Children's Theatre of Elgin and Fox Valley Theatre Company Present "Simply the Best: 25 Years of Audience Favorites" June 22, 2012

Children’s Theatre of Elgin’s Simply the Best
Celebrates 25 Years of Unforgettable Performances

In 1988 Children’s Theatre of Elgin founders David and Peter Akemann envisioned a theatre company that would give the Fox Valley community affordable access to quality performances put on by children for children. More than two decades and 100 performances later, CTE’s Simply the Best: 25 Years of Audience Favorites will deliver a high-energy look back at the group’s most beloved musical performances during six shows at Elgin Community College the weekends of June 22 and 29.

Join CTE’s talented cast of 120 young people ranging in age from 7 to 20 as they sing and dance their way down memory lane during performances at the Elgin Community College Arts Center Blizzard Theatre on June 22, 23, 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. and on June 24 and July 1 at 3 p.m. Simply the Best features a live band accompanying young performers singing dozens of pop, rock and Broadway favorites such as “All that Jazz,” “Fame,” “Footloose,” “Leader of the Pack,” “Proud Mary” and “Somebody to Love,” among many others.

Twin brothers David and Peter Akemann, life-long Elgin residents and active community members, founded CTE in 1988 because they discovered a lack of opportunities in the performing arts for their own children and others in grades 2 through 9. Later in 1993, Fox Valley Theatre Company was added for high school- and college-aged students, and in 2006 that group was incorporated as Fox Valley Theatre Company (FVTC). CTE/FVTC’s goal has been to provide meaningful live-theatre instruction and experiences for all interested students. A successful scholarship program helps fund participation for children who may be economically disadvantaged.

“We are very pleased with the success CTE and FVTC have enjoyed over the past 25 years,” said Peter Akemann. “It’s rewarding to see how theatre can positively affect the lives of children, their families and the community.”
David Akemann agrees: “Our goals all along were to provide a healthy, creative outlet for children and youth and to produce quality family entertainment that all could enjoy,” he said. “We are truly fortunate to have been a part of this wonderful, positive experience for so many and for so long."
Using CTE as their springboard, dozens of young actors and singers have gone on to pursue successful careers in the arts. Broadway actress Courtney Reed and Broadway conductor David Hahn both got their start with CTE, and Joffrey Ballet member Aaron Rogers also performed with the group.
Andy Bero, who traveled with the Broadway touring version of Jesus Christ Superstar, is an alumnus who has returned to CTE as a choreographer for Simply the Best. Bero will make his FVTC directing debut with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in September.
“CTE/FVTC provided me with a solid foundation on which to build my performing career and it brought into my life a number of fellow performers who to this day are my best friends,” Bero said. “It is incredibly rewarding to now be part of the production staff and see a whole new generation of kids benefiting from the CTE/FVTC experience.”
Today, CTE produces two large-scale shows each year at Hemmens Cultural Center using scripts based on fairy tales, literature and historical stories, including original scripts written by CTE board members. The combined CTE/FVTC group produces a song and dance review like Simply the Best each summer, while FVTC presents a full-length Broadway musical annually at the Blizzard Theater as well.
A single board of directors governs both CTE and FVTC with board members acting as show producers, while a non-voting auxiliary board handles publicity, set and costume shops, group sales, equipment management and office duties. Over the past 25 years, 315,000 audience members have had the opportunity to enjoy 100 shows starring more than 7,000 talented young performers.
Tickets for Simply the Best are $10 for all performances and are available online through the ECC box office at http://www.elgin.edu/vpac.aspx or by phone at 847-622-0300. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Arts Center Box Office in the Elgin Community College Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, during regular hours Monday through Thursday, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about CTE, please visit the group’s website at cteelgin.com.

Simply the Best is produced and presented by Children’s Theatre of Elgin, an Illinois 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation and in-residence ensemble at the Elgin Community College Arts Center. The City of Elgin and the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission provide partial funding for the organization, and this program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

Official Website: http://www.cteelgin.com