LF_011217

LakeForestLeader.com life & arts
the lake forest leader | January 12, 2017 | 19
“THE
8TH WONDER
OF THE WORLD. ...”
—Joe Heard, former White House photographer
Actors (left to right) Matt Farabee and Christine Mayland Perkins in a publicity image
for The New Colony’s world premiere of “Psychonaut Librarians”. PHOTO SUBMITTED
LFHS grad shares what
happens after the library closes
Alyssa Groh, Editor
The library is closed, the
doors are locked, the lights
are off and now it is time
for the librarians to tell a
new story. New Colony in
Chicago, presents the world
premiere of “Psychonaut
Librarians” written by Sean
Kelly featuring actress
Christine Mayland Perkins,
a Lake Forest native.
An interest in the arts
began at a young age for
Perkins. She first became
interested in theater when
she was in grade school
at North Shore Country
Day School in Winnetka,
but her career and love for
Theater began at Lake Forest
High School.
“My interest [in Theater]
started at North Shore
Country Day School but I
definitely felt like I got a lot
of support and growth opportunities
at Lake Forest
High School,” Perkins said.
The 2006 graduate from
LFHS has spent the last
few years acting in feeder
Theaters throughout Chicago
and Miami. This month,
Perkins will spend her
time as an actress in “Psychonaut
Librarians”.
The play is about people
called psychonauts who
take mind altering drugs
to expand their consciousness.
Psychonauts take
drugs because they believe
there are things outside of
reality where they can get
in touch with an expanded
state of mind.
Kelly has always been
intrigued by librarians and
felt it would be interesting
to connect them with psychonauts.
“I have always wondered
what happens after the library
closes and this story
kind of takes that as a departure,”
Kelly said. “The play
is about a group of librarians
battling at the barrier of the
world that is real and the
world of the unreal. It is a
big fantasy adventure story.”
Perkins plays a women
named Jane, who is the
daughter of the head librarian
and psychonaut, Hester.
During the play Jane falls
in love with a man named
Dewey, who is from a very
different background than
Jane.
For Perkins, one of the
most rewarding things
about being a part of this
production is being able to
play the role of Jane.
“I am so grateful to Sean
for writing a female character
in her 20s that is much
more fully formed than
what is around,” Perkins
said. “She gets to actively
do and experience a wide
range of things.”
Perkins said the major
themes of the play are
bridging differences and
leaning into acceptance,
tolerance and love, something
she finds relevant
today.
“I think it is shockingly
relevant right now with the
country coming together
and coming to terms with
the current political situation,”
Perkins said. “As
the year has gone on I have
found it to be applicable to
life.”
“Psychonaut Librarians”
runs through Feb. 12 at The
Den Theater Upstairs Main
Stage, 1333 N. Milwaukee
Ave., Chicago. Tickets can
be purchased at www.thenewcolony.org.
“
I’ve reviewed about 4,000 SHOWS. None can
compare to what I saw tonight.”
—Richard Connema, renowned Broadway critic
“Absolutely THE NO.1 SHOW in the world!”
— Kenn Wells, former lead dancer of the English National Ballet
“The HIGHEST AND BEST of what humans can produce.”
—Oleva Brown-Klahn, singer and musician
FEB 7-8
University Park
Center for Performing Arts
“Poetry in motion... PRICELESS.”
“It is food for my heart and soul....”
— Siegfried & Roy, magicians and entertainers
“I just wish there is a way that I could cry out to mankinds,
they owe it to themselves to experience Shen Yun.”
—Jim Crill, veteran producer, watched Shen Yun 4 times
Early Bird code: Early17 Get best seats, waive service & facility fee by Dec.31
FEB 11-19
Chicago
Harris Theater
MAR 10 -12
Rosemont
Rosemont Theatre
Tickets
ShenYun.com/Chicago
888-99-SHOWS (74697)