Encore! is the school’s theatre club that performs shows at Grayslake Central. However, this year, due to the pandemic, Encore! is now doing a radio show, instead of the virtual variety show that will be pushed into next semester. The radio show will be directed by Encore! Director Maureen Ritter.

The radio show is a live play taken place as a fun way to replicate the experience of listening to a show over the radio. 

This year the radio show will be streaming “It’s a Wonderful Life” during the week of Dec. 14. “It’s a Wonderful Life” is a holiday movie about living life to the fullest and seeing what all there is to be thankful for in life. 

Milla Kustin stated, the radio show includes 18 actors. Kustin also explained that each student gets the script emailed to them along with many other details about how the radio show will be produced.  Lauren Tracy assistant Encore! The director said students who get a role in the play will be recording from home.  Included in the radio show will be sound effects too. 

Many may wonder: will there be a video? Will there be auditions? As well as, how will costumes be arranged? There will be auditions taking place, in fact. Kustin explained that the first auditions were held Wednesday, Nov. 11, with a second audition that also took place on Monday, Nov. 16. The auditions took place in the GCHS theatre, while still keeping a safe distance.  Costumes will be costumes put together by students from home, and there will be a video with students.

 The goal of the radio show is to give the Grayslake Central Community a fun and safe way to experience Encore! since we are unable to be in person due to COVID-19. With that being said, Encore! is excited to be sharing the behind the scenes of how they will be producing the upcoming production of “It’s a Wonderful Life” in the year 2020.