"Pageant Play" at Niles North Examines World of Child Beauty Pageants

The Niles North Theater Department opens the 2012-13 season with the Director’s Circle production of “Pageant Play” by Matthew Wilkas and Mark Setlock. “Pageant Play” examines the surreal world of child beauty pageants:  the contestants’ homes, coaching sessions, and seminars and the competitive drive to be the best. Performances will be held at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on August 24 and 25 in the Drama Performance Center at 9800 Lawler, Skokie. Tickets are $10. To reserve tickets, please call the Box Office at (847) 626-2122. A free community performance will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 23.

The cast of “Pageant Play” includes Christopher Khoshaba as Bobby and Buddy; Ryan Loach as Bob and Gunnar; Nina Roy as Pinky and Rachel Sepiashvili as Marge, Pinky’s Mother. Additional cast and voiceovers:  Jo Ludington, Michael Rourke, Erin Rourke and Athanasia Giannetos.

Production staff:  Timothy Ortmann, Director; Annaliisa Ahlman, Scenic Designer; Teresa Ripley, Costume Designer; Barbara Reeder, Lighting Designer; Brian Fallon, Hair Designer; Erin Rourke, Sound Designer; Alex Hammond, Assistant Technical Director; Athanasia Giannetos, Stage Manager; Sarah Alkyer, Properties Mistress; Linda Room, Costume Assistant; Zach Zirlin and Ken Otsuka, Graphic Artists and Anne Zavell and Stephanie Persaud, Production Assistants.

Director’s Circle is an audition-only program at Niles North designed to offer an opportunity for outstanding theater students to hone their craft. Actors and technical crew are chosen prior to play selection, so that the play is specifically selected to showcase their abilities. Upon completion of this production, the students assist their teachers in the school’s theater classes, run acting clinics and work as leaders in sharing their skills with fellow drama students. Director’s Circle students for 2012-13 are:  Alex Hammond, Tech Direction; Athanasia Giannetos, Stage Management; Christopher Khoshaba, Acting; Ryan Loach, Acting; Nina Roy, Acting and Rachel Sepiashvili, Acting. 

Other Niles North productions include:  “Love’s Labors Lost,” October 11-13; “That’s My Story,” November 7; “Almost, Maine,” December 6-8; “Reflections,” January 9, 2013; Aristophanes’ “The Birds,” February 12-13; “Beauty and the Beast,” March 14-16; and “Punk Rock,” May 2-4. For more information, go to www.nntheatre.com.