Post Tribune: From page to stage, ‘Eleanor’ brought to life for holiday show
By Philip Potempa
When stage entertainer-turned-author and producer Denise McGowan Tracy made up her mind to bring her storybook character Eleanor to life for Christmas, she found her company manager and assistant stage manager in Valparaiso.
Adrienne Lineback had her first professional stage encounter with “Young Frankenstein,” produced by Chicago Street Theatre in 2016 at Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville. Her latest curtain assignment is wrangling the cast of the fresh, new and fun family-friendly holiday stage tale “Eleanor’s Very Merry Christmas Wish — The Musical,” which is debuting at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago with performances through Dec. 29.
The show is presented by Chicago-based DMT Entertainment, which was founded by Denise McGowan Tracy as a full-service event agency producing what are usually private functions. Lineback, who works as an event coordinator at DMT Entertainment, offered her help to make Denise’s dream a reality to create her first scripted holiday stage show. She is serving as the show’s company manager and also the assistant stage manager.
“Adrienne has been with ‘Eleanor’ since the very beginning of the idea for a holiday stage show,” McGowan Tracy said.
“This show is having its audience debut just 13-months after I first sat across the table from Kathleen Butler-Duplessis, who is the genius who created the music and lyrics for this 65-minute show.”
At Tuesday’s world premiere in Chicago, Lineback’s boyfriend Lucas Schrader, her mom Stephanie Lineback and her Uncle Jeff Lineback, all from Valparaiso, attended the performance.
“Eleanor’s Very Merry Christmas Wish — The Musical” was inspired by the book “Eleanor,” which featured illustrations by the late John Michael Downs and was unveiled with a public reading nearly a year ago in December 2018.
“Really, the story of ‘Eleanor’ began about 20 years ago when I was at Navy Pier,” McGowan Tracy said. “I was observing children visiting Santa and I overheard one little girl state very specifically ‘And DON’T bring me anything purple.’ I recall turning to the woman next to me and saying, ‘How would you like to be the toy that gets that kid?’”
With the encouragement of her husband Ed Tracy, Denise spent nearly two decades jotting down notes and dreaming up story ideas before “Eleanor,” the skeptical yet optimistic rag doll, was born a year ago.
“Eleanor’s Very Merry Christmas Wish — The Musical” has a talented ensemble cast of 11, including Samantha Bonzi in the title role of Eleanor, alongside singer/songwriter and actor Lindsey Jane Bullen as Twinkle the Elf, Chicago Kids Company member Cara Chumbley as Glimmer the Elf, Blank Theatre Company co-founder Claire Latourette as Shimmer the Elf, Drury Lane veteran Kim Green as Sparkle the Elf, local Emmy Award winner Scott Gryder and Jeff Award nominee John Marshall Jr. sharing duties as Sprinkle the Elf, Chicago singer and actor Erin Parker as Mrs. Claus, Lucille Lortel Award nominee Emily Rohm as Clara Claus, Sydney Swanson in her professional stage debut as Noelle, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater regular David Turrentine as Santa.
The musical tells the story of rag doll Eleanor who lives in a magical world. Despite her love for her North Pole family — which includes Santa, Mrs. “Cookie” Claus, Clara Claus and elves — Twinkle, Sprinkle, and Sparkle, Eleanor’s wish is for a best friend and home of her own. She writes a letter to Santa expressing her hopeful wish and opens the door for many questions to be answered and also an exciting journey. The show is recommended for ages 3 and older and photo opportunities with Santa are included at the end of every performance.
Filled with charm, humor and a heartfelt message, the musical has eight clever songs, with the favorite of all being a delightfully infectious “The Wrap It Rap” performed by Eleanor and the elves in the gift-wrapping room at the North Pole.
Single tickets are $29.50, with family packs of four tickets available for $100 at www.eleanorswish.com or call 773-404-7336 with group discounts also available.
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center. He can be reached at pmpotempa@comhs.org. Post-Tribune Article
