Three aspiring Chicago actresses who founded a women`s theater company out of career frustration are taking bows for a successful first production.
Playing to full houses in an extended run, Footsteps Theatre Company is presenting ”Last Summer at Bluefish Cove,” a play written by a woman and performed by women, but not necessarily for women audiences only.
The drama, written by the late Jane Chambers, follows a developing love relationship between a terminally ill woman and a young divorcee. It premiered in 1980 in New York City`s Actors Playhouse.
”This play is unusual in that it has an all-woman cast with eight strong roles,” says Marge Royce, 25, one of the founders. ”All have three-dimensional characters who get a chance to shine.”
Royce and friends Vita Dennis and Jordan March founded the not-fot-profit Footsteps Theatre in January to promote works by and about women because, Royce says, ”We felt there was a lack of material being produced that portrayed strong women characters.”
The three decided to form the company while attending a workshop last summer at New York City`s Circle in the Square theater. There, Royce says, they swapped stories of frustrating casting calls in which a multitude of actresses vied for a ”handful of secondary roles.”
Audience response for the company`s first effort has gotten Footsteps off to a running start. Since the March debut of ”Last Summer at Bluefish Cove,” ticket sales have brought the company to the break-even point on the $8,000 production, Royce says.
In May, the company moved from Evanston`s 44-seat Live Theatre to the 97- seat Immediate Theatre, 1146 W. Pratt Ave., where the drama continues through June 26.
In addition to acting (Royce and Dennis perform in the play), Footsteps`
seven members share all production roles, including set design, lighting, bookkeeping and publicity. Cast members are paid modest salaries per performance, while ushers and stage crew volunteer their time.
”Last Summer at Bluefish Cove” is presented Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 6 and 9:30 p.m.; and Sundays, 7 p.m.; Immediate Theatre, 1146 W. Pratt Ave. Tickets are $10. Contact: Footsteps Theatre Company, 2026 W. Chase Ave., Chicago, 465-8323.
