Publications & Sites 
‘Dinosaurs’ on call at Wilmette Theatre
Singer/songwriter Paul Kilner of Wilmette shooting “Get the Dinosaurs on the Phone!”
‘Get the Dinosaurs on the Phone!’
7 p.m. Oct. 4
Wilmette Theatre, 1122 Central Ave., Wilmette
A behind-the-scenes documentary and a Q&A with the cast will also be featured.
Admission is free.
(847) 486-0808; www.artsoflife.org
Updated: September 26, 2012 3:28PM
Just because they’re extinct doesn’t mean you can’t give them a call, right?
At least, that’s the thinking in the rock-opera music video “Get the Dinosaurs on the Phone!” The short film, created by members of Arts of Life, an organization devoted to supporting artists with and without developmental disabilities, will have its world premiere Oct. 4 at the Wilmette Theatre.
Arts of Life arts coordinator John Sharp recalled that the project began about 10 months ago during a song-writing session with the North Shore Music Ensemble, a group of musicians within the membership of the organization’s Glenview studio.
“I had just sat down with my acoustic guitar next to Paul Kilner, our percussionist,” Sharp said. “Instead of saying hello, he looked at me very intently and said, ‘Get the dinosaurs on the phone, okay?’
“So, I said ‘Okay, let’s get ‘em on the phone’ — and we made up a song about it.”
Over the next few months, the project took shape around the concept of bank-robbing dinosaurs on a rampage, with a series of loosely connected songs ranging from rock to funk to reggae.
Eventually, Chicago producer Domenic Bucci volunteered to record the songs as a rock opera. Then director Shane Semmens of Chicago’s Tower Guard Productions turned it into a nine-minute music video.
Members of Arts of Life performed in the film in addition to designing and creating sets, costumes and props, including a 6-foot-tall pterodactyl puppet.
The artwork and props, along with video footage and dino-themed art pieces, will be on display in the interactive exhibit “AAHHHH! Dinosaurs” beginning Sept. 28 in the Arts of Life studio at Glenview studio, 1963 Johns Drive, Glenview.
Arts of Life was founded in Chicago in 2000 with the goal of helping its members develop their skills and gifts as artists and become part of the greater art community. The Glenview studio opened in 2009.
“This isn’t art therapy,” Sharp said. “These are working art studios. Our members consider themselves full-time artists. We’re here to help them develop and promote their artwork and submit it to galleries and retail venues.”
