All-Female Cast Leads JJC Theatre in ‘The Wolves’ from Nov. 3-6

The Joliet Junior College fine arts department and theatre program present Sarah DeLappe’s “The Wolves” as its second fall play. “The Wolves” runs Nov. 3-6 in the JJC Event Center. 

“The Wolves” tells the coming-of-age story of the young women on an elite high school club soccer team. Unlike most theater productions, “The Wolves” features an entire cast of female-identifying actors and characters. 

“It’s important to share stories that matter, especially stories that are told by female playwrights and feature female characters,” said play director and assistant professor of theatre at JJC, Brian Fruits.  

Fruits says the play focuses on young women coming together and sharing their differences throughout their soccer season. The story touches on identity, status, female empowerment, competition and more. 

“All these things, at any age, I think we can relate to,” Fruits said. “This is that time, that coming-of-age tale for these women. They’re so different from each other, yet when they’re on that team, together, they’re The Wolves. They are a pack. They run in a pack. They have a goal. They can put it all together and achieve something wonderful. Differences of individuals in a team or group can bring out the best in a team. When we’re all the same, we don’t really learn. We don’t grow. And this team grows.” 

Traditionally, JJC theatre productions perform in the JJC Theatre. Due to the athletic nature and setting of “The Wolves,” shows will take place in the Event Center. 

“It’s a very physically demanding play, and I really wanted to work with the athletic department here at JJC,” Fruits said. "I asked them if we could perform it here in the Event Center, and they said yes!”  

Shows from Thursday to Saturday begin at 7:30 p.m. while Sunday’s show is a matinee beginning at 2 p.m. The play has a runtime of 90 minutes. JJC fine arts tickets are available online and range from $5-12. 

“The Wolves” contains content that may not be suitable for all audiences, including mature language and themes, such as suicide, assault and abortion. The production is not recommended for children. 

Production Team 

Soccer Mom – Katie Bavirsha (Nov. 4, 6), Niani Shaw-McCain (Nov. 3, 5) 

#11 - Mandi Albrecht 

#25 - Jamie Gossen   

#13 - Isabella Clutter   

#27 - Jasmine Quijano  

#46 - Jordan DeSilva   

#2 – Maddie Hubbard   

#7 - Daisy Torres  

#14 - Amiya Tongson  

#8 – Chloe Yost  

#94 - Anna Merrigan   

#00 - Andrea Barron                    

Understudy (Utility) – Jenel Lopez  

Assistant Stage Manager (House) - David Lozano 

Assistant Stage Manager (House Support/Rehearsal) - Dylan Ludes 

Stage Manager – Aleks Harris 

Assistant Stage Manager – Alec Brandl 

Director – Professor Brian Fruits  

Design – Professor Julie Giampaolo   

Technical Director – Rachael Nuckles 

Assistant Director – Elana Karnezis