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THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2025
Illinois high school theatre students invited to audition for 2026 All-State Production of ‘Newsies’ Production to be directed by Addison Trail theatre director
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Calling all Illinois high school theatre students … The Illinois Theatre Association (ITA) has announced auditions for the prestigious 50th Illinois High School Theatre Festival All-State Production of “Newsies,” to be presented in January 2026 at Illinois State University during the annual Illinois High School Theatre Festival. The show will be direct-
ed by Addison Trail’s very own Theatre Director Anna McSweeney. “This production is a highlight of the Illinois High School Theatre Festival and an extraordinary opportunity for students to challenge themselves artistically,” McSweeney said. “We encourage all dedicated and passionate theatre students to audition and be part of something truly special.” According to www.illinoistheatre.org/All-State-Production, “ ‘Newsies’ is a spirited musical inspired by historical
events of the 1899 Newsboys Strike in New York City. It follows Jack Kelly, a teenage newsboy who rallies his fellow ‘newsies’ to protest unfair price hikes by newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer. With support from young reporter Katherine Plumber, the newsies organize a strike to fight for better treatment. As the movement grows, Jack wrestles with loyalty and leadership.” Students can audition for roles in the cast, try out to be part of the pit orchestra, or apply for technical crew
positions (which will be led by District 88’s own System and Theatre Specialist Alex Holod). The All-State Production is known for its high-caliber performances and the unique opportunity it provides for students to work with professional directors, designers and educators. Participants will gain valuable experience,
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Who can audition: Illinois high school students who will be a sophomore, junior or senior during the 2025-26 school year For more information, and to register: Go to https://tinyurl.com/IHSTFAll-State2026. Deadline: All forms must be completed and submitted by May 16.
Crimo sentenced to consecutive life sentences; high court upholds ‘venue shopping’ law By Jerry Nowicki and Peter Hancock
CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
SUBMITTED PHOTO Addison Independent
build lifelong friendships and be part of a truly unforgettable theatre experience. Audition details When and where (select one date/location): May 31: Normal Community High School, 3900 E. Raab Road in Normal. June 7: Addison Trail High School, 213 N. Lombard Road in Addison
The man who pleaded guilty to a mass shooting in 2022 in Highland Park that left seven people dead and prompted the passage of a ban on assault-style weapons in Illinois, has been sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences. Robert Crimo III pleaded guilty on March 3, the day his trial was set to begin in Lake County, to 69 counts of murder and attempted murder stemming from that shooting. His attorneys informed Judge Victoria Rossetti that he wanted to change his plea just before what was to be the start of a three-week trial. Crimo was accused of firing into a crowd of people from a rooftop in Highland Park during the city’s annual Independence Day parade using a semiautomatic rifle equipped with three 30-round magazines. He reportedly fired approximately 80 shots in about two minutes, killing seven people while injuring dozens more. Rossetti on April 24 sentenced Crimo to consecutive life sentences for each of the
seven victims who died. He also received 50 years for the 48 counts of attempted murder to which he pleaded guilty. Victims of the shooting include Katherine Goldstein, 64; married couple Irina McCarthy, 35, and Kevin McCarthy, 37; Stephen Straus, 88; Jacki Sundheim, 63; Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78; and Eduardo Uvaldo, 69. Survivors and witnesses shared stories with the court during the sentencing hearing on April 23 and April 24, which Crimo did not attend. The Highland Park shooting in part prompted Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker to call for bans on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines at both the state and national levels. State lawmakers took up the issue during a lame duck session the following January and passed what is now called the Protect Illinois Communities Act. It prohibits the purchase, sale, transfer or ownership of hundreds of types of firearms that it classifies as “assault weapons,” although people who owned such guns before the law’s enactment are al-
lowed to keep them if they obtain a special endorsement on their Firearm Owner’s Identification card. It also bans large-capacity magazines and various kinds of firearm attachments, including those that increase the rate of fire of a semiautomatic weapon to simulate the rapid fire of a fully automatic weapon.
‘Venue shopping’ law upheld The Illinois Supreme Court last week upheld a 2023 state law that says constitutional challenges to certain state actions may only be filed in Cook or Sangamon County circuit courts. In a 6-1 ruling, the majority overturned a lower court ruling and said the law did not pose an unreasonable burden to the plaintiff in the case, a gun dealer in Madison County, and that the state had a legitimate reason for consolidating certain kinds of cases in certain counties. The case involved Piasa Armory, located in East Alton, which filed a suit in 2023 challenging the state’s ban on assault-style weapons and large capacity magazines.
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