MORGAN PARK — Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th) and his daughter Eileen will be among a cast of local and professional actors in the upcoming performance of George Gershwin’s "Crazy for You."
The performance will take the stage at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday the Beverly Arts Center. The final show begins at 2 p.m. Sunday at the center, 2407 W. 111th St. in Morgan Park.
The show pairs 23 young actors — ages 12-22 — and four adults from the Southwest Side neighborhood with professional actors courtesy of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. These five seasoned actors worked with the cast for 28 hours offering tips on acting, voice, and tap dance.
Instruction for the amateur actors was offered for free courtesy of the endowment’s Arts Engagement in American Communities grant.
O'Shea plays a banker named Perkins in the comedy filled with plot twists, dance numbers and classic Gershwin music. The musical tells the story of Bobby Child, a 1930s playboy whose biggest dream in life is to dance.
Memorable Gershwin tunes include "I Got Rhythm," "Naughty Baby" and "They Can’t Take That Away from Me."
Director and choreographer Shellee Frazee of the Beverly Arts Center is busy putting the final touches on the live performance that is eight weeks in the making.
“When Shellee suggested the role to me, I didn’t hesitate to jump at the chance to work with her and her talented cast onstage in the amazing Baffes Theatre, a real community gem. Then I realized my whole family and many friends and neighbors will be out in those audiences … but it was too late to get stage fright,” O'Shea said.
Tickets cost $21 or $19 for members of the Beverly Arts Center. For more information, call 773-445-3838 or visit the art center's website at beverlyartcenter.org.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
