By Elisabeth Mistretta, Daily Herald staff
January 1st, 2007

Instead of kicking off the theater season at Addison Trail High School with a classic play, English teacher Don Miller chose a work with “Shrek’ appeal.

Today through Saturday, students will perform Hillary DePiano’s fairy tale comedy, “The Love of Three Oranges’. The play is an adaptation of Carlo Gozzi’s ‘Commedia dell’arte’ and takes place within a kingdom of the imaginary present.

And, in the case of Addison Trail, the play will be performed in front of a gigantic storybook prop designed by students.

Miller said he chose this play, which he compares to the film “Shrek,’ because the script struck him as hilarious for audiences of varying ages.

“There’s a lot of kids’ stuff, and the kids will definitely be entertained because of the whole fairy tale thing — the good and bad characters,” Miller said.

“But there are a lot of musical and pop references that are more geared toward adults’ Indeed, audiences might recognize the theme from “Rocky” popping up in fight scenes, or “Chariots of Fire” chiming in during moments of melodrama.

More than 50 students have spent approximately eight weeks rehearsing their lines, designing sets and making sure the lighting is magical Miller said that even though the play boasts a fun theme, it will be a tough performance for the actors.

“It includes a lot of aspects that we don’t normally do,’ he said “It has a lot of out there, physical comedy But l always tell the kids that if it’s not a challenge, then you’re not learning.”

Students starring in “The Love of Three Oranges” are: Alexandra Bublitz, Nick Bublitz, Mary Butler, Ryan Carson, Anthony Dela Cruz, Jackie Hulina, Elizabeth Karikomi, Andy Korenchan, Andrea LeJeune, Chrissy Lemberis, Tony Leyva, Stephanie Montague, Ryan Paroline, Marilyn Salazar, Victoria Weinell, Alex Wellington, Ryan Wellington and John Willis

Stage crew members are Melissa Adams, Sarah Adams, Cassandra Barca, Samantha Barca, Paul Brezinski, Manuela Chairez, Anthony Dela Cruz, Stephanie Haugan, Alex Holod, Elizabeth Karikomi, Kelly Keller, Christine Kosmach, Tony Leyva, Jenny Liberti, Cindi Lindrum, Franco Mondugno, Ashley Padgett, Kimberly Schultz, Greg Simpson, Brandon Stanford, John Szczesniak, John Washburn, Craig Weinell, Victoria Weinell and TommyWiesen

Stage manager is Nathalia Olrveira, assistant stage manager is Paul Brezinski, musician is Kimi Arquines and scene painter is Sarah Adams

If you go
What: “The Love of Three Oranges”
When 7 p.m today through Saturday and 3 p.m Saturday
Where Addison Trail High School auditorium, 213 N Lombard Road, Addison
Cost: $5 for adults; $4 for students; $2 for students with a school activity pass; free for
senior citizens with a District 88 Gold Card
Details Don Miller, (630) 628-3348