“Nervous Breakdown” will go on (dates adjusted) at Theatre at the Center

Bernie Yvon, who died last Sunday, age 50, while driving to a rehearsal at Theatre at the Center in Munster, In.

The show WILL go on, but of course things have changed. In the wake of the tragic loss last Saturday of veteran Chicago actor Bernie Yvon, who died in a car accident on his way to rehearsal of “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” at Theatre at the Center in Munster, Indiana, the theater has moved its press opening to Sept. 21 at 2:30pm. Previews begin Sept. 13, with George Andrew Wolff (who has performed at many of the major musical theaters in the Chicago area), assuming the role of the taxi driver that Mr. Yvon had been scheduled to play. After the opening, a small tribute reception will take place at the theater for attendees of the performance.

During the past few days, measures have been taken to help all of the staff, cast and crew deal with the loss. Director William Pullinsi invited his priest, Father Charles Niblick from Saint Maria Goretti Parish in Dyer, In., to talk to those gathered at rehearsal. Sam Hamstra from the Christian Life Center has been on site to counsel small groups and individuals. And Steven Haught, from the Actors Fund, an experienced grief counselor, is also on site.

Theatre at the Center, along with theaters around Chicagoland, will dim their lights Thursday, Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in tribute to Yvon and other theater artists who died last week including actors Molly Glynn, Sati Word, Trinity P. Murdock, properties designer Joel Lambie and WGN broadcaster and theater fan, Roy Leonard.

In a prepared statement, Richard Friedman, general manager of Theatre at the Center, said: “‘Women on the Verge” has the same exuberance, wit and zest for life that embodied Bernie’s stage work and his personality, and the cast and creative team dedicate the show to his memory.”

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Actress Molly Glynn, who died last Sunday, age 46, after a freak accident in a thunderstorm.

Meanwhile, Milwaukee Rep, where actress Molly Glynn performed was to make her debut in “The Amish Project” this season, plans to koin the Chicago Theatre community in dimming its lights on Thursday night. In addition to working on most of Chicago’s major stages, Glynn had performed with the Peninsula Players Theatre, First Stage, and Lake Geneva Theatre Company in Wisconsin.

In a prepared statement, Milwaukee Rep artistic directorMark Clements said: “Last week the Midwest theatre community suffered a series of heartbreaking losses, including actress Molly Glynn. Molly was known throughout Chicago and Wisconsin for her captivating, luminous stage presence and for the joy and openness with which she embraced her fellow collaborators. Many people in our Milwaukee Rep family had the great pleasure of working with her, in Chicago. And we were so looking forward to working with Molly, and are deeply saddened at this weekend’s sudden and tragic loss. As our community continues to mourn, our thoughts go out to Molly’s family and friends and to all of those who worked with her.”