Directed and Adapted by Kevin Theis The swashbuckling, award winning, rip-roaring comedy, The Fair Maid of the West tells the tale of Bess Bridges, the low-born tavern girl, who falls in love with the gentleman soldier Spencer, who returns her affections. When Spencer kills a man in a tavern fight, he and his friend Goodlack are forced to flee the country and leaves his worldly goods- including a tavern of his own- to Bess for safe-keeping. While Spencer is across the sea, Bess hears falsely of his death and, as his beneficiary, vows to buy a ship, travel across the seas and bring his body home. Assisted by Goodlack, the braggart Roughman and the comic innkeeper Clem, Bess battles with the Spanish Armada as she sails the seas in search of her true love. Eventually, of course, Spencer is discovered alive and the lovers are reunited. In the second half, the crew finds themselves washed ashore the mythical Island of Fez, where the King takes a liking to Bess. His wife, Queen Tota, takes a similar liking to Spencer and our heroes must find some way to escape the kingdom with their heads intact. Spoiler alert- love conquers all. In 1994, Kevin Theis Adapted and Directed The Fair Maid of the West to immense critical acclaim. The proud recipient of eight Joseph Jefferson nominations, the production had both audiences and critics raving. Now in 2017, Theis and Oak Park Festival Theatre once again bring that merry mayhem, romance and epic adventure back to Chicagoland! “This production, revels in swashbuckling spectacle…a romantic, larger-than-life fantasy.” – Chicago Reader, 1994 “Kevin Theis’ rollicking staging is as exciting as theatre can get.” – Windy City Times, 1994 THE FAIR MAID OF THE WEST Previews: July 27-28 Performances: July 29-September 2 Performances are Thursday-Saturday at 8pm, Sundays at 7pm ****SPECIAL WEDNESDAY performance August 30th at 8pm. Director: Kevin Theis*^ Stage Manger: Julia Zayas-Melendez* Fight Designer: Geoff Coates CAST Amanda Forman Zach Livingston Aaron Christensen* Debo Balogun Bobby Bowman Melissa Carlson Jack Hickey*^ Drew Mierzejewski Nelson A. Rodriguez Kate Booth Mark Lancaster Bryan Wakefield Bill Gordon Ken Miller Understudies: Jhenai Mootz^, Matty Robinson, Joshua Carroll *denotes member of the Actors Equity Association ^denotes OPFT Artistic Associate/Staff Fievent.com | Contact | Privacy | Terms