Erika Grotto of Romeoville plays Kathy O’Neill in Steel Beam Theatre’s 10th season opening show, the musical Fairways, which runs September 10 through October 10. Erika grew up in Montoursville, Pennsylvania and studied at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. After college, she moved to the Chicago area. Previous roles include Maggie in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”, Elmire in “Tartuffe” and Guenevere in “Camelot”. She most recently appeared as Mrs. Walker in The Who’s “Tommy”.
Erika plays Kathy O’Neill who agrees to play in the club’s mother-daughter tournament with her mom Betsy. Kathy lacks her mother’s competitive nature… and her golf skills. With the help of the club’s pro and a caddie, Betsy helps Kathy learn the rules of the game, and Kathy discovers that golf comes naturally. And while she may never understand her mom’s drive to win, she learns that on the fairways of life, she can live in her own skin.
Back by popular demand, Fairways was described as pure musical theatre by critics when it made its 2006 world premiere at Steel Beam to sold-out audiences. The show is jam-packed with a variety of musical numbers ranging from rock, jazz, ballads and even rap.
Fairways opens Friday, September 10 at 8:00 p.m. and runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. through October 10th. Tickets are $25, adults, $23 seniors (over 62)/students, $22 groups. Purchase online at steelbeamtheatre.com.
An homage to both golf and musical theatre, Fairways is a lighthearted look at golf and what it means to a cast of quirky characters that could be found playing at any local course. Recent MBA Sam has asked his father Byron to teach him how to play golf “in a day” so Sam can impress his boss. Kathy wants to help her mother Betsy win the upcoming Mother-Daughter tournament, which would defeat Betsy’s rival and closest competition, Nancy, whose daughter Joan so happens to be dating Sam. What Sam and Kathy both learn on the golf course is that life and love are unpredictable, and that it’s the choices we make that matter in the end.
Fairways was written by Chicago attorney Mary Hutchings Reed. Ms. Reed, an award-winning fiction author, holds a law degree from Yale Law School, and is Of Counsel to the law firm of Winston & Strawn, where she practices trademark, copyright, entertainment, and advertising law. She also holds Masters and Bachelor degrees from Brown University. “Golf is a spiritual exercise,” Reed says. “You really have to learn to play within yourself, to stay with the process rather than anticipate the results. I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of putting golf on stage—the theatre has that same ‘now-moment’ quality to it.”
Curt Powell wrote the music for Fairways. Previously, Powell served as Composer-In-Residence, Musical Director, Sound Designer, and Conductor for the Des Moines Playhouse/Kate Goldman Theatre, Des Moines, Iowa. In Chicago, he has served as worship musician for Second Unitarian Church. He has composed twenty-three original pieces and arranged more than fifty existing choral and instrumental works for worship.
SBT Founder Donna Steele will again direct this show assisted by Music Director Jeff-nominated Jeremy Ramey of Chicago, returning to SBT for the ninth time. Cynthia Hall of Aurora adds exciting choreography, including a Bob Fosse-inspired number.
The Fairways cast includes actors from throughout the Chicago area, including Greg Zawada of Geneva and Erika Grotto of Romeoville as Sam and Kathy; Dan Cerny and Dana Teichart of Geneva; Diane Handler, Luke Donia and Joe Billquist of St. Charles; Mary Hobein of Woodridge; Will Nifong of Chicago; Jim Heatherly of Bloomingdale; Kimberly Wiczer of Wheeling; Marcus Gentry of Riverdale; Abby Stark of Bolingbrook; and Peter Sipla of Warrenville as the Pro.
Steel Beam Theatre (SBT) is celebrating 10 years of affordable, high-quality professional theatre during its 2010-11 season. Recently recognized as the Best Place for Live Theater, Kane County Chronicle and as Best Live Theatre Group by the Daily Herald, Fox Valley audiences know that a SBT production delivers stirring experiences that inspire, challenge, provoke and above all, entertain. The intimate theatre propels the audience into the actor’s world, creating a personal connection with the characters. Steel Beam’s historic downtown location offers theatergoers a variety of restaurants and pubs for pre- and post-theatre dining. A parking garage is located next to the Theatre.
Steel Beam Theatre is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 2001 by Donna Steele dedicated to bringing high quality theatrical entertainment, training and arts awareness to the Fox Valley community at an affordable price.
“STEEL: Strength, holding up, bearing responsibility, enduring. BEAM: Light, hope, joy, inspiration. THEATRE: A sacred place where we can share the mysteries, the joys, the wonders of our human experience.” Visit us on Facebook and at our website www.steelbeamtheatre.com.
