Two plays written by 2nd Act Players’ founder John N. Frank will be performed by two other theater groups online this June and July. The plays were originally performed by the 2nd Act Players in 2017 and 2018. A theater group called Play Readings with Friends will read Frank’s New Year’s Eve at Grandma’s House […]
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Scenes from past plays performed by the 2nd Act Players are now viewable through links on two sites run by the League of Chicago Theatres and by a group called Arts for Illinois. The 2nd Act Players began posting clips from past shows in late March after having to cancel it’s upcoming May show because […]
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New Year’s Eve at Grandma’s House garnered an 85% positive ranking from those who saw it during its three-week run this November, saying they would recommend it to a friend. Also, 96% said in audience feedback forms that they found the characters true-to-life and 99% said they found the story of an immigrant family struggling […]
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This weekend will be the final two performances of New Year’s Eve at Grandma’s House by the 2nd Act Players at Northminster Church, Evanston. Audiences so far have loved it, with 85% saying they’d recommend it to a friend. We’re hoping to see some of those friends at this weekends shows, Saturday at 7 and […]
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Audiences have been raving about the 2nd Act Players production of the all-new New Year’s Eve at Grandma’s House with 85% of those filling out audience satisfaction surveys during the first two weeks of performances saying they would recommend the show to a friend. Audience members also gave the play high marks for character and […]
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Act II of New Year’s Eve at Grandma’s House takes place at the end of 1961, a time when fashion was changing thanks to the style influences of then First Lady Jackie Kennedy. 2nd Act Cofounder and costume designer Carolyn Calzavara sought to reflect that in her choices for women’s dresses in Act II. Hear […]
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New Year’s Eve at Grandma’s House spans two fashion decades, the 1950s and the 1960s, each very different and distinct in the looks it became remembered for. 2nd Act Players’ Cofounder Carolyn Calzavara took on the monumental task of creating outfits for the women in New Year’s Eve that would represent each of these decades. […]
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Del is the oldest sister in the Smaldone family, who you’ll meet in the 2nd Act Players’ production of New Year’s Eve at Grandma’s House. There’s a lot of pressure on her to live up to her parents’ expectations. Life has not worked out as she hoped. Hear Melissa Reeves talk about her character, Del: […]
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Phil Troyk plays Sonny in New Year’s Eve at Grandma’s House. Sonny is momma’s oldest son, a big, blustery man who revels in telling of his glory days as an amateur boxer. Sonny wants to be accepted as American despite his Italian roots. But the price he will have to pay for that may be […]
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The costumes for the 2nd Act Players’ fall premiere of New Year’s Eve at Grandma’s House are the most elaborate the theater has done in its five years in existence. 2nd Act Players’ Cofounder Carolyn Calzavara has made dresses for all the women in the Smaldone family who you’ll meet in our story. The time […]
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