LP_052418

lockportlegend.com life & arts
the Lockport Legend | May 24, 2018 | 21
LTHS sophomore’s play to raise money for new playground
Ferricks recruits cast of
43 children, teens for
upcoming production
Laurie Fanelli, Freelance Reporter
“And will you succeed? Yes!
You will indeed (98 and 3/4 percent
guaranteed),” wrote Dr. Seuss
(Theodor Seuss Geisel) in his popular
book, “Oh, the Places You’ll
Go.”
In the case of Brooke Ferricks,
Seuss would have upped his odds
of success to 100 percent if he had
known about the 15-year-old’s
drive to do good while promoting
the arts in Homer Glen, Lockport
and beyond. For her next Brooke’s
Backyard Productions project, the
LTHS sophomore has recruited a
cast of 43 children and teens —
ages 3 to 15 — to join her in presenting
“Seussical Jr.” at St. Bernard’s
Catholic Church on June 23
and 24. There are no tickets, and
all proceeds from at-will donations
are to benefit SOS Children’s Village
in Lockport, which is in need
of a new playground.
“I’ve known about SOS Village
for a long time,” Ferricks said. “I
was looking for a local place that
we could raise money for, and my
mom and I came by to see what
they needed. That’s when we discovered
that they were in need of a
playground. And I think that works
good with the whole imagination,
fun, childhood theme of ‘Seussical.’”
SOS Village educational and activities
coordinator Lauren Clark
explained that updated slides,
swings and climbing obstacles
are on the organization’s wishlist.
“Our playground is out of date, so
we’re looking to spruce it up a little
bit,” she said.
Accounting Supervisor Renee
Fitzpatrick added that the new
playground will be used by the
more than 50 children who are involved
in SOS Village’s programs.
“We help a lot of families and a lot
of kids,” Fitzpatrick said. “We’re a
close-knit village where all the kids
Members of the “Seussical Jr.” cast and crew pose for a photo in front of the SOS Children’s Village
playground May 16 in Lockport. They are helping replace the playground with proceeds raised from the show,
which is scheduled to be staged next month at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Homer Glen.
Photos by Laurie Fanelli/22nd Century Media
see each other and are around each
other, and they need a playground.”
The importance of play was a
driving force behind Ferricks’ decision
to spearhead the campaign to
get SOS new park equipment.
“Some of my best memories
from growing up are playing on
the monkey bars, being at the park,
playing and having fun,” Ferricks
said.
Ferricks has once again been
busy leading rehearsals, handling
correspondences with parents and
promoting philanthropy, all while
encouraging her cast and crew to
enjoy a lifelong passion for art and
creativity.
“I’m excited to do ‘Seussical,’
because it’s such a magical show,”
she explained. “It all centers
around the imagination and letting
your mind expand and go to different
places. It’s a good show that
works well for our theater troupe.”
Lockport resident Zachary Mueller,
13, who is a veteran performer
with Brooke’s Backyard Productions,
is taking on the role of one of
Seuss’ most iconic characters during
the upcoming show.
“I’m playing Horton,” he said.
“The character is pretty fun, how
clueless he is with everything. It’s
kind of funny.”
Mueller added that the group’s
commitment to giving back is one
of the driving forces to his continued
participation.
“They do it for a good cause,” he
said. “It’s pretty fun to be involved
with something good.”
Self-proclaimed “momager” and
Brooke’s mother, Lisa Ferricks, is
blown away by the overwhelming
response from neighborhood children
to step up, lend a helping hand
and dedicate themselves to putting
on the best show possible.
“I think the more they get involved
with the community, the
more questions they ask about what
else they can do to help,” Lisa said.
“It also brings the parents together,
too. And St. Bernard’s loved what
Brooke was doing, so they made
her the theater minister.
“These productions are a great
way to bring the community together
— regardless of religious affiliation
— to bloom. She is teaching
kids confidence, as well as the
benefits of community outreach.
My heart expands every time she
takes on a new project.”
The Brooke’s Backyard Productions
presentation of “Seussical
Jr.” is to take place at St. Bernard’s
Catholic Church in Homer Glen at
7 p.m. on June 23 and at 2:30 p.m.
on June 24.
For more information on “Seussical
Jr.” and other upcoming
events, visit www.brookesback
yardproductions.com.
Those interested in helping SOS
Children’s Village in Lockport
raise money for a new playground
can contact the staff there at (815)
740-7280.
RIGHT: Homer Glen resident
Kenzie Talaski (left) gives
“Seussical Jr.” director Brooke
Ferricks a hug before taking a
cast photo.