Limelight Theatre’s 2015 productions included “An Enemy of the People (an adaptation)”, “Legally Blonde the Musical”, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (performed in the park), “Disney’s Peter Pan Jr.,” and one original fall play, ‘A Textbook Case of Larceny.” (Photos courtesy Limelight Theatre Company)

Adhering to its official motto, “Where Everyone Plays a Part,”  the Limelight Theatre Company — born in 2000 as an Oswegoland Park District youth program for middle-school children — has grown into a fully blossomed, family-based community organization involving more than 100 people of all ages.

Besides producing eight radio drama shows and a host of other theatrical presentations each year, Limelight offers a wide variety of opportunities in the field, including skill-based workshops, classes and theatre-related experiences for participants ranging from kindergarten-to-college students, and beyond.

In its infancy, Limelight was a small program initiated by since-departed founder Brian Fauth, which included about a dozen 10- and 11-year-olds learning to write their own plays. As those children became older, word of mouth spread, and other family members started becoming involved.

Cori Veverka, artistic director/company director for the Limelight Theatre Company

“One of the biggest things we say, Limelight is a family,” said Artistic Director/Company Director and instructor Cori Veverka, who also serves as the Park District’s Cultural Arts Supervisor.

“Throughout the years, participants told their younger siblings about us, and then you’ll see the shy sibling give it a try and love it as much as their brothers or sisters. And as the program grew, our staff grew as well. It’s been a nice, organic growth … very inclusive. “

“As the years have passed, we’ve added more shows, and more opportunities, and educational classes as well. For example, we have a strong writing program. We write a lot of our own material and they can take ownership of that. So that’s exciting,” Veverka said. “ And we’ve always had students participating backstage, with costumes and makeup— all aspects of the theatre. And parents get involved, maybe with power tools to help build a set, or even sharing the stage with their children.”

The group has a “great working relationship”  with the schools in the area, and other partnerships and collaborations within the community, she said.

“(Limelight Theatre) is for everyone, and everyone’s involved. Here, everyone works together, and that snowballs in a really great way for us. We all have a strong connection together, and we want to continue to grow and involve more people, stay strong, and offer wonderful entertainment opportunities for our community,” Veverka said.

Ginny Bateman, Oswegoland Park District’s director of recreation and marketing, said that her now-adult daughter, Emily Dunne, became involved with Limelight prior to entering sixth grade. Dunne helped with the writing of a play, and then began acting in shows and taking part in productions as a musician as she grew with the program.

“We have older, college-age kids who come back to help the younger kids learn about the theatre world,” Bateman said. “I still recognize some of the names. They grew up in Limelight, so it’s fun to see them progress. You can’t wait to see what they’re going to do next. And we have such a diversity of kids. They can come to Limelight and find their place, and live out their passion in a safe, family environment.

Limelight Theatre’s 2015 productions included “An Enemy of the People (an adaptation)”, “Legally Blonde the Musical”, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (performed in the park), “Disney’s Peter Pan Jr.,” and one original fall play, ‘A Textbook Case of Larceny.” (Photos courtesy Limelight Theatre Company)

“Kids come in, and they find their voice, and that stays with them through the years, “ Bateman said. “(It) serves them through their lives. It’s kind of a thing that’s always there when you want to come back to it. The shows are fun, and amazing, and entertaining, but they’re really vehicles for having our participants grow and find their place in the world.”

Veverka said that Limelight’s classes are designed to uphold the company’s mission statement: To teach, to learn, to create, and to share through theatre. That philosophy entails all aspects of theatre, from the production process through the on-stage performance.

“It’s so much about the process,” Veverka said. “You can spend a lot of money, and get amazing costumes and bring in set pieces from the outside. But we want our participants to build these things and take ownership. So it’s not about just putting on a big, shiny production. We want our actors to create their own characters and not be treated like puppets. We want to get them learning and thinking along the way. I’m always pleased when we have an awesome show, because it is a team effort — an ensemble.”

One of Limelight’s staples is its Radio Division, which presents old-time radio dramas based on classic films, literature, original works and adaptations. In 2006, Limelight began staging a live radio-play version of “It’s A Wonderful Life,” which is currently in the audition process before beginning a December run at the Little White School Museum, located at 72 W. Polk St. in downtown Oswego.

“As an audience member, it’s like watching the characters doing a live radio show, wearing 1940s-era clothing to represent the time,” Veverka said. “And we’ll have sound effects — buckets of water, creating foliage sounds with branches — so it is audio-driven. There’s enough to keep you engaged visually, but the audio brings it to life. You can get swept up in the world the actors are creating for you, audio-wise, and people in the audience often close their eyes as they’re sitting there.”

Limelight also produces adult-oriented shows, which typically run in February, and original, one-act plays (written and performed by 8- to -13-year-olds) in March, as well as a series of shows in the summer.

“We like to make sure each show has a specific age group, so those individuals get to shine,” Veverka said. “We try to present different options … different challenges. Also, as we pick our summer season, we may start with a well-known show, and then go with a balance of darker in tone to lighter, or adult to family friendly.”

Auditions are this week (Nov. 4 and 5) for the Limelight Theatre Company’s production of It’s A Wonderful Life radio play to be presented in December at the Little White School Museum in downtown Oswego. (Photo Limelight Theatre)

Veverka said that Limelight will announce its 2016 schedule during the opening night of “It’s A Wonderful Life,” set for 7 p.m. Dec. 3. The show also plays at 7 p.m. Dec. 4, 5 and 18, and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 19. Tickets are $8 (adults) and $6 (students and senior citizens), and are available by visiting www.limelightheatrecompany.org or at the door.

Limelight’s final radio production of the 2015 season, “The Apocalypse Will Be Mine,” Western, will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 28, also at the Little White School Museum. Tickets are $8 (adults) and $6 (students, seniors).

“We enjoy performing at the Little White School Museum, and at various schools, but our biggest goal is to find a more permanent performance venue,” Veverka said. “We’d love to have a space of our own … a home to allow us to plan bigger and better things.”

More on the Limelight Theatre Company

Upcoming classes include Writing Workshop: Adapting Dashiell Hammet for the Radio (for ages 12 and up), from noon to 6 p.m. Nov. 8 at South Point, located at 810 Preston Ave.; Scene It (for ages 9-11), from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Dec. 3, 10 and 17 at Boulder Point, located at 0 Boulder Pass; and Warm Up with Warm-Ups (for ages 11-13) from 6:30-8 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Little White School Museum.

To register for classes, and for more information, visit Limelight’s website or call (630) 554-1010. To contact Veverka directly, send an email tocveverka@oswegolandpd.org.

–Limelight Theatre Company nurtures growth through family involvement–