It looks very much like the first event in our Festival will be Lake Forest College’s production of 44 Plays for 44 Presidents, premiering April 5, 2012.

There are three very special things about this production.

1. Lake Forest College itself. It’s a stunning Liberal Arts mecca surrounded by woods near the shore of Lake Michigan, in Lake Forest, IL. When I saw it, I wanted to be a prospective English major again.  Their kick-ass theatre department turns students into “scholars, artists and audiences of the performing arts.” One piece of their mission is dear to me: “We believe that theater is always socially and politically relevant, because it speaks of the world that made it and speaks to the world that sees it.” Very nice.

2. Lake Forest College will join us in our video project. And get this: They’re having their students vote on which president/play they will record for the world to see. Perfect.

3. This production is being directed by one of the five writers of this show, my friend Chloe Johnston–oops, sorry–Dr. Chloe Johnston, Education Coordinator for this Festival. And it will be choreographed by the original production’s choreographer, another of the five co-writers, and also my bride, Genevra Gallo-Bayiates.

This is a production I won’t miss. If you’re in the area, go see it!

They have a lot of exciting ideas about how they can contribute to the celebration in more ways than just mounting the show. I look forward to sharing their ideas so they can inspire other productions.

Welcome Foresters!