Today we’d like to introduce you to Keith Gerth.
Keith (Artistic Director and Executive Director) founded Oil Lamp Theater in 2005. Prior to establishing the Theater, which was located in his home in the Lakeview Neighborhood of Chicago, Keith held a number of positions with wide-ranging skills. After high school, Keith was a carpenter for eight years with Murray Countertops in Streator, Illinois. Keith left that position in 1989 to obtain a degree in Financial Accounting from Illinois State University. Keith graduated with honors and began working for the global professional services firm of Deloitte in 1991 and became a Certified Public Accountant. He worked at Deloitte for 15 years in the Audit and Assurance practice serving clients such as the City of Chicago and Northwestern University, which he retired from in 2005 at the level of Director. Keith was professionally trained in acting at Act One Studios in Chicago, Illinois. Keith has been actively involved in the community through Chicago Cares and has served as a board officer for the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative and the Glenview Art League. Keith has also served on the board of Factory Theater in Chicago.
At the theater’s original location in Lakeview in Chicago, Keith provided homemade cookies and wine for guests. It was set up like a speakeasy venue which was by invitation only. Keith produced more than 20 theatrical shows in that venue over seven years before moving to the location in Glenview.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The single biggest challenge for me was recognizing that I was a square peg in a round hole as an auditor. Finding the strength and confidence to leave a stable job and jump into a profession that I was a novice at was a challenge. After opening the theater in Lakeview and opening it up to friends and family, word quickly spread and we soon outgrew our venue. Of course, the venue was very small. Guests sat in chairs on risers while the play took place all around you. While we were very successful in that venue, moving to a permanent location and opening it up to the public was a big risk. I was not sure something on a small scale like this would work for an entire community. In our original space we had 26 seats, now we were more than 60 seats and opening ourselves up to the public for the first time. Those first few months were a challenge. Producing art is very personal and was not sure if the public would take us in, but they did. Since we opened in 2012 we have entertained over 35,000 guests in our small venue. We were voted best suburban theater in 2016 and have earned additional recognition in 2017. Looking back, the decision to leave auditing was the best decision I ever made. The work I do today, which I hesitate to even call work, is satisfying beyond my wildest dreams.
Please tell us about Oil Lamp Theater.
We produce live professional theater in an intimate venue. As you enter our space it feels as though you are entering someone’s home. The space is warm and inviting. The material we present is of an uplifting nature. Every show that we produce includes an element of redemption, a belief in the human spirit. We still offer complimentary cookies at every performance and we are now a BYOB establishment so guests can bring wine to enjoy with the show. These are the factors that set us apart from other theater in the community. Our goal is that our guests feel better when they leave then when they enter our space. We produce seven full productions a year, each running about seven weeks.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would have left auditing sooner. In hindsight, it is more important to follow your passion than to deny your passion for apparent security.
Pricing:
- Our base ticket price is $35 and includes complimentary homemade cookies and BYOB service.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1723 Glenview Road, Glenview, IL 60025
- Website: oillamptheater.org
- Phone: 847.834.0738
- Email: keith@oillamptheater.org
- Facebook: @oillamptheater
- Twitter: @oillamptheater
Image Credit:
Gosia Photography
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