January/February 2023 Playbill

Tammy McCann “Legendary Ladies of Jazz” SUNDAY, JANUARY 22

Denyce Graves SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5

Photo Credit: Jeremy Daniel Photography

Photo Credit: Devon Cass

WELCOME TO NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE

Welcome to another exciting year with North Central College’s Fine & Performing Arts! Whether this is your first or fiftieth time experiencing our performances and venues, we are thrilled you are here to join us for the 2022-2023 season, complete with events perfect for all ages!

At this time, we wish to say, “Thank you!” for your continued support of the arts at North Central College. Without patrons like you, it wouldn’t be possible to carry on our mission to bring world-class artists to our worldclass venues in Naperville. We hope you will join us in the coming months for several more sensational artists and performances.

We also wish to thank our Friends of the Arts donors, corporate sponsors, and restaurant partners for their

generous, and ever-appreciated support of the Fine & Performing Arts at North Central. Without them, we would not be able to bring our audiences these wonderful artists and performers or work toward future seasons of exciting fine arts events in our community.

We hope you are as thrilled as we are for the 2022-2023 season, and we are grateful you are here with us today. It’s show time!

Sincerely,

Jennifer Berosek Associate Director of Fine Arts

SEASON PERFORMANCES

EVENT DATES TIMES

Chords for Kids

Saturday, March 4 7 p.m. Theatre Dance Show Saturday, March 4 7:30 p.m. Theatre Dance Show March 4, 5 2 p.m.

Brian Lynch “The Road to Les Miz” Sunday, March 5 3 & 6 p.m. Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy Saturday, March 11 8 p.m. Chicago Sinfonietta: UNAPOLOGETIC Saturday, March 18 8 p.m.

DuPage Symphony Orchestra “Up Close & Personal: Our Talented Youth” Sunday, March 19 2 & 4 p.m.

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers Friday, March 24 8 p.m. Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes Saturday, March 25 7:30 p.m. “The Importance of Being Ernest” March 30, 31, April 1 7:30 p.m. “The Importance of Being Ernest” April 1, 2 2 p.m. Fairytales on Ice Sunday, April 2 3 p.m.

Jazz Combo & Big Band Spring Concert Tuesday, April 11 7:30 p.m. Concert Winds Spring Concert Wednesday, April 12 7 p.m. Spring Choral “Finale!” Concert Friday, April 14 7 p.m. TheaterWorksUSA’s “Junie B’s Essential Survival Guide to School” Saturday, April 22 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

“The Wolves” April 27, 28, 29 7:30 p.m. “The Wolves” April 29, 30 2 p.m.

Naperville Chorus “War & Peace” Saturday, April 29 7:30 p.m. Chicago Sinfonietta: BOUNDLESS Saturday, May 6 8 p.m. DuPage Symphony Orchestra “Up Close & Personal: Symphonic Song” Saturday, May 13 7:30 p.m.

Lee Greenwood Friday, May 19 8 p.m. Alyssa Allgood Sunday, May 21 6 p.m.

NAPERVILLE

Catch 35 35 S. Washington St.

Area 51 Cupcakery 111 E. Ogden Ave. Suite 101

The Bangkok Village 22 E. Chicago Ave. Suite 122

North Central College thanks our Fine & Performing Arts 2022 - 2023 season sponsors for their generous support.

NAPERVILLE HOTELS:

Best Western Naperville Inn 1617 Naperville Wheaton Rd.

Chicago Marriott Naperville 1801 N. Naper Blvd.

Courtyard by Marriott Chicago Naperville 1155 E. Diehl Rd.

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Chicago Naperville 1820 Abriter Ct.

Hampton Inn Chicago/Naperville 1087 E. Diehl Rd.

Hotel Arista 2139 City Gate Ln.

Hotel Indigo Naperville Riverwalk 120 Water St.

Red Roof PLUS+ Chicago - Naperville 1698 W. Diehl Rd.

FRIENDS OF THE ARTS

BRAVO

$5,000 - $9,999

Mr. David Kelsch

IMPRESARIO SOCIETY

FRIENDS OF THE ARTS

Mr. and Mrs. Jerald Johnson

Mr. and Mrs. Ray Kinney Mr. Theodore M. Utchen*

STANDING OVATION

$1,000 - $4,999

Mrs. Linda Allison

Mr. & Mrs. W. Brand Bobosky

Ms. Kristina L. Bonn Ms. Rosemarie S. Breske Garvey

Dr. Stephen Caliendo & Dr. Jillian Caliendo

Mrs. Maria A. Caselli

Mr. Richard Coffey & Mrs. Janet Coffey

Ms. Erica Coppolino

Mr. Jeffrey Coros & Mrs. Alma Coros

Mr. and Mrs. Nick Dempsey

Mrs. Beverly Z. Esser*

Dr. & Mrs. Robert A. Faessel

Mr. Paul & Mrs. Joanne Fries

Mr. Jeffrey Gross & Mrs. Wendy Hayum-Gross

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Harris

Mr. and Mrs. Gary S. Kovener

Ms. Daphne Lee

Mr. Roger Liska

Mr. & Mrs. Paul H. Loscheider

Mr. Brian Lynch & Dr. Mary Jean Lynch

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond McMahon

Mr. John M. Molitor*

Mr. Robert K. Moses & Mrs. Peggy Moses

Dr. Edward Navakas & Dr. Francine Navakas

Ms. Maryellen Skerik

Dr. Karen J. Solomon & Mr. Wright King

ENCORE

$500 - $999

Ms. Kim Hahn Mrs. Julie A. Lagodney Mrs. Rita M. Mathern

Mr. and Mrs. John M. Molitor

Mr. and Mrs. Larry G. Roessler Kathryn and Daniel Ryan

PERFORMANCE

$250 - $499

Ms. Linda J. Allison Mr. Eugene Arnould Mr. Jon W. Balke Dr. Theresa A. Birk Mrs. Estela Hammond & Mr. Gilbert Hammond Mr. Robert F. Izral Mrs. Elizabeth A. Kammes & Mr. Andrew Kammes Mr. Alan Mendelssohn & Ms. Geraldine Mendelssohn Denny & Carol Michalak Ms. Nicole Moffitt Mr. James F. Sanders Ms. Rebecca S. Satterfield & Mr. Robert Sellers Mr. Harold Temple Dr. Mary Kathryne Wilders & Dr. Richard Wilders

OVERTURE

$100 - $249

Mr. Daniel Alfrey & Mrs. Carol Alfrey Mr. James R. Barnes John C. Benischek Mr. Doug Berggren & Mrs. Tricia Berggren

Ms. Jennifer L. Berosek

Mr. Boychen Bradshaw & Ms. Kelly Bradshaw

Mr. Keith Carlson & Ms. Robyn Carlson Ms. Renee L. CruikshankWard

Mr. Alfred Davis Ms. Rosanne A. Derango Ms. Karen Hubert Dowling

Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Engelhardt

Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Gasperini

Ms. Susan K. Haa

Mrs. Sylvia Hardin & Mr. George Hardin

Mr. Stanley L. Harr

Mr. and Mrs. James E. Heup

Mrs. Martha A. Hirsch

Mr. John Hummel

Mrs. Ruth E. Husted & Mr. Orville Husted

Mr. Onur Kahveci

Mr. and Mrs. Garth Kennedy

Ms. Laima Kiliene

Mr. George Kordik & Mrs. Jeanne Kordik

Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey H. Lamont

Mr. Gregory Larsen & Mrs. Kristine Larsen

Ms. Daphne C. Lee

Mr. Lyle E. Littlewood

Mr. Greg Lutter

Mr. John MacLeod & Ms. Judith MacLeod

Ms. Kathleen McCuen

Mrs. Jean McFarren & Mr. Thomas McFarren

Mr. and Mrs. John Palter

Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Rudey

Mr. Peter M. Sheaffer & Mrs. Julie Sheaffer

Ms. Avery A. Sipla

Ms. Maryellen J. Skerik

Mr. Daniel Sleezer

Mr. Jim Stoffregen

Mr. Ronald Van Buskirk

Ms. Karen A. Weitendorf & Mr. Norbert Weitendorf

Mrs. Vickie Witt & Mr. Mark Witt

Dale & Lorrine Helm Wordelmen

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Zeller, Jr.

BIOGRAPHY

Sinfonietta’s annual MLKTribute Concert is a beloved yearly tradition. This year, come and join us for an inspiring program full of power and intensity. Opening the program, 2021 Sphinx Medal of Excellence winner Carlos Simon’s piece was inspired by a journal entry from Beethoven in 1815, about the unpredictable nature of life: “Iliad. The Twenty-Second Book: But Fate now conquers; I am hers; and yet not she shall share In my renown; that life is left to every noble spirit. And that some great deed shall beget that all lives shall inherit.”

The concert continues with Valerie Colemans’s “Umoja”, the Swahili word for Unity and the first principal of the holiday Kwanzaa. Through the two decades, Umoja transformed from an original version for women’s choir to the woodwind version. Rounding out the program, Kathryn Bostic’s newest commissioned “Letters From Moral Courage” encompasses the powerful impact from all types of people making a choice to abide in integrity, truth and fearlessness.

Carlos Simon: Fate Now Conquers

Valerie Coleman: Umoja, Anthem for Unity for Orchestra

Kathryn Bostic: Letters From Moral Courage (New Commission)

After the performance, we would love to hear your feedback on the experience and what you hope to see next in our venues. We invite you to take our short survey.

BIOGRAPHY

McCann has performed with Chicago’s Ramsey Lewis and Von Freeman and toured as a ‘Raelette’ with the great Ray Charles. McCann has developed meaningful collaborations with bassist John Clayton, saxophonist Branford Marsalis, vibraphonist Joe Locke, saxophonist Charles McPherson, vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, vocalist and songwriter Carmen Lundy, and conductor and trumpeter Orbert Davis.

As an educator, she believes singing is a part of every human community; bringing us together and helping us to interact with one another. In addition to individual lessons, McCann has also curated workshops and educational events for DuSable Museum, the Jazz Educators Network Conference, the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s Straight Ahead Jazz Camp. This has all culminated in her being named Executive Director of the Brownville Jazz Retreat, an emerging jazz camp for youth in collaboration with historic Brownville, Nebraska. Her event and workshop offerings range from discussions around the pedagogy to the depth and complexities of gospel and jazz vocalization.

After the performance, we would love to hear your feedback on the experience and what you hope to see next in our venues. We invite you to take our short survey.

Photo credit: Jeremy Daniel Photography

BIOGRAPHY

When the class gets lost on the way to the planetarium, Ms. Frizzle saves the day by blasting into outer space for an epic interplanetary field trip! But when rivalries both old and new threaten to tear the students apart, our young heroes must learn to pull together or risk getting forever lost in the solar system. Hop on the Magic School Bus for a ride in this new musical adaptation based on the original book series published by Scholastic.

Music and Lyrics by Matthew Lee Robinson Book by Marshall Pailet

The Magic School Bus and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered marks of Scholastic Inc.

Original Direction and Choreography by Connor Gallagher

Scenic Design by Jason Sherwood Costume Design by Sarah Cubbage

After the performance, we would love to hear your feedback on the experience and what you hope to see next in our venues. We invite you to take our short survey.

DENYCE GRAVES

BIOGRAPHY

Recognized worldwide as one of today’s most exciting vocal stars, Denyce Graves continues to garner unparalleled popular and critical acclaim in performances across four continents.

Her career has taken her to the world’s great opera houses and concert halls. The combination of her expressive, rich vocalism, elegant stage presence, and exciting theatrical abilities allows her to pursue a wide breadth of operatic portrayals and to delight audiences in concert and recital appearances. Ms. Graves has become particularly well-known to operatic audiences for her portrayals of the title roles in Carmen and Samson et Dalila. These signature roles have brought her to the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna Staatsoper, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, San Francisco Opera, Opéra National de Paris, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, Arena di Verona, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Opernhaus Zürich, Teatro Real in Madrid, Houston Grand Opera, The Dallas Opera, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Los Angeles Opera, and the Festival Maggio Musicale in Florence.

For the past two decades, Ms. Graves has been a prolific recording artist. As an exclusive artist, Voce di Donna, a solo recording of opera arias, was released on RCA Red Seal. Other recordings of Ms. Graves include NPR Classics’ release of a recording of spirituals, Angels watching over me, featuring the mezzo-soprano in performance with her frequent partner, pianist Warren Jones, and an album of French arias, Héroïnes de l’Opéra romantique Français, with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo under Marc Soustrot. Her full opera recordings include Gran Vestale in La vestale, recorded live from La Scala with Riccardo Muti for Sony Classical; Queen Gertrude in Thomas’s Hamlet for EMI Classics; Maddalena in Rigoletto with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra under James Levine; and Emilia in Otello with Plácido Domingo and the Opéra de Paris, Bastille Orchestra under Myung-Whun Chung, both for Deutsche Grammophon.

Ms. Graves is a native of Washington, D.C., where she attended the Duke Ellington School for the Performing Arts. She continued her education at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and the New England Conservatory. Ms. Graves is the recipient of many awards, including the Grand Prix du Concours International de Chant de Paris, the Eleanor Steber Music Award in the Opera Columbus Vocal Competition, and a Jacobson Study Grant from the Richard Tucker Music Foundation. Ms. Graves’s dedication to the singers of the next generation continues to be an important part of her career; she is a member of the voice faculty at the Peabody Institute, and recently became a distinguished visiting faculty member at The Juilliard School.

Please visit the artist’s website at www.denycegraves.com

TELL US WHAT

After the performance, we would love to hear your feedback on the experience and what you hope to see next in our venues. We invite you to take our short survey.

FOREVER MOTOWN

Saturday, February 18 at 8 p.m. Pfeiffer Hall

BIOGRAPHY

Performed by a cast of veteran entertainers, including former members of The Jones, The Main Ingredient, The Spinners and The Marvelettes and peppered with Broadway savvy performers who had leading roles in Dream Girls, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, Porgy & Bess and Showboat, Forever Motown resumes its successful theater tour that broke its own box office records in 2018.

The veteran entertainers offer a non-stop, high energy trip down memory lane featuring the note-for-note hits America grew up on. The iconic Motown sound was recreated down to the slightest vocal and musical nuance by such American icons as Marvin Gaye & Tammie Terrell, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder and the entire Motown roster of stars. The look and feel of authenticity extends to costumes from Tony Award winning designer Evie Ross and classic Motown choreography from American Dance Theater director Terri Giordano who succeeded in creating visuals and choreographies that capture the unique Motown style.

Sing, dance and celebrate the music of your life to songs like “My Girl,” “I Heard It Through The Grapevine,” “Reach Out,” “Dancin’ In The Street,” “Stop, In The Name Of Love,” “Ain’t Nothin’ Like The Real Thing,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” and many more –nearly 30 non-stop hits in all!

The truly talented and charismatic cast is a perfect blend of look, sound and personalities, which are tailor-made for the songs they perform. Cumulatively, the cast members have performed on recordings with over 30 million record sales to their credit and over 40 years of both on and off Broadway experience. The director, musical director, choreographer and costume designer have jointly won over 25 of America’s most prestigious theater awards for their direction, choreography and staging.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!

After the performance, we would love to hear your feedback on the experience and what you hope to see next in our venues. We invite you to take our short survey.

BIOGRAPHY

The Langston Hughes Project is a multimedia concert performance of Langston Hughes’s kaleidoscopic jazz poem suite, “Ask Your Mama” -Hughes’s homage in verse and music to the struggle for artistic and social freedom at home and abroad at the beginning of the 1960s. “Ask Your Mama” is a twelve-part epic poem which Hughes scored with musical cues drawn from blues and Dixieland, gospel songs, boogie woogie, bebop and progressive jazz, Latin “cha cha” and Afro-Cuban mambo music, German lieder, Jewish liturgy, West Indian calypso, and African drumming- a creative masterwork left unperformed at his death.

A joyous celebration of music, spoken word and visuals, The Langston Hughes Project is performed by the impressively versatile Dr. Ron McCurdy (as narrator and on trumpet) and his talented group of musicians (on piano, bass and drums) who make heads bob, fingers snap and feet tap throughout.

This multimedia concert performance links the words and music of Hughes’ poetry to topical images of “Ask Your Mama”’s people, places, and events, and to the works of the visual artists Langston Hughes admired or collaborated with most closely over the course of his career- the African-inspired mural designs and cubist geometries of Aaron Douglas, the blues and jazz-inspired collages of Romare Bearden, the macabre grotesques of Meta Warrick Fuller and the rhythmic sculptural figurines and heads and bas reliefs of Richmond Barthe, the color blocked cityscapes and black history series of Palmer Hayden and Jacob Lawrence.

Together the words, sounds, and images recreate a magical moment in our cultural history, which bridges the Harlem Renaissance, the post World War II Beat writers’ coffeehouse jazz poetry world, and the looming Black Arts performance explosion of the 1960s.

The creator of the entire piece, Dr. McCurdy, is a Professor of Music in the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, where he served as chair of the jazz department for 6 years. Dr. McCurdy is a consultant to the Grammy Foundation educational programs including serving as director of the National Grammy Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Guest artists he has worked with include Joe Williams, Rosemary Clooney, Leslie Uggams, Arturo Sandoval, Diane Schuur, Ramsey Lewis, Mercer Ellington, Dr. Billy Taylor, Maynard Ferguson, Lionel Hampton, and Dianne Reeves.

After the performance, we would love to hear your feedback on the experience and what you hope to see next in our venues. We invite you to take our short survey.

Brian Lynch “The Road to Les Miz Sunday, March 5

Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy Saturday, March 11

We’re here to help.

At BMO Harris Bank, we take pride in our local communities. That’s why, each year, through various sponsorships and community involvement, we are committed to providing our support.

BMO Harris Bank is proud to support North Central College Fine & Performing Arts.

BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC

Shane Cleminson Photography

Michelle Zapanta Photography

Nicor Gas is a proud supporter of the North Central College Fine and Performing Arts Bravo – a standing ovation for another great season!

For ticket information, call the Box Office at 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit northcentralcollege.edu/show