K-PAX novelist, playwright to appear in Geneva
The Geneva Underground Playhouse is pleased to announce that author Gene Brewer will greet people at the theater’s May 16 performance of K-PAX.Dr. Brewer, who wrote the original K-PAX novel followed by two sequels, adapted the stage play from his original novel.
The Geneva Underground Playhouse production of the play will be the North American premier. It opens Friday, May 7 and will have eight performances through Saturday, May 22.
Dr. Brewer and his wife Karen will attend the show at 3 p.m. May 16 to celebrate its North American premier, and will meet with people in a reception immediately following in the theater at 524 W. State St. in downtown Geneva.
“This is a big moment for our theater,” said Steve Lord, president of the Geneva Underground Playhouse Board of Directors. “It’s an honor for us to produce the North American premier of this play, and an even bigger honor to have Dr. Gene Brewer see the production and visit us.”
The reception will serve as a fund-raiser for the non-profit, community theater, so tickets will be higher than normal performances. Tickets for the May 16 event will be $30 for adults, and $25 for seniors and students. The price includes the show and reception afterward.
For more information or reservations, see the theater’s website, at www.genevaundergroundplayhouse.com, or call 630-232-7683.
Many people know K-PAX from the movie, which starred Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges. While it was based on Brewer’s novel, he did not write the screenplay.
The story takes place in a mental institution, where one guest claims to be an alien, named Prot, from the planet, K-PAX. While the doctor at the institution probes his mind, attempting to find out who he really might be, Prot helps improves the lives of fellow guests at the institution, and influences everyone around him.
Is he really an alien from another planet, or a deluded patient who has assumed another personality? That is up to the audience to decide.
Dr. Brewer himself is a Midwest native. Born and raised in Muncie, Ind., he was educated at DePauw University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before becoming a novelist, Dr. Brewer studied DNA replication and cell division at several major research institutions, including St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, in Memphis, and Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland. He now lives in New York City and Vermont.
The GUP production features Geneva resident Pat Able, as Dr. Gene Brewer, and Scott Surowiecki, of Chicago, as Prot. Other actors performing in the play include: Angela Bend (Bess), of St. Charles; Kathy Richardson (Giselle), of Elburn; Steve Lord (Chuck), of Geneva; Russ Devereaux (Ernie), of St. Charles; Peter Lemongelli (Howie), of Cicero; and Angelicque Cate (Betty), of Elgin.
It is directed by Eric Peter Schwartz, of DeKalb.
Other show dates and times are: 8 p.m., May 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22; and 3 p.m., May 9.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students. Tickets may be purchased with a credit card online at the website. Reservations can be made by calling the box office 630-232-7683, for tickets to be picked up show night and paid for with cash or check.
Tara is one of my "girls" from the old breastfeeding group. There are 6 of us from the old Delnor support group who still get together as close to once a month as possible...and today was the first day in a LONG time that all of us were together. Thank goodness Tara has already e-mailed me the pictures! 
I've said it before and I'll say it again - I'm so thankful to have these girls in my life. Since D's 3rd week of life, I've always had this group of girls - all with similar ideals to my own, all with kiddos within 3 months of D's age (a few just a few weeks!) and all fantastic to have discussions with about anything and everything. It started with breastfeeding "support" but has totally branched out to support for all areas of our now toddlers and life in general. 
