The Riverfront Playhouse

Who’s ready for a show? We’ve still got tickets available for tonight’s performance of Three Tall Women! We’ll see you at 8pm - get those tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=250323

Tonight! Don’t miss Three Tall Women at the Riverfront Playhouse in Downtown Aurora. Treat yourself to a night of drama after a long week - you deserve it!

Don’t miss out; tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=250323

See what audiences are saying about Three Tall Women:

"Great way to spend 2 hours in downtown Aurora! 3 very tall, talented women!"

"Thought provoking, clever and well-acted production! Not to be missed."

"Brenda Scharlau, Jami Carter Johnson, and Heidi Schultz are absolutely amazing in their roles."

"What a great show!"

Only 3 weekends left! Get your tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=250323

Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women continues this weekend at the Riverfront Playhouse in Downtown Aurora. Join us for this poignant drama Friday and Saturday night.

Tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=250323

Escape the heat tonight and join us for Three Tall Women! We’ll see you tonight in Downtown Aurora. Tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=250323

Tonight is the night! Make your plans to see Three Tall Women at the Riverfront Playhouse in Downtown Aurora. Come see Edward Albee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning story that’s funny, poignant, heartbreaking, and even a little bit eerie.

Get your tickets here and we’ll see you at 8pm! https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=250323

Don’t miss this weekend’s performances of THREE TALL WOMEN at the Riverfront Playhouse in Aurora Downtown! Get your tickets for Friday and Saturday night here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=250323

The second to last weekend of September is already here 🤯

Luckily... we've got the perfect happenings going on to ensure it'll be great!

Continuing this weekend: THREE TALL WOMEN at the Riverfront Playhouse. Join us for Edward Albee’s story of one woman’s long life laid out for display, no holds barred. Her life, memories and reminiscences are unceremoniously examined, questioned, accepted or not, but, at last, understood.

Get your tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=250323

Performances of THREE TALL WOMEN at the Riverfront Playhouse continue this weekend. Don’t miss our interpretation of Edward Albee’s Pulitzer-Prize winning play, on stage in Downtown Aurora.

Get your tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=250323

Three Tall Women by Edward Albee
Directed by Phillip Edward Van Lear and Vicki White
September 6 - October 13, 2024

Photos by Sarah Knauf

Meet our directors of Three Tall Women! Performances continue this weekend; get your tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=250323

Phillip Edward Van Lear has been a member of The Riverfront family since 1978, Mr. Van Lear is blessed to return to the directing chair at the theatre where he had his directorial debut more than 36 years ago.

Mr. Van Lear's Riverfront acting credits include; Between Riverside and Crazy, What Kind of a Girl Do You Think I Am, White Cargo, A Lesson from Aloes, Green Goddess, The Madness of Lady Bright, Death Takes a Holiday, Preacher Man, the world premiere of Fat Bill's Roadside Café, and one run of A Christmas Carole. He will also appear in the upcoming Riverfront Playhouse production of Driving Miss Daisy.
Riverfront directing credits inchide The Gin Game, Mother Courage, The Night of The Iguana, A View from The Bridge, And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little, and For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Su***de When the Rainbow Is Enuf, and Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill.

Since retiring from 'show business' in 2021, Mr. Van Lear's life focus has been on his faith, his family, and his friends.
~~~
Vicki White is grateful for the opportunity to once again direct beside Phil Van Lear and work with these talented ladies of the stage. Over 50 years ago Vicki performed in Harvey at Waubonsee (before they had buildings), sharing a stage with Phil Van Lear. It is a great pleasure to work with him here at the Riverfront. Last year she and Phil co-directed the Lou Recommended production of Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill. She has also worked alongside Riverfront directors Gary Puckett, Tim Curtis, and Shawn Dooley. Most recently she was seen onstage in two of the Directors' Workshop offerings, Gutters and Unspoken. Other onstage credits include Marjorie Prime (Marjorie), Getting Mama Married (Ann), Rope (Mrs. Debenham), and Angel Street (Elizabeth). A special thank you to stage manager extraordinaire, Izzy, for her great get it done attitude and Gary Puckett for the awesome set once again. Love and gratitude to Mike who has put up with her for over 50 years. Enjoy the show!

Let's meet our wonderful understudy for Three Tall Women, Maggie Liston! Get your tickets for Three Tall Women at the Riverfront Playhouse here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=250323

Maggie is thrilled to be part of her first show with Riverfront Playhouse! Maggie's recent credits include Shelby in Steel Magnolias at Steel Beam Theatre, Benvolia in Juliet & Romeo at MCC's Black Box Theatre, and Edith in Blithe Spirit with Greenman Theatre Troupe. Maggie is honored and grateful to be a part of this incredible production of Three Tall Women - special thanks to Phil for trusting her with this opportunity and to the dynamic, fierce women who bring these roles to life...I'm in awe of you!

Meet the cast of Three Tall Women. Next up is Heidi Schultz, who plays "C." See Heidi and the rest of the cast in Three Tall Women at the Riverfront Playhouse! Tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=250323

Previous roles Heidi has played recently: Germaine in Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Riverfront Playhouse), Sumner in Men on Boats (Janus Theatre Company), and Slank Fighting Prawn in Peter and the Starcatcher (Wheaton Drama). This past January, Heidi directed On Clover Road (Riverfront Playhouse). She is the vice president of the Riverfront's board of directors and uns our Director's Workshop. When she is not playing in a theater, Heidi walks her cat and tries to spend as much time as possible with her niece and nephew. "Thank you, Phil and Vicki, for letting me be my sarcastic self on stage. And thank you Jami, Brenda, and Maggie, for being patient with me. And, Izzy, just thank you. Love and squishes to Jes, Sadie, and Chadwick."

Our next cast member of Three Tall Women is Jami Johnson. Get your tickets for Three Tall Women here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=250323

Jami is excited to be back at the Riverfront Playhouse as B in Three Tall Women. She was last on stage at the Riverfront as the Church Lady in Between Riverside and Crazy. Most recently she performed as Della in The Cake and as Clairee Belcher in Steel Magnolias at Steel Beam Theater. She is grateful to Phil for pushing and challenging her in this role, to VIcki and Izzy for their technical and creative support, and for the opportunity to share the stage with these amazingly talented actors who motivate and inspire her to continue to work at this exhilarating and exhausting craft. Heartfelt gratitude to her gracious husband, Bill, who continues to support and encourage her in this adventure.

Meet the Cast of Three Tall Women! First is Brenda Scharlau in the role of "A." See Brenda and the rest of the cast every weekend until October 13! Tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=250323

"I'm thrilled to return to the Riverfront after a few years off. I loved being in Da, in On Golden Pond and also Picnic... but this show touches me in a way few ever have. My mother was my greatest fan. She supported me when I did forensics in high school and in college. She supported me when I decided to Really get into acting... when I went into improv and Second City Players OE. When I did show after show in the theatres downtown Chicago, and later when I started doing the dinner theatre circuit. Any play that she could attend, she did attend, and always bragged to her friends about "my daughter, the actress" My mother was my greatest fan. Twenty seven years ago I lost my mother to Alzheimer's... each visit living the childlike woe and confusion.. hearing the amazing stories from the long past being retold in fresh detail, as if it just happened. In the end I wasn't her daughter, but a stranger she knew she loved. I truly hope all who see our show embrace their lives... and their loved ones. I hope you all realize what an amazing journey each day is, and grasp it firmly. As the fella said, 'Life is not a dress rehearsal...'"

Congratulations to our Lou Awards nominees!

Best Sound Design
• Sean Hargadon, The Half-Life of Marie Curie

Best Performer in a Leading Female Role - Play
• Doreen Dawson, The Half-Life of Marie Curie
• Heidi Swarthout, The Half-Life of Marie Curie
• Pearl Newson, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill

Best Director - Play
• Sean Hargadon, The Half-Life of Marie Curie
• Marge Uhlarik-Boller, The Lifespan of a Fact

📸: Sarah Knauf

Three Tall Women at the Riverfront Playhouse is Lou Awards recommended!

The show starts tonight at 8pm! Get your tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=250323

Lou Recommended!

Production: Three Tall Women
Theatre: Riverfront Playhouse
http://www.riverfrontplayhouse.com

A Lou recommendation is given to a production when, after the opening night of its run, at least one element of the show was deemed excellent by an opening night judge. By receiving a recommendation, participating theatres are one step closer to receiving a nomination, which will be announced sometime in September 2025.

Saturday night means more of THREE TALL WOMEN, continuing its opening weekend at the Riverfront Playhouse! Don’t miss Edward Albee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, now on the Riverfront stage.

Get your tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=250323

It's opening night! Don't miss our latest drama, Edward Albee's THREE TALL WOMEN.

Directed by Phillip Edward VanLear and Vicki White
Featuring Brenda Scharlau as "A", Jami Johnson as "B" and Heidi Schultz as "C" with Maggie Liston as Understudy.

Three Tall Women runs at the Riverfront Playhouse in Downtown Aurora now through October 13. Get your tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=250323

Dress rehearsal is underway for THREE TALL WOMEN. Don’t miss opening night tomorrow in Downtown Aurora!

Get your tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=250323

Don't miss the opening night of our latest drama THREE TALL WOMEN, this Friday September 6 at the Riverfront Playhouse!

A young lawyer, “C,” has been sent to the home of a client, a ninety-two-year-old woman, “A,” to sort out her finances. “A,” frail, perhaps a bit senile, resists and is of no help to “C.” Along with “B,” the old woman’s matronly paid companion/caretaker, “C” tries to convince “A” that she must concentrate on the matters at hand. “A’s” long life is laid out for display, no holds barred. Her life, memories and reminiscences are unceremoniously examined, questioned, accepted or not, but, at last, understood.

Get your tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=250323

Tickets are now on sale for THREE TALL WOMEN at the Riverfront Playhouse.

Directed by Phillip Edward VanLear and Vicki White, Three Tall Women tells the story of a young lawyer, “C,” who has been sent to the home of a client, a ninety-two-year-old woman, “A,” to sort out her finances. “A,” frail, perhaps a bit senile, resists and is of no help to “C.” Along with “B,” the old woman’s matronly paid companion/caretaker, “C” tries to convince “A” that she must concentrate on the matters at hand. “A’s” long life is laid out for display, no holds barred. Her life, memories and reminiscences are unceremoniously examined, questioned, accepted or not, but, at last, understood.

Don't miss Three Tall Women, running September 6 - October 13. Get your tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=250323

Join us for Alley Art Fest in Aurora Downtown on Saturday, August 31! The theatre will be open so feel free to stop in, cool down, and say hello!

THREE TALL WOMEN opens September 6 at the Riverfront Playhouse!

Directed by Phillip Edward VanLear and Vicki White, Three Tall Women tells the story of a young lawyer, “C,” who has been sent to the home of a client, a ninety-two-year-old woman, “A,” to sort out her finances. “A,” frail, perhaps a bit senile, resists and is of no help to “C.” Along with “B,” the old woman’s matronly paid companion/caretaker, “C” tries to convince “A” that she must concentrate on the matters at hand. “A’s” long life is laid out for display, no holds barred. Her life, memories and reminiscences are unceremoniously examined, questioned, accepted or not, but, at last, understood.

​Featuring Brenda Scharlau as "A", Jami Johnson as "B" and Heidi Schultz as "C" with Maggie Liston as Understudy.

Don't miss Three Tall Women, running September 6 - October 12. Tickets on sale soon!