Fall Fun at Tree of Life Coffee House This Saturday

Poet Carol Alfus read at last spring's Tree of Life Coffee House.

The Tree of Life Coffee House will return to the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry on Saturday, November 2 from 7 to 10 pm.

The Coffee House is noted for showcasing a wide variety of performers and musicians across multiple genres.  

This fall edition will feature a mix of returning favorites and first time performers.  George “Kaz” Kazluski will return as master of ceremonies.

Ukulele Superheroes are a favorite at the Coffee House.

Families are welcome but should be advised that some artists might employ adult themes and language.

Light refreshments including coffee, soft drinks, and water will be available at no charge and there is no fee for admittance.  A free will offering will be taken to defray expenses.

For more information about the event, email office@treeoflifeuu.org, call Tree of Life at 815 322-2464 or visit the Facebook event.

Fresh, Fair, and Often Funny Chatting With the Tea Party at Tree of Life UU

The Tree of Life UU Congregation’s Word Players readers' theater troupe presents the acclaimed docudrama Chatting with the Tea Party by Rich Orloff on Friday, November 10, at 7 pm at the church, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry.

Chatting With the Tea Party is about one person’s journey across America exploring the question, “Who are these people?” It’s a documentary style play about a New York liberal playwright who decides to travel around the country interviewing leaders of local Tea Party groups, to get to know people whose political beliefs are diametrically opposed to his. For a year playwright Rich Orloff attended Tea Party meetings and events in cities large and small in every region of the country. The play shapes the highlights of over 63 hours of interviews plus notes from the events to go beyond sound bites and stereotypes to show the people behind the politics. In a journey that’s at times disturbing, humorous, moving, and always thought-provoking.

A finalist for the Woodward/Newman New Play Award and the NuVoices New Play Prize, Chatting With the Tea Party has had readings at 15 theaters around the country and had its world premiere production in New York City in early 2016 at the Robert Moss Theater.

Daniel Pegarsch as playwright Rich Orloff.

The Word Players production features a cast of four with Daniel Pegarsch as the inquisitive playwright.  Ron Relic, Sue and George “Kaz” Kazlusky each portray a dazzling array of roles including local Tea Party leaders, Orloff’s skeptical and critical New York liberal friends, famous historical persons, and a sampling of Americans in a polarizing time.  Also appearing as the Card Girl is Devi Madaus.

Ron Relic plays impassioned local Tea Party leaders, one of Orloff's skeptical New York Liberal friends, historical characters, and other characters.

The Play is directed by Patrick Murfin.

Tickets are $10 available at the door. Proceeds benefit the Social Justice Ministry of the Tree of Life Congregation.

For more information call Tree of Life at 815 322-2464, e-mail office@treeoflifeuu.org, or visit http://treeoflifeuu.org/2017/11/06/chatting-with-the-tea-party-this-friday/ .

 

Cast Announced for the Word Players’ Chatting With the Tea Party

The Word Players, the new reader’s theater company at the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation in McHenry has announced the cast for its upcoming presentation of the acclaimed play Chatting With the Tea Party by Rich Orloff on Friday, November 10, at 7 pm at the church, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry.

Sue and "Kaz" Kazlusky

Sue and George “Kaz” Kazlusk are retired educators with many years of performing and theater experience in McHenry County.  They both appeared in several editions of the Paradise People and Dille’s Follies revues and are longtime members of those seasonal favorites the Dickens Carolers.  Sue directed the annual Woodstock Children’s Theater productions at the Opera House for nearly 30 years.  She also participated in a reader’s theater production of 400 Years of Unitarian and Universalist Poetry conceived and directed by Patrick Murfin. Kaz is well remembered as the P.A. announcer of Woodstock High School games. They are also long time members of the Tree of Life Adult choir.

Daniel Pegarsch is a veteran of community theater productions including performances at the Raue Center in Crystal Lake.

Ron Relic.

Ron Relic has been a professional actor with stage credits in summer stock and regional theater as well as community theater productions.  He sings with Kaz in the Frothy Boys a cappella group with which his turn as Elvis Pressley’s lesser known brother stops every show the ensemble does. 

Director Patrick Murfin is returning to theater roots stretching back to his high school and college days when had leading rolls in such productions as Damn Yankees, Pygmalion, Inherit the Wind, Oliver!, A Man for All Seasons, Little Murders, and The Rivals.  He also directed John Millington Synge’s Riders to the Sea, and Dylan Thomas’s Under Milkwood.  More recently he created and directed two reader’s theater plays including Thomas Jefferson Still Survives.  Murfin is also an amateur historian, blogger, and published poet in addition to being a well-known local social justice activist.

Chatting With the Tea Party is about one person’s journey across America exploring the question, “Who are these people?” It’s a documentary style play about a New York liberal playwright who decides to travel around the country interviewing leaders of local Tea Party groups, to get to know people whose political beliefs are diametrically opposed to his.  For a year playwright Rich Orloff attended Tea Party meetings and events in cities large and small in every region of the country. The play shapes the highlights of over 63 hours of interviews plus notes from the events to go beyond sound bites and stereotypes to show the people behind the politics. In a journey that’s at times disturbing, humorous, moving, and always thought-provoking. 

The program is part of an on-going series highlighting the arts in Resistance.

Tickets will soon be on sale for the program for $10.  Proceeds will support the social justice ministry of the Tree of Life Congregation. 

For more information call Murfin at 815 814-5645 or e-mail pmurfin@sbcglobal.net.