Description

The award-winning Elgin Area Leadership Academy (EALA) is inviting the community to attend a thought-provoking free, live performance entitled “FEAR” on Wednesday, April 8, at 6:30 pm at Elgin Community College’s Spartan Theatre. The play, an original written by playwright and retired Kane County Judge Wiley Edmonson, is a reader’s theatre performance presented by Leadership Academy Alumnae.

The docudrama, “Fear,” is a gripping historical drama that follows Margaret, a young woman afflicted with what was once called nervosis pantophobia, an overwhelming anxiety disorder that confines her to a life of fear. Set against the backdrop of the Civil War, her journey toward courage and compassion unfolds in stark contrast to unscrupulous profiteers who exploit the war effort, ultimately risking the lives of the very soldiers Margaret strives to save at Gettysburg. It contains adult content, so attendance for young children is discouraged.

The production is a highlight of the annual year-long experience that individuals embark on to build an understanding of community leadership through exposure, enrichment, and engagement. Edmondson has been an integral part of EALA, as he has penned over a dozen original plays to stir emotions and spark ethical discussions.

Wiley has written plays that stir emotions and invoke ethical issues and discussions. Plays produced at ECC included "The Light" about progressive photographer Lewis Hine and his exposure of child labor, "Dr Kelsey", telling the story of how one woman working for the FDA prevented the drug thalidomide mode from being distributed in the USA, " Voices of the Middle Passage", examining the African slave trade, and "The Crane", the story of a single mom who became the first licensed crane operator in the history of New York City, and her work at "Ground Zero" after 9/11.

The EALA curriculum is specifically designed to help individuals become active, engaged leaders in their community. Following the April 8 evening virtual performance, this year’s EALA class will meet later in the week to discuss the play, including ethical considerations and decisions.

A program sponsored by the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce, EALA develops a corps of informed, committed, and qualified individuals capable of providing dynamic leadership for the greater Elgin area. Founded in 1990, the Academy has graduated more than 600 individuals who volunteer in virtually all aspects of the community. Through volunteer co-coordinators Dan Fox, Ruth Munson, and Edgar Montes, the curriculum provides broad-based leadership perspectives to familiarize participants with the needs, opportunities, and resources in the Elgin area.

EALA is a 10-month program, meeting on Saturday mornings, featuring distinguished community leaders, content experts, and successful executives in the Elgin area sharing their ideas, perspectives and experiences. Monthly programs provide individuals with the skills, knowledge, connections, and engagement necessary to develop and leverage a strong professional network of future and current Elgin leaders across all industries.