WilleyWorld Community Productions, Walt Willey and Kim "Howard" 
Johnson, recently announced their next series of community productions, which include a comedy show this weekend and a play chronicling the Cherry Mine Disaster.

This Saturday, Willey and Johnson will once again 
present "An Evening of Comedy" at Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear 
Resort in Utica. The evening will begin with a meet and 
greet session with Willey and Johnson at 6 p.m. followed at 7:30 
p.m. by a presentation of improvisational comedy with audience 
 participation led by Johnson and Willey, followed by Willey, best known as Jackson Montgomery on ABC's All My Children, and his 
"Wild and Willey" stand-up comedy act.

For tickets and information, 
call 815-667-3866 or 866-399-3866.



Some of the actors who appeared in The 
Odd Couple in July, as well as audience volunteers, will join them onstage.

"We did this the first time last January to a sold-out house in the 
middle of a blizzard and sub-zero wind chills," said Willey in a press release.

"Everybody — including and maybe especially us — had the best time!" 
said Johnson.



"Last summer's production of 'The Odd Couple' was an incredible 
success, so fabulously supported and attended by people and 
merchants in the area. We can't wait to continue our mission of 
community theatre for Ottawa and North Central Illinois,"
 Willey said.



Black Damp

"Our next production is especially exciting for us, because it deals with an occurrence of local historical significance, the Cherry Mine 
Disaster of 1909. I had written a screenplay about it, and we've 
decided to turn it into a Reader's Theatre piece," said Johnson.

 "Black Damp is the story of one of the world's most deadly coal mine
 disasters, which took the lives of 259 men and boys when fire broke
 out in a mine in Cherry, Illinois."

Based on the novel by local
 historian and Times reporter Steve Stout, Black Damp reveals the bravery, the tragedy and the triumph that forever changed Cherry. The immigrants
 who built America had to face the perils of the mines each day,
 usually with inadequate equipment and safety precautions.

On Saturday, 100 years ago, their worst fears came to pass when fire
 broke out and ignited a vein of coal hundreds of feet underground.


Production is tentatively scheduled to begin in January, with a late February performance schedule.

 "Again, we will be dipping into the very deep well of La Salle 
County's local talent. For "The Odd Couple," we found some truly
 talented actors, director, crew and designers from right in our
 area, and look forward to continuing this tradition," Willey said.