. My drawing talents were a little rusty, but they soon came around, and I was able to give each castmember a copy. Craig asked if I would mind if he colored it and put the image on a t-shirt. Sounded good to me, so at the end of the run, we all got t-shirts AND posters! Julane liked the idea of the caricatures, and I continued shooting and drawing future casts for the first couple of years. Long story short, this led to an art showing in First Street's lobby for the Batavia Renaissance Project, a listing and portfolio on the BRP website, and a professional illustrating job.

And the most special memory............

Watching a great performance of Noises Off and getting hugs from my friends in the cast the evening of very day my father died. Out of respect, I wasn't going to go, but my family talked me into it. I was sorely in need of a laugh that day, and not only did I get it, but the cast also dedicated that night's performance to Dear Old Dad. That's an honor I will never forget.

So Thank You, Julane Sullivan. Without your nutty decision to start a theater, none of the above would've happened.

[IncendiaryOne]

I don't have ANY First Street stories, BUT I'd like to extend an invitation to any and all who may be looking for a new theatrical home. There is a terrific troupe in Bolingbrook called Theatre-on-the-Hill, and I must say I'm very proud to be the company's president. In just a few years my theatrical partner, Michael Fudala and I have transformed TOTH ino a great place to come and play. For all who might be displaced by First Street's closing, come out and audition for us or get involved backstage.
To find out a little more about us, visit tothbolingbrook.com

[schroeds]

Indeed, we all have our "stories straight from the hell hole." However, I also have to admit that, in my opinion, two of the top three performances of which I am most proud were/are being given* at First Street Playhouse. Most of that pride has to be a result of the directors, who not only coached those performance out of me but also cast me with unbelievably talented actors who raised the bar of excellence and expectations. Say what you will about First Street (and believe you me, I say plenty!), but you have to give credit to a place that, despite their reputation, has continually attracted good directors and actors. That certainly has to count for something.

*And yes, one of those performances is in The Pillowman. Hope to see you there!

[dstewart24]

What were the good points about First Street Theater?

Here?s a simple answer -

Lend Me A Tenor-- The Imaginary Invalid-- Little Shop of Horrors--Fools-- Luv--Alice In Wonderland--A Little Night Music--Cheatin' -- Absurd Person Singular-- Art--Sylvia---The Company of Wayward Saints-- Wonder of the World-- Arsenic & Old Lace-- Too Much Caffeine--You Can't Take It With You-- The Lion In Winter-- Bleacher Bums-- New Year's Eve Cabaret - Private Lives-- The Heiress-- Picasso at the Lapin Agile-- Noises Off-- Tartuffe-- Into The Woods-- The Compleat Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)-- A Christmas Carol-- Nunsense--Rumors-- A Few Good Men-- I Hate Hamlet--On Golden Pond-- Forever Plaid-- Return to the Forbidden Planet-- Crimes of the Heart-- The Good Doctor-- Swing Along With Santa-- The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me-- Sex In The Title-- Lost In Yonkers-- Shakespeare's R&J-- The Queen of Bingo-- Complete History of America (Abridged)-- The Last Five Years-- July 2006 A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum-- The Mystery of Irma Vep-- A Don?t Hug Me Christmas Carol-- The Foreigner-- And then There Were None--The Pillowman?(I apologize if I?ve missed any)


But the most important Good thing about First Street Theater is, and was, and always will be the Beautiful, Energetic, ?hell of a person? Julane Sullivan!!!

I realize now, that I never took the time to let her know how much I appreciated the effort and personal risk she had undertaken just so I, and others like myself could have a playground in which to perform..

I appeared in six of those plays listed above and for each of the six times I failed to thank and appreciate the fact that I was there, enjoying myself in my corner of the sandbox, because of those personal risks.

Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you!

And for the dozen or more times I would have had to sit at home and watch television if I didn?t have an enjoyable alternative of going out to see a live performance at First Street Theater, I offer another dozen ?Thank You?s? to Julane.

Isn?t it time all of us involved in these productions to realize more of what Julane has done for us and stop blaming her for those things perceived as not being done

I would like to see a few more thank you?s on this thread

Dennis

[Craig T Gustafson]

I've posted some pictures from First Street's history at Triblocal.com. Click on the Links:

First Street Playhouse - the Popular Shows

First Street Playhouse - the Dangerous Shows

Craig

[ghostofthefuture]

I'd have to say the best memory I have with relation to First Street is that it's the venue in which I met the love of my life, Rachel.

She was playing Toinette in "Invalid" as I was rehearsing for "Fools", and I'd frequently ogle over her picture in the lobby.

We only appeared on stage together once there, for all of 20 seconds when I played the Deux Ex Machina in "Tartuffe", and she played a guy (go figure). Still, without First Street, it is very unlikely that we'd be together now (and I would have stolen her away to Pennsylvania...yeah, sorry about that).

Performance-wise, I had a blast in all the shows I did there, and, most importantly, I LEARNED something substantial each time.

"Fools" - 1) How to learn vast amounts of lines. 2) How not to laugh when Bill Barry is acting opposite you. 3) Don't hit Lars in the "jewels" with a frisbee, even by accident, lest you face the wrath of Linda!

"Luv" - 1) Mattresses stacked on top of each other don't soften your fall. 2) Do NOT use an AIR mattress to ease your fall. 3) I can overcome my fear of heights when the need calls.

"A Company of Wayward Saints" - 1) I learned why guys taller than 6'0" are generally not acrobats. 2) I had just done this show at Wheaton, and had to take care that I made 'Scapino' my character, and not steal the work of Scott Neidl. 3) I learned how to play part of the Jeopardy theme on a recorder.

"Arsenic and Old Lace" - 1) Every critic is not going to love me. 2) I won't have chemistry with every leading lady/ingenue. 3) CHAAAARGE!

"Tartuffe" - 1) "Small parts" have infinite potential to make a memorable mark! 2) Sound has a tendency to carry from backstage [img]redface.gif[/img] 3) Cast parties can become very interesting...

"Noises off" - 1) I had to learn how to teach a young man how to fall down steps without hurting himself...while trying to figure that out myself. 2) I learned how to be thankful that this particular young actor was 17...if he were much older, he might have killed himself! 3) Rachel's legs may be hotter on stage than in person. MAY be. That's an experiment I could run over and over again.

I was honored to have been cast and otherwise employed by several directors with opportunities to expand and enhance my craft.

Everyone I worked with deserves my everlasting thanks!

Except maybe Dennis... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[dstewart24]

No... Trust me on this - Rachael's legs are much hotter in person, ask someone who really knows.


Dennis