GreenMan Theatre Troupe Elmhurst
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GreenMan Theatre Troupe Elmhurst

DUAL "ROLES": What It's Like to Be Auditioner & Auditionee

6/10/2026

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If you’ve never auditioned for a part– or been the one making casting decisions – here’s a behind-the-scenes glimpse at each person’s “role.”
 
GreenMan Theatre Troupe partnered with Elmhurst History Museum for its “History of Her: Women Who Shaped Chicagoland” exhibition to cast actors for biographical monologues for three notable Chicago-area women: Bertha Honoré Palmer, Audrey Wagner and Frances Willard.
 
Carolyn Thomas-Davidoff will direct the performances. Victoria Rebeck will perform her role as Frances Willard on August 11, 2026, at 2 p.m. at the museum.
 
Thomas-Davidoff: “I came into the “History of Her” auditions knowing the choices were going to be hard. I was delighted to have so many people auditioning. With Frances Willard, I wanted someone who could really get worked up about how so many women and children had been treated badly by drunken men.
 
“Victoria Rebeck made it known in advance that she was passionate about Frances Willard. I was impressed that she cared enough about this character to come in prepped specifically for her.
 
“During auditions I was looking for actors with the ability to both speak – and move. Some are great vocal artists but not so great with movement. Acting is heightened realism. I wanted these actors to use more space than they would in everyday life.
 
“The actor was going to have to be able to interact with the audience. People might just blurt out a question in the middle of the performance. I interrupted everyone during their audition on purpose. I wanted to see their verbal response to a question from the audience and their ability to be personable with the people in the room.” 
 
Rebeck got very excited when she learned GreenMan Theatre was looking for an actor to play the role of 19th-century, Evanston-based temperance advocate and suffragette Frances Willard.
 
Rebeck: “I really wanted the opportunity to portray Frances Willard. She’s an unsung hero.  I knew something about her because she was a Methodist, as am I. She was a feminist who really cared about temperance and the women and children who were vulnerable to the abuses that could happen to them by drinking husbands and fathers. The right for women to vote was also a big concern of Willard’s.”
 
So how did Rebeck feel going into the audition? “I was not nervous before the audition. I’ve done some auditioning, mostly involved with storytelling. But when I saw who else was auditioning, heard their readings and thought they were really good, I got very nervous. So, I just tried to do the best I could.”
 
Rebeck admits the need to memorize Willard’s biographical monologue is a bit daunting. “I’m a little nervous about learning a long monologue. It’s about nine minutes. Memorization is always pretty demanding, but I’ve done stories that were longer than this.
 
“I’m hoping that because I’m so enthusiastic about Willard that that will help me remember my lines.”
 
GreenMan Theatre invites you to come out and support Carolyn and Victoria, as well as Debbie Proska who will portray Bertha Honoré Palmer on Sat., June 20 at 2 p.m., and Kathi Campbell whose performance will celebrate Audrey Wagner on Sat., July 11 at 2 p.m. All performances will be at Elmhurst History Museum. The museum is located at 120 E. Park Ave. 
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We Sold Out! Thank You Elmhurst!

3/1/2026

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Our 19th annual murder mystery, Pride and Prejudice and Murder, sold out the entire run - before we even opened!

Thank you Elmhurst and friends of GreenMan Theater Troupe for making this annual fundraiser a huge success! 

And for those who missed the fun, check out some production photos below. 
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GreenMan Theatre represented in the 2023 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards

1/13/2024

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Winners have been announced for the 2023 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards! 
The 2023 Regional Awards honor regional productions, touring shows, and more which had their first performance between October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023. This year the BroadwayWorld Regional Awards were bigger and better than ever, including over 100 cities across America, Canada, Central and South America, Europe, and Asia!

Favorite Local Theatre
GreenMan Theatre Troupe

Best Direction Of A Play
Craig Gustafson - AMERICA’S SEXIEST COUPLE - Riverfront Playhouse

Craig is a member of the GreenMan Theatre board

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Congratulations to everyone involved in local community theatre productions in 2023!

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Meet the cast of "Urinetown"

9/22/2017

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Hover over each photo for cast member's character...
Abandonment Bear plays Peeyonce, constant companion to Little Sally. Abandonment Bear is making her Greenman Theatre Troupe debut, but is no stranger to the stage, having recently starred in “Goldilocks” (Baby Bear), “Shrek” (Baby Bear), and the critically acclaimed “Cabearet.” Abandonment Bear spends most of her time riding in cars and exploring parking lots. She is thrilled to be opening her four week run of “Urinetown” tonight and reminds you that tickets are available at GreenMan’s website, www.greenmantheatre.org. Special thanks to Samantha for being a great costar and to Ben for this performance opportunity. “Ours was a love that never bloomed.”
Heather Pauliks plays Hope Cladwell, Caldwell B. Cladwell's daughter, torn between her father and her love for Bobby. Heather recently played Ulla in “The Producers” at Wheaton Drama. She also has appeared in “Spamalot” at Summer Place Theatre and “Into the Woods” at Stage Coach Players. She is a graduate of Elmhurst College, and appeared in many productions there. When not onstage, Heather can be found in the box office at either Lifeline Theatre or Chicago Children’s Theatre, depending on the day of the week. Hope would tell you that you should follow your heart and see “Urinetown,” and that even your heart knows that.
Benedict L. Slabik II plays Bobby Strong, the dashing, rebellious everyman who works for Miss Pennywise. Ben recently played Leo in “The Producers” at Wheaton Drama. Other productions he has appeared in include “The Laramie Project” at Village Theater Guild, “Good People” at Buffalo Theater Ensemble, and “Yankee Tavern” at Steel Beam Theater. When not performing, Ben enjoys spending his time playing board games with friends, and occasionally with enemies. Bobby’s advice to you is that freedom is scary, so you should run as fast as you can to see “Urinetown: the Musical”!
Samantha Sieghart plays Little Sally, a precocious and irreverent street urchin who also narrates some of the action of the show. Samantha has appeared in “Noises Off,” “Cabaret,” and “Once More with Feeling.” By day, you can find Samantha working as a makeup artist, performing as a children's entertainer, or teaching music and dance. She comments that she loves Little Sally’s curiosity and eagerness to question the authority and logic of the show. Samantha also wants you to know that you should come see this production of “Urinetown” because you will laugh like you have never laughed before! “The title may be awful, but the musical is amazing!” Did we mention she is an advanced ukulele player?
Jim Stahulak plays Officer Lockstock, the tongue-in-cheek narrator of Urinetown. Lockstock is bold, brash, and larger than life, and just needs a shovel and a mop to make his job complete. Jim is also the music director for the show. He has worked both on and off stage as producer, musical director, actor, and singer with various companies in the Chicago area. He recently performed the role of Theseus in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with North Riverside Players. Other roles include both Hucklebee and Matt in different productions of “The Fantasticks,” Governor/Innkeeper in “Man of La Mancha,” Impresario in Mozart’s “The Impresario,” and Don Basilio in “The Marriage of Figaro.” He also appeared as a principal in HBO’s production of “Normal,” starring Jessica Lange.
Daniel Dick plays Tiny Tom, one of the Poor, and Dr. Billeaux, a scientist for Urine Good Company. Daniel has appeared as both Starveling and Flute in different productions of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Horace Vandergelder in “Hello, Dolly!,” and Joe in “A Christmas Carol.” He has taken acting classes in both high school and college and is currently studying Music Business at Elmhurst College. He is thankful for the convenience of walking to rehearsal! Daniel is also a musician, and his wide ranging talents have included playing classical guitar and fronting an overly angst-y and flamboyant funk-rock band.
Katie Soria plays Old Ma Strong, Bobby's mother and Old Man Strong’s wife. Katie has appeared at GreenMan in many shows including “Cash on Delivery!,” “Shakespeare in Hollywood,” and “Pride and Prejudice.” Other appearances include “My Fair Lady” at Glenview Theatre Guild and “The Producers” at Hinsdale Community House Players. Katie has served on the governing boards of Highland Park Players and of GreenMan. She says that “audiences should come see the show because I'm SURE they are curious, and the best way to find out how a show with such an awful title can even be produced is to come see it in person!”
Alexander R. Wellington plays Billy Boy Bill, a poor rebel, and a UGC Executive. Alex started performing in high school and found that theatre was a great creative outlet. He’s back on stage after a hiatus, and looking for more performance opportunities. He is otherwise an illustrator with aspirations of working in comic books while currently working at his local library during the day. Alex also has a morbid interest in hastily made movies. He suggests you check out his portfolio and assorted works, found at awellington50.wixsite.com/wellington-place.
Steven Krage plays Mr. McQueen, Cladwell's sycophantic lackey. Steven says this is a perfect role for him, having played sycophantic lackeys on stage before. He is excited about the show because it is witty, poignant, and fitting for our times. Steven jokes that his character is the “Mike Pence of Urinetown.” Steven recently appeared in “The Producers” as Carmen Ghia. Other favorite roles include Vinnie in “The Odd Couple” and Axel McGee in “Don’t Drink the Water.” Steven has an interest in opera performance as well as acting. He is currently writing a biography of Margaret Dumont, the famous foil to Groucho Marx.
Galen Malick plays Senator Fipp, a greedy politician in Cladwell's pocket; he intends to travel to Rio to escape Urinetown, but his plans keep getting delayed. Galen says the show is energetic and unpredictable, and describes it as a wild story told by colorful characters. Galen has appeared in recent productions of “Incorruptible,” “Libido Junction,” and “Making God Laugh.” He has appeared at various local theatres including Albright, Evergreen, Gallery, and Steel Beam. Galen not only sings and dances, but is a talented juggler and plays the harmonica.
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​GREENMAN THEATRE TROUPE, NFP. is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit (EIN 37-1492326) in the state of Illinois dedicated to the arts, culture, and humanities. 
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​GreenMan programs are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. 

Financial support also provided by the City of Elmhurst Community Grant Program.


Many thanks to Ken Beach for all production photography!
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