Oak Park Festival Theatre will present “Twelfth Night” by William Shakespeare as part of its 50th anniversary season. Directed by Producing Artistic Director Peter G. Andersen, the production will run from July 5 through August 16 at Austin Gardens in Oak Park.
“Being around for 50 years means we have audience members who came as kids and are now bringing their own children to the theater,” Andersen said.
Andersen notes that the Oak Park Festival Theatre has become a summer staple for Oak Park, River Forest and the West Side of Chicago, offering great theater in their backyard.
“We’ve also been an incredible launching pad for early-career artists over the years. Not only are we a staple for the Oak Park community, but we’re also a staple for the theater arts community in Chicago,” Andersen said.
The organization produces classical plays but works to make them feel as contemporary and relevant as possible. What sets them apart from other theaters—most of which are indoors—is their outdoor setting at Austin Gardens. According to Andersen, the open-air environment creates a more exciting and relaxed atmosphere.
“Our first year was in the back of a truck that went around the suburbs. After that, we’ve been in Austin Gardens ever since and have had a great partnership with the Park District of Oak Park,” Andersen said.
In addition, The Park District of Oak Park Board of Commissioners has awarded a grant of $101,111.61 to fund the purchase of a brand-new LED lighting grid. This gift marks the largest single donation in the theatre’s history.
“So, these new LED lights are going to reduce the amount of power we use, but they’re also going to significantly increase the quality of our work. LED lights are color-changing, which means they can take on any color under the sun,” Andersen said. “They offer different levels of output that typical lights can’t achieve. As a result, the audience will see and feel that our work has taken a step forward because of these new, advanced lights.”
