Above / North Central will present three different musicals this summer, two on stage at Pfeiffer Hall and one at Meiley-Swallow Hall.
North Central College presents three musicals this summer–“Seussical,” “Gilbert & Sullivan’s Pirates (and Piracy)” and “Oklahoma!”–starring local talent in the cast and crew.
“Our summer theatre program is a family affair for the audience and the actors who return year after year,” said Brian Lynch, North Central College fine arts director. “We have little ones who are interested in the fun of being on stage with their friends, high school and college students wanting to pursue this for a career, and members of the community with theatre in their past who view these shows as an avocation rather than a vocation.”
‘Seussical’
The summer lineup starts with the fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza “Seussical.” Six performances will be staged at 7:30PM June 24-25 and July 1-2 and at 2PM June 26 and July 3 in North Central’s Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave. Susan Craig-Olsen is director and choreographer and Ross Berkley, a 2005 North Central graduate in choral music education, gives musical direction. The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whos, including Jojo, a Who child sent off to military school for thinking too many “thinks.”
‘Gilbert & Sullivan’s Pirates (and Piracy)’
North Central’s Summer Light Opera presents “Gilbert & Sullivan’s Pirates (and Piracy)” with six shows at 7:30PM July 8-9 and 14-16 and at 2PM July 10 in the College’s theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth St. Director Matt Boresi, a 1997 North Central graduate and lecturer in theatre, and music director Jeordano Martinez present this delightful reframing of the classic comic operetta “The Pirates of Penzance.” Along with the timeless score comes the hilarious story of how this immortal music-comedy came to be.
‘Oklahoma!’
“Oklahoma!” by legendary team Rodgers and Hammerstein is the final musical of the summer. Directed by Lynch with musical direction by Ali Kordelewski, a 2012 North Central graduate in choral and instrumental education, this landmark production will be staged at 7:30PM July 29-30 and Aug. 5-6 and at 2PM July 31 and Aug. 7 in Pfeiffer Hall. Set in a Western Indian territory after the turn of the 20th century, Curly, a handsome cowboy, and Laurey, a winsome farm girl, play out their love story.
Tickets for all three shows are $18/adults and $12/students and senior citizens; call the North Central College Box Office at 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.
Thanks for supporting the arts! Think dinner & the show.
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).
News release submitted by Nancy Dunker, Associate Director of Media Relations, for North Central College.
