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Health & Fitness

Gay love and pure faith take the stage at Village Theatre Guild in "Next Fall"

The Village Theatre Guild of Glen Ellyn presents "Next Fall" by Geoffrey Nauffts from May 24 through June 15. Come take a timely, witty and provocative look at gay love and pure faith.

Sex and religion, taboo topics for many, become the intellectual focus of Next Fall, a witty but provocative drama by Geoffrey Nauffts.  This 2010 Tony nominee for Best Play runs from May 24 – June 15 at the Village Theatre Guild in Glen Ellyn. The timing is apt, given pending U.S. Supreme Court and Illinois legislature decisions on gay marriage.

A tragic accident brings friends, family and lovers together in the waiting room of a New York hospital, where aspiring actor Luke (played by Jared Titus of Oak Park) is in a coma after being hit by a taxi.  Flashbacks tell the story of his 5-year relationship with substitute teacher Adam (Tony Lage of West Chicago) and how they make it work, despite Luke’s fundamentalist Christian views and Adam’s agnostic indifference.

Luke’s divorced parents, his “free spirit” mother Arlene (JoAnn Smith of Naperville) and take-charge father Butch (Geoffrey Maher of Arlington Heights), have flown in from the South, but neither knows Luke is gay or living with Adam.  Luke’s friends, shop keeper Holly (Deborah Ruzicka of Palatine) and his former boyfriend Brandon (Christopher Williams of Aurora), try to mitigate the tension.

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According to director Jim Liesz of Glen Ellyn, “This introspective play challenges us to ask questions about the nature of our commitments and faith. As you are being comfortably entertained, you grow to realize how elusive the answers are when it comes to morals, values, what it means to believe, and what it might cost not to.”

The producer of Next Fall is Sue Keenan of Glen Ellyn, a founding member of VTG, which is now concluding its Fiftieth Season.  Sue is tireless, having acted, directed, stage managed, worked on virtually every crew and served multiple times on the VTG board and as president of the group over a span of 50 years. 

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Friday and Saturday performances from May 24 through June 15 are at 8 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. There is a Thursday performance at 8 p.m. on June 13.  Tickets for a special 50th anniversary evening on Saturday, June 1, will be $25 and include refreshments and a Q&A with the cast and crew.  Otherwise, all tickets are $18.

The Village Theatre Guild is located near the northwest corner of Park Blvd. and Butterfield Rd. in Glen Ellyn. For reservations call 630-469-8230 or email tickets@villagetheatreguild.org.  For more information about VTG, visit www.VillageTheatreGuild.org

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