'Ghosts' shaking up Heartland Theatre's '10-Minute Play Festival' (2024)

NORMAL — Normal’s Heartland Theatre is frightening audiences into thinking and feeling in entirely new ways.

“Ghosts” is the leading theme of the theater’s 21st "10-Minute Play Festival," an annual series that began in 2002 and seeks to move this season’s theatergoers to believe in the presence of supernatural spirits. Next year’s theme will be “The Rummage Sale.”

In a press release, the theater said eight original short plays, which were selected from a pool of over 600 submissions, make up a paranormal presentation that “frightens and enlightens.”

Four Central Illinois directors are leading production of the festival’s eight plays, which were written by U.S. playwrights located from coast to coast, plus one across the pond in the United Kingdom.

The opening act begins with “Hollywood Forever,” which concerns the spirit of an actress yearning to be remembered like the stars while posing as a tour guide. Before intermission, the act wraps up with “Lonesome,” led by a bereaved daughter who, after a few drinks and hearing an enchanting country song, learns to find her voice.

The second act kicks off with “Haunted,” a title that explains a son’s mindset following the death of his mother, who continues her wisecracking, sarcastic-yet-loving banter — even in her afterlife. Later on in the final act is “The Yeti’s Claw,” a roaring and pounding play that teaches a family through a mysterious Christmas gift from their uncanny uncle to be careful what they wish for — and that ghosts and cryptid creatures really do exist.

"Ghosts" opened May 30, with shows continuing this weekend and next.

Dave Montague, director of “The Yeti’s Claw” and “Something is Rotting on the Stage of Glenmark,” told The Pantagraph after a Thursday showing that audiences have been very responsive and have enjoyed seeing the shows and the diverse cast of 14.

“I love watching them jump every time,” Montague said of frightened attendees.

The Pantagraph invited the directors to answer the following questions about the "Ghosts" play series, including how they were drawn to the scripts and spirits of spooky nature.

DIRECTOR: Darlene Lloyd, 53, of Bloomington

DIRECTING: “A Ghost’s Story” by J.S. Puller of Chicago; “Hollywood Forever” by Richard Castle of North Hollywood, California

Tell us about the most intriguing parts of the scripts you are directing. What drew you to them?

One of the scripts is about the "Ghosts of Past, Present and Yet to Come" in modern day. I always found those ghosts so scary when they visited Scrooge. It was great to give them a modern twist. The other play focuses on a not-so-famous 1940s actress. The actors and I loved researching and watching old clips from movies to make Tilly believable.

Name your favorite "ghost" from a work of theater, literature, TV/film or pop culture media.

Definitely Patrick Swayze!

DIRECTOR: Lynda Rettick, 64, of Bloomington

DIRECTING: “Haunted” by Ron Burch of Indianapolis; "A Bottle of Boos" by Dan Borengasser, Springdale, Arkansas

Tell us about the most intriguing parts of the scripts you are directing. What drew you to them?

"10 Minute Plays" are so intriguing because we have only 10 pages to tell a story and develop likable, or scary, characters. That means ALL of the lines and stage directions are important to the piece. Props and scenery can’t really help much.

What was the biggest challenge you or a cast/crew member overcame in this production?

One of my characters is a ghost her son can see, but his therapist cannot. We worked a lot on making sure the audience understood that she couldn’t see or hear her.

Name your favorite "ghost" from a work of theater, literature, TV/film or pop culture media.

The movie “Frequency” (2000).

DIRECTOR: Dave Montague, 49, of Peoria

DIRECTING: “The Yeti’s Claw” by Evan Baughfman of Long Beach, California; “Something is Rotting on the Stage of Glenmark” by Ken Preuss, Oviedo, Florida

Tell us about the most intriguing parts of the scripts you are directing. What drew you to them?

I enjoy the horror and thriller aspects to “The Yeti’s Claw,” building the tension for the audience. I enjoy the physical comedy and Shakespearean references in “Something is Rotten on the Stage of Glenmark.”

What was the biggest challenge you or a cast/crew member overcame in this production?

The cast members of “The Yeti’s Claw” and I had never done a horror play before. We worked very hard to believably portray the horror aspect of the show in a theatrical setting.

Name your favorite "ghost" from a work of theater, literature, TV, film or pop culture media.

Beetlejuice.

IF YOU GO

WHAT:“Ghosts,” the 21st "10-Minute Play Festival" presented by Heartland Theatre

WHEN:2 p.m. Saturday, June 8; 1 p.m. Sunday, June 9; 7:30 p.m. June 13-14; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. June 15

WHERE:Community Activity Center, 1110 Douglas St., Normal

TICKETS:$10 for students, $17 for seniors and military, $19 general admission. Available online at heartlandtheatre.org.