Apparently you have to be in the Wit Protection Program in order to participate in the Community House Players’ benefit for The Community House in Hinsdale.
At least that’s how I felt after interviewing director Dave Heilmann of Oak Lawn and Hinsdale residents Jane Cella and Dan Herrmann. They were willing to share the fact that the show is really funny and that it’s for a great cause but wouldn’t reveal one single detail about the content of “Frozen Hinsdale,” which runs for four performances, March 13-21.
Heilmann, who was one of the writers of the show, declared that the content is a secret. The only thing that he would reveal is that, “It’s another humorous look at recent town events. We don’t discriminate. We insult everybody equally. There’s terrific music and dance numbers that I think people will absolutely love. And there’s a lot of good laughs.”
This is the third Community Revue benefit for Cella, a Hinsdale resident for 31 years. She said the show provides “a fun look at ourselves and all the goofy things that happen in our little town.”
Even before she joined the cast, Cella was a fan of the Community Revue. “Some of those early shows, I laughed so hard I was actually crying,” she revealed. Five years ago, Cella joined the writing committee. This time, instead of writing she’s an actor, singer and dancer, playing a dozen roles. Prior to this, Cella hadn’t performed since high school.
Herrmann, a 30-year resident of Hinsdale, explained the that “we keep it a surprise because it’s so much fun that way.” This is Herrmann’s fourth show and the first one in which he participated in the writing.
“I just love the fact that we make fun of ourselves,” he said. “We tend to take ourselves a little too seriously about living here in Hinsdale.”
There’s nothing serious about “Frozen Hinsdale,” other than the determination of everyone involved to create a wonderful show. “It’s a really fun, talented group of people,” Herrmann said.
The show is a major commitment for everyone involved. Heilmann, who has directed all 10 productions of the biennial show, reported that it takes eight to ten months each time. “Every song’s got original lyrics,” he noted.
Heilmann gladly invests the hours required because, “The folks involved are wonderful,” he said.
“The camaraderie of the cast is what makes it fun,” Cella said. “But it’s also having the opportunity to participate in a fundraiser that is going to benefit the Community House and, at the same time, provide a lot of laughs for people in the town.”
But you don’t have to live in Hinsdale to enjoy the show, Cella added. “It does look at life in our little town,” she noted. “But it also puts other aspects of culture under a microscope.”
The Community House Players presents “Frozen Hinsdale”
6:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, March 13-21
The Community House, 415 W. Eighth St., Hinsdale
$100
(630) 323-7500; http://www.thecommunityhouse.org
