North Central News

Students stage Chicago-area premiere of “The Navigator” April 20-23

Apr 10, 2017

North Central College presents the Chicago-area premiere of “The Navigator,” a New York Times Critic’s Pick and twice-nominated Drama Desk Award Play by Eddie Antar.

North Central’s Assistant Professor of Theatre Laura Lodewyck will direct four performances of this dark comedy at 7:30 p.m. April 20-22 and at 2 p.m. April 23 in the College’s theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth St. Tickets are $10/adults and $8/students and seniors; call 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit northcentralcollege.edu/show. Please note, the production contains strong language.

“The Navigator” is the story of Dave, a husband and father, whose GPS system starts to lead him in the right direction for the first time in his life.

Out of work for six months, he’s struggling with his marriage, parenting his twins and teenage daughter, and a bad call he made in the stock market. He seems at a loss when it comes to making any decision. Driving home one day from a job interview, his car navigation system begins to instruct him on more than just directions, and he suddenly finds he can’t go wrong. But once Dave has the answers to everything, he begins to wonder about the true cost of always knowing the right way to turn.

“The story is a universal one,” Lodewyck said. “What happens when you are granted everything you ever wanted by a power beyond yourself? And where do you go from there? Knowing we potentially have the world at our fingertips can make even small decisions seem paralyzing.

“Today’s college students understand this perhaps better than anyone, which is why I think ‘The Navigator’ is particularly resonant on a college campus,” said Lodewyck. “There’s enormous pressure in being told you can be anything you want, or that you have all the information needed to optimize your situation, if, of course, you make the correct call.”

The Saturday, April 22, performance will feature a talkback after the show by the playwright, moderated by Dave Peterson, visiting assistant professor of theatre and dramaturg for the play. A dessert reception will follow.

[Photo, below, by D.J. Wohead ’18: Jordan DePhillips ’18 as The Navigator, John Bihun ’17 as Dave]

The cast for “The Navigator” is (role, name, hometown, major):
Dave: John Bihun of Oak Brook, a senior majoring in marketing and broadcast communication
The Navigator: Jordan DePhillips of Minooka, a junior majoring in musical theatre and marketing
Al/Brooklyn Bobby/Marberry: Cody Talkie of Joliet, a senior majoring in musical theatre and theatre
Lilly/Travel Agent: Upasna Barath of Clarksville, Tenn., a sophomore majoring in economics and theatre
 

The artistic staff is (role, name, hometown, major/title):
Director: Laura Lodewyck (photo, below), assistant professor of theatre
Assistant director: Brian McLeod of Addison, a senior majoring in theatre
Stage manager: Emily Marrazzo of Algonquin, a junior majoring in theatre
Assistant stage manager: Tommy Varela of Ketchikan, Ala., a sophomore majoring in theatrical design and technology and journalism
Scenic designer: Alex Poe of Thousand Oaks, Calif., a sophomore majoring in theatre and theatrical design and technology
Light designer: Lillian Baldwin of Chicago, a senior majoring in theatre and theatrical design and technology
Assistant light designer: Christina Freiboth of Lockport, a junior majoring in theatre and theatrical design and technology
Props master: April Newman of Monmouth, a senior majoring in musical theatre
Sound designer: Karina Reitz of Groton, Conn., a senior majoring in economics
Sound design mentor: Greg Johnson, a 2016 graduate in theatrical design and technology
Costume designer: Caitlin O’Brien of Naperville, a sophomore majoring in theatre
Dramaturg: Dave Peterson, visiting assistant professor of theatre
Publicity: Juan Munoz of Coal City, a sophomore majoring in theatre
Photography: D.J. Wohead of Lemont, a junior majoring in interactive media studies/graphic art
Technical director: Peter O’Neill, theatre department
Master carpenter: Michelle Reaska, scenic studio shop foreman