April/May 2022 Playbill

& E N I F

S T R A 2021-2022 S EA S O N

Kurt Elling Quintet

The Wailers

SUNDAY, APRIL 10

FRIDAY, MAY 13

Laura Freeman “Backstage Pass” SUNDAY, MAY 1

The Four C Notes

TheaterWorksUSA’s “Rosie Revere, Engineer & Friends”

SATURDAY, MAY 7

SATURDAY, APRIL 9

These programs are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

o m e to lc e w NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE Thank you for joining us for the North Central College Fine & Performing Arts 2021-2022 season! We couldn’t be more excited to be able to share these incredibly talented artists with you, live and in person. We are in a unique and challenging time, but it is a joy to share fine arts events together once more.

We kicked off the season in November with Plain White T’s and Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael. Our Home for the Holidays series featured the Holiday Jazz Concert, Jim Brickman: The Gift of Christmas, and MICHAEL BOLTON, Greatest Hits & Holiday Favorites. January offered even more excitement with Chicago Sinfonietta’s “Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert: Joie de Vivre. In February we enjoyed “My Funny Valentine” with Pat Hazell and Karen Morgan, TheaterWorksUSA’s “Dog Man: The Musical”, and Take 6. In March, we invited you to Marianne Murphy Orland’s “Rags to Rhinestones: The Musical Life of Dolly Parton”. In April, we welcome you for TheaterWorksUSA’s “Rosie Revere, Engineer & Friends” and Kurt Elling

Quintet. We close out the season with Laura Freeman’s “Backstage Pass”, The Four C Notes, and—newly announced—The Wailers.

We wish to express our sincere gratitude to our season sponsors and Friends of the Arts donors—thank you for your generous support this season. We would not be able to bring you these wonderful events and continue working toward future seasons without your generous contributions.

And to you, our loyal audience: thank you for your continued support and patronage. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to share live events with you once again this year in our beautiful venues. We hope you enjoy a performance or two as we conclude our 2021-2022 season!

Without further ado, on with the show!

Sincerely,

Jennifer Berosek Coordinator of Fine Arts

22 0 2 1- 2 0PERFORMANCES 2SEASON EVENT NAME

DATES

TheaterWorksUSA’s “Rosie Revere, Engineer & Friends”

Saturday, April 9, 2022

10 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Kurt Elling Quintet

Sunday, April 10, 2022

6 p.m.

Laura Freeman “Backstage Pass”

Sunday, May 1, 2022

6 p.m.

The Four C Notes

Saturday, May 7, 2022

8 p.m.

The Wailers

Friday, May 13, 2022

8 p.m.

Aca de mic Pe rf orma nce s

TIMES

Additional academic music and theatre performances will be available as the season progresses. For updates, please visit

northcentralcollege.edu/show

ea s o n sSPONSORS

North Central College thanks our Fine & Performing Arts 2021-2022 season sponsors for their generous support.

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Ms. Daphne C. Lee Mr. David S. & Ms. Lydia J. Lesniak Mr. Lyle E. Littlewood Ms. Kathleen Malik Mr. James Maloney Mr. Alan & Ms. Geraldine Mendelssohn Ms. Marisa A. Miko Mrs. Brenda K. Miller Ms. Nickole C. Lanham & Mr. Thomas M. Murray Mr. & Mrs. Brian D. Naumann Ms. Catherine E. Oberfoell Sally Page Olson Mr. William J. & Mrs. Jeralyn T. Olszewski Mr. Joseph Palm Ms. Diana L. Raimond Mr. Edward M. Rhyne, Sr. Mr. Brian Savage Ms. Bethany & Mrs. Georgine H. Schick Mr. Peter M. Sheaffer Ms. Avery A. Sipla Mr. C. Scott Solenberger Mrs. Stacy & Mr. Dana Wallace Mrs. Vickie J. & Mr. Mark Witt

We apologize if we have inadvertently made an error concerning your gift. Please contact the box office at 630-637-7469 so we can correct our records.

THEATERWORKSUSA’S

“ROSIE REVERE, ENGINEER & FRIENDS” April 9, 2022, Pfeiffer Hall

BIO GRAPH y “Rosie Revere, Engineer & Friends” is written by Lauren Gunderson, the most produced living playwright in the U.S. (book), Bree Lowdermilk (music) and Kait Kerrigan (lyrics).

It is based on the book series by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts. The original creative team includes direction by Peter Flynn, choreography by Marcos Santana (Broadway: “Rocky”, associate choreographer), orchestrations by Lloyd Kikoler, original music direction by Dan Garmon, set design by Anne Mundell, and costume design by Jenifer Caprio. Tour direction is by Jillian Carucci and tour choreography is by Michael Sylvester.

TheaterWorksUSA has led the theater for young and family audiences’ movement in New York City and across North America for more than half a century. Since 1962, the 501(c)3 not-for-profit has captured the imaginations of 100 million new and veteran theatergoers with an award-winning repertoire of more than 130 original plays and musicals. Acclaimed alumni include Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (Disney’s “Frozen”), Jerry Zaks (“The Music Man”), Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (“Dear Evan Hansen”), Joe Iconis (“Be More Chill”), Daphne Rubin-Vega (“Rent”), and Kathleen Chalfant (“Angels in America”). In addition to touring 11 family productions around the country, TheaterWorksUSA’s season highlights include the Broadway production of “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical”, and the world premieres of two New York Times Critic’s Picks, “Dog Man: The Musical” and “The Pout-Pout Fish”, which recently opened the New Victory Theater’s season. To learn more, visit www.TWUSA.org.

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KURT ELLING QUINTET April 10, 2022, Wentz Concert Hall

Bio graph y Renowned for his singular combination of robust swing and poetic insight, two-time Grammy winner Kurt Elling has secured his place among the world’s foremost jazz vocalists. The New York Times proclaimed Elling “the standout male vocalist of our time”.

Over a 25-year career of touring and recording, Elling has won three Prix du Jazz Vocal awards (France), two German Echo awards, two Dutch Edison awards and has been nominated for a Grammy award 15 times. He has had a 14-year run atop the DownBeat Critics and Readers polls, and has won 12 Jazz Journalists awards for “Male Vocalist of the Year”.

Elling has recorded and toured with Branford Marsalis, Danilo Perez, Stefon Harris, Fred Hersch, James Morrison and Charlie Hunter. He has performed extensively with larger ensembles like The Clayton/Hamilton Orchestra, The National Youth Orchestra (led by Sean Jones), The Bob Mintzer Big Band, The BBC Concert Symphony (led by Guy Barker), The Metropole Orchestra (Holland), The Irish Radio and Television Orchestra (led by Brian Byrne), The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and The WDR Orchestra and Big Band (Germany).

Elling’s dynamism is enhanced exponentially by the fact that he consistently generates new vocal material by writing and recording signature and definitive lyrics to the compositions of foundational jazz composers like John Coltrane, Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, Wayne Shorter and Joe Zawinul. Additionally, Elling has cocreated multi-disciplinary performances for Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater and The City of Chicago. Jazz At Lincoln Center saw the world premiere of “The Big Blind”, an entirely new jazz musical-in-progress Elling is co-writing with collaborator Phil Galdston (“Save The Best For Last”). National Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky declared that, “In Kurt Elling’s art, the voice of jazz gives new spiritual presence to the ancient, sweet and powerful bond between poetry and music.”

Elling has toured the world in a variety of contexts, including UNESCO-sponsored “International Jazz Day” performances in Havana, Cuba, St. Petersburg, Russia, Melbourne, Australia and Washington, D.C. He has twice performed at the White House, including a performance in collaboration with the late Marvin Hamlisch and the National Symphony Orchestra for President Obama’s first State Dinner. He has served as artistin-residence at the Monterey and Singapore Jazz Festivals. As a music industry leader, Elling spent six years serving as a trustee and two years as vice chairman of The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Elling released his newest recording “SuperBlue”, a collaboration with Charlie Hunter and members of the future groove band Butcher Brown, in the spring of 2021 on Edition Records.

LAURA FREEMAN

“BACKSTAGE PASS” May 1, 2022, Madden Theatre

Bio graph y Laura Freeman has been delighting audiences around the country and abroad for more than 20 years. Known for her wit and warmth, Freeman finds the heart and soul in her material, whether it’s a song from musical theater, the Great American Songbook, or a beloved jazz standard. Whether singing background music or providing the night’s main attraction, Freeman can work the room with her trademark charm.

Freeman attended Indiana University at South Bend, studying with Warren Pepperdine, Jeffrey Kope and Jo Pierce. During summer breaks, Freeman appeared at various theatres around Indiana including Wagon Wheel Playhouse, Enchanted Hills Playhouse, and The Round Barn Theatre at Amish Acres. Freeman grew up at these theatres, making important connections and increasing her resume.

After graduation, Freeman moved to New York City to make it big. She used the city as a base, while continuing to perform in regional theaters in Ohio, Alabama, Michigan, Nebraska and Arizona. She toured both nationally and internationally, performing in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, “Into the Woods”, “Hair”, “A Christmas Carol”, “Black Beauty”, “Godspell” and numerous children’s theatre productions. In fact, Freeman earned her Actor’s Equity card from TheaterWorks, a children’s theatre touring company.

In 2000, Freeman moved to Arizona to work as a teacher for the Arizona School for the Arts. She loved giving back to what will be the next generation of performers, as a teacher of theatre history and acting.

Since returning to the Chicagoland area, Freeman has appeared onstage with Patti LuPone in “Annie Get Your Gun” at Ravinia. She has also worked at the Chicago Dramatists and Theatre at the Center in Munster.

In “Backstage Pass” Freeman answers the questions we all wonder: “What is life like on film and TV sets? Can you go up to the celebrities? Do they become your friends? How does one become famous?” As Freeman struggled to get in front of an audience, she worked backstage on Broadway to pay her bills before working with your favorite film and TV stars. She’ll answer all your questions, share gossip, “how-to” stories and more in this fun, “insider” musical evening! Songs include “One”, “Pure Imagination” and “Before the Parade Passes By”.

Te ll us what you th ink!

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.

THE FOUR C NOTES May 7, 2022, Wentz Concert Hall

Bio graph y The Four C Notes return to North Central College after two sold out shows in 2019.

The Four C Notes are a national act with local roots, calling Chicago home but having performed their standard concert and “Seasons Greeting” holiday show at private events, performing arts centers and outdoor festivals all across the United States.

Created by John Michael Coppola, best known for his appearance in Chicago’s production of the Broadway hit “Jersey Boys”, The Four C Notes are the Midwest’s only tribute dedicated to the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Featuring favorite hits such as, “Sherry”, “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Walk Like a Man”, “Workin’ My Way Back to You, (Babe)”, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You”, “Let’s Hang On” and many more. Four guys, vintage dance moves and Mr. Coppola’s legacy give The Four C Notes the authenticity that other tribute groups simply cannot match.

TAKE YOUR COMPANY CENTER STAGE BY

b e c om in g a s p on s or To learn more, contact us at development@noctrl.edu or 630-637-5217.

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THE WAILERS May 13, 2022, Pfeiffer Hall

Bio graph y The legendary Wailers band returns to bring its revolutionary sound to fans around the world. Steered by famed bassist and founder Aston “Familyman” Barrett and joined in solidarity with original Wailers guitarists Julian Junior Marvin and Donald Kinsey, The Wailers continue to make musical history. From 1973 to 1980, Bob Marley & The Wailers recorded, toured and performed before millions worldwide. Since 1981, Familyman and Junior have carried on the mission to “keep The Wailers together” just as Marley requested, affirming, “By doing that, you keep me alive through the music”. In tribute to the late co-founder and drummer Carlton “Carly” Barrett, The Wailers present Aston Barrett, Jr. on drums. It’s startling how this young powerhouse delivers with his uncle’s inspiring landmark style. Lead singer Joshua David Barrett is a Rastaman by lifestyle and culture. Josh delivers Marley’s powerful message of Jah love and unity through his performance and interaction with the audience. Also on stage are singers Shema McGregor, daughter of I Three’s Judy Mowatt, and Hassanah, a multicultural powerhouse, veteran Owen “Dreadie” Reid on guitar/bass and Javaughn Bond on keyboards. The performance anchor is live engineer Dennis Thompson, the man responsible for The Wailers sound in stadiums, clubs and studios throughout the ‘70s.

There are more than 250 million Bob Marley and The Wailers recordings sold, including the 1977 “Exodus”, anointed Best Album of the Century in 1999 by Time Magazine, and “One Love”, named Song of the Millennium that same year by BBC. Spin Magazine listed Bob Marley & The Wailers at #4 of the “50 Greatest Bands of All Times”, while The New York Times named Bob Marley the most significant musician of the 20th century. These accolades were made possible by the creative, timeless and distinctive music, lyrics and production of these incomparable Wailers musicians.

for mo re inf orma ti on

Eager to find out what else is coming this season? Stay up-to-date with our fine arts events by checking our website:

northcentralcollege.edu/show

2022-2023 seas on

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2022-2023 season Join us for another amazing lineup of performers!

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