“Maybe Baby, It's You”, Saint Charles

In 1964, Fox Valley Repertory was born as the Pheasant Run Playhouse. A dinner theater attached to Pheasant Run Resort, the space hosted stars such as William Shatner, Phyllis Diller, and Betty Grable throughout the '60s and '70s. The repertoire expanded into the world of Broadway musicals in the late 1980s with hits including Grease and The King and I. But the venue was looking to expand in a more literal direction as well: in 2002 it underwent extensive renovations to transform from a humble playhouse to a fully modern performing arts facility.

Following its facade-lift, the Playhouse became the home of Chicago’s Noble Fool Theater Company, who officially re-dubbed themselves Fox Valley Repertory in 2011. It's a name that better represents the ensemble's investment in the community. Today, the repertory continues to earn praise for its family-friendly productions and educational opportunities for aspiring thespians and light bulbs hoping to become spotlights.