History

CenterStage Today

Today CenterStage Lake Forest enthusiastically carries on that unique tradition of giving families and friends an opportunity to participate together throughout the year. WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!

Now approaching its 48th season, CenterStage Lake Forest has staged more than 300 productions. CenterStage brings together individuals of all ages and from all walks of life. What these people have in common is a love of theater. They combine their diverse talents to produce high-quality comedies, musicals, and drama.

Being a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization, we work hard at holding ticket prices at a level that makes it affordable for everyone to come and enjoy the shows. Discounts are offered for CenterStage members, groups and students.

Ticket sales alone do not cover the growing costs of staging a production, and all donations “in kind” and “in cash” are deeply appreciated and welcomed! All donations are tax-deductible.

Some CenterStage Trivia

Back when Group For… had an active Theater for Young Audiences program, one of the young performers was Vince Vaughn, who graduated from Lake Forest High School in 1988 and went on to perform as a A-List motion picture star in such movies as Hacksaw Ridge, Return to Paradise, Swingers, Psycho, Jurassic Park: The Lost World, Domestic Disturbance, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Wedding CrashersThe Break-Up, and many more.

The late Kathryn Joosten directed Arsenic and Old Lace in 1988 and The Nerd in 1990 for CenterStage Lake Forest. Best known for her portrayal of Mrs. Laningham, personal secretary to the President (Martin Sheen), on the critically acclaimed NBC drama The West Wing, Kathryn won an Emmy for her supporting role in Desperate Housewives.  She also appeared on Dharma and Greg, Becker, Scrubs, Ally McBeal, and more than 20 other prime-time shows, as well as having a successful career in commercials.