International group stages revue ‘All Together Now!’
More than 2,500 live theaters in all 50 states and more than 40 countries perform Music Theatre International’s “All Together Now!: A Global Event Celebrating Local Theatre” from Nov. 12 to 15.
“Our goal with this worldwide event is for organizations to provide hope, inspiration and excitement to their communities through the transformative power of musical theater,” said Drew Cohen, president and CEO of Music Theatre International in a prepared statement.
Oak Lawn Park District Community Theatre is among the licensees presenting the musical revue, which Music Theatre International said was “designed as a fundraiser for local theaters to perform live over the same four days.”
“It’s exciting because it feels like everyone will be having the same fun,” said Michael Potsic, musical director of Oak Lawn Park District Community Theatre’s “All Together Now!” from Nov. 12 to 14 at the Erica Heilmann Theatre at Oak View Center in Oak Lawn.
“We’ve actually been able to connect with other groups all over the world and share ideas, get inspiration or help problem-solve. This is for community theater and the show created this global community of all these people who are producing it at the same time.
“What I was attracted to was that it is a celebration of musical theater but also a celebration of these community groups being able to come back onstage and getting to perform pieces that they may not be able to perform otherwise.”
Each licensee customizes its version of “All Together Now!” and the Oak Lawn show includes a celebration of the late Erica Heilmann’s legacy as a member of the Oak Lawn theater community.
“This whole show really is a celebration but every song is its own celebration of something,” Potsic said.
“We have songs from an array of shows — ‘Waitress,’ ‘Hairspray,’ ‘Beauty and the Beast’ — as well as some from the Golden Age — ‘Guys and Dolls,’ ‘My Fair Lady.’
“It is going to be some of your favorite musical theater pieces and maybe some new musical theater pieces sung by talent who may not have been able to sing these roles before. It’s high-energy and lots of dance. It’s a warm hug of musical theater.”
Potsic, an Alsip native who now lives in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, is working with directors Andrea Fitzgibbons, a fellow alum of Shepard High School in Palos Heights, and her husband, Donald Fitzgibbons. The couple live in Oak Lawn.
“All Together Now!” in Oak Lawn features 55 performers ranging from ages 7 to adult and includes residents of Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Tinley Park and Clarendon Hills.
“This cast is just energetic,” said Potsic, whose first experience with Oak Lawn Park District Community Theatre was as a seventhgrader cast in “Annie Get Your Gun.”
“What’s great about the Oak Lawn Park District is they have such a strong teen and children’s program that we’re able to really feature them. They’re talented young performers. Oak Lawn Park District really does foster new talent.”