The effort was proposed by Mayor Terry Weppler who recently asked not-for-profit entertainment company Liberty Town Productions to spearhead its organization. The result is publicizing the March arts events of a dozen organizations on a poster being distributed throughout the village as well as via the village website and e-mail blasts.
Featured events include the opening of Gallery 60048 featuring local artists during the month's first weekend in the Harris Bank building; Liberty Town Productions', A Night of A Cappella Music concerts on March 13 at St. Lawrence Episcopal Church; Studio
West's portraits of fine and performing artists gracing merchant windows throughout the month; Talent Forum's DanceScapes production on March 14; a used tap shoe drive by Encore Theatre, a productions of The Gathering by Improv Playhouse March 25-28; a professional production of the musical 13 by the Wishing Star Theatre at the Genessee Theatre and sponsorship by the Civic Center Foundation, David Adler Music and Arts Center and Curtis Frame Back Alley Gallery. Libertyville's Candlewood Suites is the official business sponsor of A Night of A Cappella Music and Fine Arts Month.
Liberty Town Producer Barry Reszel said it's especially noteworthy that these kinds of events happen regularly in Libertyville, not just because this is a designated month. "For this first Fine Arts Month we want people to see organizations and businesses that are dedicated to fine and performing arts all the time and to realize how lucky we are to have them in our town," Reszel said.
Weppler said he felt the time was right to honor Libertyville's fine and performing artists, including, but not limited to, the fine arts efforts at Libertyville High School that receive statewide recognition. "We have many talented people in the Village from grade school on up to our seniors," Weppler said. "These people don’t always get recognized the way our athletes do. Libertyville has been blessed with the number and quality of both performers and volunteers who provide entertainment for our residents."
He said the work of Liberty Town Productions to bring in and produce local entertainment made it the right organization to lead this effort. "I'd like to thank Liberty Town Productions for taking on Fine Arts Month in Libertyville," Weppler said. "I have seen productions in Libertyville that equal the quality of professional performances put on in the city at a fraction of the cost. You can enjoy a great meal in Libertyville and then see some form of quality Fine Arts performance nearly every weekend."
Indeed that's the plan behind the entertainment enterprise founded in 2008. "Our mission is , 'Celebrating talent on life's stage,'" said Reszel. "We simply strive to bring affordable entertainment to town, either producing it ourselves, as we did with our production of Working last March and our Musical Showcase last summer, or bring it to town, as we are with this night of a cappella music."
Reszel said coordinating Fine Arts Month is an extension of the company's mission. "We're thrilled the mayor asked us to coordinate this month," Reszel said. "This year the goal is to celebrate and recognize. As leaders it gave us a chance to connect with other arts organizations and lay a modest groundwork for what we hope and expect to become an annual celebration of fine arts in Libertyville."
Details about all Fine Arts Month events are found on posters throughout the village and on the Village of Libertyville website. Information and ticket reservations for A Night of A Cappella Music are available at (847) 544-9159 and at libertytownproductions.com.
Contacts-- Barry Reszel may be contacted at (847) 549-7691.
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