"Shades of Noir" and Roc City Bar & Grill

On April 18, eight members of WriteOn Joliet will present “Shades of Noir." an original radio theater production, at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.

"Shades of Noir" authors and performers were Denise M. Baran-Unland, Mauverneen Blevins, Ed Calkins,  Steve Cordin, Cean Magosky, Jenny Russ, and Duanne Walton.

Director was Jake Thomas.

Production assistant was Rebekah Baran.

And for the second year in a row, we ordered food for cast, crew, and helpers between performances from Rock City Bar & Grill in Rockdale.

Except this year, mere hours before the park was to print our playbill, Roc City's owner Tommy offered to generously discount the food.

The cost was then reduced to zero thanks to contributions from  B.L.O.C.K.S. and Paula Sanzenbacher of Garden Keepers in Chicago.

Tommy's one request when he personally delivered the food was to meet the cast and crew and take photos with us.

But Tommy brought more than food...

...he brought swag for all!!!

Seriously, cast, crew, everybody received a bag of swag!

I promised Tommy that I'd blog about his generosity and add photos of happy people enjoying his food.

The blog was no problem.

The problem with photos was that I was overseeing everything and making sure people headed to the green room for food.

By the time I was able to get my own food and take photos, well, most of the food was gone.

And it was seriously A LOT of food. 

You are seeing all that remained of four pizzas and three boxes of beef pockets.

And that's on top of the fruit tray Jenny brought, the brownies Mauverneen baked, and the cookies and minature cupcakes Rebekah served.

Next year, we'll just need more food!

Keep scrolling for our other sponsors.

Cast supplies provided by Edward and Nancy Calkins.

Cast T-shirt sponsors are Coops Bowsmith and Holly Coop Books.

Mauverneen Blevins created all the marketing materials.

In addition, the first ten attendees at each performance received a FREE 2025 WriteOn Joliet anthology, courtesy of the BryonySeries creative group B.L.O.C.K.S.

The first thirteen attendees at the BryonySeries before the 2 p.m.performance and the first twelve attendees at the BryonySeries table before the 7 p.m. performance received a FREE booklet called "Angel or Demon" (source material for one of the show's pieces), courtesy of The Raven's House, who sold selling select noir pieces at the BryonySeries table.

See the middle noir piece in the graphic?

I now own it.

Had to buy it before doors opened for the first show before someone else did!

And don't you think...

...it worked well with my dress?