Annie Martello of Morris is the properties assistant in the Latest PLT Production, "Intimate Apparel"

2013 Feb 11

Annie Martello of Morris is the properties assistant in the Philip Lynch Theatre production of Lynn Nottage's "Intimate Apparel" and a Morris High School graduate. The show opens Friday, Feb. 15 and runs until Sunday, Feb. 24.

The play is set in New York 1905 and is based on the life of Nottage's great-grandmother. Esther (Sabra Thomas of Bolingbrook), a shy African American seamstress creates exquisite lingerie for both boudoirs and bordellos. Her skills and discretion are in high demand, and she manages to keep a goodly sum of money tucked away in her quilt. She dreams of opening a beauty parlor where black women will be treated as royally as the white women she sews for. But Esther remains, lonely and longing for a husband. She begins to receive beautiful letters from a lonesome Caribbean man named George (Kawaan Panama of Chicago). Over time the correspondence becomes increasingly intimate and when George arrives in New York, he turns out not to be the man his letters painted him to be.

Keith White of Joliet directs the cast of 6 Lewis University students. Other members of the cast include: Kenya Horton of Lombard, Kate O'Neil of Yorkville, Mike Wall of Waconda, and Ericka Young of Lockport.

Members of the design team include Lewis second year student Rachel Tau of Wood Dale (stage manager), Harold McCay of Joliet (light set design), Celeste Mackey of Joliet (costume design) and Dave Pomatto of Naperville (assistant technical director) provide artistic collaboration.

Other Lewis student production staff members include: Mary Bradley of Palos Heights (assistant stage manager), Melissa Chicola of Lockport (light board operator), Annie Martello of Plainfield and Kamil Borowski of Stickney (properties), and Adam Smetana of Racine, Wis. (sound design and operator).

This show is recommended for patrons 13 years old and up and will run Feb. 15-17 and Feb. 21-24. Evening performances begin at 8 p.m. Sunday matinees begin at 2:30 p.m. A matinee will also be performed at 4 P.M. on Saturday, Feb. 23. Advanced ticket purchases are strongly encouraged. Tickets are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and students and $2 for Lewis students with their student IDs. Tickets are $8 for groups of fifteen or more, a savings of more than 10 percent off the original ticket price. Tickets are non-refundable. For more information, call the PLT box office at (815) 836-5500, Monday thru Friday from 1-4:30 p.m., or by emailing at boxoffice@lewisu.edu. The Philip Lynch Theatre is located on the main campus of Lewis University, Oremus Fine Arts Building on Route 53 in Romeoville.

Lewis University is a Catholic university offering distinctive undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 6,500 traditional and adult students. Lewis offers multiple campus locations, online degree programs, and a variety of formats that provide accessibility and convenience to a growing student population. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis prepares intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, globally connected, and socially responsible graduates. The seventh largest private not-for-profit university in Illinois, Lewis has been nationally recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. Visit http://www.lewisu.edu for further information.