Underground Emerges: Newly formed Geneva Underground Playhouse to present 'The Best Man'

GENEVA – Community theater arrives in Geneva on Friday when the Geneva Underground Playhouse presents its first show in its new home – the basement of The Urban Grille restaurant at 524 W. State St.

While the setting might be non-traditional, theater-goers who desire getting close to the action will be rewarded.

"If you sweat, they will see it," said actor Dean Sasman, who is part of the cast that will perform "The Best Man," an award-winning play by Gore Vidal about political maneuverings.

The new theater will seat between 55 and 60 people and is designed to provide a intimate experience.

Fox Valley residents who want to watch a play have plenty of options. Batavia, St. Charles and Aurora already have playhouses.

Linda Brooks, who is on the board of directors for The Albright Theatre Company, is glad to see another theater open.

"It only benefits the area," Brooks said. "It also is great for local actors to have a choice."

Among the rest of the cast of "The Best Man" is Geneva High School English and drama teacher Lori Dowd.

She recently joined the playhouse's board.

"I am very excited to see community theater come to Geneva," Dowd said. "This is a great location, and not just to present shows. There is also a phenomenal talent pool here as well."

The Geneva Underground Playhouse formed after the First Street Playhouse in Batavia closed in 2007. For almost six years, the playhouse was located at the corner of First and Water streets in an old factory in downtown Batavia.

Board members decided to search for a smaller location in the area. The playhouse's parent organization is the First Street Playhouse Institute of Theater, a nonprofit organization.

Taking advantage of its proximity to the restaurant, Playhouse Executive Director Eric Schwartz said the playhouse will probably work out dinner packages with The Urban Grille.

In this sluggish economy, going to the theater could be considered a luxury. So tickets to the the playhouse's shows will carry a $20 standard price.

"We don't want to price ourselves out," Schwartz said.

Theater patrons will be able to enter the building through a separate entrance, and then take an elevator down to the playhouse.

Rick Pierce, who has worked on productions at the First Street Playhouse since the theater's beginnings, said he won't miss that building's clanking ventilation system.

"It was really difficult to hear when we would run the heat," Pierce said.

Pierce will appear in "The Best Man" along with his wife, Cindy Hardy-Pierce.

She knows what it is like starting a theater group. She was a founding member of Aurora Stage Company in the early '70s.

"It's fun to start with a company from the very beginning and watch it grow," Hardy-Pierce said.

And she looks forward to seeing the Geneva Underground Playhouse grow. Hardy-Pierce and her fellow actors are already rehearsing for the playhouse's next production, "Agnes of God," which will presented in June.

"It's nice that the Fox Valley has so many community theaters," she said. "There is room for all of us."

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If you go


What: "The Best Man" at the Geneva Underground Playhouse

When: Friday to Sunday, May 1-3, May 8-10 and May 15-16. On May 3 and 10, shows begin at 2 p.m. All other shows start at 8 p.m.

Where: 524 W. State St., Geneva, in the same building as The Urban Grille restaurant.

Tickets: $20 each, $15 for seniors and students, call the theater at 630-232-7683 for information.