Seeking to expand the theme of inclusivity in the College of Lake County production “The Story Club,” director Alicia Hall asked theater student Hanna Bothmann, who uses a wheelchair, if she’d like to audition.
Bothmann, who said it’s difficult for actresses in wheelchairs to get parts, will portray a child named Hannah in “The Story Club” by Nicole B. Adkins. The play will livestream Oct. 1, 2 and 3 through CLC’s website.
“The Story Club” is a “very sweet play” written in 2009 for young audiences, Hall said. “It’s really well-written and it’s very accessible to all ages.” She added it can be cast with adults or youngsters. She found a cast of young adults to perform.
“The play centers around this backyard story club that our protagonist, Ivy, has created,” Hall said. “She thinks up all these wonderful stories. She and her younger brother, Charlie, and her friend Justine, have been the main participants in this story club.
“Along comes a new next-door neighbor named Hannah. She becomes our antagonist, who helps Ivy to see that they could have a richer experience if everybody’s voices were included,” Hall said.
Ivy writes the stories and chooses the parts she, Charlie and Justine will portray. Justine always gets cast as one of the not-so-beautiful people in the story. Ivy is portrayed by Ellory Jezuit of Gurnee, Justine is played by Avery Gaspar of Waukegan, and Charlie is portrayed by Octavio Hernandez of Waukegan.
“With Hannah Bothmann available, we were able to take this play onto a slightly deeper level of the theme,” Hall said.
“It’s also a fabulous opportunity for Hanna Bothmann, who doesn’t always get opportunities to be on stage,” Hall said. “We wanted to be able to give her an opportunity to be involved. She lives and breathes the theater and loves it so much.”
Bothmann, a 20-year-old from Round Lake, said actresses in wheelchairs have a difficult time finding opportunities. “You have this physical barrier to overcome when finding roles. It challenges you a lot,” she said.
But she has been inspired by Ali Stroker, whom she met in 2019. Stroker uses a wheelchair and “won a Tony award for her performance in the musical ‘Oklahoma’ on Broadway,” Bothmann said. “She is the sole reason I know my Broadway dreams are possible.”
Hall said she is working with Bothmann to allow her to move on the stage in her electric wheelchair. Three camera operators are rehearsing with the cast to prepare for live filming on performance days.
“We’ve had to design the set so she can have free movement on the stage,” Hall said. “This is a lovely learning curve for me. Shaping, blocking has become a whole new thing. I want Hanna to feel active, not static. She has free access of her upper body — her arms are engaged. She has lovely gestures.”
Hall added the play has yet another layer of inclusiveness, which stems from the character Justine.
“In the script, Justine, the friend of Ivy, is never allowed to play any of the beautiful characters, no princesses. Justine always has to play the ugly characters, the monstrous characters.”
Ivy, Charlie and Hannah let “Justine have a moment in the sun where she’s transformed and they celebrate Justine just for who she is,” Hall said.
Bothmann said that’s her favorite part of the play. “It’s symbolic for all people in a way and very uplifting,” she said. “All the positive energy in that sequence is beautiful to see play out.”
She added: “This play is very fun. It’s a way to escape. Especially in the times we’re in right now, everyone needs an escape, to play make believe for a little while and I feel like ‘The Story Club’ does that.”
The other thing we have going on in this production that will be visually really beautiful,” Hall added. “The set designer is incorporating video projections into the play. It’s not just stills, but images that move. As the kids go into their storyland, what they are seeing and imagining comes to life in the projections.”
Bothmann said she is “grateful” to be part of the production. “I am happy that I get to portray the character of Hannah in this play and I hope I can do her justice.”
Bothmann added that one of the reasons she loves theater is because she can “jump into other people’s shoes for a while. It helps me gain perspective that I have never thought about before.”
‘The Story Club’
Where: Virtual from College of Lake County
When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1 and 2; 2 p.m. Oct. 3
Tickets: Free livestream
Information: 847-543-2300, www.clcillinois.edu/events/the-arts-events
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
