Quigley Joins Cast of 'A Christmas Carol' at Goodman In Special Performance for Local Military Families

January 11, 2010

CHICAGO On New Year's Eve, Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) joined the cast and co-hosted a benefit production of "A Christmas Carol" at the Goodman Theatre for Chicago-area servicemen and women and their families. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky co-hosted the "Community Day" event with the Goodman Theatre and the USO. Quigley and Schakowsky both appeared in walk-on roles during several scenes in the performance.

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Rep. Mike Quigley (center) onstage during a scene from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" at the Goodman Theatre, with Rep. Jan Schakowsky to his stage-left.

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Before his theatrical debut, Quigley (second from left) tells actors Joe Grifasi (left), Brian Dennehy (right), and Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls (far right) that there's "theater in politics too." Grifasi, Dennehy, and Falls were at the theater in rehearsals for an upcoming production of "Hughie."

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Rep. Mike Quigley (left) shares a laugh backstage with Senator Richard Durbin and Rep. Jan Schakowsky before "places" are called.

During his first eight months in office, Representative Quigley has worked diligently to ensure that the men and women of the armed services receive the support they need. He voted to extend the first-time homebuyer tax credit for military personnel, introduced a resolution honoring the largest deployment of Illinois National Guardsmen since World War II, and most recently, introduced the GI Bill Accelerated Tuition Payment Act of 2009 to prevent veterans from going into debt in order to pay tuition while waiting for their education benefits.

"Goodman Theatre has shown just how deeply we appreciate the sacrifices of our servicemen and women by collaborating with the local USO to organize this thoughtful closing day dedication of A Christmas Carol," said Representative Quigley. "I commend the Goodman for doing their part to give something back to the members of the armed services and their families, and I thank them for allowing me to be part of this exceptional event."

Hi-resolution versions of the above photos are available upon request. Photos by Eric Y. Exit, courtesy of the Goodman Theatre.

For more information about the production and "Community Day," please click here.

Additional photos are available on Flickr.

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