Illinois Theatre Center Takes Its Bows; Needs Help to Finish Season

Actor and daughter of the late ITC Board Member Barbara Manuell, Lynn Manuell wrote the following as a plea to help the Illinois Theatre Center finish its season before its impending closure:

"Colin Egglesfield (All My Children), Sally Murphy (Broadway FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Steppenwolf Theatre) , Anne Arvia (Broadway Les Miz etc.) Miles Phillips (winner of four MAC Awards), Rob Langeder (Buddy Tour), Jennifer Lien (Star Trek Voyager), Michael Shannon (Pearl Harbor, Kangaroo Jack) and I share something that literally hundreds of other actors share - time spent onstage at the Illinois Theatre Center in Park Forest Illinois. A 36 year old institution and the only Equity theatre in Chicago’s south suburbs. ITC, as it is known, has produced 36 seasons of diverse Equity shows, including some Chicago premieres, as many years of summer stock known as Summerfest, provided classes for children each summer in a Summer Arts Marathon (project SAM), and had children, teen and adult acting classes throughout each season. This made it one of Chicago’s most active theatres, and the jumping off point for many New York and Hollywood celebrities.

ITC was founded in 1975. In order to understand how it profoundly affected the lives of those who worked there I will share my personal relationship to the theatre. Before founding International Production Management where I represent artists, before having booked Sarah Brightman, Betty Buckley, Anita O’Day and others, before being on the Board of FACT Theatre and acting, directing or singing in London and New York….I walked in to ITC. I had read in the Park Forest Star Newspaper that an Equity theatre was going to open where the Park Forest Arts Center once was located. Steve and Etel Billig were returning to the area after having run theatres in other places and having come originally from New York. When I walked in the theatre was still under construction. I was 14. I HAD to meet the people who were starting the theatre….picture Rachel Berry of Park Forest.

I had an audition for the teen acting class. Steve Billig came out of his office during my auditon and asked “Who is doing that Androcles and the Lion?” I said it was me…he said I was to go to the adult acting class. I was so thrilled. From that point on ITC was more than a theatre it was my home. Through the acting classes I was given the opportunity to play in THE EFFECT OF GAMMA RAYS with my own mother playing my mother and my best friend Claudia Cumbie playing my sister. We presented THE THREE SISTERS at libraries and did original children’s shows at Freedom Hall.

In summer stock I got to be a part of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN and other classics and of course, there was the summer Shakespeare Festival. ITC even spawned separate acting troupes. In the 1970’s the South Suburban Acting Ensemble was created and ITC allowed members of their acting associates to produce plays like UNCOMMON WOMEN and CHAMBER MUSIC and present them at ITC. The generosity of Steve and Etel to those who had begun their careers under their auspices was unique. The volume of creative opportunities filled my teen years, allowing me to have confidence as I went on in life. There was also the amazing decade of opening nights, post show singing at Savoia’s Supper Club and friendships that enriched each day.

In 1977 I became part of a remarkable school called the ACTIVE LEARNING PROCESS SCHOOL, which allowed students to create their own educational programs and has among its alumni Soundgarden’s Kim Thayil and record producer Bruce Pavitt. One of the strands of learning included internships and ITC opened its doors to the students who wished to pursue theatre. I had my internship at ITC running the box office, helping out at rehearsals and even cleaning the bathrooms. I was there many hours a week. In the middle of the year I was given a role in the Equity production of MEMBER OF THE WEDDING. While I could have gotten my Equity card at that point Etel advised waiting so I could work in non-union college productions. I was encouraged to teach as well. I have taught throughout the course of my life and this began at ITC. Project SAM, the children’s art program needed a dance teacher and I was brought in. I choreographed FREEDOM from Shanendoah and discovered a student who showed exceptional dance skill and ended up in a San Francisco Ballet as an adult.

In 1979 I had a severe health scare and was told after 40 days in the hospital that I would never walk again. While in the hospital I received a call from Steve Billig offering me the role of Celia in AS YOU LIKE IT as part of the summer Shakespeare festival. I credit Steve with my walking again. Celia was what got me through the physical therapy gave me total healing. I told him yes I would do the show and by summer I was running up and down the hills behind Freedom Hall in a long dress.

In 1984 I was accepted into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. My mom was diagnosed with cancer at the same time. I was scared to leave her but Steve and Etel assured me that they would look after her, and they did. They also cast me in two Summerfest musicals. I was to be Mama in HIGH BUTTON SHOES and Hedy in HOW TO SUCCEED… I had the time of my life celebrating the time I had at ITC. They threw me a farewell party and had me sing New York, New York from a table top. I came to New York and pursued my career working off-stage at Gatchell and Neufeld, the Cultural Council Foundation and NAMCO among others and onstage in over 100 shows.

My mother served on the Board of Directors of ITC. She continued her acting at there as well. When her cancer reappeared in 1995 she was unable to beat it. Etel called me at the hospital one minute after mom passed and said she knew something had happened to her "sweet Barbara". Mom’s last request was to have a memorial celebration of her life on the stage at ITC. All of the original actors came together and we sang and shared stories and rivaled the memorials done on Broadway for the likes of Bob Fosse. Steve and Jonathan, Steve and Etel’s son, helped me to put together this amazing celebration.

Little did we know that the next year the same group would reassemble for Steve’s funeral. His sudden loss might have stopped a weaker person, but Etel kept going with the theatre, When Park Forest began to revamp the center of the town Etel moved ITC from its original location to Artists Way. She continued to produce the seasons bringing innovative productions to the area. I started a memorial fund in honor of my mother and returned to Park Forest twice, once to do a show with Dan LeMonnier, the original Chicago Mendel in FALSETTOS and ITC regular, and once to do a benefit which included Miles Phillips and Rob Langeder…Miles, as it turned out lived one block away from me in New York.

I always kept in touch with Etel as I traveled the world and once she came to New York and Jon visited as well. In 2009 I heard the theatre was having financial difficulty and I created a facebook page to raise money which did bring in a few hundred dollars. I went to a board meeting while in Chicago and was kept in the loop for a few more months. Etel took me to dinner and I Iearned all about the many friends who had shared my childhood at the theatre.

ITC connections abounded everywhere. While in New York I had met Steve Hauck (Broadway Irina’s Vow) while singing with Voices in Unity. He is the godfather of the son of Laura Collins who appeared with me at ITC many times including as Bernice in Member of the Wedding. Ritter Hanz who was in the Grease tour I company managed with Cindy Williams and Eddie Mekka had acted with my mother at ITC. Over and over in New York circles I ran into alumni of this prolific regional theatre.

Then in the last week of March I received a call from another friend who was now in California telling me that Etel had an aneurysm and was gravely ill. I spent the next days talking to some people I had not seen since 1996. When it became known that Etel passed Facebook became a tribute to the founder of this amazing theatre. They continued to rehearse the show that was in progress. I flew to Chicago and spent two days mourning with the ITC community.

Yesterday May 3rd it was announced that Jonathan Billig, who had taken over the theatre when his mother died, and the board decided ITC could not go on without Etel. After 36 years the legacy was going to be only a memory. ITC was struggling due to fewer grants, fewer individual contributions and had only survived because Etel and Jon had been willing to do the jobs of several people on little or no salary. It felt like another death – the loss of home. ITC is one of those unique institutions that truly nurtured those that went through its doors. Its entire season cost only $100 per subscription and catered particularly to educators. It only needed $125,000.00 to create its new season…and money for a few salaries….these amounts are paltry compared to New York costs, but nevertheless it was enough to shutter the theatre.

In an age when so many arts organizations struggle the tale of ITC is that of courage, strength and a bit of sorrow. I continue to run into people who came from ITC and we recognize each other as family. I am currently in a show called TREASURE at The Secret Theatre. Betty Hudson (Broadway George M) is in this show and told me she had worked with the Billigs. She plays an actress who mentors a young playwright as he goes off to New York. Mark Eugene Garcia, who penned the play describes this relationship by saying when it is lost “The world has lost someone amazing. Everyone needs that support and love that only a beautiful and inspiring person can give.” Working in this play now is a loving tribute to Etel and Steve and a reminder that no matter how far we go from home those who were part of our formative years stay with us. Regional theatres provide actors with the training, experience and confidence to go on to successful careers. ITC was the best of regional theatres and it will be deeply missed.

If anyone wishes to contribute to the Illinois Theatre Center to help them finish their season please go to Facebook Causes and look up the Etel Billig and Barbara Manuell Memorial Fund for the Illinois Theatre Center."