Family is often the focus during the holiday season. That is also the case in Orland Park Theatre Troupe’s latest production.
“The Family Fruitcake” runs Dec. 8-10 at the Orland Park Civic Center.
“It really is a heartwarming story. It has all the nuances of a crazy, normal family,” said Frann Carnivele, producer and director of “The Family Fruitcake.”
“This one argues with this one. There’s resentment for different reasons but it all obviously works out in the end so it really hits close to home because it was so normal.”
In “The Family Fruitcake,” Laurie McKinnon is a mom determined to give her family a normal Christmas despite her oldest son being away serving in the military.
“If it doesn’t catch me in the first 10 pages, I start looking for another story,” said Carnivele, explaining her process of choosing what shows to stage.
More Top Picks Inversion Table
“It really, truly is the whole typical family — football on Christmas Eve, unexpected guests and new people in the family. It’s all those fun things.”
Carnivele and assistant director Mary Tuminello are working with a cast including Orland Park residents Annie Burns, Sarah Callis, Krystle Cousins, Etienne Fellmann, Amy Henrichs, Samantha Manning, Declan Mulvey, Saoirse Redmond, Bryan Riess, Makayla Spatz and Naomi Turk.
The cast also includes Brett Gustafson, of Midlothian; Suzanne Hamilton, of Homer Glen; Carli Mendoza, of Mokena; Zoe Touloupakis, of Palos Park; and Ryan Valacek, of New Lenox.
“We have several new faces. I’m really excited about that. We have some great kids in the show that are new to the stage and to Orland. I just think that they have a natural talent. I know they’ll be around for years to come. I’m happy about that,” said Carnivele, a longtime Orland Park resident.
“The Family Fruitcake” also features family members with Orland Hills resident Michelle Belair and her daughter Hannah Belair playing a mother and daughter. Meanwhile, Orland Park resident Marc Vajarksy is playing a father in the show while his son Will Vajarksy, of Orland Park, plays a neighbor.
“I love the way everybody comes together. They become a family. That’s one of the unique things about theater. You often hear people refer to each other as their theater family. It truly is like that with the closeness, the relationships and the friendships that build,” Carnivele said.
“It really is like that close-knit family feeling. That’s why I love to do holiday shows.”
Carnivele has been resident producer and director of Orland Park Theatre Troupe since January 1999.
“It’s open to everyone. You don’t have to be necessarily an Orland Park resident. It is truly the epitome of community theater. We welcome everyone from all walks of life and depending on the show, unless specified, all ages as long as they can read,” she said.
“Even then, I’ve had kids who couldn’t read but they were just cute as a button. They wanted to audition and I thought, ‘OK, I will let them audition,’ and they blow me away because they’re so darned cute. Their parents help them learn their lines.”
Carnivele said “The Family Fruitcake,” written by Rebecca Frohling, is an appropriate title.
“It’s all about the nuts. Every family’s got one — a fruitcake or a nut — so it’s up to the audience to decide whether we’re talking about a person or a cake,” she said.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
‘The Family Fruitcake’
When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8-9; 2 p.m. Dec. 10
Where: Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 Ravinia Ave., Orland Park
Tickets: $14 adults; $12 seniors and students; $10 ages 12 and younger
Information: 708-403-7275; www.orland-park.il.us (click Special Events, then click December-February)