Northwestern's 2010 Summer Music Theatre Fest To Feature Broadway Stars & More

The 2010 Summer Music Theatre Festival at the Theatre and Interpretation Center at Northwestern University kicks off in June with an overview.

The season begins with a Summer Music Theatre Festival 2010 Preview (June 10) that is open to the public. Reservations are required for the free event that includes a reception and sample of songs from festival productions. Audiences also will have an opportunity to meet American Music Theatre Project (AMTP) at Northwestern University Executive Director Dominic Missimi, theatre department chair Rives Collins, and festival directors and cast members.

The festival continues with "Capathia Jenkins and Louis Rosen in Concert: The Ache of Possibility" (June 25 to 27), three concert performances of jazz, blues, soul, pop and folk songs from the artists‘ three recent albums.

Other festival productions will include "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" (July 1 to Aug. 8); the new musical "Not Wanted on the Voyage" (July 15 to Aug. 8), presented in partnership with AMTP; and several performances related to this year's annual Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project, including a Songwriter's Showcase (Aug. 6), "Behind the Scenes with Stephen Schwartz" (Aug. 7) and "A Celebration of Stephen Schwartz" (Aug. 7), a star-studded event celebrating the award-winning composer of "Wicked," "Pippin" and "Godspell" for his mentorship of young songwriters.

In addition to the Summer Music Theatre Festival, Hedwig Dances, the resident dance company at the Chicago Cultural Center, will perform three works (June 5) during a concert celebrating the contemporary dance ensemble's 25th anniversary season.

Also June 5, Northwestern's department of performance studies will present recitals created and performed by three doctoral candidates.

All performances are open to the public and will take place in venues on Northwestern's Evanston campus, as noted.

Subscriptions and single tickets to festival events are on sale through the Theatre and Interpretation Center Box Office at (847) 491-7282, online at
http://www.tic.northwestern.edu or at the door prior to each performance. Admission to other June events is as noted.

JUNE 2010 MUSIC THEATRE EVENTS

Summer Music Theatre Festival 2010 Preview, 5 p.m. Thursday, June 10, Josephine Louis Theater, 20 Arts Circle Drive. Audiences are invited to celebrate the start of the Summer Music Theatre Festival 2010 with a sneak preview of songs from festival productions -- including the newest musical from the American Musical Theatre Project (AMTP), "Not Wanted on the Voyage," and the all-ages classic "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." Hosted by AMTP Executive Director Dominic Missimi and theatre department chair Rives Collins, the preview will include special appearances by members of the 2010 festival casts and creative teams. Light refreshments will be served starting at 4:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public; because seating is limited reservations are required. For reservations, call (847) 491-7282.

"Capathia Jenkins and Louis Rosen in Concert: The Ache of Possibility," 8 p.m. Friday, June 25; 8 p.m. Saturday, June 26; and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 27, Josephine Louis Theater, 20 Arts Circle Drive. Jenkins is a jazz and pop vocalist and Broadway musical actress. Rosen is an award-winning songwriter, guitarist and pianist. Together, they are breaking new ground in a concert mix of smart, sexy songs from their three recent albums, including their latest, "The Ache of Possibility." Whether the words are by Rosen or African-American icons such as Nikki Giovanni, Langston Hughes or Maya Angelou, the music offers a thrilling blend of jazz, blues, soul, folk and pop styles. Jenkins and Rosen will be joined by virtuoso bassist Dave Phillips. Single tickets are $30 for the general public; $27 for seniors 65 and older, Northwestern faculty and staff and area educators and administrators; and $10 for full-time students. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. Contact the TIC Box Office at (847) 491-7282.

DEPARTMENT OF PERFORMANCE STUDIES EVENT

Performance Studies Ph.D. Recitals, 7 p.m. Saturday, June 5, Hal and Martha Hyer-Wallis Theater, Theatre and Interpretation Center, 1949 Campus Drive. The program will feature solo performances created and performed by Northwestern University doctoral candidates Elias Krell, Mbongeni Mtshali and Nikki Yeboah. Admission is free.

JUNE 2010 DANCE EVENT

Hedwig Dances 25th Season Celebration, 8 p.m. Saturday, June 5, Marjorie Ward Marshall Dance Center's Ballroom Theater, 10 Arts Circle Drive. Hedwig Dances, a contemporary dance theatre ensemble, celebrates 25 years with a concert of three works. The dances, choreographed by Susan Marshall, Andrea Miller and Michel Rodriguez, blend choreography with sculptural artifacts, ephemeral images and haunting music, and feature Fellini-esque characters on a journey from a circus tent to a dream-like realm. Hedwig Dances, the dance company in residence at the Chicago Cultural Center, has performed more than 1,500 times at venues throughout the Chicago area, including the Ravinia Festival, the Dance Center of Columbia College and the Athenaeum Theater. Tickets are $20 for the general public; and $10 for seniors and students with ID. For tickets, visit www.hedwigdances.org. Tickets also will be sold at the door prior to the performance. Seating is limited.

NORTHWESTERN NEWS: www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/.

Photo Credit: Linda Lenzi

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