Willowbrook junior lands role in All-State production of ‘The Grapes of Wrath’

This past June, Willowbrook junior Jack Corkery earned the role of Grampa Joad in the well-known production of “The Grapes of Wrath.”

Corkery, along with 120 other students from throughout Illinois, auditioned earlier this year for the highly competitive All-State production of "The Grapes of Wrath" that will take place during the Illinois High School Theatre Festival.

The Illinois Theatre Association, which hosts the theatre festival, is the largest and oldest noncompetitive high school theatre festival in the world. The three-day festival will take place Jan. 9 through 11, 2014, at Illinois State University. More than 4,000 students, teachers, university representatives, exhibitors and volunteers come together to put on more than 25 high school productions and more than 150 workshops. For more information about the festival, go to www.illinoistheatrefest.org. 

“Getting cast in this role is such an honor,” Corkery said. “When the Illinois Theatre Association announced the performance, I knew immediately this was something I wanted to be a part of. It’s going to be so much fun!”

Rehearsals for the production will take place at Glenbard East High School, which will allow Corkery to continue performing with the Willowbrook Performing Arts. His résumé includes the following performances at Willowbrook.

  • Sir Toby Belch in “Twelfth Night,” April 2013
  • Jedediah Schulz, Stephen Mead Johnson and Fred Phelps in “The Laramie Project,” February 2013
  • The Cowardly Lion in “The Wizard of Oz,” November 2012
  • Arthur Parker in “The Haunting of Hill House,” April 2012
  • Victor Velasco in “Barefoot in the Park,” February 2012
  • Leaf Coneybear in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” November 2011

“I’m thankful for my mom, Sara, and Willowbrook Theatre Director Regina Wathier, who both have supported me over the years,” Corkery said. “I hope I am able to make them both proud.”

For more information about Jack Corkery, as well as a complete list of his performances, go to http://jackcorkery.com.