Stephan Turner is bridging the gap between his two homes — Northwest Indiana and Thailand — with his nonprofit, the Gate Theater Group.
“I’m kind of determined to get back here at least once a year,” said Turner, who primarily lives in Chang Mai, Thailand. “I do these shows as a fundraiser for the Chang Mai operation, and that’s what keeps bringing me back here.”
The Gate Theater Group helps provide English theater to communities in Thailand, and Turner works as managing artistic director of the organization, which is more than 15 years old.
“I live in Thailand, but I have family and friends (in Northwest Indiana) that I call upon for help,” Turner said. “I would like to get to the point where I can be here for five months, maybe six months of the year, but that takes time.”
The Gate Theater Group is showing “The Gin Game,” a Pulitzer-prize Prize-winning play by D.L. Coburn, at West Side Leadership Academy Friday, Sept. 5, through Sunday, Sept. 7.
Friday and Saturday’s shows will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m., and Sunday’s will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m., according to tickettailor.com. Tickets cost $18 for general admission and $15 for seniors and students.
West Side’s theater can hold about 125 people for each show, Turner said.
“It’s an intimate theater,” he added. “I like intimate spaces because it helps put you right up close with the performance, and I think that’s something missing from bigger plays.”
“The Gin Game” follows two residents, Fonsia and Weller, in a forgotten nursing home, according to the play’s description. The characters face off in a game of gin, but learn more about each other’s secrets, regrets and hopes.
“We’re privileged to have found a piece that we can do and afford to do,” Turner said. “It’s a small cast with only two people, not a complicated set, but it’s a moving piece of drama.”
Turner is starring in the play alongside his lifelong friend and Gary resident, Janice Culver. The pair have known each other for about 50 years, Culver said, and they met in Indiana University Northwest’s theater.
Culver still participates in theater through her church, Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, but mainly as a director. Acting as Fonsia in “The Gin Game” has been new for Culver.
“This has been just a little bit of a challenge because I’m taking on a role instead of directing,” she said. “But it’s been wonderful.”
The duo started rehearsing for “The Gin Game” around March, Turner said, when they were reading lines virtually.
“It’s a 12-hour time difference here from where I was … so we had to get creative with the schedule,” Turner said. “We’ve been rehearsing for five months, but it’s definitely different in-person.”
Since Turner lives in Thailand, he’s relied on Culver to help get word out about the play, sharing it with her friends, family and fellow church members.
All proceeds from the play will help fund the Gate Theater Group and arts programs in Thailand, Turner said. It’s more difficult to get arts funding in Thailand than the U.S., Turner said, so he’s hoping the play has a nice turnout.
“We survive on ticket sales and private donations, and that’s one of the reasons why I’m back here,” he said. “But it’s not solely to raise money. I appreciate being able to come back and perform in the city where I was born.”
Culver believes “The Gin Game” will resonate with viewers, and that will help get more people to West Side to watch the play.
Culver knows people in real life who have struggled to get into nursing homes and assisted living facilities, she said, so she knows others out there have experienced or know someone who has been through the same thing.
“It’s so relevant to what’s going on in our society,” she said. “Health care is so expensive … and I know people will relate to what’s going on.”
mwilkins@chicagotribune.com
