In Naperville, we are fortunate to have a multitude of entertainment venues surrounding us. Whether it’s the tight, bare bones confines of Frankie’s Blue Room or the expansive digs of the 57,000-square-foot Wentz Hall, the options for music entertainment seem endless. But for me, there is a venue that has more charms than Grandma’s bracelet.
North Central College’s Pfeiffer Hall, built in 1926, is the school’s oldest fine arts building. The 4,500-square-foot building that seats just over 1,000 entertainment lovers is quite the contrast to the school’s Wentz Hall facility. I can’t help but stand back and see the parallels between the venues and the community in which they stand, though.
Pfeiffer holds more than 85 years of history within its walls. It’s seen school productions, speeches by iconic figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., as well as some of the most famous entertainers in the world. It continues to usher in top notch talent to this day, while maintaining a certain alluring majesty. It’s that unexplainable air that engulfs you when you enter through its doors; almost like taking a step back in time.
The fanciful attractiveness of Wentz Hall represents our vibrant and youthful families; bigger, with more technology and flair.
But I see Pfeiffer as a buffed and sparkling gem in our community, much like Naperville’s longtime residents. Talk to someone that has spent a few decades in Naperville and you will run your fingers through the sands of time. It’s a simple kind of magic. A magic we all hope to attain one day.
