Above / The stage is set to come alive with a high-energy trip down memory lane featuring the resounding hits from Motown on Saturday, Feb. 18. Pfeiffer Hall is located at 310 E. Benton Avenue on the campus of North Central College. Limited seating ($30 each) is available in the balcony for Forever Motown.

For tickets to featured shows February 16-28, 2023, visit northcentralcollege.edu/show or call the box office at 630-637-SHOW (7469).

Looking ahead toward featured shows in March 2023… Click here.

Renascence

Feb. 18-19 Theater: North Central College presents “Renascence” at Madden Theatre, 171 E. Chicago Ave. “Renascence” is a theatrical exploration of identity and artistry through the poems of Pulitzer Prize-winning, Edna St. Vincent Millay with music by Carmel Dean, book by Dick Scanlan, and directed by Mitzi Smith. At the age of 19 Millay writes a profoundly powerful poem, “Renascence,” catapulting her to stardom and releasing her from her rural, humble beginnings into a bohemian, reckless and unconventional urban lifestyle. Millay captivates both men and women with her unapologetic sensuality and frank intellect and becomes the “original riot girl” of her time. “Renascence” not only follows the early years of this artist’s life, but also invites its performers and audience to sit in this poet’s soul, and view humanity and nature as if through her window. The show is meant for a mature audience and is not geared towards children. If you have questions about content, please contact the Box Office, who can put you in touch with the appropriate individuals for that production’s information. Final Performances run February 18 at 2PM and 7:30PM, and 2PM February 19. Tickets are $14 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.

Forever Motown

8PM Sat., Feb. 18 Music: North Central College presents “Forever Motown” at 8PM in Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave. Performed by a cast of veteran entertainers, including former members of The Jones, The Main Ingredient, The Spinners and The Marvelettes and peppered with Broadway savvy performers who had leading roles in “Dream Girls,” “Your Arms Too Short to Box With God,” “Porgy & Bess” and “Showboat,” Forever Motown resumes its successful theater tour that broke its own box office records in 2018. The veteran entertainers offer a nonstop, high-energy trip down memory lane featuring the note-for-note hits America grew up on. The iconic Motown sound was recreated down to the slightest vocal and musical nuance by such American icons as Marvin Gaye & Tammie Terrell, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder and the entire Motown roster of stars. The look and feel of authenticity extends to costumes from Tony Award-winning designer Evie Ross and classic Motown choreography from American Dance Theater director Terri Giordano who succeeded in creating visuals and choreographies that capture the unique Motown style. Sing, dance and celebrate the music of your life to songs like “My Girl,” “I Heard It Through The Grapevine,” “Reach Out,” “Dancin’ In The Street,” “Stop! In The Name of Love,” “Ain’t Nothin’ Like The Real Thing,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” and many more – nearly 30 nonstop hits in all! Tickets are $30-$40 (price range per seating).

Honors Choral Invitational

7PM Wed., Feb. 22 Music: North Central College presents the Honors Choral Invitational at 7PM in Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave. The annual Honors Choral Invitational Festival brings visiting ensembles for a day of workshops, rehearsals, and a public concert. This year’s guests are Hinsdale Central High School Chamber Choir and Chorale (Jennifer Burkemper, director) and Kenwood Academy (Chicago Public Schools) Concert Choir (Richard Nunley, director).  Joining them will be the North Central College Concert Choir, Chorale, and Chamber Singers, conducted by Ramona Wis with collaborative pianists Jon Warfel and Bob Saul. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for seniors and students.

The Langston Hughes Project

8PM Sat., Feb. 25 Music: North Central College presents “The Langston Hughes Project: Ask Your Mama (12 Moods for Jazz) featuring the Ron McCurdy Quartet” at 8PM in Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave. The Langston Hughes Project is a multimedia concert performance of Langston Hughes’s kaleidoscopic jazz poem suite, “Ask Your Mama”—Hughes’s homage in verse and music to the struggle for artistic and social freedom at home and abroad at the beginning of the 1960s. “Ask Your Mama” is a 12-part epic poem which Hughes scored with musical cues drawn from blues and Dixieland, gospel songs, boogie woogie, bebop and progressive jazz, Latin “cha cha” and Afro-Cuban mambo music, German lieder, Jewish liturgy, West Indian calypso, and African drumming – a creative masterwork left unperformed at his death.

A joyous celebration of music, spoken word and visuals, The Langston Hughes Project is performed by the impressively versatile Dr. Ron McCurdy (as narrator and on trumpet) and his talented group of musicians (on piano, bass and drums) who make heads bob, fingers snap and feet tap throughout. Together the words, sounds, and images recreate a magical moment in our cultural history, which bridges the Harlem Renaissance, the post World War II Beat writers’ coffeehouse jazz poetry world, and the looming Black Arts performance explosion of the 1960s. The creator of the entire piece, Dr. McCurdy, is a Professor of Music in the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, where he served as chair of the jazz department for 6 years. Dr. McCurdy is a consultant to the Grammy Foundation educational programs including serving as director of the National Grammy Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Tickets are $35-$40 (price range per seating).

Thanks for supporting the arts

North Central College’s 2022-2023 Fine and Performing Arts Season is partially supported by the following sponsors and partners: Naperville Special Events and Cultural Amenities Fund; Illinois Arts Council Agency; BMO Harris Bank; Naperville Magazine; Advanced Data Technologies; Blooming Color; Chef By Request; Elements at Water Street; Monarch Landing; Naperville Park District; Nicor Gas; Catch 35; Dommermuth, Cobine, West, Gensler, Philipchuck and Corrigan, Ltd.; Marquette Companies; Naper Settlement; Ryan Hill Group; and Naperville Development Partnership.

Tickets? Call North Central College Box Office at (630) 637-7469

These upcoming events 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).

Think dinner and the show! Dine Downtown Naperville!

Stories & love also showcased for Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month, North Central College has been hosting special events throughout the month of February. To wrap up the month, a final worship service if open to the public, and all are welcome to attend. For updates and other information, visit the Black History Month web page or contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs at mca@noctrl.edu. 

Worship Service at Koten Chapel in Kiekhofer Hall

12:05 Tues., Feb. 28 / Worship Service: “Seasons of Love.” Public welcome to free service beginning at 12:05PM Tues., Feb. 14, in Koten Chapel, Kiekhofer Hall, 329 E. School St., on the campus of North Central College. This is a free event. No tickets required.

Sports, too!

Women’s Wrestling Regional

10AM Sun., Feb. 19 Sports: Merner Fieldhouse

North Central College is set to host first Women’s Wrestling Regional in Chicago

Photos of performers are courtesy North Central College. Others are PN File Photos.