The late Len Wcislo, a longtime member and former president of Palos Village Players, is being honored throughout the community theater group’s 2024 season.
“The community lost a great man and we lost a dear friend and leader. Our season is dedicated in his memory,” Palos Village Players president Sarah Callis stated in a news release.
The three-production slate began Feb. 23 with “1959 Pink Thunderbird” performances at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sunday at Palos Park Recreation Center. Final performances are at 7:30 p.m. March 1 and 2.
Featuring the late James McLure’s one-act plays “Laundry and Bourbon” and “Lone Star,” “1959 Pink Thunderbird” was going to be directed by Wcislo, who died Nov. 28, 2023.
“He (Wcislo) reached out to see if I would be interested in helping with the show. I actually hadn’t read the scripts until Len sent them to me. I missed the creative outlet that theater provides and I was excited about being involved in a production with Len,” said Lisa Glatz, director of “1959 Pink Thunderbird.”
“To some degree I have that little angel on my shoulder. He had this amazing ability to bring people together and establish communities. He was involved in so many different things with his church and other theater groups. He was an amazing man.”
Texas in the 1970s is the setting for “1959 Pink Thunderbird.”
“‘Laundry and Bourbon’ is about hope, the importance of friendship when you’re struggling with something, the ability to help those people in your life, and love,” said Glatz, a Downers Grove resident with family in Orland Park.
“‘Laundry and Bourbon’ is a friendship between the characters – one who is adjusting to her husband coming back from Vietnam and struggling with that – and also focuses on how the life you envision in high school can differ from how things turn out while still being rewarding.
“‘Lone Star’ is about a soldier returning to his small town after spending two years in Vietnam without any real support network in the community. There’s no one he can relate to so he’s struggling with that and his brother kind of becomes his caretaker.”
Produced by Dana Hall of Orland Park and Robin Jost of Homer Glen, “1959 Pink Thunderbird” stars Chicago residents Isabel Anderson and Avery Cole, Jill Jeffrey, Bryan Riess and DeKalb residents Brad Shortridge and his son Riley Shortridge.
“We couldn’t be happier. They’re so enthusiastic and talented. It’s been a pleasure to work with so many new actors to Palos Village Players. They have heart and charisma,” said Glatz, who is working with assistant director Ray Misischia of Joliet on “1959 Pink Thunderbird.”
“I like that it’s a comedy, albeit a dark comedy, which is good in the winter months to bring people out to enjoy a comedy and meet some hopefully new friends.”
The 2024 season in Palos Park continues with Agatha Christie’s “The Hollow” from April 26 to May 4, and “My Kind of Christmas” by Hall, a Palos Village Players board member and resident playwright, from Nov. 15 to 23. Season tickets are $65 for general public or $55 for seniors.
‘1959 Pink Thunderbird’
When: Feb. 23-March 2
Where: Palos Park Recreation Center, 8901 W. 123rd St., Palos Park
Tickets: $25 adults; $23 seniors and students
Information: 877-787-8497; palosvillageplayers.com
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
