MAC Offers Gift Certificates for Last-Minute Holiday Shoppers

McAninch Arts Center (MAC) is happy to once again, to have the answer for everyone seeking that perfect gift for that hard-to-buy-for giftee.

"No matter how much we plan, it always seems we find ourselves in a quandary on one or two holiday gifts," says MAC director DiAna Martinez. "The MAC has the perfect solution with MAC Gift Cards. Of course this is also the great time to buy something for yourself and with 18 incredible shows hitting our stage in the coming months, there's plenty to choose from."

Gift suggestions include:

• For the thrill seeker - the breath-taking dazzle of America's original jazz Dance Company, Giordano Dance Chicago (Feb. 3) Finalist of NBC America's Got Talent, Illusionist and Psychic mystfier , Mike Super (March 4);
• For the hopeless romantics - the velvet sounds of "Frank...A Musical Journey: Rick Michel and his 12-Piece Orchestra" (Feb. 10); or the infectious fun of The Five Irish Tenors (Feb. 12);
• For political junkies - a side-splitting evening with the self-professed "equal opportunity offenders," The Capitol Steps (April 1);
• For the music lovers - give them the opportunity to meet award winning Nashville songwriters in an up close and personal evening with Music City Hit Makers;
• For "drama queens" - tickets to Buffalo Theatre Ensemble's upcoming plays, "Real People" or "Improbable Fiction."

A list of the shows remaining in the MAC's 2016-2017 season can be found below.

The McAninch Arts Center is located at 425 Fawell Blvd. on the campus of College of DuPage. Tickets can be purchased online at AtTheMAC.org, by phone at 630.942.4000 or in-person at the box office. MAC Gift cards purchased at the box office come in a special MAC envelope and can be purchased in any denomination by phone at 630.942.4000 or in person at the MAC box office. About the MAC

McAninch Arts Center (MAC) at College of DuPage is located 25 miles west of Chicago near I-88 and I-355, and houses three performance spaces (the 780-seat proscenium Belushi Performance Hall; the 236-seat soft-thrust Playhouse Theatre; and the versatile black box Studio Theatre), plus the Cleve Carney Art Gallery, classrooms for the college's academic programming and the Lakeside Pavilion. The MAC, now celebrating its 30th Anniversary, has presented theater, music, dance and visual art to more than 1.5 million people since its opening in 1986 and typically welcomes more than 75,000 patrons from the greater Chicago area to more than 230 performances each season.

The mission of the MAC is to foster enlightened educational and performance opportunities, which encourage artistic expression, establish a lasting relationship between people and art, and enrich the cultural vitality of the community. For more information about the MAC, visit AtTheMAC.org, facebook.com/AtTheMAC or twitter.com/AtTheMAC.

Established as a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit charitable organization in 1967, the College of DuPage Foundation raises monetary and in-kind gifts to increase access to education and to enhance cultural opportunities for the surrounding community. For more information about the College of DuPage Foundation, visit foundation.cod.edu or call 630.942.2462.

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McAninch Arts Center Performance Series Events January - May 2017:

The following performances and events take place in the MAC's Belushi Performance Hall...

National Theatre Live - Broadcast presentation, "War Horse" based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford
Thursday, Jan. 5, 7 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 8, 2 p.m.
$20

"War Horse" tells the tale of about a Devonshire farm boy and his prize horse who become separated by events in Europe. A smash hit from its first performance at the National Theatre in 2007, "War Horse" went on to win five 2011 Tony Awards including "Best Play.

Russian National Ballet Theatre - "Swan Lake"
Sunday, Jan. 15, 2 and 6 p.m.
$46 Youth | $56 Adult

The Russian National Ballet Theatre brings the popular classical ballet "Swan Lake" to the MAC with this lavish, full-scale musical production with a company of 50 dancers.

New Philharmonic presents "The Mikado"
Kirk Muspratt - Music Director and Conductor | Michael La Tour - Stage Director
Saturday, Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 29, 3 p.m.
$55 Adult

This comedic masterpiece of British political satire is set in a fictional Japanese locale where flirting is a capital crime and characters maneuver arranged marriages, disguises, jilted lovers, and greedy, inept government officials. Sung in English.

Theatreworks USA presents "Pete the Cat"
Friday, Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m.
Youth $12 | Adults $20
One hour in length, recommended for ages 3 and up

Jimmy and Pete, "the coolest cat ever" go on an adventure of friendship and inspiration in this musical adaptation of Eric Litwin's popular book. Features a post-show meet and greet with the cast and books available for purchase in the lobby.

Giordano Dance Chicago
Saturday, Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m.
$39 (B) | $49 (A)

"The 10 dancers in this company are fearless athletes with Olympian stamina"(Chicago Sun-Times). After the performance, 50 audience members will have to opportunity to join the company on stage for a ballroom dance master class (all skill levels welcome).

"Frank... A Musical Journey" Rick Michel and His 12-Piece Orchestra
Friday, Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m.
$45 (B) | $49 (A) | Gold Circle $56

Rick Michel returns to the MAC, this time with his full 12-piece orchestra, to commemorate Sinatra with new songs and stories, as well as some of his greatest hits.

The Five Irish Tenors
Sunday, Feb. 12, 2 p.m.
$49 (B) | $59 (A) | Gold Circle $69

Direct from Dublin and following in the footsteps of the great Irish tenor John McCormack, this quintet fuses Irish wit and boisterous charm, with lyricism, dramatic flair and operatic style.

Theatreworks USA presents "The Lightning Thief"
Friday, Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m.
Youth $12 | Adults $20
One hour in length, recommended for ages 8-12

Adapted from Rick Riordan's "The Lightning Thief," this high action stage adventure has been hailed as "...an action-packed musical with heroic battles and mythological beasties" (New York Post). The evening includes a post-show meet and greet with the cast and books available for purchase in the lobby.

"Seven Things I've Learned: An Evening with Ira Glass"
Saturday, Feb. 25, 8 p.m.
$69 B | $76 (A) | Meet & Greet $175

Ira Glass, host of NPR's award-winning "This American Life" talks shop.

Exclusive meet-and-greet with Glass before the show is $175 and includes meet-and-greet access and gold circle seating.

Mike Super 2.OH!
Saturday, March 4, 7:30 p.m.
$46 B | $52 (A) | Gold Circle $55

The winner of NBC's hit show "Phenomenon" and a top finalist on NBC's "America's Got Talent" is back by popular demand for an evening of all new magic.

Exclusive meet-and-greet with Mike Super before the show. Only 20 tickets available. Tickets are $150 and includes meet-and-greet access and show ticket.

The High Kings
Friday, March 10, 8 p.m.
$36 (B) | $39 (A) | Gold Circle $49

Repeatedly named Ireland's "Folk Band of the Year," The High Kings have sold out hundreds of shows in both Ireland and the US, made numerous TV appearances, recorded three studio albums and one live album and achieved platinum status with their first two albums.

Black Violin
Saturday, March 11, 7:30 p.m.
$40 (B) | $46 (A) | Gold Circle $50

Black Violin is a duo who has blended classical, hip-hop, rock R&B and bluegrass music, breaking music stereotypes. "They play with the intense seriousness of orchestral soloists... fiddle as if at a hoedown... strum the violin and viola like guitars," says the New York Times.

World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra
Sunday, March 19, 2 p.m.
$36 (B) | $39 (A) | Gold Circle $46

Experience the unique swinging sound of this legendary band with favorites including "In the Mood," "Moonlight Serenade," "Pennsylvania 6-5000" and "Rhapsody in Blue."

Capitol Steps
Saturday, April 1, 4 and 8 p.m.
$42 (B) | $44 (A) | Gold Circle $49

For more than 30 years, Capitol Steps have been putting politics and scandal to music. They're sure to have plenty of great new material to usher in our new president.

New Philharmonic Presents "ENCORE!"
Kirk Muspratt - Music Director and Conductor | David Taylor - Violin
Saturday, April 8, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 9, 3 p.m.
$49 Adult

Taylor performs the Lalo concerto, the piece that prompted Tchaikovsky to compose his violin concerto and is an exquisite taste of Spain. Saint-Saens' ingenious use of piano, two and four hands and organ brought a fresh approach to the symphonic form and showcases the MAC's new organ.

Music City Hit-Makers
Friday, April 28, 7:30 p.m.
$48 Adult

The most famous people you've never heard of. Music City Hit-Makers fuses Nashville Grammy Award-winning songwriters and a band comprised of top studio musicians with the artistry of a live symphony orchestra.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra presents Once Upon a Symphony - "The Bremen Town Musicians"
Sunday, May 7, 1:30 and 3:15 p.m.
$14 Youth | $16 Adult

When four farm animals are told they are no longer needed to work on The Farm, they set off for the town of Bremen, where they dream of becoming musicians. Once Upon a Symphony is a program of the Negaunee Music Institute at the CSO created specifically for the CSO's youngest audience members.

The following performances will take place in the MAC's Playhouse Theatre...

Buffalo Theatre Ensemble Presents "Good People" by David Lindsay-Abaire
Feb. 3 - March 5; Thursday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m.
Preview: Thursday, Feb. 2
$35 Adult

The New York Post hails comedy-drama set in an old South Boston neighborhood as "poignant, brave and almost subversive in its focus on what it really means to be down on your luck." Contains adult themes and language.

Buffalo Theatre Ensemble Presents "Improbable Fiction" by Alan Ayckbourn
May 5 - June 4; Thursday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m.
Preview: Thursday, May 4
$35 Adult

Sharp comedy and affectionate satire characterize this zany play where imagination becomes reality to offer a peek into the creative process of a writer. Contains adult themes and language.

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