Orland Park Community Volunteer Makes Theatrical Debut

Rizza CFO Dan McMillan Appears in “A Christmas Carol”

Dan McMillan has worn many hats within the Orland Park community. In the fall, the nine year village resident can be found on the football field, where he has coached Orland Park Pioneer Football for the last eight years and served on the Pioneer Board for seven.

McMillan has served on the village’s Recreation and Parks Advisory Board for the last seven years and currently chairs this village commission. For the last few years, he has donned the red suit for the village’s Holiday Festival and Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony.

McMillan has chaired the annual Orland Park Gridiron Golf Classic for the last five years, the local golf outing that raises money for Sandburg and Pioneer Football. He has also raised funds for Misericordia, Erin’s AAIM and the American Cancer Society.

The Monroe, Michigan native has served as the chief financial officer for Joe Rizza Enterprises for the past 25 years. He and his wife, Debbie, have two children, Ashley, 21 and Nick, 18.

In mid-December, McMillan will make his theatrical debut when he appears as the Ghost of Christmas Present in the Village of Orland Park Theatre Troupe’s presentation of “A Christmas Carol,” adapted by L. Don Swartz.

“I wanted to experience theater from the other side --- to understand what it takes to put on a production,” McMillan said. “Most people don’t realize all that goes into it and the village has a wonderful theater program that puts on great shows,” he added.

“Dan McMillan is a wonderful new talent,” said Orland Park Theatre Troupe Producer/Director Frann Carnivele-Sidlow. “Once people appear in a show, they have a new appreciation for how much work goes into it with memorizing lines, remembering where to stand or sit, what to pick up or do. It’s a real eye opener,” she added.

“Community theater helps bring culture to the community and it gives aspiring actors a local outlet,” McMillan said. “There are so many benefits for everyone, building self-confidence, public speaking skills, memorization and more,” he noted.

“We’re thrilled to have Dan in ‘A Christmas Carol’ and we look forward to having him appear in more village shows,” Carnivele-Sidlow said.

McMillan encourages everyone to make seeing the village’s show part of their holiday plans. “Orland Park’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ is an extremely uplifting story with a very talented cast,” McMillan said, adding, “It’s being presented in a unique way by a talented director and will be a wonderful experience.”

Performances will be at the Orland Park Civic Center on Friday, December 14 and Saturday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 16 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $13 for adults, $11 for senior/student and $9 for children. Advanced reserved seating tickets can be purchased at the Recreation Administration Office, 14600 South Ravinia Avenue. Tickets will also be available at the door.

For more information, call the Village of Orland Park Recreation Department at 708/403-7275