New Citadel education director has long love of theatre

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"I fell in love with theatre at age 12 after playing the role of Ms. Hannigan in 'Annie,' and I’ve been pursuing theatre as a career ever since," says Christine Cummings of Lake Forest's Citadel Theatre.

Updated: October 31, 2011 10:44AM

Lake Forest’s Citadel Theatre recently hired a new education director, Christine Cummings. Prior to her present post, Cummings was with Citadel in 2008 when she taught and helped direct for the Into The Woods Jr. Summer Camp.

Cummings recently told the Lake Forester about why she fell in love with theatre and what she’s doing in her new role.

Well, I fell in love with theatre at age 12 after playing the role of Ms. Hannigan in “Annie,” and I’ve been pursuing theatre as a career ever since, which doesn’t seem to surprise anyone who knows me well. I have been a professional theatre artist for over 10 years, performing, directing and teaching in Chicago, California and Illinois.

I have performed in and directed over 50 plays, done voice-over work for Great Plains Media radio group in Bloomington, Ill. and worked on a full-length independent film as production coordinator and day player actor last summer. I’ve also taught acting, theatre literature and theatre history at Illinois Wesleyan University, Eureka College, Lincoln College and Illinois Central College and will begin teaching voice and diction at Dominican University and College of Dupage this fall in conjunction with my work here at Citadel. I’ve always like to stay good and busy!

Why do you love theatre?

I was a shy, gawky, nerdy kid once upon a time but my wonderful mother used to take me to the theatre, bless her heart. The night before my first audition I was terrified and adamantly decided not to do it. Mama encouraged me to try and when I made my classmates smile and laugh WITH me while entertaining them up on that stage…I was sold for life. Ask anyone who loves theatre, they will tell you it is unlike any other thrill in the world. Later in life when I got up in front of my first group of theatre students in the classroom and was able to share my love for and knowledge of this art form, I discovered exactly where I was supposed to be.

When did you begin as education director?

I began this position in early June, but I first encountered Citadel when I taught and assistant directed for the Into The Woods Jr. Summer Camp in 2008, and back then I knew The Academy at Citadel Theatre was something special for the residents of Lake County because it provided outstanding opportunities closer to home so the students had options other than Chicago for similar professional training.

When Artistic Director Scott Phelps learned of my returning to Chicago, he offered me the education director position and I jumped at the opportunity to be involved once again and I couldn’t be more grateful.

What does the education
director do?

The short answer is a lot! I am in charge of the entire education program. Anything having to do with training, classes, student performances and outreach comes to me.

I am currently hiring teachers and directors for our fall classes and performance projects such as our Young Ensemble program which will be focusing on Commedia del’arte with a performance of an original Panto holiday show, “The Snow Queen.” I’m also developing curriculum, connecting with area schools, professional theatres and businesses in Lake Forest in hopes of future collaboration opportunities as we build our program. I’m only just glimpsing the scope of the job!

What is the best part of your job?

I think I might have just encountered the best part so far. Our Summer Performance Camp just performed “Seussical the Musical” and while sitting in that audience watching our students shine and love every minute of that fantastic performance, I leaned over to my friend and said “I love my job.” Theatre is wonderful for children in so many ways and I genuinely feel like we are making a positive life-long impact on them that they will carry with them the future. I am so proud of the work our incredibly talented instructors do.

What is the most challenging part of your new job?

Easily, it is juggling so many different projects and responsibilities simultaneously at any given time. There is so much going on in our education program right now and yet there is even more I want to implement in the future. Not to mention I am the new girl and have had to dive in head first from day one. I have big plans for this program and this is only the beginning.

What is the best part
of working with kids?

Kids have the greatest imaginations, are more closely in tuned with their sense of play. They take marvelous risks and never fail to amaze me with their ability to create characters and tell stories. Children seem to bask in the joys and triumphs of their theatrical successes even more fully than many of us adults who have so many other distractions and responsibilities on our shoulders. And perhaps the best part of working with kids is how much they teach me.

Anything else you’d like to add?

I would just like to reiterate how beneficial this program is for the young people of not only Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, but the surrounding communities who deserve to have professional-caliber theatrical training and performance opportunities in their back yard.