An Historical Overview

The Northbrook Theatre was founded in February of 1980 by Gregory C. Dennhardt, Ph.D.  Dr. Dennhardt is still the company’s artistic director.  The Northbrook Theatre operates under the auspices of the Northbrook Park District, which acts as its producing organization, and of which it is a part.  This union offers a unique blend of private theatrical enterprise with local government and has set the standard for similar programs throughout the State of Illinois.  And, after studying the Northbrook model, many other Park Districts have come to offer analogous performing arts programs.

At first, the Northbrook Theatre consisted of only a children’s troupe, which then, and now, presents “theatre by  . . . youth for youth”.  It is a company of young actors in grades 6 – 10 who are guided in the production of plays and musicals by a professional staff of degree-holding artists.  This Children’s Company typically produces two, age-appropriate shows during the school year.  These productions are fully mounted with scenery, costumes, lighting, props and special effects.  The troupe employs “multiple-casting” of all roles to ensure maximum participation.  Typical productions include traditional fairy tales, musicals and modern “problem plays” that relate to growing up in America.  At times, the company even produces new and original scripts.

Not satisfied with the children having all the onstage fun, an adult community theatre was initiated in 1984.  Over the years, this troupe has produced 37 plays and musicals that were seen by audiences totaling over 45,000 and involving almost 1,000 participants onstage and behind the scenes as actors and members of the various stage crews.

District voters approved a referendum that same year that authorized the construction of a theatre to serve as a home for the growing performing arts programs.  This facility is a 320-seat proscenium playhouse with computerized lighting and sound control consoles, as well as a theatrical “fly’ system for scenery.  An addition was completed in 1986, which added an adjoining scene shop, dressing rooms, rehearsal studio and storage.  The theatre and its equipment has an estimated worth in excess of $2,500,000.00.

A professional Musical Theatre For Young Audiences was added in 1996, and is dedicated to the production of “high quality family-style theatre”.  This non-Equity troupe consists of nine actors engaged for each season who are paid both a rehearsal and a performance stipend.  This company presents three shows each year and its actors are often utilized as staff for the Children’s Company and Kidstage productions.  Since its inception, Northbrook Musical Theatre For Young Audiences has employed 104 professional actors and technicians, presenting 17 separate productions to audiences totaling over 50,000.

New for the 2000 – 2001 Season is a professional acting company, the Northbrook Repertory Theatre. This troupe has taken the place of the old community theatre and is currently working under an Equity Guest Artist’s Contract.  Northbrook Rep presents that kind of  “in-your-face” legitimate theatre productions for which Chicago is famous.

Alongside Northbrook Theatre’s production “wing” is an educational OutReach program that trains both children and adults in the performing arts.  During the school year, group and private instruction in music, dance and drama is available to students that enroll from throughout the North and Northwest suburban area.  In the summer, a series of Drama Workshops that function as “day-camps in the arts” are offered.  Open to children in grades 1 – 9 and grouped by age levels, these Workshops include daily instruction in music, dance and drama.  Each Workshop culminates in the public presentation of an age-appropriate musical presentation.  Enrollment in these classes and Workshops now exceeds 1,500 each year and over 12,000 participants have registered since 1980.

Additionally, the Northbrook Park District offers a series of seven free “concerts in the park” known as Park Fest and Kids Fest.  These open-air programs typically attract audiences of over 5,000 each summer and receive technical support from the Northbrook Theatre staff.

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