2023-2024 Arts Brochure

Dear Community,

On behalf of Northeastern Illinois University, I invite you to experience the Arts at Northeastern Illinois University! The 2023-2024 season will offer our community an exciting array of concert and theater performances, film screenings, lectures, and art gallery exhibits. Performances and exhibits are produced by the Stage Center Theatre, the Department of Music and Dance, the Jewel Box Series, Ensemble Español, the Ruth Page Dance Series and the Fine Arts Center Gallery.

At Northeastern you can be part of a vibrant artistic community that brings high-quality arts events to your neighborhood with student performances and international guest artists.

I hope you will delve into our 2023-2024 season brochure and join us for events throughout the year that will enrich your cultural life and experiences. I look forward to seeing you on campus!

Sincerely,

Katrina Bell-Jordan, Ph.D. Interim President Northeastern Illinois University

On cover top left: photo by Dean Paul; top right: photo by Lluvia Higuera

JEWEL BOX CONCERT SERIES

2023-2024

Produced by the Office of Cultural Events, the Jewel Box Series is a professional concert series featuring local, national and international artists. The Jewel Box Series is recognized for quality, diversity, innovation and collaboration among the University and community. Call or visit the NEIU Welcome Desk, 773.442.4636, for all subscriptions and senior and student discounts.

Ticket Information

8-CONCERT SUBSCRIPTION

General: $180

Seniors 64+ & NEIU Faculty/Staff: $130

4-CONCERT SUBSCRIPTION

(choose any four)

General: $95

Seniors 64+ & NEIU Faculty/Staff: $70

SINGLE TICKETS

General: $26

Seniors 64+ & NEIU Faculty/Staff: $18.50

Students with ID: $10

The Jewel Box Series is appropriate for children 7 and older.

For detailed program information call 773.442.4978 or email cl-miller@neiu.edu.

Excelsis Percussion Quartet, immersive sound

Tres Souls, vintage bolero

photo by Lluvia Higuera

Akropolis Reed Quintet, infallible musicality & huge vitality, photo by Jason Walker

2023-2024 Jewel Box Series

Fridays at 7:30 pm

September 29

Tesla String Quartet technically superb - The Strad Recital Hall

October 20

Excelsis Percussion Quartet immersive sound Recital Hall

November 17

Kings Return a cappella vocal ensemble Recital Hall

January 19

The Wildwoods folk/americana duo Recital Hall

February 16

Grażyna Auguścik Group 2 the light Recital Hall

March 8

tenThing Brass Ensemble led by trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth Auditorium

April 12

Akropolis Reed Quintet infallible musicality & huge vitality Recital Hall

May 17

Tres Souls Vintage Bolero Recital Hall

The Department of Communication, Media, and Theatre's

Stage Center Theatre

Artistic Director: Adam Goldstein, Assistant Professor

Managing Director: Sarah J. Fabian, Associate Professor

We are thrilled to present our 2023-2024 season that includes our incredible prize winning play festival, Nuevas Voces, and two impactful mainstage productions that continue to build on Stage Center's work in cultivating new voices and creating a home on campus for vital work that impacts our community and world. Additionally, Stage Center Theatre will continue to build on our dynamic partnership with Chicago Dramatists and Chicago State University by presenting vital new plays in development by acclaimed playwrights in residence on both campuses through our ThINKtank series. Stay tuned to our website, social media platforms, and Village Square tables for updated info on these amazing programs and performances!

Supporting the mission of Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) and the pedagogical needs of the Communication, Media and Theatre Department, Stage Center Theatre (SCT) provides a professional application of theatre craft by producing challenging, dynamic and intersectional stories that drive the work of the United States and global theatrical communities. SCT storytelling centers around crucial societal questions, reflects our campus identity, and provides our audience with electric, living experiences that propel conversation, move the soul and enliven the heart. In doing so, SCT endeavors to be an expressive home for campus and community, a safe, diverse, and inclusive artistic environment, and a community beacon that underscores the pursuit of social justice in Chicago theatre and beyond.

neiu.edu/sct

neiu.edu/tickets

FALL 2023

Nuevas Voces: A 10-Minute Play Festival & Contest

Sept. 28–29, 7:30 pm

Sept. 30, 2 pm & 4 pm

Opening Reception: Sept. 28, 6:30 pm

Prize-winning plays: 1st Place: "Two People" by Victor Braeseke, Prize of $250; 2nd Place: "It's My Move" by Samuel Seo, Prize of $200; 3rd Place: "The Interns" by Luke Steadman, Prize of $150

Founded by Jim Blair. Directed by CMT faculty member John Bliss. Founded by alumnus and former Northeastern professor Jim Blair to create a platform at Northeastern Illinois University for new playwrights, Nuevas Voces is a thrilling launch point for new work from NEIU and its vibrant community. Featuring multiple prize-winning short plays selected from an extensive competition, Nuevas Voces reveals the complexity of our human experience through the many lenses that make up Northeastern.

"In the Belly of the Whale (a.k.a. The Jonah Play)"

by Georgette Kelly

Nov. 9–11 & Nov. 15–17, 7:30 pm Nov. 18, 2 pm

Please stay tuned to our website and social media for info regarding scheduled post show discussions following our performances!

Directed by CMT Faculty Member Leslie Hull. Astrid is a sculptor. Domino is a hoarder. Jona is a writer. Calliope is a parrot. They all live together—separately—in a Manhattan studio apartment building. When it begins to rain… and rain…and rain…they pile into one of Astrid’s sculptures and float out to sea. The adventure that ensues tests their endurance as they lose one world and create another in the belly of a whale. This new take on the biblical story of Jonah asks the questions: What does it mean to be swallowed, by a great fish, a city, or even yourself and what worlds can we create when we re-emerge?

Instagram: @stagecentertheatre Facebook: @stagecnt (https://www.facebook.com/stagectr)

Photo by Sarah J. Fabian

SPRING 2024

An exciting new Project TBA with Stage Center Partners Silk Road Rising!

April 18–20 & April 24–26, 7:30 pm

April 27, 2 pm

As part of a new partnership with Chicago based multimedia arts company Silk Road Rising, Stage Center Theatre will present a new play that brings students into contact with Silk Road artists in shaping a beautiful new story. Stay tuned for upcoming details!

Tickets

We encourage those reserving 2023-2024 Stage Center Theatre season to reserve or purchase in advance of attendance as we continue to prioritize the health of our students and staff by supporting social distancing and public health guidance. All university issued health protocols will be in effect upon arrival. More information on these protocols will be posted on the Stage Center Theatre website as guidance is updated regularly. Additionally, as part of our efforts to increase accessibility across our NEIU community, Stage Center offers two live streamed performances of each of our productions!

All ticketing Information and links to the Stage Center productions and events can be found at our website, neiu.edu/sct. Tickets may also be reserved at the NEIU Information Center or by contacting our box office at 773.442.4274 or stagecentertheatre.boxoffice@gmail.com.

Individual Ticket Prices

NEIU Students, Faculty, and Staff with ID Free*

We strive to make our performances as accessible as possible. We encourage our visiting patrons to paywhat they can via our tiers of suggested donation! Please join one of our exciting circles of donors below as you join us for each performance!!

Artistic Director's Circle................ $20

Producer's Circle $14

Director's Circle ...................... $12

Opening Night Circle $10

Designer's Circle ...................... $8

Insider $6

Patron .............................. $4

Friend $2

For more ticketing info, please visit neiu.edu/sct or neiu.edu/tickets.

neiu.edu/sct • neiu.edu/tickets

Subscriptions

SCT Gold Flex Pass: Your subscription to Stage Center Theatre puts you right in the middle of the action at a great discounted rate. The SCT Gold Flex Pass earns you a 25% discount on individual ticket prices and allows you to set your calendar with us! Best of all, your subscription comes with flexible dates! Simply call the box office and request the dates on which your tickets will be used prior to the opening performance of each production! We know that life comes up. This way, you can join us when it works best for you.

Group Sales

Interested in bringing a group to Stage Center? We’d love to have you! Please contact Adam a-goldstein@neiu.edu, or Sarah at sj-fabian@neiu.edu and ask about customized group arrangements. We’d be thrilled to help make your experience at Stage Center a special one!

Photos by Rebecca Denham

CAPE

Never Stop Learning

The Office of Community and Professional Education (CAPE) offers a wide range of non-credit classes online and at our Main Campus, El Centro, or Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies.

Career Development

Dental Assistant

Medical Assistant

Medical Billing & Coding

Paralegal

Pharmacy Technician

Professional Development for Teachers

Technology Bootcamps

Veterinary Assistant

Lifelong Learning

American Sign Language

Art Classes

Music & Dance

Community Music & Dance Program

Private & Group Lessons for all ages

Summer Day Camps

Musical Theatre

Hip-Hop Dance

Art

Summer Reading and Math for K-5

Film Series

Northeastern Illinois University is proud to have the Chicago Film Society in residence for another year of 35mm film screenings.

Audiences throughout Chicago come to NEIU in order to enjoy beloved classic films and rare or restored prints from archives, studios, and private collectors.

In partnership with the Department of Communication, Media and Theatre, these screenings have been integrated into film studies courses at NEIU.

All screenings take place in the Auditorium.

Tickets $5 with NEIU ID; $10 for the general public

For a complete schedule of films visit neiu.edu/films or chicagofilmsociety.org

Department of Music

The Department of Music and Dance Program presents concerts throughout the year in the Recital Hall of the Salme Harju Steinberg Fine Arts Center and the NEIU Auditorium on Northeastern University’s North Park Campus. Programs feature performances by students, faculty, and guest artists, and include solo, chamber ensemble, and large ensemble performances in a variety of genres and styles. Admission is free unless otherwise indicated. Please visit neiu.edu/parking for current information about driving to and parking on campus.

Visit neiu.edu/music for more details and a link to the online NEIU Arts Calendar, which is kept up to date. Find us on Facebook @neiumusicanddance and Youtube @NEIUDepartmentof MusicandDance for more event information and videos of many performances.

Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. To receive weekly emails with upcoming events each Friday during the Fall and Spring semesters, use this QR Code and follow the directions provided or email music@neiu.edu .

2024-2025 Scholarship Auditions will be held on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, and Saturday, March 23, 2024. To learn more about the audition process for music scholarships, visit neiu.edu/auditions.

neiu.edu/music

neiu.edu/auditions

Student Recital Hour

Thursday, September 21

3:05 pm • Recital Hall

Music Faculty Recital

Tuesday, September 26

3:05 pm • Recital Hall

Student Recital Hour

Tuesday, October 3

3:05 pm • Recital Hall

Guitar Studio Showcase

Thursday, October 5

3:05 pm • Recital Hall

Cantar y Desempeñar:

Voice Area Latinx Heritage Month Celebration

Tuesday, October 10

3:05 pm • Recital Hall

Music Department Concert

Wednesday, October 18

7:30 pm • Auditorium

The NEIU Department of Music presents an evening of music highlighting the tremendous talents of the department’s students and faculty. Performance will include solos and small ensembles alongside the department’s large ensembles.

Fall 2023

NEIU Jazz Combo

Steve Duncan, director

Tuesday, October 24

3:05 pm • Recital Hall

Student Recital Hour

Wednesday, October 25

7:30 pm • Recital Hall

A Celebration of Samhain, the Celtic New Year, with Kathy Cowan and a Fairy Host of Guest Artists

Thursday, October 26

7:30 pm • Recital Hall

Chicago Clarinet Ensemble

Rose Sperrazza, founder & director

Saturday, October 28

7 pm • Recital Hall

Fall Opera Scenes

Claire DiVizio, director

Monday, October 30

7:30 pm • Recital Hall

Percussion Studio Showcase

Tuesday, November 7 3:05 pm • Recital Hall

NEIU Orchestra Benjamin Firer, conductor

Thursday, November 9 7:30 pm • Recital Hall

Fall Dance Concert Visit neiu.edu/tickets for ticketing information

Friday, November 10

7:30 pm • Auditorium

Varsity Big Band & Jazz Combo

Steve Duncan, director

Monday, November 13

7:30 pm • Recital Hall

Composers/Songwriters Showcase

Nelson Mandrell, director

Tuesday, November 14

7:30 pm • Auditorium

Student Recital Hour

Thursday, November 16

3:05 pm • Recital Hall

Brass Studios Showcase

Thursday, November 16

7:30 pm • Recital Hall

Northeastern Illinois University Choir

Christopher Owen, conductor

Tuesday, November 21

7:30 pm • Recital Hall

Guitar Studio Showcase

Monday, November 27

7:30 pm • Recital Hall

Piano Studio Showcase

Tuesday, November 28

3:05 pm • Recital Hall

NEIU Wind Ensemble

Travis Heath, conductor

Tuesday, November 28

7:30 pm • Auditorium

Voice Studios Showcase

Wednesday, November 29

7:30 pm • Recital Hall

String Studios Showcase

Thursday, November 30

3:05 pm • Recital Hall

Woodwind Studios Showcase

Thursday, November 30

7:30 pm • Recital Hall

NEIU Choir @ Millennium Park Christopher Owen, conductor

Friday, December 1

6 pm • Millenium Park

Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Please check our website neiu.edu/music for details.

Photo by ____

Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Please check our website neiu.edu/music for details.

Spring 2024

Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Please check our website neiu.edu/music for details. @neiumusicanddance

The Department of Music at Northeastern Illinois University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. (NASM).

Photo by ____

Dance at NEIU

The Dance Program and dance courses at Northeastern Illinois University are open to all NEIU students regardless of experience level or course of study. We offer an individually designed minor in Dance with concentrations in dance education, performance, and/or choreography. The program offers technique classes in ballet, modern, jazz, and Spanish dance among other genres. Dance courses to fulfill the 30-credit hour Dance minor are customized to complement each student's goals, timeline and experience. The student performance group, Dance Performance Ensemble, performs faculty, student and guest artist choreography in student dance concerts offered in both the fall and spring semesters.

Please visit neiu.edu/dance for more information about dance courses, scholarship opportunities, and up to date information about performances. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. To receive weekly emails with upcoming events each Friday during the Fall and Spring semesters, use this QR Code and follow the directions provided or email music@neiu.edu.

Ruth Page Dance Series

The Ruth Page Center for the Arts proudly continues its collaborative dance programming with Northeastern Illinois University through the Ruth Page Dance Series, presenting the finest local, national and international dance artists to the NEIU community. Additionally, the Dance Series offers unique opportunities to engage with guest artists through demonstrations and master classes, as well as exciting behind-the-scenes experiences.

Fall Student Dance Concert

Friday, November 10, 2023, 7:30pm NEIU Auditorium; Visit neiu.edu/tickets for ticketing information. Free with NEIU ID.

Faculty, students, and guest artists present works of original choreography performed by student and professional dancers. Recent guest artists include dancers from Ruth Page Center for the Arts, Concert Dance Inc., and Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theatre.

Spring Dance Concert

Friday, April 5, 2024, 7:30pm NEIU Auditorium; Visit neiu.edu/tickets for ticketing information. Free with NEIU ID.

Faculty, students, and guest artists present works of original choreography performed by student and professional dancers.

neiu.edu/dance neiu.edu/tickets

Ruth Page’s

The Nutcracker

Saturday, December 2, 2023, 3 & 7 pm

Sunday, December 3, 2023, 1 & 5 pm

The beloved Chicago holiday family classic is back for another magical year of performances! Originally presented in the Arie Crown Theater from 1965 until 1997, this is the only production that recreates the original version’s full-length staging. The little girl Clara, her mysterious godfather magician, a handsome prince, the battle between toy soldiers and mice, a forest glade of dancing Snowflakes – these iconic scenes are all brought to life in this beautiful and joyful production of Ruth Page’s The Nutcracker Featuring international guest artists alongside the Ruth Page Civic Ballet Training Company’s elite dancers, experience the exquisite performances, Tchaikovsky's magical score, stunning costumes and imaginative settings in the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of the Sweets! Order your tickets early as performances sell out each year!

Admission: $42.50 Adults

$25 Students, Seniors and Children under 12

$10 NEIU Faculty and Staff (one ticket per ID)

$5 NEIU Student (one ticket per ID)

BEHIND THE CURTAIN presentations

These behind-the-scenes special events give audiences a glimpse of the creative process, offering the opportunity to engage directly with artists, choreographers and creative teams through lectures, demonstrations, works-in-progress showings and Q&A’s. For additional information about upcoming presentations, please visit ruthpage.org.

BEHIND THE CURTAIN: Fall 2023

Date TBD

Admission FREE

BEHIND THE CURTAIN: Spring 2024

Date TBD

Admission: FREE

Photos by _________

Upcoming Events

Spanish Dance Classes (All-year round)

December 2023: Holiday Concert at Northeastern Illinois University

June 2024: American Spanish Dance and Music Festival

Tales of Spain Multimedia Dance and Music Lecture

Concerts for Grade and High School Students, Teachers, and Families (All year round)

—Splash Magazines

"Ensemble Español

and Delightful...

Photo by Casey Mitchell

Photo by Dean Paul

Fine Arts Center Gallery

Please visit the gallery website for information on artist talks and/or workshops. For gallery hours visit: neiu.edu/artgallery

Fall 2023–Summer 2024

Art + Design Alumni Biennial Juror: Olly Greer

August 21–September 22

Olly Greer: Tranisfestations Un:cover :: Re:member

September 29–October 20

Frank Trankina: Paintings

October 30–November

Student Holiday Sale December 4–8

Aaron Coleman: Raking Light January 15–February 9

Mariel Harari: Settling Through the Palm February 19–March 15

Annual Student Juried Exhibition March 25–April 26

José Santiago Pérez: Girth May 6–May 31

Thúóng Hoái Trân: Cho Gia Đình: For Family June 10–July 3

neiu.edu/artgallery

Artwork by Thúóng Hoái Trân Artwork by José Santiago Pérez

Getting to Northeastern Illinois University

The performance spaces at NEIU are easiest to access by entering the campus at 3701 West Bryn Mawr Ave. If entering from 3600 West Foster, take the access road north to the parking areas.

Parking permits are now required for all events on campus. Blue Zone virtual daily permits cost $5 per day. Download the free Passport Parking app to your smartphone or visit the website m.ppprk.com to create your account. You may also drive up to the yellow kiosk in the Parking Facility that dispenses a paper receipt for display.

NEIU Parking Facility: 773.442.4114 or 4117