College of Lake County (CLC) students get the chance each year to take what they learn in classroom and help lead a production during “Play On! A CLC Theatre Student Showcase.” This year, they are putting on “Gruesome Playground Injuries” by Rajiv Joseph.
Show times are Friday and Saturday, April 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 10 at 2 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. Performances will take place at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts on the college's Grayslake Campus.
Photo: Kayleen (Teagan Tallungan) struggles with how to comfort Doug (Octavio Hernandez) in CLC Theatre’s production of “Gruesome Playground Injuries.”
In “Gruesome Playground Injuries,” over the course of 30 years, the lives of Kayleen and Doug intersect at the most bizarre intervals, leading the two childhood friends to compare scars and the physical calamities that keep drawing them together. The New York Daily News called the show “Irresistibly odd and exciting…This darkly humorous drama is Rajiv Joseph’s most satisfying work.”
“We are excited to give our students the opportunity to work on this play by such an acclaimed contemporary playwright,” said Theatre Department Chair Craig Rich. “The actors, stage manager and design team for this production are all current CLC students. We’re so impressed with their creativity and sense of collaboration. This production is allowing our students to apply the skills they are learning in the classroom and bringing their collective vision to life.”
Director Alicia Hall said, “Play On! is a cap-stone production project for our Theatre students. Once they have completed requisite Theatre course work, they have the opportunity to direct or design the set, costume, lighting or sound for the production. We usually open our productions to non-student actors in the community to participate, but Play On! productions feature only current CLC students. The aim is to have a completely student-created production. This year was an exception as we did not have a student director who had completed the necessary steps to direct.”
The production contains some adult language and themes that may not be suitable for younger audiences.
Tickets are $10 for the general public and $8 for CLC staff and students, teenagers and seniors. Tickets are buy one, get one free on April 8 and 15.
About College of Lake County
College of Lake County is a comprehensive community college committed to equitable high-quality education, cultural enrichment and partnerships to advance the diverse communities it serves in northeastern Illinois. Offered at three campuses in Grayslake, Vernon Hills and Waukegan or online, college classes are affordable and accessible to help each student achieve academic, career and personal goals. More than 70,000 students graduated with degrees and certificates since the college opened in 1969. College of Lake County is the only higher-education institution ranked among the top 15 best places to work in Illinois by Forbes and is a national leader in many areas, including sustainability and conservation.
“Looking back, I had instructors who helped me to see and appreciate the joy, wonder and mystery that exists in the world all around me-whether it is in nature, science and people, or in stories, essays and poetry. I try to do the same thing for my students.”
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