Naperville’s North Central College announces its upcoming entertainment season with tickets now on sale

Tickets are on sale for North Central College’s upcoming performing arts season, which features a mixture of returning favorites and new performers, a variety of genres and talented college musicians, vocalists and actors.

The 2023-24 season runs from October to April.

Jennifer Berosek, associate director of fine arts, said some fan favorites will be returning this year, such as Chicago Sinfonietta’s annual tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 14.

“We always end up with a full house,” she said of the performance.

Another popular act, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will present its Wild and Swinging Holiday Party on Dec. 16, which is expected to be a great show, Berosek said. The longtime swing and jazz band perform fun and quirky arrangements of classic holiday songs as well as original music.

For children and families, TheaterWorks USA will be returning this year with a new show, “Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical,” on April 6. The musical is recommended for children in elementary school and is based on Dav Pilkey’s book series.

“TheaterWorks is a fantastic theater company,” Berosek said. “You know they will put on an excellent performance. It’s going to be a great production.”

While North Central College continues to bring back performers the community loves, it is also welcoming new artists to its theaters and the community can expect a diverse set of offerings.

In addition to “Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical,” other family-oriented shows include The Panto Company USA’s production of “Cinderella” on Oct. 28 and “The Let’s Go Science Show” on April 20.

Chords for Kids, a show in which wigglers are welcome, is a musical performance for children with autism and special needs performed by the North Central Concert Winds on March 2.

NCC musicians begin their season Oct. 6 with the always popular Homecoming Kickoff Concert, Berosek said.

The music department hosts three concerts in November, including jazz and big band concerts as well as two concerts in December.

The Gospel Extravaganza will take place Feb. 10 and the Winter Choral Festival will be held Feb. 21.

Jazz performances return March 1 and April 9 followed by spring winds, choral and orchestra concerts on April 10, 12 and 19.

North Central College fine arts students will perform “Pool (No Water)” Oct. 4, 5, 7 and 8.

The “Fusion: Fall Dance Production” will take place Oct. 21 and 22.

Other theater performances include “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” from Nov. 2 to 5; “A Devil Comes to Town” from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3; a co-production with The Neo-Futurists Theater from Feb. 1 to 4; a guest-directed spring musical from Feb. 29 to March 3 and “this is not the reunion” from April 11 to 14.

“They generate good crowds,” Berosek said of the student performances. “Parents, family, friends and the local community offer big support. The students put in so much work and effort throughout the year.”

Jonathon Lynch’s “The Baroque Cycle,” a one-woman musical theater piece that combines classical music with comedy, is set for March 3. Beat Goes On” starring Lisa McClowry as Cher on Jan. 27; and The Drifters on Feb. 17.

Jonathon Lynch’s “The Baroque Cycle,” a one-woman musical theater piece that combines classical music with comedy, is set for March 3.

HYPROV, an improv show with hypnosis starring Asad Mecci and Stephanie Courtney, who plays Flo from the Progressive commercials, will take place March 8. Mecci will put 20 random volunteers from the audience under hypnosis, and the show transitions to an improv-comedy extravaganza, Berosek said.

Holiday performances will include Frankie Avalon on Dec. 2 and local talent Erin Oechsel’s “Merry Musings: A Christmas Cabaret” on Dec. 3.

Berosek said the season offers a little something for everyone, including a wide variety of musical genres, theater productions, comedy shows and family performances.

“We are very excited for the season ahead,” Berosek said.

Patrons who buy tickets to three or more shows can save up to 20% by becoming a season subscriber. Individual performances and season subscriptions are on sale now.

For subscriptions, call the Box Office at 630-637-7469 or go to the Box Office at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave.

For more information, go to www.northcentralcollege.edu/show.

Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.