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At the tent the shows are
mostly musicals and comedies,
largely family fare appropriate
for all ages. The season consists
of five shows, at least three of
them musicals, and about every
other year the theatre includes a
sixth show that has a shorter run
that is a fundraiser. The tent also
is used for children’s performanc-
es once or twice during the sum-
mer, including the culmination of
the Corn Stock for Kids Summer
Camp in July.
At the Winter Playhouse,
affectionately known by Corn
Stockers as “the lab” because it
often does experimental theatre
and classes, edgy dramas and ris-
qué comedies are more the norm.
The upcoming season will open
in early fall with a repertoire
presentation of “The Laramie
Project” and “The Laramie Proj-
ect 10 Years Later.”
The Winter Playhouse isn’t all
adult and experimental theatre,
however. It is also the venue for
one and sometimes two chil-
dren’s theatre productions from
Corn Stock for Kids.
The Winter Playhouse season
usually consists of five shows,
one or two children’s theatre pro-
ductions and often a Christmas
show that isn’t part of the regular
season. Occasionally the menu at
the Winter Playhouse will include
original scripts by its members.
Memberships are available for
only $8 for an individual and $10
for a family. Some of the benefits
include a subscription to the CST
newsletter, a reduced rate for
member social functions through-
out the year, ticket discounts and
one free costume rental.
EastlightTheatre
Eastlight Theatre may be the
youngest of the region’s major
community theatres, but it has
the largest venue and knack for
getting the new musicals first,
such as the recently completed
run of “Les Miserables” and the
upcoming “Legally Blond The
Musical.” But it also is the most
publicly subsidized.
It was founded in 1992 through
an intergovernment agreement
between the City of Peoria, Fon
du Lac Park District and East
Peoria Community High School.
Its shows are performed in the
Byron Moore Auditorium at East
Peoria High School.
The Eastlight season will
consist of four or five musicals,
which also includes its annual
production of “Joseph and the
Amazing Technicolor Dream-
coat” between Thanksgiving and
Christmas.
Eastlight also is home to the
Youthlight youth theatre com-
pany and the Penguin Project,
which each year presents a
musical with all the roles filled by
children with developmental dis-
abilities. It is headed by Dr. Andy
Morgan.
Steve Cordle is the technical di-
rector of Eastlight Theatre, which
has as its motto “It’s Broadway
Our Way.”
Peoria CabaretTheatre
Peoria native Andrew Driscoll,
himself a professional actor,
founded the Peoria Cabaret
Theatre as a venue for original
and licensed interactive improvi-
sation dinner theatre. Shows are
presented at The Waterhouse in
downtown Peoria, which also is
a popular venue for other events,
such as wedding receptions and
banquets.
But the company also will
perform at other venues within
90 miles of Peoria.
The Cabaret has three shows it
can take on the road for special
events. They are “The Awe-
some 80s Prom,” “The Lebanese/
Redneck Wedding” that is in the
style of the popular “Tony ‘n’
Tina’s Wedding,” and “Murder
at LaVieux Carre: A Mardi Gras
Whodunnit.”
“The Awesome ‘80s Prom” will
be performed at The Waterhouse
on July 27 and 28.
All of the theatres mentioned above
can be found on Facebook, as well.
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thePeorian.com
The Present
“Les Miserables” was produced earlier this summer at Eastlight Theatre in East Peoria.