When she was 3 years old, MaryEllen Fawk’s mother would act out stories for her. Now in her 70s, Fawk went on to decades of teaching theater, acting onstage and working backstage. Her most recent role is director of The Drama Group’s “Murder on the Orient Express” from Oct. 4 to 13 at Milord Studio Theatre in Chicago Heights.
“I’m a fan of Agatha Christie mysteries and Hercule Poirot. I also like Miss Marple,” said Fawk, a Chicago Heights resident.
“I’m also a fan of Ken Ludwig, who is a terrific comedy writer and has written several plays that have been on Broadway and was asked by the (Agatha Christie) estate to develop a play of ‘Murder on the Orient Express.’”
Falk is collaborating on the opening show of The Drama Group’s 2024-25 season with volunteer production staffers from Chicago Heights, Crete, Homewood, New Lenox, Richton Park, South Holland, Olympia Fields, Tinley Park and Schererville, Indiana.
The dramatic comedy stars residents of Chicago, Chicago Heights, Cicero, Flossmoor, Mokena and Schererville as well as the Park Forest couple who directed Fawk in her first Drama Group production in 2009.
“I saw there were some auditions coming up for ‘The Laramie Project.’ I got the play. I read it. I auditioned for Chuck Cairns and Deb Cairns,” said Fawk, who has worked at Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts where The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis performs.
“Chuck and Deb have done shows for a long time. They’re consummate professionals. They gave me a couple little parts in it. That’s how I got involved. I can’t thank them enough. I’m so excited for everyone to see Chuck do Hercule Poirot. His accent is rich and just excellent.”
Fawk’s involvement has ranged from serving on budget, kickoff, kids camp and play selection committees to being secretary, vice president and now her second year as president of The Drama Group, which is billed as bringing Broadway to the south suburbs since 1931.
“We are getting closer to 100 years of existence since 1931 so we want to liaison with the city of Chicago Heights a little more and make connections into the administration to see what they can do to help us maybe have a great 100th season,” said Fawk, who did some off-Broadway shows years ago in New York.
“We’re also looking at and talking about a capital campaign, maybe to get that rolling next year to get an additional building like a rehearsal hall on the property. We’ve also talked about the expansion of our lobby and some other things that would help our patrons.”
Fawk has had more time to focus on The Drama Group since retiring in 2023 after 18 years with Oak Lawn-based Community High School District 218 where she was an English teacher, speech team coach and theater curriculum teacher for Shepard High School in Palos Heights.
“There’s something for us to learn from whether we’re reading a short story or reading a research document or whether we’re reading a play,” said Fawk, who studied with professors including Archibald McLeod and Jay E. Raphael at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
“What are the messages there? How does it impact our lives?”
Fawk continues to impact The Drama Group with “Murder on the Orient Express,” which is set in the winter of 1934.
“The show is about a group of people who all know each other but at the beginning of the play you don’t know they know each other. They’ve gathered to take this trip on the Orient Express from Istanbul to Paris,” she said, noting the play’s strong use of sound.
“In Hercule Poirot’s deliberate style, he takes his time, sorts out all the clues and sees how there is something truly amiss.”
The Drama Group’s 93rd season also includes the musical “Bright Star” from Dec. 6 to 15 and the 2025 shows “Eurydice,” a drama, from Feb. 14 to 23; “Dreamgirls,” a musical,” from April 4 to 13; “Sylvia,” a comedy, from June 6 to 15; and “Matilda the Musical,” which Fawk assistant directs, from Aug. 8 to 17.
“You don’t necessarily have to travel down to Chicago where you’re going to pay an exorbitant amount for tickets and parking to see quality theater and entertainment,” Fawk said.
“We are right out here in the suburbs and we are here to serve our community.”
Murder on the Orient Express will be performed Oct. 4-13 at The Drama Group’s Milord Studio Theatre, 330 W. 202nd St., Chicago Heights. Tickets are $19-$25. Information: 708-755-3444 or dramagroup.org.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
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