‘The Christmas Schooner’ sails back to Beverly Arts Center stage
When Carmel “Carm” DeStefano saw Bailiwick Repertory Theatre’s “The Christmas Schooner” approximately 25 years ago, little did she know that she eventually would direct the musical.
Now she is working on the second annual production of “The Christmas Schooner” from Dec. 15 to 23 at Beverly Arts Center’s Baffes Theater in Chicago.
“It’s a bit of Chicago history about the times in the 1880s when all the immigrants were moving in and a lot of the traditions were lost as they were moving in to the new areas and the fact that some of the people, mainly Germans, lived in areas where there were a lot of trees,” said DeStefano of Bolingbrook.
“These sailors sold on Lake Michigan. Most actually loaded trees from their area and brought them to Chicago at the end of November. (The show’s) based on one ship in particular. It actually sank in a storm.”
“The Christmas Schooner,” which world premiered in 1995 at the former Bailiwick Arts Center in Chicago, features book by John Reeger and music and lyrics by Julie Shannon.
The musical is based on the Rouse Simmons, which was known as the Christmas Tree Ship and sunk in 1912 on Lake Michigan during a voyage to Chicago.
“It’s a beautiful story, I have to admit. I’m still trying to work through the script and not cry through parts of it,” said DeStefano, who retired in 2015 from Reavis High School in Burbank where she was head drama coach and also taught speech and English for nearly 26 years.
Her former colleague Dennis Anastasopoulos, who is Reavis’ head theater coach and a fellow Illinois Theatre Association board member, recommended DeStefano to Beverly Arts Center.
She was invited to direct “The Christmas Schooner” after talking with Carla Carter, who was named director of the Beverly Arts Center in October after serving as the venue’s interim director and previously managing director.
“I walked in not really knowing anyone there and I was very well-received. It’s a wonderful center,” said DeStefano, who is president of the nonprofit Illinois Theatre Association.
The cast of “The Christmas Schooner” includes residents of Calumet
City, Chicago’s South Side and Niles.
“They’re extremely talented. Their voices are beautiful and they are a joy to work with,” DeStefano said.
“They work hard especially because many of them are coming from another job to the rehearsals at night. This show is going to sound wonderful.”
Musical numbers include “The Christmas Schooner,” “Questions,” “What Is It About the Water?” and “We All Have Songs,” which DeStefano cited as her favorite.
“There’s so many beautiful numbers in it but that one just grabs me right from the start of the show because everybody can relate to it,” said DeStefano about the opening number.
Donors and other guests were invited to “The Christmas Schooner” dress rehearsal scheduled for Dec. 14.
DeStefano said something that sets the show apart is the ensemble of storytellers.
“They’re almost always on the stage telling the story, connecting the audience to the story,” she said. “It’s very unique that they are so involved in the entire story.”