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News Briefs

NIU School of Theatre presents ‘Life is a Dream’

DeKALB – The Northern Illinois University School of Theatre and Dance will present its production of the Pedro Calderòn de la Barca play “Life is a Dream.”

The performance will feature staged fights, cast member interaction and live music, according to a news release. It also includes beautiful, heightened language, spoken primarily in English, with bits of Spanish, Polish and Russian.

Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, and Friday, Feb. 17, and 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, in the Sally Stevens Players Theatre in the NIU Stevens Building.

A pre-show discussion will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, in the Stevens Building, DeKalb, according to a news release. It will feature Kerry Wilks, dean of the NIU Graduate School, Kathleen Costales, associate professor of Spanish at the University of Dayton, and Alejandra Juno Rodrguez Villar, associate professor of Spanish at Hanover College.

A question and answer period will be held following the performance with Wilks, Burningham, Costales, Rodriguez, the show’s director, cast and designers.

Tickets for “Life is a Dream” cost $7 for adults and seniors and free for NIU students. To buy tickets, visit niu.edu/ theatre.

NIU STEM Cafe explores the science behind flirting Feb. 15

DeKALB – The next Northern Illinois University STEM Cafe will explore the science and motivation behind flirting.

The STEM Cafe will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Fatty’s Pub and Grille, 1312 W. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, according to a news release.

Admission is free and and open to the public. Registration is required to attend.

The featured speaker will be David Henningsen, Ph.D., NIU professor of organizational and corporate communication.

To register, visit go.niu.edu/stemcafe.

Event planned to celebrate Give DeKalb County anniversary

DeKALB – Arcomusical will host its annual Transformation Through Rhythm Concert fundraiser to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Give DeKalb County.

The concert will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, in the DeKalb High School auditorium, 501 W. Dresser Road, according to a news release.

Admission is free.

Proceeds from the concert will benefit the 2023 Give DeKalb County Bonus Pool and 140 nonprofit organizations based in and serving the county.

Music will be performed by local percussion groups including the Harambee Ensemble, the DeKalb High School Percussion Ensemble, the Northern Illinois University Percussion Ensemble and Arcomusical. Donations will be collected digitally and in person at the concert.

Arcomusical is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to spread the joy of the Afro-Brazilian musical bow through the development of innovative and excellent musical repertoire.

For information, visit arcomusical. com/.

Mary K. Roberts Scholarship accepting applications

SYCAMORE – Old National Bank is accepting scholarship applications for the bank’s Mary K. Roberts Scholarship Foundation.

The scholarships are available to Sycamore High School graduates for the 2023-24 academic year, according to a news release.

The one-year term scholarship is available to students who are enrolled full-time at a duly accredited four-year college or university. Primary consideration will be given to students majoring in social work, sociology, nursing or special education. Secondary consideration will be given to students majoring in human development, family studies, kinesiology, speech and hearing sciences, applied health professions, community health, pre-physical therapy, health sciences, family and child studies or similar programs.

Application forms and materials are available through the SHS guidance office. All completed application materials and supporting documents must be mailed or dropped off no later than Saturday, April 15, to the Old National Bank Sycamore office, 230 W. State St., Sycamore.

The foundation was founded by the late Mary K. Roberts, an employee of the Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago for 45 years. She retired in 1970 and lived in Sycamore until her death in 1988. The foundation has awarded $793,886 in scholarships since 1998.

For information, visit the SHS guidance office or write to the Mary K. Roberts Scholarship Foundation at Old National Bank, 230 W. State St., Sycamore.