Chit-Chat with director Bill Osetek: Pressure is off, challenge is on for Drury Lane artistic director

Drury Lane Theatre Artistic Director Bill Osetek of Berwyn is all for wanting the best for his theater. But for the past couple of months, he’s also had to think about what’s best for the show. Osetek is directing the Drury Lane production of “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” with the hopes of retaining the flavor of the slick Tony-Award winning musical. The romantic-comedy takes place during the Roaring ’20s and tells the story of a young girl from Kansas who takes New York City by storm at a time when women were just entering the workforce and rewriting society’s rules.

"Thoroughly Modern Millie." SUBMITTED PHOTO

Bill Osetek, Drury Lane's Artistic Director and director of Drury Lane's current show, "Thoroughly Modern Millie." SUBMITTED PHOTO

As artistic director of the theater and director of the show, do you think there’s more pressure on you to direct an amazing production?
I don’t know if I would say there’s more pressure on me. It’s definitely a lot more difficult.

In what way?
It’s hard in addition to being the artistic director because I still have my administrative duties that have to happen on top of directing the show... Usually we have a second pair of eyes (besides the director’s) for the play and that’s usually me, and I don’t have that with this show. 

If you had to choose between being the artistic director or show director, which would you choose?
That’s a very difficult question because they’re both very different roles. As artistic director, I try to influence the shows we pick and the process we take... Influence is very different from directing the show. That’s why the fantastic part of my life is that I get to do both.

Are you an actor as well?
I’m not an actor anymore. I’ve acted before, but I don’t enjoy it as much as directing. I found in my youth that if it is a really interesting part that you want to play, the role comes easy to you.

Were there any roles in your past that fit this mold?
I played Amos in “Chicago” years ago, and that was right up my alley.

Has the state of the economy affected the way you put on shows at Drury Lane?
To some extent it has. We really do try to keep things as inexpensive as possible. A lot of people don’t have $100 to pay to go to downtown Chicago to watch theater, have dinner and parking. We’re doing OK with keeping it affordable... We’ve been trying really hard to make our shows better and better and picking out interesting pieces that the audience will enjoy.

SEE THE PLAY
WHAT “Thoroughly Modern Millie”
WHERE Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace; (630) 530-8300, www.drurylaneoakbrook.com
WHEN through Dec. 20; 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays, 8:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 5 p.m. Saturdays and 2 and 6 p.m. Sundays.
HOW MUCH $29-$38; $43.75-$61 for lunch and dinner theater

Drury Lane Theatre’s 2010-2011 season:
“Ragtime” - March 24 to May 23
“Sugar” - June 9 to Aug. 1
“Hot Mikado” - Aug. 18 to Oct. 3
“Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” - Oct. 20 to Dec. 19
“Spam-A-Lot” - Jan 6, 2011 to March 13, 2011