"SPRING AWAKENING THE MUSICAL"  -- The First "Call to Heart" Community Outreach Event from the newly Not-For-Profit Wilmette Theatre. The event on Sunday May 6th raised funds for Actors Training Center (at Wilmette Theatre) Scholarship Fund and TWLOHA (TO WRITE LOVE ON HER ARMS).   

(Wilmette, Il--May 15, 2012)-- The Wilmette Theatre turns 100 years old next year. The theatre itself has been reborn as a not-for-profit  as of July 2011 celebrating its new status with its first Community Outreach event on May 6th, 2012, a peformance  of "Spring Awakening The Musical" from the Actors Training Center at The Wilmette Theatre.

This modern rock musical version of "Spring Awakening" is based on the highly controversial play written in 1892 by German author Frank Wedekind. The issues he explored more than a hundred years ago are just as relevant now and the teen actors chose this show as a platform to give back to other teens facing the same universal difficulties as they develop and discover who they are--timeless themes.

This production was first done in a closed workshop and it impacted the students so greaty that the idea of a benefit to raise money for other young actors to be afforded opportunities such as these was born.

The young actors also chose TWLOHA (To Write Love On Her Arms) as the other receipient of this benefit as a way to give back and impact their own peers and community.

Danielle Sullivan of  the not-for-profit organization TWLOHA spoke of the signficance of these issues of teen depression and suicide and how they impact our community. "It is so important to bring these issues to the forefront and to communicate with our children."

This powerful show  was directed by ATC Artistic Director Janet Louer who spoke before the show to acknowlege the significance of this night  and ended in an emotional standing ovation with Executive Director of The Wilmette Theatre Carole Dibo taking the stage to embrace her dedicated actors .  

After the reaction to the evening Carole Dibo commented, "The excitement at the theatre that evening proves just how critical we are to our community. The Wilmette Theatre was at capacity with people who celebrate and understand that what we do brings, consciousness, awareness and conversation.  It was one of the important nights we have had in this 100 year old building in the six years I have been involved."

Teen actor Ulisses Acosta reflected on how the experience of working with The Actors Training Center has impacted him personally, " The Wilmette Theatre and the Actors Training Center is my home.  Their scholarship program has given me a chance to grow as actor and to understand the business in a way I would never have learned elsewhere, but most importantly, I have developed life skills that will help me no matter my life’s path, regardless of whether I have a career in acting or elsewhere, and in so many aspects of life beyond just my career."

Wilmette Theatre Board President Mark Rothschild then spoke to thank the audience and talk about the next "stage" of development for the Wilmette Theatre. "The energy I felt from the audience as I addressed them from the stage was electrifying. It was at that moment I realized how important this organization has been and continues to be for the community, and how proud I am to be a part of it."  

He then went on to address the immediate needs of the new not-for-profit theatre including recruiting volunteers for the various committees, spreading the word and securing financial contributions.  

Theatre has always told stories, shared secrets and been the life center of community. The Wilmette Theatre has begun the next step of this journey and this night highlighted what can be accomplished with the support and outreach of our immediate community and beyond. The Wilmette Theatre is planning the next in the series of acting productions through The Actors Training Center as they continue to give back, raise funds and grow the theatre to fulfill the promise of being a gathering place to bring people together to tell and hear the stories of the past, present and future.

As congratulations, praise, thanks and donations in acknowledgement of this important night continue to come The Wilmette Theatre asks the community to get involved. For further information please email: volunteers@wilmettetheatre.com.