Benefit show to honor 59-year-old who died of cancer
By Megan Maginity For The Sun December 18, 2012 11:08AM
Margo Krug, of Naperville, died Dec. 13 after battling stage four lung cancer since September. | Submitted
At a Glance
What: Miracles for Margo fundraiser
When: 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27
Where: The Comedy Shrine, 4034 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora
Cost: $25 per ticket for the benefit show, donations welcome
Updated: January 20, 2013 6:19AM
Margo Krug, 59, of Naperville, died Thursday after battling stage four lung cancer since September. Her legacy, though, will live on in Naperville.
“She was always full of energy, laughter and a great sense of humor,” said Jaimie Paule, Krug’s daughter. “She was easy going, non-judgmental and loved by everyone.”
Krug was born in Baltimore, Md. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Penn State University and later became a Naperville resident in 1993. For 22 years, Krug was the owner and operator of Only A Stage Children’s Theatre and Harold Hill Productions, a nonprofit in Naperville.
According to Paule, Only A Stage was a children’s theater workshop that concentrated on educating children in the process of production, rather than the performance itself.
“Through the process, children ages 10 to 17 learned self-esteem, the freedom to create and commitment,” she said. “Through positive experiences, relationships and opportunities, she focused on key identified persona — qualities young people need to grow up healthy, caring and responsible.”
In honor of Krug’s love for drama, the family is hosting a variety show, titled “Miracles for Margo,” at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27, at The Comedy Shrine, 4034 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora. Ticket sales and donations will go toward Krug’s medical bills.
“The benefit will bring people together that she loved around the arts that she loved,” said Greg Wenhold, Good Shepherd Church pastor. “Margo was able to pull gifts out of children. She always added that dramatic edge to our church, as she was heavily involved with drama scripture here, as well. It’s just so hard to lose someone when they are still young.”
The benefit will serve as a time to say goodbye, according to Wenhold.
“A lot of tears will be shed,” he said, “but most importantly laughter and reflection on the times we’ve all spent with Margo.”
Many Only A Stage students credit Krug for their love of theater.
Lynn Hodak, parent of Only A Stage student Olivia Hodak, said many of Krug’s charges have performed on Broadway, Broadway tours and have been seen on TV.
“My daughter Olivia took classes and learned from Margo when she was 6 years old,” Hodak said.
“Now she is in L.A. studying acting. She still says that if it wasn’t for Margo, she wouldn’t be doing what she is doing today and that Margo gave her the confidence and skills to perform.”
Many other former students and friends have shared their experiences with Krug on Facebook and on a donation page.
At the benefit, there will be local business giveaways, Miracles for Margo bracelets, former Only A Stage Inc. shows available to purchase on DVD, “Director Margo” cocktails and past productions played on a big screen.
A memorial visitation will from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home and Crematory, 516 S. Washington St., Naperville. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 21, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1310 Shepherd Drive, Naperville.
Krug is survived by her children, Timothy (Jannel) Krug, Jaimie (Justin) Paule and Jeffrey Krug; her mother, Margaret Keller; a brother Randy (Miki) Keller; her good friend Bruce Alan Jay; and her former husband Tom Krug.
