"Dog Sees God-Confessions of Teenage Blockhead"

McHenry County College Drama Club presents “Dog Sees God: Confessions of Teenage Blockhead” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 6, 7 and 8 and a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Dec. 8. The show will take place in the Black Box Theatre, Room D167 at the College, 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake.

The play by Bert V. Royal is directed by MCC student Frank Padour of Crystal Lake. This unauthorized parody of the Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schultz takes a glimpse into the future when Charlie Brown and his friends are 10 years older and encounter modern threats to childhood’s innocence.

They examine questions like “What happens when we die?” as Charlie Brown mourns the death of Snoopy, his pet beagle. The play explores how teenage students address alcohol, drugs, sexuality and prejudice on a daily basis. The play contains graphic and explicit language, violence and sexuality.

Cast members as pictured, from left, front row: Joseph Rice and Jessica Miller, back row, Justine Aparri, Cody Oates, Jake Mathews, Alisha Reid, and Cecelia Long.Tickets are $5 at the door. For more information, call (815) 455-8746.

MCC Theater Provides A Shakespeare Comedy

Set in the golden age of Hollywood during the 1930’s, the lovely and plucky Viola disguises herself as a man to protect her honor in this strange land and finds employment as a page in the court of the lovesick Duke Orsino. But just as Viola falls in love with her new boss, the beautiful Olivia—whom Orsino is pursuing—finds herself attracted to this new young man, who’s really Viola in disguise. Meanwhile, the servant Maria and the drunken Sir Toby Belch conspire to enact a riotous revenge on the hilariously presumptuous servant Malvolvio. This magical comedy is filled with Shakespeare’s most indelible comedic characters and sidesplitting situations.

The cast features Shelby Conrad and Sally Weiss, both of McHenry; Lauren Freund, Jacob Garcher and Joe Rice, all of Woodstock; Mary Grzenia of Lake in the Hills, Klarissa Goggin, Tyler Kahanec, and Brianna McDevitt, all of Spring Grove; Cody Oates of Huntley, Elino Pucci of Harvard, and Jacqui Schmidt and Nathan Camacho, both of Algonquin.

Twelfth Night is directed by Jay Geller of Kildeer, with set design by Barry Norton of Cary, lighting by Rick Amundsen of Woodstock, costume design by Tish Lyon of Woodstock. Stage manager is Amber Vanderwyst of Woodstock.

Tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for MCC students, faculty and staff, alumni and senior citizens.

Tickets may be reserved by phone at (815) 455-8746 or by email at jgeller@mchenry.edu. The Black Box Theatre at McHenry County College is located at 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake

Personalized One-person Show By MCC Theater Instructor Opens This Weekend

The Black Box Theatre at McHenry County College will present the world premiere of “What Am I Going to Do Now?” by Jay Geller.  This one-person show, written by and featuring Jay Geller, instructor of theatre at McHenry County College, tells the story of one man’s journey through grief and healing. 

In 2000, Jay Geller woke up to discover that his beloved wife, Suzanne, had passed away in her sleep.  This play chronicles his voyage as a single parent of two young girls and his struggle to find a sense of normalcy in his life.  In honest and straightforward detail, Jay divulges how he dealt with his grief, raised his two daughters, ventured into the world of middle-aged dating and finally finding love again.

“What Am I Going to do Now?” is directed by Ian Streicher of Chicago with Annie Rezac of Cary as associate director, set design by Sue Lewis of Crystal Lake, lighting design by Rick Amundsen of Woodstock, original music by Michael Hillstrom of Woodstock, Pete Lilly of Huntley as digital director, Paul Bayer of Crystal Lake as projector director and stage manager Ashley Brown of Cary.

This poignant and humorous production will open at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27 and continue on Jan. 28 and Feb. 3-4.

Tickets are $5 for all performances.  For reservations call (815) 455-8746 or email jgeller@mchenry.edu.