The Vince Carney Community Theater at 108 S. Main St. in Rochelle will present “Who’s Holiday” from July 17 to 19 and 24 to 25. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7 p.m. and the Sunday show is at 2 p.m.
Tickets are available at the door or online at vcctrochelle.org.
The show, written by Matthew Lombardo and directed by Terry Camplain, is the story of an all-grown-up Cindy Lou Who of Dr. Seuss’s “The Grinch.” Hard years have gone by for this version of Cindy Lou Who, who is now living in a trailer. The Christmas in July show is for mature audiences only.
“She’s living in a trailer park because of mishaps in her life,” Camplain said. “It’s her telling the story of how it all happened and how she ended up there. It’s very funny, but it’s also very touching. It’s a comedy that at some points may even bring a tear to your eye.”
Camplain and VCCT Board Member Amy Frank decided they wanted to bring the show to the stage in Rochelle after seeing it in recent years. Frank will portray Cindy Lou Who in the one-woman show.
The show has no intermission and runs for about 90 minutes. Camplain said Frank has had to memorize 32 pages of dialogue for the show. He’s excited for her work to be seen by audiences.
“She’s put in an incredible amount of work and has done an amazing job bringing the story and this character to life,” Camplain said. “The whole show is done in Dr. Seuss rhymes. To be able to do that has taken a lot of work and she’s doing a fantastic job. Two people working on a show together allowed for focused rehearsals. We got right to work and it was a very fluid process.”
“Who’s Holiday” is for mature audiences due to language and content. Camplain said he believes it’s important for theater groups to do different types of shows. Recent VCCT shows have included musicals, productions with child actors and dramas.
“That’s a wide range of shows. It’s really important to have a wide variety of shows to provide lots of different entertainment for all audiences,” Camplain said. “Some things won’t be for everybody and that’s OK.”
Camplain said audiences with familiarity of “The Grinch” and Dr. Seuss will already have a connection with the Cindy Lou Who character before walking in the door.
“Everyone knows Cindy Lou Who,” Camplain said. “The story brings that connection closer. The character makes that connection with the audience and talks to them. It’s easier because everyone knows the character already. But it may not be what they expect in this particular story.”
“The laughter is what I’m most excited about,” Camplain said. “It’s very funny. People can let loose. It’s an opportunity to escape reality for a little while and sit back and relax and have a good time with our people. The show is very touching in some spots. It touches on all levels of entertainment for everybody. I hope people come out and have a good time.”
