Dress Rehearsal

Hegeler (Steve Seaborn) and Mr. Ferris (Baker) discuss the Ferris Wheel

We’re only an hour and a half away from the first performance as I write this. I’m happy to report stage fright hasn’t overtaken me. In fact, I’ve found myself popping out of bed this week with the sort of nervous excitement one experiences on the day before a vacation or maybe even Christmas morning.
Amanda, on the other hand, spent the early part of the week on the verge of puking.
I think in both cases, our hectic work schedules of the past few weeks have played a part. In my case, trying to come up with an economic positive for my daily Grinch Free Zone articles has kept me distracted from most other concerns, whereas, Amanda appears to have been simply overloaded with stress.

The ladies are in character even before dress rehearsal begins.

Still, our dress rehearsal on Tuesday lifted both of our spirits. The addition of costumes and the knowledge that there were only two days to show time brought out the best in the cast. That may be a little hyperbolic, but the cast definitely seems to know what we’re supposed to be doing. Plus, Amanda was able to find a comfortable way of keeping her camera hidden for the majority of the performance, which is helpful, as she’ll be photographing tonight’s first show for a front-page story Friday. Look for it at www.newstrib.com.

Megan Allicks reviews her family tree as Camilla Hegeler with Sharon Wagenknecht.


W.W. Boyington (John Byrne) rides the elevator in the Hegeler Carus Mansion, which he designed in 1874.

Annie Hegeler played by Kristen VanWingerden gives her Christmas present to her father Edward Hegeler played by Steve Seaborn

Emelie Fiedler, Camilla Hegeler, and Camilla Hegeler Sr. wait for the magic lantern show to begin.

Edward Hegeler tells "A Visit from St. Nicholas."

Clara Barton (Marlene Moshage) and Julius Hegeler (Steve Kwaitek) sing "Silent Night."

Another Perspective

Our new piano player. At the second practice we got to run through the Christmas Carols!

How does it feel photographing this Hegeler Carus Adventure?

Good question.

Right now, it feels fun.

I was excited when Sharon first proposed the idea of becoming Mr. and Ms. Ferris a few weeks ago. I think I can say with certainty much more excited than Matt. No one has ever asked me to be in a play before. Now, I think Matt and I are equally excited. I'm going to say the only thing that distinguishes our mutual excitement is I can't and have no need to grow a mustache.

The first practice, for me, involved a lot of listening and not many photos. I didn't feel like it was appropriate. Being a character afforded me an excuse to keep my camera slung over my shoulder rather than in front of my face. And even though including us in photos was now OK, I had to figure out how to do it. I still am figuring out how to include myself in photos appropriately. And figuring out how to shoot opening night while acting will be another challenge. Suggestions? I'm looking into remote cameras.

Another surprise was the lighting. I was warned that the lighting was less than impressive, so I brought my flash and a bulky battery pack that makes me feel like a Ghostbuster into practice. I didn't need it though. I found out that at a high ISO (film speed), low shutter speed and F2.8 I could make some rather appealing pictures with the ambient light. I don't have to do much in way of composition to make a mansion look beautiful though. Check out this picture from practice two:

Here Chad speaks with another actress as Dr. Paul Carus on the stairwell.

At the end of the first practice I got my dress, which I am a little worried about but soon you'll get to see some photos of myself and fellow NewsTribber Lindsay Vaughn making me look good...more to come on that...

Second practice, way more comfortable. Perhaps it was being able to bum around the mansion when we took our introduction portrait above that made me feel more at home in Hegeler Carus. I took a great deal more photos, but I already wrote a ton so here's just a few below:

Before I go, I have one more point to touch on...Matt already cued you to his lack in ability where singing is concerned, but I feel the need to add, 'Matt really can't sing.' It is the most earnestly awful odd sound, ever. It is like when someone jams their finger in your belly button, you want to puke and laugh at the same time. Take your place near him during our singing numbers, priceless.
-Amanda

Reinventing the Ferris Wheel

I am becoming a man. And not in any of the ways you might expect. This isn’t a coming-of-age story. There will be no surgical operations involved. I am not required to read the haftarah aloud. But, I am becoming a man. Not just any man, mind you; the man who invented the Ferris Wheel –George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr.

Born Feb. 1, 1859. Died Nov. 22, 1896. At age 34, Ferris invented his namesake observatory wheel for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, aka the Columbian Exposition, aka the White City. He was also a man, like many of his day, who proudly wore a moustache.

I, on the other hand, was born in 1982 and have never engineered or invented anything besides a pretty excellent piñata costume for Halloween. My moustache-growing abilities are also suspect. Yet, become George Ferris I must.

It’s all in the name of “A Hegeler Carus Christmas: 1893.” I, along with NewsTribune photographer Amanda Whitlock, recently agreed to take part in this year’s Hegeler Carus Mansion Christmas play. The interactive production allows guests to become part of a fictional Christmas party starring the Hegeler and Carus families, circa 1893, along with a variety of celebrity guests from the Columbian Exposition. We are two of the celebrity guests.

Over the course of the next three weeks, Amanda and I will be blogging the experience of becoming Ferris and his wife, Margaret Ann Ferris. Continue to check in for updates and dynamic photos of the process, as well as other interesting tidbits regarding the historic Illinois Valley family and 1893 World’s Fair.