Theatre at the Center production of “The Lady
With All the Answers.” (Provided photo)
Janet Ulrich Brooks, making her Theatre at the Center (TATC) debut, is cast as advice columnist Ann Landers in the TATC production of “The Lady With All the Answers.” The show will open on July 15 and will run through Aug. 12.
Performances are 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 7:30 p.m. Fridays; 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays, with select Thursday and Sunday night performances.
“The Lady With All the Answers,” written by David Rambo, gives a behind-the-scenes look at popular syndicated newspaper advice columnist Ann Landers, whose life seemed letter-perfect.
With more than 90 million readers each day, she had a quick wit which could be comical and creative, as well as sharp and shocking, all in the same sentence. The play unfolds in Landers’ Lake Shore Drive apartment in Chicago in 1975 where she shares some of her most fascinating stories as she prepares to write the most difficult column of her career.
In 1978, the “World Almanac” named her “the most influential woman in the U.S.”
Brooks has received two Joseph Jefferson Equity Award nominations as an Actress in a Principal Role in a Play as Sonia in “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” at the Goodman Theatre, and as Anya in “A Walk in the Woods” at TimeLine Theatre. Brooks’ film credits include roles in “Divergent,” “One Small Hitch” and “Conviction.”
Her television credits include roles in “Chicago Med” and “Chicago Fire.”
“I’m tickled to get to play this wonderful woman who devoted a career to understanding people and doing her absolute best to help them,” Brooks said. “I feel as though I grew up with Ann Landers in my home through my mother’s sharing of columns she found funny or helpful or as a conversation starter at the dinner table. She was always very informative.”
Larry Wyatt is directing the play. Wyatt’s previous productions at TATC include directing “The Odd Couple,” “Some Like It Hot” and “Over the Tavern.”
“This wonderful play captures the straight talking wisdom and humor that so many of us loved about the Ann Landers advice column,” Wyatt said. “Audiences will enjoy this loving tribute to Ann Landers. She was indeed, the lady with all the answers.”
The creative team includes scenic designer Angela Weber Miller, lighting designer Denise Karczewski, sound designer Michael J. Patrick, costume designer Brenda Winstead and wig design by Kevin Barthel. The stage manager is Jessica Banaszak.
Individual ticket prices range from $42 to $46. To purchase individual tickets, call the Box Office at 219-836-3255 or Tickets.com at 800-511-1532. Group discounts are available for groups of 11 or more. Student tickets are $20 and gift certificates are also available.
A free companion exhibit, “Making Headlines: From Ann Landers to Walter Winchell,” is designed as a nostalgic collection of rare treasures, including items once owned by Landers and other famed media celebrities of the 20th century.
On loan from the collection of journalist Philip Potempa, the exhibit is presented by South Shore Arts June 22 through September 23 in the Atrium Gallery adjoining the theater lobby. The exhibit features Ann Landers’ 1961 Royal manual typewriter, personal correspondence, awards and other interesting items from her estate.
Founded in 1991, the 410-seat TATC is a year-round professional theater at The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. TATC is the only professional theater company in Northwest Indiana.
For more information on Theatre at the Center, visit www.TheatreAtTheCenter.com.
