I just wanted to take a moment to thank the wonderful Spring academy Cinderella cast, parents, and supporters for all of their help with the Shoes for Orphan Souls shoe drive. In lieu of purchasing tickets, patrons were asked to bring shoe donations to the show, and local businesses like Wool & Company in Geneva, Learning Express in Geneva, and It’s A Girl Thing in St. Charles all served as drop-off centers as well.

It took a team to collect all of these shoes & socks! The official grand total of collections was 131 pairs of shoes, 195 pairs of socks and 4 pairs of show laces!!

As I shared with the girls last night at the Shoe Packing Party, when I went on a mission trip to Honduras a few years ago I was surprised to see many children walking around on the dirt roads without any shoes on their feet! Many children around the world have never owned a pair of shoes. It is hard for us to fathom that here in the United States, but it is true. I think we all will go to bed tonight feeling very grateful to know each other and to know that our daughters played a big role in bringing happiness to a child…all through the gift of a pair of shoes and/or socks!

Beth Conrad, Cinderella mom

Each month, NFT Performing Arts Academy selects an outstanding student to be featured in the Student Spotlight of the Month. The selected student is featured in the NFT Playbill and on the blog. Our current Student Spotlight recipients are sisters Rachel & Allison Haab and Emma Tallitsch!

Twins Rachel and Allison Haab, age 8, made their debut at age 5 in NFT Academy’s Fiddler on the Roof, while their sister Emma Tallitsch, age 7, waited eagerly for her debut later that year in The Lion King. These enthusiastic performers have been involved in the NFT program since 2008.

Some of the highlights from the 8 classes Rachel has taken include Scar in The Lion King, Mrs. Beauregard in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and Chip in Beauty and the Beast. She is thrilled to be involved in her first NFT Youth Ensemble production as a Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz later this summer. When asked what she likes best about performing she said, “I like playing harder roles, like being a boy, because I have to act more.” Rachel is a member of 3rd Street Dance and Theater Academy’s Junior Performing Company and in addition to performing arts, Rachel enjoys playing soccer, softball and reading.

Her twin sister Allison says, “The best part about acting is that you get to act different than who you really are.” Some of her favorite roles include the Stepmother in Cinderella, Simba in The Lion King and Liesl in The Sound of Music – and she’s sure that her upcoming role as a Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz will be the best one so far. Allison is also a member of 3rd Street Dance and Theater Academy’s Junior Performing Company and loves horseback riding, swimming and soccer.

“It’s really been nice to see them progress as they’ve taken the NFT classes. They’ve gone from performing in the 15 minute showcases to a full length youth ensemble production this summer,” said their mother, Kelly Haab-Tallitsch.

Younger sister Emma is just as enthusiastic about her performances. Her favorite role was Penny in Hairspray and when asked what she likes best about the NFT classes and showcases she said, “The dancing!” She also played Rafiki in The Lion King, Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and a narrator in Beauty and the Beast. Her other interests include soccer, swimming and softball.

A blog by new Development Manager Scott Piner

Scott Piner (left) talks with Mayor's wife Diane DeWitte (right) and Board member's wife Kathy Hayman (center).

I laughed the most I’ve laughed in a long time this past Saturday night at the opening of Spelling Bee. What a riot! Thiswas my first opening night celebration with Noble Fool Theatricals since joining the team in mid February. In addition to the hilarious show, we had a well attended pre-show Community Leaders and Arts Advocates Meet & Greet. This was a first attempt at introducing our staff and board of directors to community leaders and professionals who Artistic Director John Gawlik and I have recently met. We could not have been more pleased with the turnout as we were honored to have Mayor Donald DeWitte, Lori Hewitt of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce, Amy Egolf of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, arts advocate and director Ron Koeppl, Park District Commissioner Bob Thomson, and several others. The post show reception was also exceptionally prepared and sponsored by the Pheasant Run Resort.

My first few months at Noble Fool Theatricals have been exciting and challenging, but also encouraging because of the great support in the community. St. Charles is a beautiful town with great people, exceptional food & entertainment, and the most picturesque riverfront!

The leadership at Noble Fool Theatricals encourages me daily too; I am happy to have found a home with such a dedicated organization. I hope we can continue our profess to serve the Fox Valley area with outstanding programs and services that benefit the community.

Photos by Mike Smith, Photographic Services International

Mayor Donald DeWitte (right) and family (Patrick, left and Diane) with Spelling Bee actor and St. Charles resident Ian Paul Custer after the show.

NFT Artistic Director John Gawlik with the Spelling Bee cast at the post-show party hosted by Pheasant Run Resort.

Ian Paul Custer and Chie Isobe rehearsing a scene from 'Spelling Bee.'

Describe how it’s been working on ‘Spelling Bee’ with Noble Fool Theatricals?

There is such a great energy from everyone associated with the production. Kevin Bellie (director) and Peter Storms (music director) have such positive, fun attitudes and allow so much creativity from everyone in the cast in hopes to make it a warm show. There’s no stress, only playfullness which is important to have in the rehearsal room when mostly everyone’s playing 12 year olds.

You grew up in the area. Tell us more about that.

I grew up in St. Charles – attending school at Wild Rose Elementary, Thompson Middle School, and St. Charles North High School where I studied theatre under Anne Voigtman Hunt, Donna Steele, Ryan Colton, and Dale Morgan, performing in school plays and in the St. Charles Arts and Music Festivals. I have also performed with ECC’s Musical Theatre program, studying with Konnie Kay, Terry Domschke, and Richard Paul during high school

Describe your character and how your own life experiences may have helped developed this role.

I play William Barfee, an extremely determined young student obsessed with wining the Bee who struggles with echolalia and a rare mucus memberane disorder. Working on the character has definitely triggered great memories from growing up in St. Charles. It reminded me how everything seems so huge when you’re young and small and how you want to be as big as the world around you. So even the smallest mistakes we make can be earth shattering to our 12 year old lives. Everything that happens when you’re young is the most important thing that has ever existed – because that’s all you know.

–

Ian Paul Custer’s Bio

Recent Chicago theatre credits include High Holidays at the Goodman Theatre; High Fidelity: The Musical with Route 66 Theatre Company, directed by Peter Amster; Weekend with TimeLine Theatre Company, directed by Damon Kiely; Hedda Gabler with Raven Theatre; and The Changeling with Caffeine Theatre. Previous favorite roles include Alceste in The Misanthrope, Nasty/Interesting Man in Eurydice, and Sigismund in Life’s A Dream. He received his B.F.A. from the Theatre School of DePaul University and is an avid fan and performer of jazz and blues piano.

Each month, NFT Performing Arts Academy selects an outstanding student to be featured in the Student Spotlight of the Month. The selected student is featured in the NFT Playbill and on the blog. Our current Student Spotlight recipient is Luke Totman!

Luke Totman, now a 16 year old sophomore at Marmion Academy in Aurora, started acting in the seventh grade. It was then that he made his Noble Fool Youth Ensemble debut in Footloose, where he auditioned and won a leading role in the musical.

But a year ago, he took a break from theater. Luckily a fellow NFT student and dear friend of his, Gianna, convinced him to partake in Noble Fool Youth Ensemble’s It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Play this past winter, and he was excited to land the role of Freddie Filmore. In no time whatsoever he was hooked again.

His performing career has been filled with many “bad guy” roles, playing Chuck in Noble Fool’s Footloose, Jud in Oklahoma, and Jafar in Aladdin. “It’s funny that I’m always cast as the “bad guy” because ever since seventh grade my nickname has been Smiles simply because I’m told I never stop smiling!,” says Luke. “A main contributor to this is definitely theater!”

“Noble Fool is a theater I will always call home,” says Luke. “With it being professional theater, my experiences have developed me far more than any other program I’ve partaken in anywhere else.”

Luke has also taken classes on Auditioning from Education Manager Tracy Whiteside, as well as film workshops. “I clearly remember meeting Luke in his first class at NFT,” says Tracy. “He has a real gift on the stage. Not only are his performance skills notable, but what I value most is his leadership skills. When performing in It’s a Wonderful Life, I had the chance to observe him directing cast warm-up exercises. Luke is a leader in every sense of the word. He impressed me in a way no other teenager ever has. He is confident, kind and mature.”

Outside of theater, Luke plays lacrosse at Marmion Academy, plays a little guitar, and loves hanging out with his friends. His future plans are to continue pursuing a career in acting, and he thanks Noble Fool for giving him the basic skills, the discipline and most importantly the confidence to do so.

Don’t be surprised if you see him ‘buzzing’ about the theater lobby during Noble Fool’s professional production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, where he is currently serving as an intern. Be sure to say hi to him!

I am DELIGHTED to say that I visited a Beauty and the Beast rehearsal and run the other night, and was so impressed with the progress everyone is making on the show.?  It’s going to be great!

Our Director and Choreographer Helen Buck is doing a wonderful job with the show.?  She has choreographed this show 3 times elsewhere, so she knows what she’s doing and has brought a lot of great ideas to the production!

Casting was spot-on, all of the actors are doing great.?  The show really moves nicely and the scene transitions are seamless, which is often hard to do with kids’ shows.

I’m very excited about this show and can’t wait for everyone to come see it!

Tracy Whiteside, NFT Education Manager

I am thrilled to be playing Mrs. Potts! Beauty and the Beast was actually the first stage production I ever saw, I was in kindergarden. However, I never actually saw the movie until after I was casted as Mrs. Potts.

My experience with NFTYE has always been a positive one. I’ve been with the company since the first show (High School Musical in the fall of 2006!) and working with Helen (Director) is always wonderful. Helen really teaches you and lets you teach yourself, about your character. She helps you become your character, and doing so by finding out your characters background story and what makes he/she the was he/she is. It’s a really good way to be creative as well. In most cases, you can create a whole story about your character prior what the audience sees. Which makes it even cooler when those deeper feelings shine though on stage.

Beauty and the Beast with NFT has been a magical time and I can’t wait to share it with the audience! Thanks for reading and I hope you get the chance to Be Our Guest and join in the magic of the show.

Nadia

Nadia Pelletier is a 17 year old junior at West Chicago Community High School.

I feel that playing the role of Belle is very surreal for me. I’ve always dreamed of being in the spotlight on stage. Before I started doing community theater, I would do the shows at my middle school. I realized that actually lowered my self esteem about my acting and singing abilities, because I was never given large parts on those shows. Having a small part isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but back then I thought it was. It was after I did High School Musical 2 this summer at NFT, I started to feel more confident with my skills. So after HSM2, I started trying out for more community theater shows. I just recently got done playing the role of Grace Farrell in the show “Annie” at Rising Star Theatreworks. That made me much more confident, and helped me improve my skills. So getting this fantastic role really helps me see how much I’ve improved in just one year. I’m very excited!

NFT has helped me come out of my shell. The people here are very talented and hardworking, and each show or class is another fantastic experience. I’ve learned that you have to be very focused in each show you do. You need to focus on the blocking, and choreography, because we need to move fast. And after interning for numerous classes for kids at the NFT Academy, it really helps me see how many kids really want to be involved in theater. And I’m glad they’ve decided to go to NFT for proper training, because it really is a great palce to grow as a person and actor.

For my audition, I was in a very big rush deciding my monologue and song. I was going to sing “On My Own” from the musical Les Mis. But after Helen Buck (director) convinced me out of it, I decided to sing the song “Astonishing” from the musical, Little Woman. I thought it was a good choice, especially for the musical and the parts I was aiming for. My monologue on the other hand, was a tougher choice for me. I didn’t find one until the night before the audition. Which I do not recommend to kids at ALL. It was such terrible planning on my part, but I was just lucky enough to get it all memorized in time for the audition. I did a monologue from “The Notebook”, because it was kind of a sweet and innocent monologue. So I thought it was a good choice. Before my actual audition, I just took lots of deep breaths and drank lots of water too. And I didn’t worry too much, because that could have really affected my audition!

For kids hoping to pursue more acting when they’re older, just believe in yourself. I had that issue for awhile, and that’s why I wasn’t landing the parts I wanted. You just need to picture yourself as that character for awhile, and at your audition. And if you just don’t fit that part, it’s no big deal! You just need to hav confidence in yourself, and anything can happen!

Gabby

Actor Steve Sledzinski blogs about his experience of playing The Beast in Beauty and the Beast!

I love theater, there is nothing else like it in the world. My biggest passion is improv and sketch comedy and I hope to do that somehow for the rest of my life. In the meantime, I am thrilled to be playing The Beast in NFT’s youth ensemble production of Beauty and the Beast. It was actually a last min audition for me, I was asked by several people who I enjoy greatly, so I showed up to audition. And I got the part!

I have been doing theater since I was about 10 years old (I’m 19 now) and have been a part of almost every aspect of the theater from backstage to center-stage, from dancing to singing to acting. I’ve done plays, musicals, talent shows anything that gets me to do what I love. I have done things at the Paramount (RENT) and the Arcada (many Rising Star productions) and this summer I will be lucky enough to be in a sketch comedy troupe that will be in a show case at the Chicago Institute of the Performing Arts!

Rehearsals for Beauty and the Beast have begun…I’ll be sure to keep you psoted on the progress!

Steve

Hey guys, it’s Kelsey! I am so excited to be in Beauty and the Beast and blogging for the first time!!! Today is March 7th and today we had our first fitting!!! Everyone looks so great in their cosutmes and it’s so exciting to get another piece of the final show added to the mix!!! Some costumes are very interesting..like spatula and the wardrobe!!! Sorry Sarah and Shayla!!! I am so excited for tomorrow when we will be on stage with costumes and (hopefully) props!! Props being added to “Belle” will totally bring the song to life! See you all tomorrow! Till next time, -Kelsey