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Ray Frewen received a lump of coal in his Christmas stocking this year. According to an industry source, the much-lauded Artistic Director of Drury Lane Oakbrook was handed his walking papers when he attempted to collect a pay check for directing Drury Lane's children's production of "A Christmas Carol." Frewen was a co-writer as well as director of the holiday show, although sources say he never received a royalty as a writer. Frewen claims that when he approached Drury Lane Oakbrook's 92-year-old producer Tony DeSantis about collecting his pay check, he was promptly dismissed.
Frewen, who is married with four children, served for 8 years as Artistic Director and a total of 14 years in various capacities at Drury Lane Oakbrook, where he most recently directed the main season production of "Once Upon a Mattress." Earlier this year, DeSantis fired Michael Weber from his position as Artistic Director of the new Drury Lane Water Tower Place, citing low attendance of the first three shows as the reason.
As previously reported in Theatre in Chicago, Drury Lane Water Tower Place will now play host to the Chicago sit-down company of the William Finn musical "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee." Frewen's unofficial replacement is said to be William Ostrek, who will direct Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park" in January. Drury Lane Oakbrook's 2006 season also includes "The Pirates of Penzance," "Ten Little Indians," "Nunsensations," "Forever Plaid" and "The King and I."