Fall Performing Arts 2024 by Wednesday Journal

Fall Performing Guide Arts 2024

What's Inside

Chicago a cappella | Comedy Plex

Dominican Performing Arts

International Mansion

La Caccina

North Riverside Players

Oak Park Concert Chorale

Robert's Westside

The Symphony of OPRF

Trinity High School

On the cover: Sones de Mexico Ensemble, photo provided by Dominican Performing Arts

Music Meets Movement: Chicago a cappella presents “Lamentations” feat. Ballet 5:8

Chicago a cappella kicks off its 2024/25 season in September with Lamentations, a concert exploring themes of displacement, longing, and rebuilding. The program features an innovative collaboration between CAC’s ten singers and ﬁve dancers from Ballet 5:8, presenting a modern interpretation of Thomas Tallis’ Lamentations of Jeremiah A performance will take place on Saturday, October 5, at 7:30 PM at Grace Episcopal Church in Oak Park, with additional performances in Chicago, Evanston, and Naperville from September 27 to October 6.

The program’s ﬁrst half includes traditional folk songs, Wayfaring Stranger and Farewell to Nova Scotia, arranged by CAC Artistic Director John

William Trotter, alongside Renaissance masterpieces by Palestrina and Victoria. Russian composer Pavel Chesnokov’s Spaseniye and contemporary works by Sarai Hillman and Saunder Choi round out the ﬁrst half. Hillman’s Psalm 59:16: Refuge and Safety and Choi’s The New Colossus highlight CAC’s commitment to new choral voices.

The second half features Tallis’ Lamentations, performed with choreography by Ballet 5:8’s Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager. The program concludes with O Lux Beatissima by Howard Helvey, evoking themes of light after darkness. Tickets range from $38 to $48, with student and Pay What You Can options available. For more information and tickets, visit chicagoacappella.org

LAMENTATIONS

Songs of yearning for home, including an evocative collaboration with Ballet 5:8 on Thomas Tallis’ Lamentations of Jeremiah

SATURDAY | OCT. 5 | 7:30 PM

Grace Episcopal Church | 924 Lake St.

Additional Performances Sep. 27 – Oct. 6 in Chicago, Evanston, and Naperville

Women’s Choir Presents Joan of Arc Concert on November 2

La Caccina, a 9-member treble vocal ensemble that champions and performs diverse, innovative repertoire for women’s voices, will present The Lark, the ﬁrst concert of its 13th season, at Grace Episcopal Church in Oak Park on Saturday, November 2 at 7:00 pm. As part of a season-long exploration of visionaries - those who see past their present circumstances to imagine a world of greater justice, equity, and peace - this program honors the legendary courage and determination of Joan of Arc. The concert is centered around Leonard Bernstein’s The Lark, newly-arranged for treble voices by Artistic Director Carling FitzSimmons. To complement Bernstein’s iconic music, La Caccina sings pieces by Carlos Cordero, Darius Lim, Marie-Claire Saindon, Marques L. A. Garrett, and others, as well as a premiere commission from Venezuelan composer/conductor Mariana Romero Serra.

FitzSimmons, who grew up in Oak Park, is thrilled to be performing in her hometown. “Oak Park is such an arts-rich community,” she says, “and I had many opportunities to hear and make beautiful music growing up here. To perform with my own ensemble in a place that fostered my love of music in the ﬁrst place is a dream.”

La Caccina will return to Grace Episcopal Church in March for the second concert of the season, Francesca & Friends.

Season subscriptions available now at www.lacaccina.org/season. Single tickets go on sale October 1; student and community discounts will be available.

BBobby’s Eastside is your new favorite Cocktail Bar!

obby’s Eastside is the newest addition to Robert’s Westside.

Robert’s Westside was founded and is operated by Donnie Biggins, a lifelong Oak Park and Forest Park resident. You are familiar with his prior work booking the American Music Festival, keeping music alive during the pandemic by curating community pick-up truck & drive-in concerts and programming the annual Oaktoberfest in Downtown Oak Park.

Conveniently located inside Robert’s, Bobby’s Eastside offers a full service bar featuring handmade cocktails, craft beers and premiere non-alcoholic drinks to provide something for all patrons.

Bobby’s Eastside offers free concerts, board games, your favorite sports teams on our TVs, and is available for private events. Like Robert’s, Bobby’s Eastside is another option for families to

gather for milestone achievements and celebrations of life, as well as a space offered to the community for non-profit fundraisers and mutual aid benefits.

We do not serve food, however outside food is welcome. We encourage you to order takeout from our neighboring restaurants and meet up with friends before you catch a show on the mainstage at Robert’s.

Our hours of operation are Wednesday - Sunday. Open @ 3PM on W/TH/F and 11AM on Saturday & Sunday. Happy Hour runs from 4pm - 6pm on W/TH/F.

New Festival Alert: Weekend @ Bobby’s on Friday October 25th & 26th. Come experience two unforgettable nights of live music featuring 12 bands, two stages, themed Halloween costume contests + Ghosts Of Rockstars Past Lip Sync Contest! For information on all our events, visit www.robertswestside.com

Dominican University Performing Arts Center: Where Creativity Soars and Passion Meets Purpose

Located in the heart of River Forest, the Dominican University Performing Arts Center (DUPAC) stands as a dynamic cultural hub where worldclass performances meet community engagement. Guided by Dominican University’s mission to participate in the creation of a more just and humane world, DUPAC’s programming reflects this commitment in every performance, concert, and family-friendly event it presents.

Family-Friendly

Programming for All Ages – DUPAC takes pride in offering performances and events that appeal to audiences of all ages. The center curates a wide range of experiences, from captivating theater productions to lively musical concerts, designed to entertain, inspire, and educate. Families seeking an afternoon of fun or an evening of cultural enrichment will find a welcoming atmosphere at DUPAC, where the magic of live performance can be shared by all generations.

Affordable and Accessible – Access to the arts is a cornerstone of DUPAC’s mission. Affordable ticket prices, PayWhat-You-Can options, and free summer concerts, ensure families and individuals from all walks of life can experience the transformative power of the arts without financial strain.

Convenient Location and Free Parking

– DUPAC’s convenient location on the beautiful campus of Dominican University makes it easily accessible from both downtown Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Visitors appreciate the ease of attending events without the typical hassles associated with city venues. The added benefit of free parking ensures a stress-free experience from arrival to departure, making an evening or afternoon at DUPAC even more enjoyable.

Exciting Programs That Inspire – Each season, DUPAC offers an exciting lineup of programs that not only entertain

but also reflect Dominican University’s mission of social justice and community building. From thought-provoking plays and concerts by renowned musicians to vibrant community events, the center is a place where creativity truly soars. The programs aim to engage audiences in meaningful ways, encouraging both reflection and celebration. Every event at DUPAC is designed to be more than just entertainment—it’s an opportunity to feed the soul and inspire positive change.

An Invitation to Experience DUPAC – Whether for art lovers, families, or individuals seeking an affordable cultural experience, the Dominican University Performing Arts Center offers something for everyone. Here, creativity and purpose come together in ways that inspire and uplift, fostering a deeper connection to the community and to the world. Visitors are invited to experience DUPAC for themselves, where the combination of programming, affordable pricing, convenient location, and free parking creates an unmatched environment for the arts.

At DUPAC, where creativity soars and passion meets purpose, every performance is an opportunity to participate in something bigger—an experience that enriches both the mind and the spirit. For a list of upcoming programs and performances visit events. dom.edu.

Dominican University

Performing Arts Center

7900 W. Division Street River Forest, IL 60305

(708) 488-5000 • boxoffice@dom.edu

Private Lessons for Music, Languages, Academic Tutoring, Theater, Voice, Audition Prep, Karate, Comic Art and more!

$150 oﬀ registration fee if used before Sep 30th

The Wedding Singer takes us back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up and a wedding singer might just be the coolest guy in the room. Based on the hit Adam Sandler movie, The Wedding Singer’s sparkling new score does for the ‘80s what Hairspray did for the ‘60s. Just say yes to the most romantic musical in twenty years!

Performances:

October 4 at 7:30pm • October 5 at 7:30pm

TheWeddingSinger takes us back to a time when hair was big, greed was collars were up and a wedding singer might just be the coolest guy in Based on the hit Adam Sandler movie, TheWeddingSinger's new score does for the '80s what Hairspray did for the '60s. Just say yes to the most romantic musical in twenty years!

Presented by

October 6 at 2:30pm • October 11 at 7:30pm October 12 at 7:30pm • October 13 at 2:30pm

October 4 at 7:30pm

Theater is located at

Scheck Village Commons

October 5 at 7:30pm

2401 S. DesPlaines Ave., North Riverside, IL 60546

October 6 at 2:30pm

October 11 at 7:30pm

October 12 at 7:30pm

October 13 at 2:30pm

ANNOUNCING OUR 2024-2025 CONCERT DATES:

Sunday, October 13

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY

Sunday, December 15

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY

Sunday February 16

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY

Monday, April 28

SYMPHONY CENTER

Sunday, June 8

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY

Go to https://tinyurl.com/24useyzr for subscriptions to our four Sunday Concordia location concerts 1124 Bonnie Brae Place, River Forest SC tickets go on sale 3/1/2025.

g our 30

TheWeddingSinger takes us back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up and a wedding singer might just be the coolest guy in the room. Based on the hit Adam Sandler movie, TheWeddingSinger's sparkling new score does for the '80s what Hairspray did for the '60s. Just say yes to the most romantic musical in twenty years!

Scheck Village Commons 2401 S DesPlaines Ave North Riverside, IL 60546 Theater is located at

We reserve the right to release unpaid reservations 5 minutes before show time.

We will hold tickets at box ofﬁce unless self-addressed, stamped return envelope is included.

Order

7:30pm

October 6 at 2:30pm October 11 at 7:30pm October 12 at 7:30pm October 13 at 2:30pm

FALL EVENTS:

Fall Choir Festival: October 10 • 7pm

Fall Band & Orchestra Concert: October 23 • 7pm

Orchestra Festival: November 20 • 7pm

Fall Play: Shakespeare in Love November 14-16 • 7pm November 17 • 2pm

City, State, Zip

All events are in Riverside Brookﬁeld High

Paul Laprade, Artistic Director & Conductor

Choral group has a new artistic director after 23 years and bestowed an honorary position for conductor emeritus

Paul Laprade is an award-winning conductor, lecturer, and teacher of choral music and music theory/composition. He is a graduate of Eastman School of Music and Westminster Choir College with multiple music degrees. He is director of music of the New England Congregational Church in Aurora, artistic director of Tutti Voce Collective in Joliet, and president of the Illinois American Choral Directors’ Association.

Founded in 1981, Oak Park Concert Chorale is a classical choral ensemble that specializes in both a cappella and accompanied performances. Our new artistic director and conductor, Paul Laprade, will continue to foster the traditions lovingly cultivated by Paul Lindblad during his many years of tenure: classical a cappella music, premiering works by local composers, and music education. Paul Laprade will seek to continue improving and expanding the sound, choral programming and singing membership of OPCC.

In appreciation of his 43 years of commitment to OPCC, the Board of Directors bestowed upon Paul Lindblad the honorary title of conductor emeritus. We appreciate his advice and guidance and look forward to his participation in future concerts by conducting one of the program selections.

We hope you will join us for our Christmas concert A Feast of Carols:

A Festive Concert in Honor of Paul Lindblad on November 24 at 4pm at St John Lutheran Church in Forest Park. Hear a concert of unique settings of classic carols, from arrangers old and new, to

Paul Lindblad has been with OPCC since its inception in 1981, and the chorale’s director since 2001. Trained at Concordia University Chicago, where he received his undergraduate and master’s degrees, he has done extensive studies in organ performance, vocal technique, and conducting, including with international Kodály music education specialist Katinka Daniel. In 2024 he stepped down from OPCC, which bestowed on him the title of conductor emeritus.

bring the season to light in our hearts and minds. The program includes Elizabeth Poston’s setting of the early American carol Jesus Christ the Apple Tree. We will premiere three exciting carol settings by Paul Lindblad-O Radiant Dawn, Harvey Hahn-In the Bleak Mid-Winter, and Paul Ayres-This is the Truth Sent from Above, as well as the ﬁrst performance of a lovely MagniﬁcatandNunc Dimittis from the archives of Carl Schalk. We look forward to having you join us for this festive performance. Watch our website in mid-October for updates and a link to Eventbrite to purchase advance tickets. (oakparkconcertchorale.org/concerts)

Auditions for spring semester take place on Saturday December 14 between 10am-1pm

If you love to sing, consider auditioning to join us for our spring semester that starts January 7, 2025 with a concert on Sunday April 6 titled Death, Prophesies, and Spirituals. For more details, please ﬁll out our online audition request form or email us. Alternate audition dates can be arranged.

oakparkconcertchorale.org/concerts

oakparkconcertchorale.org/auditions

OPCC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-proﬁt organization partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, and a grant from Oak Park Area Arts Council, in partnership with the Village of Oak

and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Park, the Illinois Arts Council Agency

Paul Lindblad, Conductor Emeritus