|
 New Route Theatre: Rhys Lovell in Send the Light. |
 |
New Route Theatre presents both new and established works that explore identity and the nature of the human spirit. It proposes to develop a theatre that asks questions, promotes discussion, and explores the individual's relationship to community. |
| Praise for Send the Light
"The play is outstanding!
The life changing impact of the rural electrification movement is artistically
displayed throughout the play. Along with the original music, the story line
allows you to feel the excitement, anticipation and dreams of those who so
desperately wanted the quality of life only possible through the modern miracle
of electricity."
N. Duane Noland, President/CEOAssociation
of
"Send the Light accurately tells the energizing story of rural folks pulling together to bring electricity to the countryside. The story is well written, fascinating and historically accurate. The show's four actors put their heart and soul into Send the Light and they're temendous. And the music! Wow! the homespun blues/folk fusion sets the tone for the show and takes you back to the 1930s days before rural electrification. You've done a tremendous job with Send the Light and deserve every accolade that comes your way!" John Freitag, CCC and CAE [Don] Shandrow has fashioned an entire theatrical work around the subject of rural America's electrification during the 1930s, a time when most farms were still ending the day in the black. Literally. Chores had to be finished on a rigid timeline. Dangerous machinery couldn't be operated after sundown. Everything that required clear vision ground to a halt. Even those farmers lucky to own a battery-operated generator ordered from the Sears & Roebuck catalogue could only progress so far out of the darkness. Then along came Franklin D. Roosevelt's Rural Electrification Administration (REA) to instigate the change that would end up shining a perpetual light on America's heartland. The result of Shandrow's meditation, christened "Send the Light," is meant to plug into the socially progressive folk-art style of the Federal Theatre Project of the 1930s, not to mention the tradition of the same era's Works Progress Administration (WPA) mural art. Says Shandrow, "I wanted that same kind of solid, muscular look and feel to this -- a reality with a sense of the people and who they were. "Send the Light" is receiving its world premiere this month in a production at the McLean County Museum of History. It's being staged by the Illinois Theatre Consortium's New Route Theatre, which Shandrow heads up as artistic director (the two-weekend run is at 7:30 p.m. April 20, 21, 27 and 28, and 2 p.m. April 22 and 29). In Shandrow's words, the play "is about the stories of those folks who decided to take destiny into their own hands and organize rural electric cooperatives." He tells their saga via a four-actor cast (Rhys Lovell, Devon Lovell, Irene Taylor, Brady James) and a succession of dramatic monologues with a clear narrative arc. "Send the Light" also boasts a strong musical undercurrent, with original songs and lyrics by another longtime fixture on the local theater front, Phil Shaw, who has been crossing creative paths with Shandrow since their Illinois State University days in the early '70s. Feature written by Dan Craft. The full article is available at: http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/04/17/go/doc461e50e25a729425237493.txt  |
Devon Lovell and Rhys Lovell in Send the Light.
ABOUT THE NEW ROUTE THEATRE
MISSION The
New Route Theatre develops audience awareness of the theatrical
possibilities in challenging, engaging content. This theatre attracts audiences in churches, social, political, civic and business organizations. The New Route Theatre presents plays in unique settings appropriate to their themes. The New Route Theatre plans original as well as established works that explore the nature of the human spirit in the context of ethical, political, and social choices.  Irene Taylor as a farm wife frustrated that her husband won't pay the fee to join the REA in Send the Light. To book a performance of Send the Light for your organization, contact Artistic Director Don Shandrow at 309-827-7330 or by email at dshandrow@msn.com |
LINKS TO ITC MEMBER THEATRES   |
| HOME | DONATIONS | ILLINOIS VOICES THEATRE | NEW ROUTE THEATRE | SEEDLING THEATRE | BOOKINGS | AWARDS CUSTOM THEATRE FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION | OUR COMMUNITY | EQUIPMENT RENTALS | APPLAUSE | GALLERY | ABOUT US |
| COPYRIGHT ITC 2007 | WEB ADMINISTRATOR | PRESS RELEASES |