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It's starting off to be a busy summer with Carol appearing in the graveyard on June 30th, and now in another upcoming show starting June 15th.  Harvest Productions will be presenting For Christian Women Who Have Considered Giving Up When Life Is Too Much.  Yes, I believe this will go into the record books as the longest titled show Carol has appeared in so far!

The show follows seven Christian women who lose their way when their lives are interrupted by tragedy, and their struggle to reconnect with the God who loves them.  Carol will play... one of the seven women!

June 15th - July 8th *  

Fridays 7:30pm

Saturdays 2:00pm and 7:30pm

Sundays 2:00pm

That's a total of 16 shows-- Surely you can find time to come see one of them!
 * (Carol will not be appearing in the show on June 30th as she will be in Oakwood Cemetery, so that's 15 shows with Carol, and 1 without, for those keeping track.)

Stage 773 Theater

1225 W. Belmont Ave.

Chicago, IL

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Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online here, or call 708-613-0024.  

When was the War of 1812?

This, and other thought-provoking questions will be answered during a presentation commemorating the bicentennial anniversary of the War of 1812 in West Chicago. Come out to the Oakwood Cemetery for an evening of reflection and education, and learn about the four War of 1812 veterans who reside therein. This will mark Carol's fourth appearance in the graveyard, making this one of her most frequented venues!



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The program will be June 30, 6:00 - 8:00pm at the Oakwood Cemetery, in West Chicago, IL.

(** Spoilers:  It was in 1812. **)

My Son Is Crazy... But Promising

Greetings fans!

It's Spring, and it's time for a new show.  We had to miss our annual trip to Thunder Over Louisville this year, as Carol has been cast in My Son Is Crazy But Promising, with the Naperville Community Players.

Carol will be playing Gert Witherspoon, owner of the Ritz Apache Lodge in Arizona, which is home to many colorful characters (think Fawlty Towers in the desert).  Hilarity abounds when a Hollywood low-budget screenwriter decides he wants to buy the lodge from Gert in order to find treasure in the nearby Lost Dutchman Mine.  There's a crazy lady who talks to aliens, irate tourists, an undead mobster, alligators, brussels sprouts, and the FBI. You'll just have to see the show to find out how all those things fit together!

The show is at the Community United Methodist Church, 20 N. Center Street in Naperville.
Show times are:

Friday April 20, 8:00pm

Saturday April 21, 3:00pm and 8:00pm

Friday April 27, 8:00pm

Saturday April 28, 8:00pm

Tickets are $10 for Adults, $5 for Children (12 and under)

Call the box office for ticket reservations:  (630) 369-5539

See you there!

A Not So Ordinary Woman

Greetings fans!
It's been so long, I almost forgot how to post new entries on the blog!  You might think this post title is referring to our own Carol-- and of course you would be right!  But in this case, it is also the name of an upcoming show at Gallery Theater, in which Carol will be appearing.

In honor of Women's History Month, Gallery Theater is presenting A Not So Ordinary Woman, which tells the story of Jane Addams.

"Come meet Jane Addams, a progressive social reformer who had a vein of iron. She was called by some as the "most influential woman in Chicago history,” and was the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace prize. This is Gallery Theater's annual recognition of Women's History Month."

Yes, now you can finally learn who I-90 was named after!  That alone should be worth the price of admission.  (I'm holding out for the show that explains who Bishop Ford was.)

The Gallery Theater is located at 203 Turner Ct. in West Chicago.  Performances will be on March 9 at 7:30pm and March 11 at 3:00pm.  Tickets are $7 for adults, and $5 for seniors and students.  This is a very small venue, so reservations are recommended.  Call 630-639-0594 or email the theater at gallerytheater@gmail.com.  See you there!

Cats with Frickin' Laser Beams!

Let's face it... cats LOVE lasers!  Perhaps it is their love of the chase, or perhaps it is their desire to rule the world and enslave us all.  But either way, it's hilarious to watch!  You love your cat, but who has the time or energy to wave a laser pointer around to entertain your little friend?  Enter, the FroliCat Bolt!!  Just set it and forget it!  The Bolt will provide endless hours of entertainment and exercise as Cheeto chases the bright red spot around the house.

If you love your cat, you owe it to them to get the FroliCat Bolt.  How lucky that you can get one from Carol this weekend only at Costco in Oakbrook!

WARNING:  Do not allow cat to disassemble the FroliCat Bolt, as this could result in global feline domination and human enslavement.  You have been warned.

Test of Wills

Are you in the mood for a good old fashioned murder mystery? Got any plans for October 28th or 29th? Yes? No? Then why not go see Carol get murdered... or perhaps murder someone... or perhaps she'll be an innocent bystander? To find out, you'll just have to come see the show!

What is it?  A murder mystery in three acts, Test of Wills is a tongue-in-cheek mystery that is a lot of fun for the audience and the actors. The action takes place at the reading of a will. However, when more than one will is uncovered, the plot definitely thickens. Audience members will get to question the suspects, examine evidence, and buy clues.  Before the evening is concluded, they will have an opportunity to identify the murderer.

When is it? October 28th and 29th, 7:30pm

Where is it?  Gallery Studio 200, 203 Turner Court, West Chicago, IL.

How much is it?  Tickets are only $7 in advance, or $8 at the door.  Gallery Studio 200 is a small venue, and reservations are strongly advised. To buy your tickets in advance, email gallerytheater@gmail.com or call 630-639-0594.  See you there!

Stories Grave Stones Relate

Greetings Fans,
Summer is winding down, and that means it's almost time for West Chicago's 22nd annual Tales Tombstones Tell.  This will be Carol's third year working in the graveyard.  Come out and enjoy an evening of "historical edutainment", as local costumed performers relate the life stories of some of the long-term residents of Oakwood Cemetery.  Tours are free and last approximately 45 minutes.  Refreshments will be served and donations are welcomed and appreciated.

The festivities take place on Friday, October 7 from 6:30 - 9:00pm (last tour begins at 7:45pm). The cemetery is located at York Street and Oakwood Avenue in West Chicago.







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

(Note: Due to road construction, Washington St. is only open for east-bound traffic.  If you are coming from the east, take Rt. 59 to Pine St., which is 2 streets north of Washington.  Turn west on Pine, then take a soft left at the stop sign onto Oakwood.)

The Dilemma

A new star is born! Last year, Carol worked background on the film, The Dilemma. Although Carol didn't get to work on any scenes herself, they did use her car, and she did get to meet Ron Howard. Tonight, we finally got around to watching The Dilemma, and Carol's car is clearly featured in two scenes. When Vince arrives at Zip's house to spy on Geneva, he parks right behind Carol's car.

The next day, when Vince returns to Zip's house to get his camera, Carol's car is parked across the street, behind Vince.

Carol is so excited, she will be treating her car to a wash and a premium fill-up tomorrow!

Hometown Nazareth

Greetings fans...

It has been a long news drought here on the Carol Townsend fan site. With the onset of summer, hopefully the activity will pick up. To that end, this week Carol is pleased to be appearing as Mary... yes, that Mary... THE Mary... at the Community Fellowship Church in West Chicago.

Their Vacation Bible School program is entitled Hometown Nazareth: Where Jesus was a Kid. At Hometown Nazareth, families will meet Mary and hear stories of Jesus’ childhood and view some embarrassing baby photos. Mary tells about how she knew that Jesus was God’s Son, and helps teach how kids can stand up for their faith in everyday life.

(Registration is closed, however, so don't just show up expecting to get in... even if you are a huge fan!)

Votes for Women and Nothing Less

Greetings fans!

March is Women's History Month and to celebrate, The Gallery Theater in West Chicago is presenting an original drama entitled Votes for Women and Nothing Less.

The show is a historical drama which tells the story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and their BFF Lucy Stone (played by our own Carol Townsend), who were influential in laying the groundwork for the women's suffrage movement. C'mon out, see the show and be enlightened on this period in our nation's history!

Cast in the show are Linda Roberts, Carolyn Larsen, Carol Townsend, Sharon Szulczewski, Joe Ascenzo and Robert Davis.

Performances will be held at The Gallery Theater, 104 Sherman St. in West Chicago. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 11 and 12. Tickets cost $5.

For more information, e-mail gallerytheater@gmail.com.

New Year New Show!

Welcome fans to 2011!!

It has been a slow couple of months news-wise for Carol, as she has been busy juggling her part-time "real jobs", and not had much time to devote to her craft. Until now, that is!

Carol has been cast in a small production at the new Gallery Theater company in West Chicago called "Votes for Women and Nothing Less". This is a historical drama about the fifty year friendship between two women, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, that eventually led to the passage of an amendment giving women the right to vote. Carol will be playing the part of Lucy Stone.

Performance dates for the show will be March 11th and 12th in West Chicago, but the location is not yet known. Watch this space for details as we get them!

Seven Plays in Seven Holi-Days 2010

Greetings Fans!

Only 18 days until Christmas! Why not get in the holiday spirit by seeing seven holiday-themed plays in one night? That's like a concentrated Christmas colonic... only much more entertaining!

Come and see Carol perform in Seven Plays in Seven Holi-Days. n.u.f.a.n. ensemble presents "Seven short holiday plays by Chicago's leading name in festival theater... Sexy Santas and funky families collide in this annual holiday tradition."

When? Monday, December 13, 2010. 8:00 - 10:00pm

Where? PropThtr

3502 N. Elston

Chicago, IL

How Much? Only $10! Where else can you get so much entertainment for so little?!

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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.