Date posted: 4-10-02

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TV's John Astin to visit DeKalb Friday

By Courtney Cavanaugh
DeKalb News Service

DEKALB -- He's creepy and he's kooky. He's all together spooky. He's John Astin and he's coming to DeKalb.

John Astin, best known as "Gomez" from "The Addams Family," will visit The Egyptian Theatre for a 7:30 p.m. show Friday night [April 12]. He will perform some of the works of Edgar Allan Poe in a one-man act titled, "Edgar Allan Poe…Once Upon a Midnight."

Kevin Quaid, ticket manager for University Programming and Activities at Northern Illinois University, said Astin will perform such poems as "The Raven," "The Fall of The House of Usher" and "The Tell-Tale Heart."

Quinn Norman, NIU fine arts coordinator, said the show is not solely a recital of Poe's poetry.

"He's going to actually be Edgar Allen Poe and then he's going to perform some of his works," Norman said.

Astin also is known for his performance in the 1961 film "West Side Story," and received an Academy Award nomination for "Prelude," a short film that he wrote, directed and produced.

Robert Richardson, a junior English major is fond of Poe and looks forward to the performance.

"It definitely sounds interesting," Richardson said. "I like the darkness of his works, his moodiness. He has interesting themes."

Tickets are $5 for students, $14 for faculty and staff and $17 for the general public. Tickets will be on sale until 5:30 p.m. Friday in NIU's Holmes Student Center Box Office and at starting at 6:30 p.m. that night at The Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St..

"I know a lot of people have anticipated it," Norman said. "He has really excellent reviews and I think he'll do a really good job at doing a dramatic role."

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Source list:
· Kevin Quaid, ticket manager for University programming ad Activities, 753-3146
· Quinn Norman, fine arts coordinator, 753-7229