Fine & Performing Arts

What a weekend! Since Thursday, Oct. 8, North Central College’s fine & performing arts venues have played host to Madeleine Albright, Chicago a cappella, Chicago Tap Theatre, author Sarah Vowell, artist Ramson Lomatewama and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra!

A Chicago Tribune critic caught the MSO performance, saying, “The hall boasts a noteworthy acoustic profile … Warmth, reverberation and a “present” sonic profile are valued commodities.”

This week, the public is invited to the opening of an exhibit, “Two Roads: Of What I Think and What I Think About,” by artist Pieter Favier. The opening reception is from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, in the Schoenherr Art Gallery at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave. The free exhibit is on display Oct. 16 through Nov. 13.

Also on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m., the Student Songwriting Showcase takes place at The Union, 129 W. Benton Ave., featuring original works by 17 talented North Central students.

And on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 8 p.m., catch the opening of DuPage Symphony Orchestra’s season with a performance of Dvorak’s “In Nature’s Realm,” in the Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center.

Enjoy the fine & performing arts at North Central College.

The first week of October features a full schedule of cultural, fine & performing arts events at North Central College.

John McLean

Wednesday, Oct. 7, kicks off the North Central College jazz faculty concert series with a performance by guitarist John McLean at 7:30 p.m. in the Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center. The series is a great opportunity to hear great jazz in an amazing venue at affordable prices.

On Thursday, Oct. 8, the College and Anderson’s Bookshops welcome former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who will talk about and sign copies of her book, “Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewel Box,” at 7 p.m. in Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center.

Friday, Oct. 9, presents three opportunities for great performances! Chicago a cappella gives classical music lovers and Beatles fans a chance to find common ground when it presents “Baroque and Beatles” at 8 p.m. in Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center.

Also on Friday, The Union, in partnership with The Hope Tour, presents a triple bill of alternative rock artists Fireflight, Remedy Drive and Abandon beginning at 7 p.m. at 129 W. Benton Ave. in downtown Naperville. (Note the venue change.)

Plus, North Central College’s dance series gets underway on Friday with a performance by Chicago Tap Theatre at 8 p.m. in Pfeiffer Hall. Be sure to arrive on time to catch opening performances by members of Naperville’s own School of the Performing Arts Dance Ensemble, and bring your tap shoes!

We’re not done yet. On Saturday, Oct. 10, author Sarah Vowell will talk about and sign copies of her book, “The Wordy Shipmates,” at 2 p.m. in Pfeiffer Hall.

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

Then, be sure to enjoy the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. on Saturday in the acoustically perfect Wentz Concert Hall. The performance by Wisconsin’s largest cultural arts institution is made possible in part by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council and Arts Midwest.

Finally, an exhibit by Native American artist Ramson Lomatewama opens on Sunday, Oct. 11, in the Gallery at Oesterle Library. A reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Elizabeth Futral

North Central College’s 2009-2010 fine and performing arts season continues this week with several opportunities to appreciate outstanding performers in great venues.

Soprano Elizabeth Futral, who has performed with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and many other of the country’s best opera companies, headlines at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4 in the magnificent Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center. The performance is a chance to hear one of the world’s best coloratura sopranos perform in a world-class concert hall. Tickets are $40 and $50, with discounts available for groups of 10 or more.

For pop music fans, Gloria Gaynor performs at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, in Pfeiffer Hall. She’ll perform her 1978 disco classic “I Will Survive” and many other hits. Tickets are $55, $50 and $35.

The first theatrical performance of North Central’s season takes place this week with four performances of “The Poet and the Rent,” David Mamet’s children’s play about a young poet who struggles to find balance between writing the poetry he loves and paying his rent. “The Poet and the Rent” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, and Friday, Oct. 2, with two performances at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 3 in the “black box” Madden Theatre at the Fine Arts Center. Tickets are just $5/adults and $3/students and senior citizens.

Finally, new art exhibits open soon in North Central’s three galleries. Next up is an exhibit featuring the works of two North Central College students, Tamarra Love of Aurora, Ill. and Danielle Clark of Sparta, Wisc. Their ceramic and sculptural work will be featured in “Les Femmes Faithful” Oct. 1 through Oct. 31 in the Gallery at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth St. Love and Clark explore themes of faith and the search for spirituality in their works.

For more information about all fine & performing arts events, call the North Central College Box Office at 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit www.northcentralcollege.edu/show.