These programs are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Jonathon Lynch's “The Baroque Cycle”
HYPROV: Improv Under Hypnosis starring Jonathan Mangum from “Let’s Make a Deal” and Asad Mecci “World Renowned Hypnotist”
Chicago Sinfonietta ECHO - Celebrating Women’s History Month
DuPage Symphony Orchestra “Springtime Celebrations”
Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival
TheaterWorksUSA's “Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical”
Jazz Combo & Big Band Spring Concert
Concert Winds Spring Concert
“this is not the reunion”
Spring Choral “Finale!” Concert
“this is not the reunion”
North Central College Opera Workshop Showcase
North Central College Symphony Orchestra
March 8, 20248 p.m.
March 23, 20247:30 p.m.
April 6, 202410 a.m. & 1 p.m.
April 9, 20247:30 p.m.
April 10, 20247 p.m.
10, 11, 13, 20247:30 p.m.
April 12, 20247 p.m.
13, 14, 20242 p.m.
April 18, 20247 p.m.
April 19, 20247:30 p.m.
The Let's Go Science Show Saturday, April 20, 202410 a.m. & 1 p.m.
Naperville Chorus “Carmina Burana” by Carl Orff
Chicago Sinfonietta REVERB
DuPage Symphony Orchestra “Modern & Melodious”
April 27, 20247:30 p.m.
May 18, 20247:30 p.m.
90+ UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
21 GRADUATE PROGRAMS
“America’s Best Colleges” by Money magazine, 2023
“Best Midwestern Colleges” Princeton Review, 2024
NORTHCENTRALCOLLEGE.EDU
Sunday, March 3 at 6 p.m.
Madden Theatre
“The Baroque Cycle” (Best Singer winner & Best Score nominee, New York Winterfest 2022) is an innovative one-woman musical theatre piece that combines the beauty of classical music with the wild abandon of musical comedy. It’s the story of a young, classically trained soprano who moves to New York to become a Broadway star. Unfortunately, things don’t go so well for her. Everything from terrible auditions to harrowing subway rides to even tidying her apartment becomes a nightmare. How does she cope? By retreating to a Baroque music recital in her mind where she can freely sing about the dumpster fire of her life! Come, join her for a breakdown Bach would be proud of.
Jonathon Lynch, currently living in New York City, is thrilled to be back home in Naperville and North Central College!
He is the creator, music supervisor, and host of the award-winning podcast, “Bite-Sized Broadway: a mini-musical podcast,” currently in its second season. Recently, he was the music director for NPR’s “Micro-Face: The Musical!” Other credits include assistant music director and copyist for “Finding Neverland” (pre-Broadway workshop) and music director for “The Giant Hoax,” “The City Club,” and “Powerline Road” (off-Broadway). He is the songwriter of “The Carousel of Inevitability and Certain Foreboding” (with Freeman & Varod), which was the inaugural winner of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts’ Musical Theatre Writing Fellowship; the awardwinning “The Baroque Cycle” (Winterfest ‘22); and “Peter & the Pied Piper” (Lincoln Center ‘22 with Galvan). He also wrote the music for the video game “Elimination,” the album “Canta, Songs for Learning Spanish,” and the award-winning webseries, “NewB.”
Before moving to New York, Lynch made his mark on the Chicago theatre scene as assistant music director of “Dennis Deyoung’s Hunchback of Notre Dame” (Bailiwick Rep) and “Altarboyz” (Noble Fool Theatricals), as well as by music directing many musicals and theatre camps at North Central College. His musical “Lunacy” (music by Lynch, book and lyrics by Boresi) played at North Central College before becoming the inaugural musical in the Overtures New Works Series at Gallery Players in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Lynch is currently a faculty music director at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy & the 92nd St. Y, a writer in the Theatre Now New York’s Musical Theatre Writers Lab, a composer in the Advanced BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Songwriting Workshop, and an alum of Northwestern University. To find out more, visit jonathonlynchmusic.com. Love to Maria & Elixabete.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!
After the performance, we would love to hear your feedback on the experience. We invite you to take our short survey.
STARRING JONATHAN MANGUM AND ASAD MECCI
Friday, March 8 at 8 p.m.
Wentz Concert Hall
Hypnosis and Improv — two art forms that have mystified and entertained fans, skeptics and everyone in between for decades worldwide — come together as two masters of their crafts unite for a totally unique comedy experience, HYPROV: Improv Under Hypnosis. Twenty random volunteers from the audience will be put under hypnosis by hypnotist extraordinaire Asad Mecci, their inhibitions evaporated and their minds no longer their own. The contestants are methodically and hysterically whittled down until the five best are left on stage when one of the world’s leading improvisers enters! With the top five still under hypnosis … this show turns into a hysterical improv-comedy extravaganza!
Jonathan Mangum has had a successful career in television, appearing on shows such as “The Wayne Brady Show,” “The Drew Carey Show,” and “Drew Carey’s Improv-A-Ganza.”
Following his time on “The Drew Carey Show,” Mangum was invited to join the “Drew Carey Improv All-Stars” and went on a tour that included more than 60 venues, including the prestigious Carnegie Hall. He has also toured internationally with Wayne Brady, showcasing his improv skills since 2000.
In addition to his television and live performance work, Mangum has appeared in feature films such as “The Bucket List,” where he shared the screen with Hollywood legend Jack Nicholson, and “Imagine That,” starring alongside Eddie Murphy. He has also starred in children’s movies like “Monkey Up” and “Pup Star.”
He has also made guest appearances on popular shows like “Reno 911!,” “Pushing Daisies,” “NCIS,” and “The Sarah Silverman Program.”
Currently, he is the announcer for the game show “Let’s Make a Deal” and can be seen on “Celebrity Name Game” and “Whose Line Is It Anyway?.”
Asad Mecci’s jaw-dropping performances have captivated audiences worldwide. He has performed in front of over 1.5 million people live and millions more through mass media. You might have seen Mecci on “Entertainment Tonight,” MTV, HGTV, BBC or read about him in The New York Times, Huffington Post and Maxim magazine. Away from the television cameras and radio waves, Mecci has amazed crowds at The Second City, GE Theater and The Just for Laughs comedy festivals. Recently, Mecci co-created and launched HYPROV (Improv Under Hypnosis) with iconic comedy legend Colin Mochrie from “Whose Line Is It Anyway?,” performing in Toronto, Montreal and London (Just for Laughs Festivals) as well as two Augusts in a row at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
After the performance, we would love to hear your feedback on the experience. We invite you to take our short survey.
THEATERWORKSUSA’S “Cat Kid Comic Club:
The Musical”
Saturday, April 6 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.
Pfeiffer Hall
Cat Kid and Molly Pollywog have started an epic club to teach 21 rambunctious baby frogs how to make their own comics! Their fishy father Flippy is overjoyed that his kids will learn to unleash their creativity, but when the frogs’ constant bickering and outrageous imaginations send their comics comically off the rails, Flippy flips out! Will the club survive? Will the frogs ever get along? And will creativity finally save the day? All will be answered in this madcap musical based on Dav Pilkey’s irreverently hilarious book series.
This hilarious musical adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man spin-off series, “Cat Kid Comic Club,” is written by Kevin Del Aguila and Brad Alexander - the team that brought you “Dog Man: The Musical!”
ORIGINAL CREDITS:
Book and Lyrics by Kevin Del Aguila
Music by Brad Alexander
Adapted from the “Cat Kid Comic Club” series of books by Dav Pilkey
Directed and Choreographed by Marlo Hunter
After the performance, we would love to hear your feedback on the experience. We invite you to take our short survey.
Saturday, April 20 at 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.
Wentz Concert Hall
Since 1982, Todd Victor and Lizette Guy have been together entertaining families, first as jugglers and physical comedians performing throughout the world. They have now combined their theater skills with their love of science and teaching to create this fun-filled science show.
Lizette Guy (Dr. Knowitall) started her performing career at the age of six in a Hollywood movie, “So This Is Paris.” She has been performing as a juggler doing comedy shows for children and their families with the Jest In Time Circus of Fools for over 20 years. Her French Canadian background has been influential in creating her strong zany character. She has a bachelor of arts in psychology, a minor in expressive arts and a masters degree in counseling from the University of San Francisco. Along with Guy’s creativity in theater, she is an avid expressive arts painter, photographer and writer.
Professor Smart is performed by Todd Victor: physical comedian and juggler with Jest In Time Circus of Fools. He has performed in 10 different countries and continues to perform at schools, fairs and festivals throughout the United States. His fascination with how things work and his love of comedy helps get kids excited about the sciences. He has carefully studied many scientific concepts with the help of many teachers and scientists. He and his partner Lizette Guy have written and developed this fun science show.
Victor grew up in a family of 10 on a farm in Connecticut. He left to study fine arts in New York City. He has been studying and performing mime, juggling, and physical comedy since 1980. He graduated with a bachelor of fun arts from Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Clown College. Victor is a chosen member of Marin’s Youth ‘n Arts, Performing Arts Roster. He has been an artist/ teacher for the William James Prison Arts Project. Victor loves performing, teaching, computers, inventing, juggling, tennis, table tennis, creating one of a kind props for fun-filled shows, and he loves his wife, Lizette.
After the performance, we would love to hear your feedback on the experience. We invite you to take our short survey.
North
our Fine & Performing Arts 2023 - 2024 season sponsors for their generous support.
The 2023 - 2024 North Central College Fine & Performing Arts Season is made possible by the generous support of our donors.
$5,000 - $9,999
Mr. David Kelsch
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Kinney
Mr. Theodore M. Utchen*
$1,000 - $4,999
Mrs. Linda Allison
Mr. Ross P. Berkley
Mr. & Mrs. W. Brand
Bobosky
Ms. Kristina L. Bonn
Ms. Rosemarie S.
Breske Garvey
Dr. Stephen Caliendo & Dr. Jillian Caliendo
Mrs. Maria A. Caselli
Mr. Richard Coffey & Mrs. Janet Coffey
Ms. Erica Coppolino
Mr. and Mrs. Nick Dempsey
Mrs. Beverly Z. Esser*
Dr. & Mrs. Robert A. Faessel
Mr. Paul & Mrs. Joanne Fries
Mr. Jeffrey Gross & Mrs. Wendy
Hayum-Gross
Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Harris
Mr. and Mrs. Jerald Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. Gary S. Kovener
Ms. Daphne Lee
Mr. Roger Liska
Mr. & Mrs. Paul H.
Loscheider
Mr. Brian Lynch & Dr. Mary Jean Lynch
Ms. Shawna Martell
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond McMahon
Mr. Robert K. Moses & Mrs. Peggy Moses
Dr. Edward Navakas & Dr. Francine Navakas
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Owens
Ms. Maryellen Skerik
Dr. Karen J. Solomon & Mr. Wright King
$500 - $999
Mr. William B. Edson
Ms. Suzanne Freshley
Ms. Kim Hahn
Mrs. Julie A. Lagodney
Mrs. Rita M. Mathern
Mr. and Mrs. Larry G.
Roessler
Kathryn and Daniel Ryan
$250 - $499
Mr. Eugene Arnould
Mr. Jon W. Balke
Dr. Theresa A. Birk
Mrs. Estela Hammond & Mr. Gilbert Hammond
Mr. John Hummel
Mr. Robert F. Izral
Mrs. Elizabeth A. Kammes & Mr. Andrew Kammes
Denny* & Carol Michalak
Mr. Mark Milz
Ms. Nicole Moffitt
Mr. James F. Sanders
Ms. Rebecca S. Satterfield & Mr. Robert Sellers
Dr. Mary Kathryne Wilders & Dr. Richard Wilders
$100 - $249
Mr. Daniel Alfrey & Mrs. Carol Alfrey
Mr. James R. Barnes
Leanne Barton
John C. Benischek
Mr. Doug Berggren & Mrs. Tricia Berggren
Ms. Jennifer L. Berosek
Ms. Erin Bishop
Ms. Pam Bland
Mr. Boychen Bradshaw & Ms. Kelly Bradshaw
Myron E. Brubaker
Mr. Donald M. Byrne
Mr. Keith Carlson &
Ms. Robyn Carlson
Mr. Jeffrey Coros & Mrs. Alma Coros
Ms. Renee L. Cruikshank-Ward
Mr. Alfred Davis
Ms. Michelle Dawson
Mr. Thomas W. Dekant
Ms. Rosanne A. Derango
Ms. Karen Hubert Dowling
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Engelhardt
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Gasperini
Mr. John E. Glessner
Mr. Donald A. Gottschlich
Ms. Susan K. Haa
Mrs. Sylvia Hardin & Mr. George Hardin
Mr. Stanley L. Harr
Mr. and Mrs. James E. Heup
Mrs. Martha A. Hirsch
Mrs. Ruth E. Husted & Mr. Orville Husted
Mr. Onur Kahveci
Mr. and Mrs. Garth Kennedy
Ms. Laima Kiliene
Mr. George Kordik & Mrs. Jeanne Kordik
Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey H. Lamont
Mr. Gregory Larsen & Mrs. Kristine Larsen
Mr. Larry Larson
Ms. Daphne C. Lee
Mr. Lyle E. Littlewood
Mr. Greg Lutter
Mr. John MacLeod & Ms. Judith MacLeod
Ms. Kathleen McCuen
Mrs. Jean McFarren & Mr. Thomas McFarren
Ms. Colleen McNulty
Mr. Alan Mendelssohn & Ms. Geraldine Mendelssohn
Ms. Karen Micatka
Mr. Gary Miko
Ms. Catherine Oberfoell
Mr. and Mrs. John Palter
Bev Patterson-Frier
Ms. Diana L. Raimond
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Rudey
Mr. Peter M. Sheaffer & Mrs. Julie Sheaffer
Ms. Tatiana Sifri
Ms. Avery A. Sipla
Ms. Maryellen J. Skerik
Mr. Daniel Sleezer
Mr. Jim Stoffregen
Ms. Karen A. Weitendorf & Mr. Norbert Weitendorf
Mrs. Vickie Witt & Mr. Mark Witt
Carmen Woodring
Dale & Lorrine Helm Wordelmen
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Zeller, Jr.
We appreciate your support of the arts at North Central College. The current 2023-2024 season will be the College’s final Presented Performance Series.
There will continue to be many ways to celebrate and experience music and the arts on our stages, including spectacular student and faculty performances and collaborations throughout the year, as well as our ongoing community partnerships.
AtBMOHarrisBank,wetakepride inourlocalcommunities.That’s why,eachyear,throughvarious sponsorshipsandcommunity involvement,wearecommitted toprovidingoursupport.
BMOHarrisBankisproudtosupport NorthCentralCollegeFine& PerformingArts.
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For ticket information, call the Box Office at 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit northcentralcollege.edu/show