Summer Theatre For all children in grades K-8
Every year, The D41 Kids Foundation holds its biggest fundraiser – a no-cut summer theater program for all interested District 41 children from kindergarten through 8th grade regardless of experience. We have the honor of working with local director, Gina Wood who teaches acting, singing, dancing, and teamwork. In the process the children, fine tune their skills, forge new relationships, and most importantly have FUN!
Our 2022 performance was The Lion King, followed by Moana Jr. in 2023, Beauty and the Beast in 2024 and Seussical in 2025. All four were tremendous successes, raising significant funds to enrich local students and their families in its support of the Foundation.
Keep an eye on this page for updates regarding 2025’s production, Seussical! We hope you will join us.
Seussical is Coming to Glen Ellyn this Summer!
Registration opened on February 21, 2025 at noon.
Meet Our Theatre Team
Gina Wood
Director
Gina has been directing children’s theatre programs for over 30 years, and here in District 41 for almost 20 years. She enjoys sharing her own experience, skills, and passion for the performing arts with children from preschool to high school! Her goals as a director are to build individual children’s self-confidence, emphasize the importance of working with others as a supportive team, and learn all the elements of the performing arts while having the MOST fun! In addition to directing both the Hadley Theatre Arts and Ben Franklin Drama programs, Gina has her own Backyard Drama Camps and private acting clinics. She is also the Director of Children’s Ministry at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. She is so honored and excited to be part of the D41 Kid’s Foundation production!
Karen Winter
Production Manager
Karen Winter has been an integral part of the production team for Hadley Theatre Arts since 2009. She has lent her organizational talent to everything behind the scenes – from backstage management and front of the house operations to creating sets and costumes. Her years of experience working on local school musicals make her the ideal partner for the D41 Kid’s Foundation productions. In addition to her experience with local theatre, she works as an administrator for the Wheaton Yamaha Music School and sits on the board of the Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center. Karen is a “theatre mom” extraordinaire – and she is thrilled to be part of an organization that is bringing theatre to ALL kids in our community.
Kate Marsh
Production Manager
Kate is a life-long lover of theatre who was thrilled to become a theatre mom in 2019. Since then, she has worked on costumes, backstage management, rehearsal coordination and vocal coaching. She is thrilled to continue to work with the D41 Kids Foundation on the summer musical after volunteering on the inaugural production in 2022. Kate believes that theatre and the arts are important for all kids today, and is excited to contribute to this program.
Marta Scarleski
Event Chairman
Thank you for supporting our past productions!
Our past shows have been exceptionally fun and successful! Please enjoy some of the photos below and consider participating in or supporting this summer’s production. Thank you for your role in helping make the magic happen.
