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Arts and Culture in Itasca

As a young girl growing up as an only child with a father in the military, Reba Hervas was never used to staying in one place for too long. Having to move virtually every two years made it extremely complicated for Reba to constantly make new friends. Reba would immerse herself in books and writing, and eventually stumbled upon the art of drama. “When I discovered drama, it was the perfect fit for me, for I had the active imagination for it,” Reba said.

With the help of several directors and stage technicians over the years, Reba gained the confidence to perform, eventually leading to her current role as director. “I have worked in churches and schools for years, but have always wanted to have my own theatre with my own philosophy,” Hervas expressed. Thus came the formation of Overshadowed Theatrical Productions.

The name of the company stems from Reba’s college Sunday School teacher. Each time her teacher prayed, someone either sang or played the song “Overshadowed” by H. A. Ironside. “While I was a freshman in college, my Sunday School teacher impressed upon me that Christ should overshadow all facets of my life. My desire is that this theater be ‘overshadowed’ by God’s love,” Hervas conveyed.

In December of 2004, Overshadowed Theatrical Productions held its first play, “Silent Star,” at Peacock Jr. High and now performs at Itasca’s landmark, the Itasca Baptist Church. Since its move to the church, Overshadowed Productions has put on a handful of performances, including “King Lear,” “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and “Jacob – A Story of Redemption.” Half of the season is dedicated to family-friendly plays or musicals, while the other half is comprised of Biblical or missionary stories. “The goal has always been to provide a place that provides quality, family-friendly entertainment, both to participate in and to watch,” Lisa Minnes, Overshadowed Theatrical Productions’ marketing director and actress, explained. “We also wish to have entertainment that inspires and teaches.”

Productions are comprised of a hard-working cast who spend up to three hours a day preparing for each show. The cast arrives hours before each performance in order to do makeup, as well as get into costume and character. “With each production, a family-like camaraderie and friendship develops among the cast and crew, which is vital to making an Overshadowed production a success,” Minnes indicated.

While the Itasca Baptist Church has been a gracious, accommodating host, Overshadowed Theatrical Productions has outgrown the space provided. In order to attain its long-term goals, the theater will need to find a new, larger home. “We want to stay in Itasca, so we are hoping for a generous donation of a building, or funds that we can put toward the purchase or rent of our own location,” Minnes explained.

In addition to the goal of expanding the theater’s space and ultimately offering more tickets for each show, Overshadowed also hopes to provide a variety of programs to the communities in and around Itasca. Seminars on drama and speech, music lessons, drama camps and on-site speech training are a taste of the programs Overshadowed hopes to offer in the near future. “I would like to provide a wonderful family experience and do not want people to miss out on something special by not seeing an Overshadowed play,” Hervas exclaimed.

Overshadowed Productions strives to offer Itasca and its surrounding areas family-friendly productions throughout each year. The community is invited to take part in the theater by attending each production, volunteering and becoming a patron or a sponsor. “Overshadowed is Itasca’s only theater company,” Minnes said. “We want to make it a destination place when people come to visit Chicago, and why not Itasca?”

For more information on Overshadowed Theatrical Productions, including upcoming productions, show times and prices, visit www.overshadowedproductions.com.