Bring your fun and creative self to a weekly hour of theater games! This is a class to stretch your creativity- from improvisation games to ensemble building games- this class is for the enthusiastic actor who wants to wring the fun out of every moment on the stage! This 8-week class will end with a showcase of their new improvisation and stage skills!
8 weeks Ages: 6-10 yrs. Day: Wednesdays Dates: 1/15-3/5 Time: 4:30-5:30 pm D/ND Fee: $50/$60 Location: Joseph C. Vallez Activity Center Code: 261811B Min/Max: 4/10
Adult Acting is a class for adults looking to explore acting techniques in scene work and monologues. Learn to brush up old skills or dive into acting fundamentals for the first time. Emphasis on learning effective rehearsal techniques and expanding the actor’s range. Requires approximately 3–5 hours of rehearsal with an assigned partner outside of class each week.
8 weeks Ages: 18+ yrs. Day: Wednesdays Dates: 1/15-3/5 Time: 5:30-7:00 PM D/ND Fee: $60/$70 Location: Joseph C. Vallez Activity Center Code: 261811C Min/Max: 4/10
You will create a brand-new play in seven hours. You start the day by picking an original creature that you will be in our play. You will decide what type of creature you are. Do you fly, swim, crawl on the ground? Maybe you are a robot? Which of the other creatures are your friends? Are you afraid of any of them? Draw pictures of what you look like and start deciding how you will play with the other creatures. Through a series of theater games, we create a story for our characters. Then you create masks and simple costumes. You will decide on what the world looks like that our creatures live in and create a simple set. Finally, after a little rehearsal, we will present our play for our family and friends at 3:00 pm. Please have students come with lunch.
2-1 day sessions Ages: 5-14 yrs. Day: Saturdays Dates: 1/18, 2/15 Time: 9:00 am-4:00 pm D/ND Fee: $40/$50 per session Location: Community Center Code: 261811E,F Min/Max: 4/10
This eight-week class continues to teach students armed and unarmed stage combat for the theater with a concentrated focus on partnership, safety, and storytelling through movement. Learning how to understand and apply basic stage combat techniques in a safe and effective manner -- Develop a better sense of awareness, balance, control, and coordination. Learn partnering skills that include clear communication and trust. This class is for students with some prior knowledge.
We will present a group fight at the final session for friends and family.
8 weeks Ages: 9-13 yrs. Day: Mondays Dates: 1/13-3/17 *No class 1/20, 2/17 Time: 4:30-5:30 pm D/ND Fee: $50/$60 Location: Joseph C. Vallez Activity Center Code: 261811A Min/Max: 4/10
The Rootin’ Tootin’ Tale of Little Red Riding Boots by Stephen Frankenfield
In the old west, the fastest slingshot slinger was Little Red Riding Boots. She lived happily with her Papa, known for his spicy-hot beef jerky. When her Gran falls ill, the only cure is Papa’s jerky, so Red dons her boots, grabs her slingshot, and sets off. Along the way, she meets Cornelius Cottontail, a bean-loving rabbit, but danger lurks on the dusty trail—Big Bad Coyote Jack has his sights set on Red, Gran, and that tasty bag of jerky. Can Red and Cornelius outsmart him and reach Gran’s house safely?
Performances: Friday, April 11 @ 7:00 pm Saturday, April 12 @ 2:00 pm Sunday, April 13 @ 2:00 pm
Show Tickets: $8 for adults $5 for children 4-12 yrs.
Purchase tickets by calling (708) 749-4900 or visit us @ 1619 Wesley Ave.
1st Monday's "Let Me Tell You!" A Curated Story Telling Jam
1st Monday of each month storytelling event hosted by 2-time Moth winner Errol McLendon
Everyone tells stories. At family gatherings. In bars and coffee shops. Here is your opportunity to share your personal stories with your community. Stories can be funny or poignant. About love or tragedy, or maybe both. They can be about something you learned or something you wish you had never done. Something historic you witnessed or were a part of.
Submit a description of a 7 - 8 minute story you would like to tell to errol.mclendon@gmail.com to be included in an evening of friends sharing stories with friends. First time tellers are welcomed and encouraged.
A free Zoom workshop will be offered two weeks prior to each show to help enhance your story in a relaxed, informal environment. One-on-one coaching will also be available.
Ages: 18+ yrs. Days: Mondays Dates: 1/6, 2/3, 3/3, 4/7, 5/5, 6/2, 7/7, 8/4, 9/1, 10/6, 11/3, 12/1 Time: 7:00-9:00 pm Fee: Free Location: Joseph C. Vallez Activity Center
This has been the election year for women in politics – with a woman candidate running to become the 47th President and our first Madam President.
Hear Mary Todd Lincoln tell you the story of her campaign to make her husband the 16th President of the United States.
During a time 175 years ago, not unlike our own, of great political upheaval and polarization over the issues that faced our nation.
The daughter of a wealthy, slave-owning Kentucky family who married against their wishes a rough frontiersman they saw as having limited prospects. But believed her husband would achieve national prominence. Who educated him up into society. Who was his unwavering supporter and political advisor. Who encouraged him to leave local politics for the national stage. And who cajoled him out of his despondency after political disappointments and election losses.
Politics’ first ‘power couple.’ Their relationship was built on their mutual interest in public affairs. And love.
Thought provoking, engaging and poignant – and historically accurate.
Tickets: $15 per performance Purchase Tickets: (708) 749-4900 or visit us @ 1619 Wesley Ave.
Dates: February 28, 2025 @ 7:00 PM March 1, 2025 @ 7:00 PM March 2, 2025 @ 2:00 PM
Location: Joseph C. Vallez Activity Center 1529 Harlem Ave, Berwyn, IL 60402 Lower Level
Bring your fun and creative self to a weekly hour of theater games! This is a class to stretch your creativity - from improvisation games to ensemble building games - this class is for the enthusiastic actor who wants to bring the fun out of every moment on the stage! This 8-week class will end with a showcase of their new improvisation and stage skills!
Experience books in a whole new way! Classic stories come to life. During the 7-week session we will take a journey through a favorite work of children’s literature. This one-hour class is designed for children ages 4- 5 years old as a great introduction to the magical world of theatre. Our acting sessions allow budding young actors to role play and practice improvisation and storytelling. The final class will have a presentation for family and friends.
7 weeks Ages: 4-5 yrs. Day: Wednesdays Date: 3/26-5/14 *No class 4/2 Time: 12:30-1:30pm D/ND Fee: $50/$60 Location: Community Center Code: 262807A Min/Max: 4/10
Learn the basic skills of acting through theater games and exercises. We will explore the physical and emotional aspects of creating a character. Each actor will learn a short scene, the “same one”- and through this, learn how dialogue can help shape a character! This 8-week class will end with a showcase of their work for family and friends!
8 weeks Ages: 8-12 yrs. Days: Wednesdays Date: 3/26-5/14 *No class 4/2 Time: 5:30-6:30 pm D/ND Fee: $50/$60 Location: Community Center Code: 262807C Min/Max: 4/10
You will create a brand-new play in seven hours. You start the day by picking an original creature that you will be in our play. You will decide what type of creature you are. Do you fly, swim, crawl on the ground? Maybe you are a robot? Which of the other creatures are your friends? Are you afraid of any of them? Draw pictures of what you look like and start deciding how you will play with the other creatures. Through a series of theater games, we create a story for our characters. Then you create masks and simple costumes. You will decide on what the world looks like that our creatures live in and create a simple set. Finally, after a little rehearsal, we will present our play for our family and friends at 3:00pm.
*Please have students come with lunch.
1 day session Ages: 5-14 yrs. Day: Saturday Date: 3/29 Time: 9:00 am-4:00 pm D/ND Fee: $40/$50 Location: Community Center Code: 262807D Min/Max: 4/10
Learn the basics of armed/unarmed fighting for the stage in this 8 week class covering the basics of stage combat. Learn how to safely execute individual actions (such as falls, rolls, and somersaults) as well as partner-based actions (such as pushes, slaps, punches, kicks, hair-pulls, as well as sword work). We will cover how to do this all in a safe and fun manner. We will also learn respect for our bodies and others. We will present a group fight at the final session for friends and family.
8 weeks Ages: 9-12 yrs. Day: Mondays Date: 3/24-5/12 *No class 3/31 Time: 4:30-5:30 pm D/ND Fee: $50/$60 Location: Community Center Code: 262811A Min/Max: 4/10
The Rootin’ Tootin’ Tale of Little Red Riding Boots by Stephen Frankenfield
In the old west, the fastest slingshot slinger was Little Red Riding Boots. She lived happily with her Papa, known for his spicy-hot beef jerky. When her Gran falls ill, the only cure is Papa’s jerky, so Red dons her boots, grabs her slingshot, and sets off. Along the way, she meets Cornelius Cottontail, a bean-loving rabbit, but danger lurks on the dusty trail—Big Bad Coyote Jack has his sights set on Red, Gran, and that tasty bag of jerky. Can Red and Cornelius outsmart him and reach Gran’s house safely?
Performances: Friday, April 11 @ 7:00 pm Saturday, April 12 @ 2:00 pm Sunday, April 13 @ 2:00 pm
Show Tickets: $8 for adults $5 for children 4-12 yrs.
Purchase tickets by calling (708) 749-4900 or visit us @ 1619 Wesley Ave.
1st Monday's "Let Me Tell You!" A Curated Story Telling Jam
1st Monday of each month storytelling event hosted by 2-time Moth winner Errol McLendon
Everyone tells stories. At family gatherings. In bars and coffee shops. Here is your opportunity to share your personal stories with your community. Stories can be funny or poignant. About love or tragedy, or maybe both. They can be about something you learned or something you wish you had never done. Something historic you witnessed or were a part of.
Submit a description of a 7 - 8 minute story you would like to tell to errol.mclendon@gmail.com to be included in an evening of friends sharing stories with friends. First time tellers are welcomed and encouraged.
A free Zoom workshop will be offered two weeks prior to each show to help enhance your story in a relaxed, informal environment. One-on-one coaching will also be available.
Ages: 18+ yrs. Days: Mondays Dates: 3/3, 4/7, 5/5, 6/2, 7/7, 8/4, 9/1, 10/6, 11/3, 12/1 Time: 7:00-9:00 pm Fee: Free Location: Joseph C. Vallez Activity Center 1529 Harlem Ave.
One person show: Dad? Daddy? Poppa? by Errol McLendon
When a heart attack took his dad the day before his 14th birthday, Errol felt like he never got a chance to know his father - didn’t even know what to call him. Dad? Daddy? Poppa? Through memories and words, he discovered years later a deep relationship and love after his father had gone.
A loving tribute to fathers and expressions of love not always clearly evident. Through slides and stories, both funny and poignant, Errol explores how individually and uniquely a father’s love can manifest.
About Errol McLendon
Errol McLendon has taught storytelling workshops in Houston, Dallas, St Louis and Lake Geneva and has told his stories in Kansas City, St. Louis and at National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN.
He has performed his solo shows at Fringe Festivals in Indianapolis, Atlanta, Orlando and Edinborough.
Errol runs a storytelling open mic, hosts a monthly storytelling show at the North Berwyn Park District and teaches an ongoing drop-in workshop. Errol is a two-time Moth winner.
Tickets: $15 per performance Purchase Tickets: (708) 749-4900 or visit us @ 1619 Wesley Ave.
Dates: July 13, 2025 @ 7:00 PM July 14, 2025 @ 7:00 PM July 15, 2025 @ 2:00 PM
Location: Joseph C. Vallez Activity Center 1529 Harlem Ave, Berwyn, IL 60402 Lower Level
Nothing prevents a good program from running more than waiting until the last minute to register for it. Classes that have a low enrollment are generally cancelled approximately one week prior to the first meeting date. Please register for your programs as early as possible to avoid cancellations.
