The Theatre of Western Springs

4384 Hampton Ave.
Western Springs, IL 60558

708-246-4043

Meet Rick Snyder, TWS's New Artistic Director

Check out our 84th Season Shows!

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Check it Out! Our SIXTH ANNUAL
Taste of the Arts
Coming July 21!
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Parents! There are still vacancies in all four sessions of our ever-popular Summer Drama Camp! Details are available HERE.

Set amid an idyllic life during a bygone era, Ah, Wilderness! harkens to a time when young love was defined by poetry, and family life was picnics and Sunday drives. In Eugene O’ Neill’s only comedy, we spend a 4th of July with the Miller family as the son comes of age. The young man is bursting with idealistic youth which leads to comedic pitfalls. While it’s a story about a time when things were simpler, when young lovers wrote letters to each other instead of texting, it's also a reminder that the business of growing up and navigating a first love are challenging no matter what the setting.

CAST
Nora		Jenn Belda
Muriel McComber		Amanda Bolton*
David McComber		Chris Bruzzini
Richard		Ryan Byrne*
Bartender		Tom Gess
Tommy		Grayson Goodwin*
Wint		Michael Hartman
Belle		Cheryle McKay
Arthur		Dave Romito
Lily Miller		Mary Ellen Schutt
Salesman		Thom Seraphin
Essie		Mary Van Nest
Nat Miller		Tom Viskocil
Sid Davis		Edward W. Wavak
Mildred		Samantha Hochstetler*

* Member of the Children's Theatre of Western Springs
Directed by Richard Corley
Stage Manager		Darla Goudeau

A note from the director...

I love the work of Eugene O’Neill. I've directed Anna Christie, A Moon For The Misbegotten and Desire Under The Elms. I love them all deeply, and I want to direct more of his work. Ah, Wilderness! is no exception: I love it more every day I work on it. O'Neill wears his heart on his sleeve in his writing. His work is big in every way - he is fearless. He cares about the world, politics, art, and people. He is ambitious in his sincerity about the possibility – the fervent hope – that his work can change the world. Anyone who believes that is going to fail sometimes, fail big, and people are going to mock them. I love him for his ambition, his sincerity, and his courage.

In a way, O'Neill is showing a young man learning what it means to live truly and fully, in each and every moment, and the title is about the feeling Richard has when he does so: it should be said following a deep breath and a with a joyful exhalation: Ah, Wilderness!

— Richard Corley

Photos by Peter Bosy

Ticket Prices: Fri., Sat. Eve. & Sun. Matinee: $20
Thurs., Sun. Eve. & Sat. Matinee: $18

For tickets click below or call our Box Office at 708-246-3380

You can purchase tickets by calling our box office Tuesday-Friday between the hours of 12 noon and 5pm, or you may order tickets online by clicking this link:

(A small service charge applies for all online purchases, or you may call our box office and reserve your tickets by phone)

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NOW THAT's THE TICKET! Check out our new Four-Fer Flex Pass! It's designed for people who like to keep their options open. Maybe you spend a couple of months of the season out of town. Maybe you just don't want to lock in to a regular series. Well this is for you! Any four shows for JUST $70. (Including the popular Holiday Show!). You can even bring three of your friends to one show if you like -- the choice is yours. Just call us 24 hours in advance to let us know you're coming, and we'll have a ticket waiting for you! CALL OUR BOX OFFICE AND ASK FOR THE FOUR-FER!

TWS is among a very few theatres to offer Hearing Loop technology to our hard of hearing patrons. Read about it by clicking on the ear.

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