North Central College Unveils Star-Studded Fine and Performing Arts Season

North Central College’s sensational 2010-2011 season is drawing to a close. Looking back at a season that featured the likes of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Ramsey Lewis, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Blues Traveler, Aaron Neville and many others, you may ask: how can they top that?

Well, our answer is North Central College’s 2011-2012 Fine and Performing Arts Sesquicentennial Season, whose stellar lineup includes Yo-Yo Ma, The Beach Boys, Herbie Hancock, Bernadette Peters, The Manhattan Transfer, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Canadian Brass, the Charlie Daniels Band, Celtic Woman, the Chicago Sinfonietta, Air Supply and many others.

Individual performance tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Wednesday, June 1.

“We always try to get the best, but this year we’ve kicked it up a notch for our Sesquicentennial,” Fine Arts Director Brian Lynch says. “Since the opening of the Fine Arts Center in 2008, everything has been working out as it’s supposed to. Every artist we’ve had loves it, so word has spread through the industry.”

This year offers more options for patrons to receive discounts by purchasing package deals. Patrons may purchase discounted preferred seating for five shows in each of the Performing Arts, Jazz, Classical, Contemporary and Á la Carte series. The Á la Carte Series allows patrons to choose their seats at a reduced rate when purchasing tickets to five or more shows in any series or additional events.

New this year, the Cabaret Series features a beguiling, intimate setting in the Madden Theatre with four popular artists: Philip Fortenberry, Sally Mayes, Joan Curto and Steven Brinberg.

Family-friendly shows include “Skippyjon Jones,” “Ramona Quimby,” “Fancy Nancy & Other Story Books” and “Nate the Great.” Patrons who purchase tickets to three of these playful Theatreworks USA productions will receive free tickets to the fourth show.

North Central College’s student and faculty musicians, actors and artists will be featured in numerous events, and the season includes a full schedule of exhibits planned for the College’s art galleries.

Patrons have until June 1 to take advantage of early-bird opportunities to secure the best seats for performances by becoming new season subscribers. Season subscribers save up to 15 percent on the entire season, among numerous other benefits.

To purchase tickets, call the North Central College Box Office at 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.

North Central College’s 2011-2012 Fine & Performing Arts Sesquicentennial Season includes the following performances:

Professional musical events and performances
•    Hot Jazz-6 Cool Nites, 7:30 p.m. July 16-21 and 7 p.m. July 22, Wentz Concert Hall
•    The Callaway Sisters in “BOOM!” starring Liz Callaway and Ann Hampton Callaway, 8 p.m. Sept. 17, Wentz Concert Hall
•    An Evening with Jazz Vocalist Janice Borla, 8 p.m. Sept. 23, Madden Theatre (Jazz Series)
•    Chicago Sinfonietta, 8 p.m. Sept. 24, Wentz Concert Hall
•    Yo-Yo Ma, 8 p.m. Oct. 1, Wentz Concert Hall
•    “Passionate and Poignant,” DuPage Symphony Orchestra, 8 p.m. Oct. 8, Wentz Concert Hall
•    The Beach Boys, 8 p.m. Oct. 15 and 6 p.m. Oct. 16, Pfeiffer Hall (Performing Arts and Contemporary Series)
•    Schola Cantorum de Venezuela, 8 p.m. Oct. 26, Wentz Concert Hall (Classical Series)
•    Herbie Hancock, 8 p.m. Oct. 29, Wentz Concert Hall (Contemporary and Jazz Series)
•    An Evening with Jazz Trumpeter Doug Scharf, 8 p.m. Nov. 4, Madden Theatre (Jazz Series)
•    Chicago Sinfonietta, 8 p.m. Nov. 5, Wentz Concert Hall
•    Bernadette Peters, 8 p.m. Nov. 10, Wentz Concert Hall
•    “Bold and Beautiful,” DuPage Symphony Orchestra, 8 p.m. Nov. 19, Wentz Concert Hall
•    The Manhattan Transfer, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 4, Wentz Concert Hall (Performing Arts and Jazz Series)
•    “A Christmas Celebration—The Symphony Tour,” Celtic Woman, 8 p.m. Dec. 17, Pfeiffer Hall (Performing Arts and Classical Series)
•    Chicago Sinfonietta, 3 p.m. Jan. 15, Wentz Concert Hall (Classical Series)
•    “Give My Regards,” Philip Fortenberry, 6 p.m. Jan. 22, Madden Theatre (Cabaret Series)
•    Gospel Extravaganza, 7 p.m. Jan. 21, Pfeiffer Hall
•    “An Evening of Romance,” Jim Brickman, 8 p.m. Jan. 28, Wentz Concert Hall (Contemporary Series)
•    An Evening with Jazz Trombonist Joel Adams, 8 p.m. Feb. 10, Madden Theatre (Jazz Series)
•    “Heroic and Hopeful,” DuPage Symphony Orchestra, 2 p.m. Feb. 11 and 8 p.m. Feb 12, Wentz Concert Hall
•    “Valentine,” Sally Mayes, 6 p.m. Feb. 12, Madden Theatre (Cabaret Series)
•    The Wroclaw Philharmonic, 6 p.m. Feb. 19, Wentz Concert Hall (Classical Series)
•    “No Tune Like a Showtune, the Music and Lyrics of Jerry Herman,” Joan Curto, 6 p.m. Feb. 26, Madden Theatre (Cabaret Series)
•    Béla Fleck & the Flecktones, 8 p.m. March 3, Wentz Concert Hall (Performing Arts and Jazz Series)
•    An Evening with Jazz Saxophonist Mitch Paliga, 8 p.m. March 9, Madden Theatre (Jazz Series)
•    “Rich and Resonant,” DuPage Symphony Orchestra, 3 p.m. March 18, Wentz Concert Hall
•    “Simply Barbra,” Steven Brinberg, 6 p.m. March 25, Madden Theatre (Cabaret Series)
•    An Evening with Jazz Guitarist John McLean, 8 p.m. March 30, Madden Theatre (Jazz Series)
•    Air Supply, 8 p.m. March 31, Pfeiffer Hall (Contemporary Series)
•    Canadian Brass, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. April 14, Wentz Concert Hall (Performing Arts and Classical Series)
•    An Evening with Jazz Pianist Frank Caruso, 8 p.m. April 20, Madden Theatre (Jazz Series)
•    The Charlie Daniels Band, 8 p.m. April 28, Pfeiffer Hall (Performing Arts and Contemporary Series)
•    “Mighty and Magical,” DuPage Symphony Orchestra, 8 p.m. May 12, Wentz Concert Hall
•    Chicago Sinfonietta, 8 p.m. June 16, Wentz Concert Hall

College musical events and performances
    (All performances take place in Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center.)

•    Choral Invitational Festival, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13
•    Homecoming Concert, 1 p.m. Nov. 13
•    Explore the Sound IV, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 and 24
•    Chamber Singers “Metamorphosis” Concert,” 7:30 p.m. May 1
•    Women’s Chorale “Finale!” Concert, 7:30 p.m. May 24

Family Events
(All performances take place in Pfeiffer Hall.)
•    “Skippyjon Jones,” 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Oct. 1
•    “Ramona Quimby,” 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Dec. 3
•    “Fancy Nancy & Other Story Books,” 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. March 10
•    “Nate the Great,” 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. April 21

Professional theatrical productions
•    “Theophilus North,” Organic Theater Company, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18-20, 2 p.m. Aug. 21, Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall
•    “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol,” Organic Theater Company, 7:30 p.m. Dec 8-10 and 2 p.m. Dec. 11, Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall
•    The Acting Company Presents “Julius Caesar,” 8 p.m. Feb. 11, Pfeiffer Hall
•    “Bartleby the Scrivener,” Organic Theater Company, 7:30 p.m. March 22-24, 2 p.m. March 24-25, Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall

College theatrical productions
•    “House of Cards,” 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6-8, Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall
•     “Distracted,” 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20-22 and 2 p.m. Oct. 23, Madden Theatre
•    “Guys and Dolls,” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3-5 and 12, 2 p.m. Nov. 6 and 8 p.m. Nov. 9, Pfeiffer Hall
•    “Under the Circumstances,” 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12-14, Madden Theatre
•    “A View From the Bridge,” 7:30 p.m. Feb 16-18 and 2 p.m. Feb. 19, Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall
•    “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” 7:30 p.m. March 1-3 and 2 p.m. March 4, Pfeiffer Hall
•    “Blight,” 7:30 p.m. April 12-14, Madden Theatre
•    “Canon Fire,” 7:30 p.m. April 26-28 and 2 p.m. April 29, Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall
•    “The Threepenny Opera,” 7:30 p.m. May 10-12 and 2 p.m. May 13, Madden Theatre

Community theatrical productions
•    “Annie,” 7:30 p.m. July 15, 16, 22 and 23, 2 p.m. July 17 and 24, Pfeiffer Hall
•    “The Gondoliers,” 7:30 July 28-30, 2 p.m. July 31, Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall
•    “Hello, Dolly!,” 7:30 July 29, 30 and August 5, 6, 2 p.m. July 31 and August 7, Pfeiffer Hall

Art exhibits
Schoenherr Gallery:

•    Robert Kennon, Kent Kapplinger, Catherine Chauvin, and Ralph Slatton, “Four Directions,” Aug. 12-Sept. 18
•    Robert Bean, “Storylines,” Sept. 23-Oct. 30
•    Sang Collection, Nov. 1-Jan. 2
•    Art Sussman, March 9-April 29
•    Hunt Harris, “Images from a Well-Traveled Lens,” May 4-June 24
•    Kimble Bromley, “Resurrection,” June 29-Aug. 12

Dates, venues and times are subject to change. For up-to-date information and a complete list of season events including art exhibits, theatrical productions and performances by North Central College musical ensembles, visit northcentralcollege.edu/show. North Central College’s venue locations include: Wentz Concert Hall, Madden Theatre and Schoenherr Gallery, all at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave.; Meiley-Swallow Hall theatre and art gallery, 31 S. Ellsworth St.; and Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave.

North Central College’s 2011-2012 Fine and Performing Arts Sesquicentennial Season is supported by a generous grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. Season and individual performance sponsors include USG Corporation, Navistar Inc., the National Endowment for the Arts, Harris Bank, Grant Thornton, Nicor, Turner Construction, Hinsdale Center for the Arts, Ryan Hill Realty, Marquette Companies, Water Street Properties, Casa by Charleston and Hawthorne Credit Union.

These upcoming performances are among many ongoing programs at North Central College to enrich and broaden the cultural and academic outlook for the College and community. North Central offers a variety of venues accommodating a rich range of local and world-class events, performances and space needs for the public. For a comprehensive schedule of musical performances, theatrical and dance productions, art exhibits and lectures, visit northcentralcollege.edu/show or call the box office at 630-637-SHOW (7469).