Always wanted to know how it would be like visiting an Oprah Show?

Here is a little report...

Four staff members at Pikeland Community School had talked for at least two years about going to Chicago and seeing an Oprah Winfrey show live.

With rumors of the famous talk show host discontinuing her show, the quartet decided they had better move.

Beryl Richards, Betty Hayden, Cara McNulty, and Yvonne Stauffer arranged for tickets to a show. "You have to have connections to get the tickets," said Richards, whose brother lives in Chicago and was the group's connection.

But the four teachers got much more than they bargained for. Not only did they get to see Oprah and attend one of her shows, they were able to attend a screening of a soon-to-be-released movie and then meet the stars of that show. "American Sweethearts" is scheduled for release July 20 and stars Julia Roberts, John Cusak and Billy Crystal.

The turn of events leading up to the day's activities started around 8 a.m. when the four arrived at the studio.

Upon arriving at the studio where the show is filmed, the group was assigned to a bus. "We had no idea where we were going," said Richards. "They could have taken us anywhere."

Guesses among the bus's passengers ranged from Navy Pier to famous restaurants to just about any Chicago landmark.

Two chartered buses took the ticket holders for that particular day's show to a downtown movie theater.

"Once we got there, we were told 'Concessions are on Oprah,'" said Stauffer. "We had popcorn and sodas and everything."

The four found seats and by this time rumors flying within the group that they were going to see a premiere of a movie proved to be true as "American Sweethearts" took over the screen.

"It was funny," said McNulty. "It was fall out of your seat funny."

All four women said it was a great movie and not only would they recommend it to others, but all four plan to see it again.

When the movie was over, the group was shepherded back onto the buses for the ride back to the studio. To make the ride more enjoyable, they were treated to box lunches from the Baci Deli. "We had gourmet sandwiches, pasta salad, cookies, chips and a choice of drink," said Stauffer. "It was wonderful."

Once back at the studio, the group was subject to a search and walk through a metal detector. "You had to dump out your purse," said Richards. "No cell phones, no cameras, no electronic devices, nothing."

The group was divided into sections. "They numbered us and took the first 50. We were in the 70s so we were part of the second group they let in."

The women were given instructions on how to act. "They told us to be enthusiastic and not to poke, pull, pick or scratch anything while the show was being filmed," said Richards.

As Oprah made her entry, she walked through the crowd and touched as many individuals as possible. The big news of the day was that Oprah was joined onstage by the "American Beauty" stars - Roberts, Cusak and Crystal Richards was one of those. Richards also made contact with Roberts and Crystal as they entered the studio. "Roberts just shook hands as she walked by," said Richards. "Billy Crystal made eye contact and seemed so down to earth and sensible."

McNulty was taken by Roberts' natural appearance and mannerisms. "She kept playing with her hair and she'd put her hands over her face when she laughed. And she laughed great big. She sat on her feet and you could tell she felt comfortable with Oprah. During the commercial breaks, they would whisper and talk."

Cusak, a Chicago native, talked a lot about the city and was accompanied to the show by Chris Chelious, a former member of the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team, now with Detroit.

The four PCS teachers had planned to attend the 8 a.m. taping of the Oprah show, maybe do a little shopping or sightseeing and be home in time for Hayden's and McNulty's sons' ball games.

"I had my van and I parked along the street and put enough money in the meter for two hours," said Stauffer. "We had to keep going back and putting more money in the meter."

After travel time, viewing the movie, getting back to the studio, waiting to be seated and sitting through the show, the four women found themselves leaving the studio at 4:30.

"Downtown Chicago, rush hour traffic," said McNulty, who said the whole day's adventure caught a lot of the show's audience members off guard. "One woman had a plane to catch at 2 p.m.," said McNulty. "She had to leave. I felt sorry for her."

The four women said security at the studio was tight, but they weren't sure if the security people were there for Oprah or Roberts.

"There were probably 200 people in the audience," said Stauffer. "It was such a special show. Oprah's people came in and stood in the back."

All four women watched the airing of the show last Friday and did not see themselves. "I thought once I saw our backs," said McNulty. "I also thought I saw a glimpse of Betty."

If Oprah continues to have her show in Chicago, the women say they would like to go back, but doubt if the next trip will be as exciting as this one.