Women’s Health CLINIC FEBRUARY 2014 SEASON | YEAR A NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS AND FRIENDS OF THE FIRESIDE THEATRE A Hilarious, Heartwarming Must-See FOR OVER THREE DECADES THE FIRESIDE HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR PRODUCING BIG, BRIGHT MUSICAL COMEDIES AND SPECTACULAR MUSICAL REVUES. MUSICAL THEATRE HAS BEEN MY SPECIALTY AND MY PASSION SINCE I SAW MY FIRST BROADWAY MUSICAL AT AGE 6. I TAKE GREAT PRIDE WHENEVER SOMEONE MARVELS AT HOW WE CAN TAKE A BIG BROADWAY MUSICAL AND PUT IT ON OUR SMALL ARENA STAGE WITHOUT LOSING ANY OF ITS WONDER. MUSICALS HAVE BEEN, WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE MAIN DISH ON THE FIRESIDE’S THEATRICAL MENU SINCE WE FIRST OPENED. Then why is it that one of the most I am very excited about directing our popular shows in Fireside history (as well production of this unforgettable play this as in theatrical history) is a three person spring. I have directed DRIVING MISS play about an elderly white woman, her DAISY twice before – once here and aging African American chauffer, and once in a theatre in Ohio and I can her beleaguered middle aged son told honestly say that of all the wonderful simply without a song or a dance in sight. shows I have directed in my 45+ years Is it because we see ourselves and our as a professional director that no other loved ones in this heart-warming tale? Is play has touched my heart more deeply “ Millions of people rank this it because it is hilariously funny without than DAISY. And I am not alone. Millions beautiful play as their favorite ever being rude or racy? Is it because it of people rank this beautiful play as their of all time.” speaks of loyalty, friendship, and love? favorite of all time. – Ed Flesch, Artistic Director The answer is of course – all of the I like to think that all of our productions above. are wonderful and you shouldn’t miss a one of them, but seeing a live, first class, DRIVING MISS DAISY has been a smash professional production of DRIVING hit Off-Broadway play, an Academy MISS DAISY is a theatrical experience Award winning movie, and a successful that comes along only once or twice in Broadway revival. It has won just about a lifetime of theatree going. This is youyourr every award there is to win. It has been chance. Don’t miss iit.t. performed in theatres all over the world to thunderous acclaim. AWARD-WINNING THE JOY OF TRAVEL 50 YEARS OF RELAXING IN DRAMA AT ITS BEST BECOMES A SECOND MEMORIES THE GARDEN P2 P3 CAREER P4 P7 Hospitality never goes out of style! DRIVING MISS DAISY MARKS ONLY THE TENTH TIME IN OUR 37 SEASONS OF THEATRE THAT WE HAVE PRESENTED A PLAY INSTEAD OF A MUSICAL! FIRST PRESENTED IN 2001, IT WAS A BIGGER HIT THAN WE ANTICIPATED AND IS PROVING POPULAR ONCE AGAIN AS WE PREPARE FOR THE JUNE 12TH OPENING. THE SHOW AND ITS AUTHOR, ALFRED UHRY, HAVE AN INTERESTING STORY OF THEIR OWN. DRIVING MISS DAISY is actually the first play young Julia Roberts. He is one of a very few in Alfred Uhry’s “Atlanta Trilogy” - three plays writers to receive an Academy Award, Tony of Jewish families set during the first half of Award and the Pulitzer Prize. the 20th century and all award-winning works. DAISY opened in 1987 and won the Pulitzer The original New York run of DRIVING MISS Prize for Drama and the 1989 film version won DAISY ran for 1,195 performances in two the Academy Award for Best Picture. It was the different Off-Broadway theatres and featured only film based on an Off-Broadway production Dana Ivey as Daisy and Morgan Freeman as ever to win that award. The second play in Hoke. After the great success of both that his trilogy was commissioned for the Cultural and the film it enjoyed a revival on Broadway Olympiad which coincided with the 1996 Summer in 2010-2011 starring James Earl Jones and Olympics in Atlanta. Set in 1939 during the Vanessa Redgrave. There have been two premiere of the film Gone With The Wind, THE London productions as well and many more at LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO received the Tony professional theatres like The Fireside. Award for Best Play when later produced on A show like this is perfect for the intimacy of Broadway. The third, PARADE, The Fireside’s theatre-in-the-round. A warm- which was about the 1913 trial hearted, humorous and touching study of of a Jewish factory manager the unlikely friendship, this is a story worth earned Uhry a Tony Award for seeing again and again and is best seen live Best Book of a Musical. on stage as it was originally intended. As we Uhry also wrote the screenplay celebrate our friendship with you throughout for the film version of DRIVING this Anniversary year we felt it a fitting addition MISS DAISY and co-wrote the to our season and look forward to sharing it with screenplay for the popular 1988 you this spring. film Mystic Pizza starring a very GROUP LEADER PROFILE “You have to like people, have some patience, and know how to go with the fl ow a little bit, too.” – John R. Smith Learning JOHN R. SMITH HAS MANAGED THE TRAVEL PROGRAM FOR THE FRISBIE DES PLAINES COMMUNITY SENIOR from each other CENTER FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS. John R. Smith’s first career was in the be anything from a few days to several About five years ago, due in part to a pharmaceutical industry where he trained weeks like the big train trip to Hawaii they generous donation from one of their new sales representatives and later have coming up. Train trip to Hawaii? members, the Des Plaines Community monitored human research studies for the Yes. They take the train from Chicago to Senior Center was able to purchase part of medical division in the northern U.S. and San Diego then a Holland America Cruise a strip mall to expand their programs even Canada. He had to travel a fair amount ship to Hawaii and back again. It’s a further. They now operate as the Frisbie for his job and even planned some travel premium trip, but it’s worth it! One of their Senior Center and run a part time cafe and for training events and activities. He and other most popular was a “train on the have several meeting and activity rooms his wife, Ruth have been married 56 years Mississippi” which took them to St. Louis that are available for various organizations and have been on 38 cruises together by train and then up the Mississippi on the to rent. They share the mall with a beauty including a honeymoon in Europe. His American Queen to St. Paul, then back shop, a dry cleaner, a Chinese restaurant children have learned to share his love through Wisconsin on the Empire Builder and their newest venture, the Once and of travel and several grandchildren spent to Chicago. Again Boutique. This resale shop takes some time studying abroad. So when he only gently used merchandise and turns retired, and subsequently realized that One of the things John has learned along a nice profit to benefit the center and their he actually “couldn’t stand retirement,” the way is that it pays to test a place before activities. It’s become very popular with a second career in travel seemed like a taking a group there. You need to sell a trip the community as well. perfect fit! with complete confidence in the travel as well as the venue and the meal or activity. John loves to travel, and he loves people Fortunately, around this time in 1999, the We’re thrilled to report that he’s never had ---the two most important ingredients in Des Plaines Community Senior Center to worry about the quality with a Fireside the recipe for a successful travel program. was looking for someone to manage and trip but it’s not the same every place you go. He’s a joy to work with and it’s evident that expand their travel program. They already You also have to build your own reputation his travelers trust him and enjoy traveling did some travel, including The Fireside’s with vendors so that they can trust your with him. Sounds like a win, win, win! Christmas show, but wanted to do more. integrity and reliability. Being honest Operating from a wing they rented from the with your travelers about the product parks department, John steadily grew their and how it’s priced is the third leg program over the years which now runs of the triangle. Cost is certainly a three or four day trips and one extended factor in today’s travel decisions, yet trip each month. He goes along whenever customers understand quality and he can plus his assistant takes one casino value and will pay more for a better trip each month. The extended trips can product. JOIN THE CELEBRATION The evolution of The Fireside Experience from 1964 to 2014 Our new promotional DVD is nearly ready and we’ll be happy to send you a copy as soon as they’re available. Working on this project over the last six months has stirred up a lot of memories. used the hydraulic lift which Old photos have been dusted off and gave a whole new dimension with them a lot of opportunities to to what we could accomplish reminisce about “the old days” and see on stage? Were you here how much has changed.