Tales Tombstones Tell II

Greetings Fans!

Autumn is upon us, and the weather is perfect for an evening cemetery stroll! Why not join the West Chicago City Museum for the 21st annual Tales Tombstones Tell? Costumed interpreters (Carol) will entertain and educate visitors on local historic figures who now reside in the cemetery. This will be Carol's second annual appearance in the graveyard, and she will be telling the story of Mark Brown.

Friday, October 1, 2010 at Oakwood Cemetery, York Street and Oakwood Avenue, West Chicago. Tours begin at 6:30 PM and continue every 10 minutes. The final tour starts at 7:45 PM. Tours are free and last approximately 45 minutes. Refreshments will be served, and donations are welcome and appreciated.

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For more information, contact the West Chicago City Museum at (630) 231-3376, or museum@westchicago.org.

Paging Dr. Townsend

Greetings Fans,

Over a year ago, I mentioned that Carol had taken a turn in the medical profession as she was cast in a print campaign for Walgreen's Pharmacy. In the meantime, Carol has spent a lot more time in the examining room, acting as a Standardized Patient for Kaplan Medical. But a year ago, she was your friendly neighborhood pharmacist. Due to a slight email mixup, we didn't get to see the results of her work until today:

What a trustworthy and competent looking pharmacist. I would definitely buy my drugs from her!

A Canticle for Cheez Whiz

Looking for a little something to raise your spirits on a Monday evening? Why not head into the big city and see a play... or seven? Tonight, for one night only, Carol will be appearing in the recurring "Seven Plays in Seven Days", in which seven directors pick seven casts and they have seven days to rehearse. Each play is about 10 minutes, and the ticket price is $7. Carol will be in a play called "A Canticle for Cheez Whiz".

If you happen to be free tonight, the show is 8:00 - 10:00p:
The Prop Theatre
3502 Elston Ave.
Chicago, IL

Crossing the Lake: The Trailer!

Greetings Fans!

The official festival trailer for Crossing the Lake has been released!



You can spot Carol at the :18 second mark, in the photographs on the table on the left side of the screen, and at :25 seconds lying in bed. Enjoy!

Miss Ohio Wins Again!

Just a quick note... Miss Ohio, in which Carol played Natalie's mother Janet, was screened at the Visionfest 2010 film festival in New York City last week, and came away with two more awards: Best Picture and Best Director. Congratulations to Gregory Fitzsimmons (the best director), Carol and the entire cast and crew!

Cheaters... NOT the TV show

Greetings Fans!

This month, Carol returns to her theatrical beginnings and is working as an extra on the new Ron Howard film, Cheaters, which is filming in Chicago this summer. She is currently working on scenes which also feature Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, and ... Carol's car!

In Carol's own words: "Highlights of the day's filming: Ron Howard said Hi to me. My car was the star -- Vince Vaughn parks behind it."

Atmosphere Casting is handling the extras casting for the film, and they are always looking for more people who haven't worked yet. If you are in Chicago and are interested, you can follow them on Facebook or check out their web site.

Crossing the Lake Premiere

"After years of making excuses and putting his life on-hold, Patrick Turkel tries to stop living in his own head and dive into the real world."

Crossing the Lake is a short film by Nicholas Allen & Jerry LaBuy of the Caledonia Night Sky Co. As mentioned here previously, Carol worked on this film last year and plays Debbie, the overbearing and sickly mother of Patrick.

Patrick? When are you coming home?

Crossing the Lake premiers today at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago. I would write more, but I'm late!

¡Ole!

Greetings Fans!

Spring has come and gone and come again; and with Spring have come several TV shows filming in Chicago. Our favorite actress has been booked to work an upscale party scene for the ABC pilot of Matadors, which is a Romeo and Juliet-style legal drama, starring Michelle Borth and Zach Gilford. No word yet on when Matadors is scheduled to air, but of course you will find out right here when we know!

Atmosphere Casting is handling the extras casting for Matadors. Follow the link if you would like to submit your information for consideration for this, or future projects.

Carol Immortalized as Sissie Brockman

Greetings Fans!

Back in March 2009, Carol appeared in Tales of Darkest Suburbia, at Riverfront Playhouse in Aurora. Carol played Sissie Brockman in the tale in Act 1 called The Rubbing.

As this was the premier stage performance of this play, the original cast and crew have been immortalized in the printed script.

You can check out the whole script on the site here.

Chicago Overcoat

It's a coffin... look it up. Chicago Overcoat screened in Chicago last week, and Carol and I were on hand for the gala event. Carol worked as an extra in the film, although unfortunately, we were unable to spot her on screen.

At the screening of Chicago Overcoat

Despite Carol's tragic absence from the screen, we both thought it was very well done. It has a well-written compelling plot with a great cast, including Chicago local Danny Goldring as the acerbic chain-smoking veteran cop.

Official Trailer

We would give it two thumbs-up, if that phrase was not a registered trademark of Roger Ebert.

I Am Unanimous In This!

Greetings fans!

Are You Being Served? is in its second week of performances, and you have only four more opportunities to experience it. George Rawlinson, formerly of the Elgin Courier News writes:

"... On a recent Saturday evening, local audience members rooted for almost all of the breezy characters, including Miss Brahams and Mrs. Slocombe, vibrantly played by Kimberly Downing and Carol Townsend, who offers a beguiling blend of deadpan dynamism and somewhat smart-alecky sexual innuendo."

That's my girl!

If you are free this Friday (January 15), a large party of Carol's friends and family will be descending on Elgin to see the show. Mrs. Slocombe would love to see you there!

The show is at 8:00pm, January 15, 16, 22 and 23, at the Kimball Street Theater in the Rider Center of Elgin Academy. Tickets are $15 for adults or $12 for children and seniors. You can purchase at the door, or online here.

Are You Free...?

I'm free! The snow has stopped falling and the roads should be clear, so if you are free tonight, why not head on out to Elgin to see Carol as Mrs. Slocombe in Are You Being Served?

Are You Being Served? opens tonight at the Kimball Street Theater in the Rider Center of Elgin Academy, in Elgin. I will be there tonight, but if you can't make it tonight, you have five more opportunities: January 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23; Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm.

Tickets are $15 for adults or $12 for children and seniors. You can purchase tickets at the door, or online here.

Christmas Carol and a Call From Santa

Merry Christmas Fans!

Having just played Meredith, the Christmas Cougar in Seven Plays in Seven (Holi)Days, Christmas Carol continues her journalistic theme in the following interview with M.C. Antil from Santa 1-on-1.

With Santa 1-on-1, Santa will call your child on your schedule for a personal conversation. Save $5 on a Christmas Eve call from Santa when you become a fan on Facebook.

Seven Plays in Seven (Holi)days

Happy Holidays!

As we approach the Christmas season, Carol just can't find enough things to keep her busy. Not only is she in rehearsal for Are You Being Served? which opens next month, and handing out Hershey's Bliss during the holiday shopping rush... she has been cast in the n.u.f.a.n. ensemble's production, Seven Plays in Seven Holi-Days. Carol will be playing Meredith in a play entitled, Christmas With The Cougars.

The performance includes seven short plays, which the actors have seven days to learn and perform. The show is Monday, 12/14/09 at 8:00pm at the City Lit Theatre, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., in Chicago. Tickets are only $7.77... that's only $1.11 per play! Where else can you enjoy an evening of live entertainment for such a low-low price?!

The show is one night only and tickets do sell out, so buy yours online today! You can reserve them from the n.u.f.a.n. ensemble web site here. See you there!

Black Friday Bliss

Greetings Fans!

If you're planning to brave the crowds this coming Friday and hit the shopping malls for that perfect gift, why not take a break from the madness to enjoy some holiday Bliss? Carol will be at the Gurnee Mills shopping mall on Black Friday, acting as a Hershey’s Bliss® Ambassador. She will be handing out samples of "the uniquely irresistible, smooth, creamy, perfectly portioned, Hershey’s Bliss® chocolate."

In the meanwhile, Carol and I wish everyone a very blessed Thanksgiving!

Are You Being Served?

Greetings Fans!

As we head into the holiday season, Carol is starting rehearsal for a new show. Carol has been cast as Mrs. Slocombe in Are You Being Served? with the Elgin Theatre Company. You may recognize the title as a British sitcom from the 1970s. The play is a British farce, and takes place in the fictional Grace Brothers Department Store, and Mrs. Slocombe is the head of the Ladies Separates & Underwear department.

It will be worth the price of admission just to see Carol with purple hair! The show will be at the Kimball Street Theater in the Rider Center of Elgin Academy, in Elgin. Show dates are January 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23; Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm.

Tickets are $15 for adults or $12 for children and seniors. You can purchase tickets online here.

Table and Chairs 2009

Greetings Fans!

After a six month absence from the stage, Carol has been cast in the upcoming third annual Table and Chairs Festival, hosted by n.u.f.a.n. ensemble.

Table and Chairs consists of ten one-act plays which use a table and chairs as the only set pieces. Carol will appear in one of the ten plays entitled Roles for Breakfast. The show is for two nights only: Tuesday, October 20th and Wednesday, October 21st, 8:00pm. at the City Lit Theatre, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr in Chicago.

Tickets are only $10-- that's only $1 per play!! Where else can you receive so much entertainment for so little? Tickets can be reserved here. See you there!

Crossing The Lake

Carol adds another film to her dramatic oeuvre with an appearance in Crossing the Lake, an independent film by the Caledonia Night Sky Co. Carol plays Debbie, the sickly over-protective mother of the main character, Patrick. Carol's scenes were filmed in Rockford this past weekend.

Here are some production photos from the initial read through and Carol's bedroom scene (get your mind out of the gutter).

Crossing the Lake is scheduled to premiere in Spring 2010. You can follow them on Facebook here.

Tales Tombstones Tell

Greetings Dear Fans,

Have you ever had the urge to just take a stroll through a local graveyard? Have you ever wordlessly wandered through a cemetery and winsomely wondered who might be buried there? Have you ever wished there might be an experienced costumed interpreter at your local cemetery, ready to regale you with tales of the entombed?

Wish and wonder no more, gentle reader... your wish has been granted!

This Friday evening, you can experience all of the above at the 20th annual Tales Tombstones Tell, at the Oakwood Cemetery in West Chicago. Our own Carol Townsend will be among the costumed interpreters ready to educate and entertain you to death!

The cemetery is located at the Northeast corner of Oakwood and York Avenues in West Chicago:


View Larger Map

As described in the West Chicago Community Newsletter (PDF link):

Mark your calendars for the 20th annual Tales Tombstones Tell program presented by the West Chicago City Museum on Friday, October 2, 2009 at Oakwood Cemetery. Enjoy an evening stroll, with lanterns and luminaria lighting the paths through West Chicago’s oldest cemetery. Costumed interpreters will reveal the life stories of selected former residents buried in Oakwood. Tours begin at 6:30 p.m. and start off thereafter every 10 minutes, with the last tour starting at 7:45 p.m. Tours last about 45 minutes, and no reservations are necessary. The program is appropriate for families, is based on historical fact and does not contain ghost stories. Although the program is free, donations are encouraged. In case of inclement weather, the program will be cancelled. The Museum is looking for folks who have attended all previous 19 years of Tales Tombstones Tell programs. Please contact the Museum at (630) 231-3376 or email museum@westchicago.org.

Story Time

Gather 'round boys and girls... it's time for a story!

Are your kids tired of the pre-packaged and saccharin entertainment of Spongebob and Blues Clues? Wouldn't you love to have a live group of professional actors come and entertain them for hours? Carol entralls children of all ages (or at least grades 3-6) with exciting and educational stories from The Mystery Shop. You can view more photos of the children's show here.

If you're in need of some high-energy children's entertainment, why not give the Mystery Shop a call? Be sure to ask for Carol by name, and you can get $20 off by clicking here.

You can contact the Mystery Shop at (630) 690-1105 or e-mail them at tms@TheMysteryShop.com.