There’s a new community theater in the south suburbs, and it’s not your typical theater. The Apostle Christian Theatre is proud to present its very first production, “Baggage Claim” throughout the month of June.
ACT as it is known, was created to bring quality family entertainment with a message to the south suburbs. Its founding members are Bryce Gardner, of Park Forest, Kristy McCulley-Schnepf, of South Chicago Heights, and Andrea Lynn Fleming, of Steger.
“We felt that there needed to be a theater group out there to reach a different kind of audience,” said Fleming. “Our mission statement says it all, ‘Apostle Christian Theatre believes that faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life. We believe in providing the community with theatrical productions for the purpose of increasing faith and learning about the word of God. ACT also strives to treat both patrons and personnel with honor and respect'.”
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“Baggage Claim” is a comedy built around the D'Baquel family on vacation at a much-publicized bed and breakfast. Their stay goes awry when they find the lodge full of animated goofballs, and a screwy bellhop keeps tossing their luggage into the cavernous canyon that lies below the hotel.
Sam, the father, becomes increasingly unraveled as he keeps traversing the 347 flights of stairs to retrieve his belongings. Comedic beginnings segue into a darker reality as the pain and inner conflicts of the family members surface. Just one stroke before midnight, he is stunned to realize that the bill is too big for him to pay, and the play offers a surprise ending.
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Featured in this production are Bob Szczepanski, of Orland Park, Jack Gannon, of Chicago's Beverly community, Peggy Gannon, of Beverly, Ellen Manes, of Chicago Heights, Jessica Fleming, of Steger, Kelly Donahue, of Alsip, Cendy Bruder, of Bourbonnais, Theresa Rogerson, of Richton Park, Tom McCulley-Schnepf, of South Chicago Heights, and Andrea Fleming, of Steger.
This production includes a catered dinner and the show for only $20 per person or a matinee show only option on Sundays for $15 at the Olympia Gardens Firehouse, 2250 205th St., Chicago Heights.
Dinner and show dates are June 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18, at 7 p.m., and the matinee shows are June 5, 12 and 19, at 3 p.m.
Reservations are highly recommended since there are only 60 seats available for each show. Dinner seats must be reserved one week prior to each show date. You can reserve your tickets online by going to their website at www.actonstage.org , or by calling (708) 267-4409.
