This fall's production of The Hobbit will be performed on November 21 and 22 at the Levy Center, and on November 23 at Fleetwood-Jourdain Center. Needless to say, we are excited to bring live children's theatre back to Fleetwood-Jourdain Center! Rehearsals are under way and I'm excited to see the performances.

Coming next: ECT will produce the popular musical Annie Kids in the spring of 2015; look for audition and performance information in the 2014-15 Winter/Spring Evanston Life magazine. FJT's commitment to excellence in all of our programming will be shared with our newly acquired ECT program; come out and share in the EXCITEMENT! 

Artistic Director
Tim Rhoze

What is your greatest motivation for getting up and going to work at the library?

The people. Every time I answer a difficult question for someone, steer them towards resources they need, or see them enjoy a work of literature, or hear an eye opening speaker I've provided, I get a tremendous sense of satisfaction.

The incredibly popular 11 Months of Black History Series at the library was your brainchild. Where did this idea come from?

The idea came from years of hearing black writers, artists and performers complain that every school and library and municipality wants to hire them in February, only to have interest plummet March 1st. When Carter G. Woodson created African American History month in 1926, (originally Negro History Week) he did not foresee it as continuing indefinitely. It was part of his efforts to broaden knowledge of African American life and culture; but instead it has become a way to marginalize and ghetto-ize black themes into one short month. African American culture is too rich and varied to cover in a mere four weeks; it merits a full year, and I wanted to show how easy it is too fill a yearlong calendar with African American-themed events. Planning it was great fun; and so many of the speakers and performers were overjoyed to hear that I didn't only need them for February!

So why was it well received?

Well, I think people of all backgrounds in Evanston are generally open to ongoing learning. We got to read aloud the marvelously rich August Wilson plays, and watch "She's Gotta Have it" and "Do the Right Thing" with young people who had never seen them. We had sensational, nationally recognized speakers from Northwestern talking about the Chicago Black Renaissance and images of Négritude in art. Participants in our programs were white, black, Asian, Hispanic, Indian, Jewish, Christian Muslim...a microcosm of Evanston, really. We had revealing and sometimes uncomfortable conversations about race and history in housing, the military, health care, and the judicial system. Last week, we were talking about how ugly the opposition to racial desegregation was right here in Evanston. I think the program reinforced the simple truth that African American history is American history; you can't separate it out.

How are you confronting adult illiteracy in your position as Head of Adult Services?

Urban fiction and graphic novels. Don't laugh! Here's my theory: there are hundreds of programs focusing on reading to kids, on giving books to kids, on summer reading for kids. All well and good, but if children don't see the adults in their lives reading, they get the idea that reading is something that only children do. It's pretty simple: kids want to be like their parents. I worry that in all the focus on reading and children we have infantilized the concept of reading, we've made it a "kiddie" thing that no self-respecting teen or young adult would do. (Think about soccer vs football: which do more children play, but which do they follow as adults? They follow the sports their fathers follow, not the one they played as kids.)

So, how do you get adults in low literacy communities to read, and be seen reading...not just to children but for themselves?

There are two literary genres that are wildly popular among teens and twenty-somethings, but are somewhat looked down on as "junk" reading: urban fiction and graphic novels. Both can be wonderful ways to get those age groups reading and talking about books. So we now have a very visible urban fiction area on the 2nd floor, right across from the new books and we've been displaying and promoting our graphic novels. We're even starting a "League of Graphic Novel Readers" at Comix Revolution in January!

It's also important for people to see books in a variety of environments, and to have easy access to them. That's why we have "read and return" paperback shelves at the Metra stations, the Morton Civic Center and the rec centers, to keep people in the habit of grabbing a book for fun when they have a few free minutes. Reading should be a part of everyone's day, not just something for school or that you do at libraries.

On a leisurely day, what does Lesley A. Williams do?

Read! (again no surprise), hang out with my husband and daughter, go to movies at Cinearts in Evanston or the Music Box or Siskel downtown. We do a lot of play subscriptions: my favorites are Chicago Shakespeare and Court Theatre in Hyde Park, my old neighborhood. As well as Next, Piccolo and Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatres right here in Evanston.  

Bonus Question: What three book titles would describe your life to this point?

Some of My Best Friends Are Black (irony!); Things Fall Apart;  Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Last Month's "Do you know..."

In J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, how did Bilbo and the dwarves escape the Elvin King's castle?

The correct answer was that the dwarves stuffed themselves in wine barrels and floated down the river to escape. Congratulations to D. Wendt, who will win a fabulous prize.

This Month's "Do you know..."  

Who was the first African American female poet to publish a book in the United States?

Send your answers in to Juneitha at jshambee@cityofevanston.org with the subject, "Puzzle Answer."

Pultizer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson's highly acclaimed Pittsburg Cycle, or American Century Cycle, illuminates 100 years of the African American experience decade by decade. This exciting year-long, free and interactive community reading series is being held through a collaboration of the Evanston Public Library with Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre.

On Monday, November 17, 2014, at 6 p.m., this month's discussion will focus on August Wilson's King Hedley II, set in 1985. It will be held in the Community Meeting room at the main Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Ave.

Can't make it by 6 p.m.? Join us for an extended informal discussion starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Celtic Knot, 626 Church Street, right across from the Library. For more information or to register, call 847-448-8600.

FJT Evanston Children's Theatre

We are now under way with rehearsals for the Evanston Children's Theatre's next production,  J.R.R. Tolkien's, The Hobbit.

The play will be performed on Friday, November 21 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, November 22 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Levy Center, 300 Dodge Ave, Evanston. The final performance will be held on Sunday, November 23 at 3 p.m. at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster St., Evanston. Tickets are now on sale at the Levy Center.

 A Kwanzaa to Remember!

Every year, FJT presents a holiday play focusing on Kwanzaa. We are extending an open invitation to all who are interested in performing in this year's production. If you are interested, please call Juneitha at 847-448-8260 for information. We are accepting performers 6-18 years of age.

This year's production will be in the form of a talent show, where each actor chosen will choose an artistic form to represent one of the seven priniciples of Kwanzaa. We will also cast someone in the role as the Master of Ceremonies or Narrator.

The performance will be held on Friday, December 26, at 3 p.m. at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster St., Evanston.

INTRODUCING THE TATER TOT THEATRE COMPANY!

We are proud to announce the formation of the Tater Tot Theatre Company. This new theatre company under the FJT umbrella focuses on actors 5-7 years of age.

We will be holding auditions for the inaugural production on January 12 and 14, 2015. Rehearsals are tentatively set for Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.