North Central College announces star-studded 2014-2015 Fine and Performing Arts Season

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, Natalie Cole and Jars of Clay are just three of the big-name artists performing at North Central College during its 2014-2015 Fine and Performing Arts Season.

Patti LuPone, Huey Lewis and the News, The Robert Cray Band, Rick Springfield, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Béla Fleck with Abigail Washburn are also among highlights of the upcoming season. Tickets for individual performances are on sale by calling the box office at 630-637-SHOW (7469) or by visiting northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.

“I cannot believe how far we have come in the six years since we opened Wentz Concert Hall,” says Fine Arts Director Brian Lynch. “The one-time biggest secret in Naperville is a secret no longer with performers asking to play here to sold-out performances. Patrons should buy tickets early or they might miss out.”

Patrons may buy discounted tickets to five different series: Cabaret, Classical, Contemporary, Jazz and Performing Arts. Patrons may also create their own Á La Carte Series and choose seats at a reduced rate when purchasing tickets to five or more shows.

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 in the College’s three art galleries. The College's venues include the magnificent Wentz Concert Hall, with acoustics designed by Talaske Sound Thinking.
North Central College’s 2014-2015 Fine and Performing Arts Season includes the following performances:

Summer Performances
·    June 20-22, June 27-29: “Evita”
·    July 11-13, July 17-19: “Trial by Jury” and “The Sorcerer”
·    Aug. 1-3, Aug. 8-10: “Bye, Bye Birdie”

Performing Arts Series
·    Oct. 19: Huey Lewis and the News
·    Dec. 20: “Celtic Woman Christmas”
·    April 11: New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, “The Pirates of Penzance”
·    April 24: Patti LuPone, “Far Away Places”
·    May 16: Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Classical Series
·    Dec. 21: “Celtic Woman Christmas”
·    Jan. 18: Chicago Sinfonietta, “Annual Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”
·    March 14: MUMMENSCHANZ
·    May 8: Russian National Ballet Theatre, “Swan Lake”

Jazz Series
·    Oct. 2: The Robert Cray Band
·    Feb. 14: Blues at the Crossroads
·    Feb. 21: Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn
·    Sept. 26, Oct. 10, Nov. 14, Dec. 12, Jan. 16, Feb. 13, March 6 or April 10: choice of one “An Evening with North Central College Jazz Faculty” performance

Contemporary Series
·    Sept. 27: Scotty McCreery
·    Dec. 13: “Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Christmas”
·    Jan. 24: Jim Peterik & World Stage
·    March 1: The Hot Sardines
·    March 7: The Fab Four, “The Ultimate Tribute”

Cabaret Series
·    Jan. 25: Janis Siegel, “Nightsongs”
·    Feb. 22: Robin Spielberg
·    March 8: Marianne Murphy Orland
·    April 12: T. Oliver Reid, “Drop Me Off In Harlem”
·    May 17: John Michael Coppola, “A Jersey Voice: Sinatra to Springsteen and Everyone in Between”

Other professional performances
·    Aug. 21-24: Organic Theater Company, “Macbeth”
·    Sept. 20: Chicago Sinfonietta, “Rethink. Redefine. Reimagine.”
·    Oct. 11: DuPage Symphony Orchestra, “The Cradle of Civilization”
·    Oct. 16: The Best of Jethro Tull with Ian Anderson plus new album “Homo Erraticus”
·    Nov. 1: Black Violin
·    Nov. 15: Chicago Sinfonietta, “Día de los Muertos”
·    Nov. 22: Rick Springfield, "Stripped Down"
·    Nov. 22-23: DuPage Symphony Orchestra, “From Tsarist Times”
·    Dec. 5: Jars of Clay
·    Dec. 14: Theatreworks USA, “A Christmas Carol”
·    Dec. 14: DuPage Symphony Orchestra, “Christmas Around the World”
·    Dec. 18-21: Organic Theater Company, “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol”
·    Feb. 6-7: DuPage Symphony Orchestra, “Gallic Glory”
·    Feb. 7: Natalie Cole
·    Feb. 28: Theatreworks USA, “Curious George”
·    March 14: DuPage Symphony Orchestra, “Land of Lincoln”
·    March 15: Theatreworks USA, “The Lightning Thief”
·    March 21: Chicago Sinfonietta, “Primal Instincts”
·    March 26-29, Organic Theater Company, “Picasso at the Lapin Agile”
·    April 17: Deana Martin
·    April 25: Theatreworks USA, “The Paper Bag Princess and Other Stories”
·    May 9: DuPage Symphony Orchestra, “Iberian Inspirations”
·    June 6: Chicago Sinfonietta, “United We Stand”

College musical performances
·    Oct. 17: Homecoming Kickoff Concert
·    Nov. 5: Honors Choral Invitational Festival
·    March 7: Chords for Kids: Concert For Children With Autism
·    April 9: Sounds of New Music Festival
·    April 29: Concert Winds Return From Tour Concert
·    April 30: Chamber Singers, “Metamorphosis”
·    May 17: Women’s Chorale “Finale!” Concert
·    May 21: Concert Choir Graduation Concert
·    May 26: Cardinal Chorus Spring Concert
·    May 30: Concert Winds Final Spring and Alumni Concert

College theatrical productions
·    Oct. 15-16, 18-19: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
·    Oct. 30-Nov. 1: “Cynics”
·    Nov. 13-16: “Parade”
·    Jan. 8-11: “October Mourning”
·    Feb. 5-7: “True West”
·    Feb. 26-March 1: “Shout! The Mod Musical”
·    April 16-18: “Miranda Writes”
·    May 7-9: “Hedda Gabbler”
·    June 4-7: “Doctor Faustus Lights the Lights”

Performance information is subject to change; visit northcentralcollege.edu/show throughout the season for updates.

North Central College’s 2014-2015 Fine and Performing Arts Season is partially sponsored by season supporters including BMO Harris, Bulley & Andrews, Casa by Charleston, Grant Thornton, J.P. Morgan, Main Street Promenade, Marquette Properties, Monarch Landing, Nicor Gas, Ryan Hill Realty, U.S. Bank Private Client Reserve and Water Street Development.