The Last Five Years

The Last Five Years
By Jason Robert Brown
Produced by Amelia McNeil
Music Direction by Scott Uddenberg

Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years illustrates the relationship struggles between an aspiring actress, Cathy, and a successful novelist, Jamie. This musical takes on a unique structure, as Jamie tells his side of the story chronologically, while Cathy tells the story in reverse.

This production is presented with the permission of Music Theatre International.

Showtimes:

• Thursday, September 21 at 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, September 22 at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, September 23 at 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, September 24 at 2:00 p.m.

Peter/Wendy

Peter/Wendy
By Jeremy Bloom
Directed by Angelina Hermiz

In this lyrical, atmospheric interpretation of Peter Pan, Jeremy Bloom strips the familiar story down to its emotional essence. Peter lures Wendy away from her nursery to the magical world of Neverland, where she joins his adventures with Tinker Bell, Tiger Lily, and the menacing Captain Hook. A low-tech, inventive adaptation that pays homage to the darker themes of J. M. Barrie’s original, Peter/Wendy will mesmerize audiences of all ages.

This production is presented with the permission of Playscripts, Inc.

Showtimes:

• Thursday, October 12 at 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, October 13 at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, October 14 at 2:00 p.m.
• Saturday, October 14 at 7:00 p.m.

What You Will, or Twelfth Night

What You Will, or Twelfth Night
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Andrew Behling

Viola has been shipwrecked upon the shores of the Kingdom of Illyria. She must re-invent herself to survive in a strange new world wherein the whirligig of time, romance, gender, indulgence and ambition are cooking up chaotic and comedic storms of mistaken identities that will throw everything into question.

Showtimes:

• Thursday, November 9 at 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, November 10 at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, November 11 at 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, November 12 at 2:00 p.m.
• Thursday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, November 17 at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, November 18 at 7:00 p.m.

An Evening of Dance

Join us in the Mill Theatre for an early winter celebration of dance with our end-of-term dance concert! Work featured includes choreography of faculty and students—in fact, student choreography is among the highlights of this fall term! Performances include solos, duets and small and large group ensembles representing various genres ranging from tap and ballet to jazz and modern/contemporary.

Showtimes:

• Saturday, December 9 at 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, December 10 at 7:00 p.m.

Middle Eastern Dance Recital and Concert

Members of the Elmhurst University class, Middle Eastern Dance Through History to Today, will share both dance and percussion performances. The evening will feature diverse dances of what is called MENAT: Middle East, North African and Turkic Countries—including Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Saudi Arabian Gulf and more.

Friday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m.
Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel

Admission is free: All are encouraged to donate 4-5 nonperishable food and paper goods to support People’s Resource Center, serving all in DuPage County with food support needs.

Light Opera Workshop

Sunday, January 28 at 3:00 p.m.
Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel
Admission is free

The Lifespan of a Fact

Showtimes:

• Thursday, February 1 at 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, February 2 at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, February 3 at 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, February 4 at 2:00 p.m.

Legally Blonde: The Musical

Legally Blonde: The Musical
Music and Lyrics by Nell Benjamin and Laurence O’Keefe
Book by Heather Hach
Directed by Erik Wagner
Music Direction by Scott Uddenberg
Choreography by Amy Lyn McDonald

Elle Woods is smart, popular, has the perfect boyfriend, and impeccable taste in clothes, but that’s not enough to get her into Harvard Law. Through hard work and a deep belief in herself, and a touch of bend and snap, she wins the case against preconceived judgments holding you back from doing whatever you want to accomplish. Since its premiere on Broadway in 2007, through world tours and a live production for MTV, audiences have been in love with its endearing characters and magnetic positivity. Music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe (Heathers, Bat Boy) and Nell Benjamin (Mean Girls) and book by Heather Hach (Freaky Friday). Based on Reece Witherspoon’s comedy film, this lively musical is non-stop fun from sorority initiation to graduation.

This production is presented with the permission of Music Theatre International.

Showtimes:

• Thursday, March 7 at 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, March 8 at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, March 9 at 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, March 10 at 7:00 p.m.
• Thursday, March 14 at 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, March 16 at 2:00 p.m.

An Evening of One-Act Plays

Showtimes:

• Saturday, May 4 at 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, May 5 at 7:00 p.m.

An Evening of Dance

Join us in the Mill Theatre for a spring celebration of dance with our end-of-term dance concert! Work featured includes choreography of faculty and students—in fact, student choreography is among the highlights of this spring term! Performances include solos, duets and small and large group ensembles representing various genres ranging from tap and ballet to jazz and modern/contemporary.

Showtimes:

• Saturday, May 11 at 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, May 12 at 7:00 p.m.

God of Carnage

By Yazmina Reza
Translated by Christopher Hampton
Directed by Janice Pohl

Expectations go sideways in Yazmina Reza’s God of Carnage. Two sets of parents meet to sort out the aftermath of fight between their 11 year old sons. This sharply-crafted play challenges us right where we live – and right at the heart of what we may think we stand for. Civility? Compromise? Is there justice available in the modern world – or are we still Neanderthals at the core?

(A note about the change in production titles: busy schedules prompted a shift in our seasons. God of Carnage is presented instead of the previously scheduled Men in Boats. We hope you’ll join us!)

This production is presented with permission of Dramatists Play Services.

Showtimes:

• Thursday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, April 19 at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, April 20 at 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m.
• Thursday, April 25 at 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, April 26 at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, April 27 at 2:00 p.m.

An Evening of One Acts

• Saturday & Sunday, May 13 & 14, 7:00 p.m.

An Evening of Dance

• Saturday & Sunday, May 6 & 7, 7:00 p.m.

The Imaginary Invalid

• Thursday-Saturday, April 20, 21 and 22, 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday, April 23, 2:00 pm
• Thursday-Saturday, April 27, 28 and 29, 8:00 p.m.

Silent Sky

By Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Laura Matthews

The true story of 19th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt explores a woman’s place in society during a time of immense scientific and heart-bound discoveries. With music and math bursting forth onstage, Henrietta and her female peers change the way we understand both the heavens and Earth. This show is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing/Dramatists Play Service.

• Thursday-Saturday, March 2, 3 and 4, 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday, March 5, 2:00 pm
• Thursday-Saturday, March 9, 10, 11, 8:00 p.m.

Schoolhouse Rock Live!

The Elmhurst Department of Theatre and Dance presents our spring production of Schoolhouse Rock Live!

Showtimes:

• Wednesday, Feb. 8; Thursday, Feb. 9; Friday, Feb. 10; and Saturday, Feb. 11: 8:00 p.m.

Evening of Dance

• Saturday–Sunday, Dec. 10–11, 7:00 p.m.
  Theatre at the Mill

New Play Workshop and Festival

Playwrights: Henry Anderson, Finley Hopman, Josephine DeCataldo, Blake Macias, Patch Flammang, Rebekah Seidman, Grace Geschwandner, Grace Wadsworth

• Saturday–Sunday, Dec. 3–4, 7:00 p.m.
  Theatre at the Mill

Puffs

Or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic

By Matthew Cox
Directed by Lexi Colatorti

Thursday–Saturday, Nov. 10–12, 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 13, 2:00 p.m.

“You all know the story about the certain boy wizard who went to a certain Wizard school … the boy who lives … he has a scar on his forehead, shaped like … you know … you get it? You are familiar with this boy? Well, forget about him. This story is not about him. This story is about the Puffs who just happened to be there too—a story for anyone who has never been destined to save the world.”

So begins an irreverent parody of an overly-familiar set of books and creative property. While it cannot be named, the parody takes no prisoners and takes all sorts of creative, rude, and comical jabs. Not for the delicate of sensibilities nor the younger audience, this language and humor, but it is definitely good for a couple hours of therapeutic laughter.

This production is student-directed and -designed, in keeping with Elmhurst University’s commitment to developing student leadership in theatre practice.

“Puffs (Two Act Edition)” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
www.concordtheatricals.com

The Spitfire Grill

Music and book by James Valcq
Lyrics and book by Fred Alley
Based on the film by Lee David Zlotoff

Directed by Andrew Behling
Music Direction by Scott Uddenberg
Choreography by Amy Lyn McDonald

Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 29, 30, and Oct. 1 at 8:00 p.m.
Thursday through Saturday, Oct 6, 7 and 8 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 9 at 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $5 for students; $10 for faculty, staff and seniors; $15 for general admission.

How do you make a new start? A young parolee pursues hers in a small Wisconsin town. The Spitfire Grill, a musical based on the 1996 film of the same name, offers a glimpse of small-town life, strong coffee, and compelling stories. THE SPITFIRE GRILL is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals.

An Evening of Dance

Join us in the Mill Theatre for a spring celebration of dance with our end-of-term dance concert!

Work featured includes choreography of faculty and students—in fact, student choreography is among the highlights of this Spring Term! Performances include solos, duets, and small and large group ensembles representing various genres ranging from tap and ballet to jazz and modern/contemporary.

• Tickets may be purchased online through our marketplace for $5.
• Tickets may also be reserved by emailing [email protected].

To minimize congestion at the box office in the lobby, seating will not be reserved but will be general admission.

Performances are Saturday, May 14, and Sunday, May 15, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. To help support more vulnerable members of our extended audience family, we hope to live-stream one Evening of Dance performance. (With respect to royalty issues, we do not anticipate uploading an on-demand recording.)

Evening of One Acts

Explore a range of distinct theatrical moments.

Students of the directing class will each stage a short one-act play. Come enjoy the work of directors Angelina Hermiz, Lindsay Janicki, Alexa Nastasi, and Alexa Williams—and the work of their collaborative production teams! Performances are Saturday, May 7, and Sunday, May 8, 2022, at 8:00 p.m.

• Tickets may be purchased online through our marketplace for $5.
• Tickets may also be reserved by emailing [email protected]

To minimize congestion at the box office in the lobby, seating will not be reserved but will be general admission.

The Theory of Relativity

Music & Lyrics by NEIL BARTRAM
Book by BRIAN HILL

Directed by Janice Pohl
Music Direction by Scott Uddenberg
Choreography by Amy Lyn McDonald

“Originally Produced by Goodspeed Musicals, East Haddam, CT”

What happens when a theory about the relationships of light, mass, and energy intersects with a song cycle?

Composer Neil Bartram and writer Brian Hill answer that question with the delightfully original musical The Theory of Relativity. Their clever songs, quirky and personable characters, and interwoven stories deliver a delightful evening of musical theatre. Join us in the Mill Theatre to celebrate what we have learned to treasure so deeply over the past two years:  our connections to each other.

The Musical was presented at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s Festival of New Musicals in 2015.

Performances:

• Thursday–Saturday, March 31–April 2, 2022, at 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday, April 3, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.
• Thursday–Saturday, April 7–9, 2022, at 8:00 p.m.

Or reserve tickets at the Mill Theatre Box office: [email protected] or (630) 617-3005.

THEORY OF RELATIVITY is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).  All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

The Bear

BY ANTON CHEKHOV
DIRECTED BY MICHAEL MANOCCHIO
ADAPTED AND DEVISED BY THE ENSEMBLE

Yelena Popova has locked herself away to spend the rest of her days grieving the untimely death of her husband. Her mourning, however, is interrupted when her late husband’s debts bring the desperate collector Grigory Smirnoff to her door. He demands payment immediately to save his estate from foreclosure, but Popova must wait two days for her steward to arrive before she will have the funds. This seemingly simple disagreement spirals into an explosive debate when Smirnoff refuses to leave until he is paid, and can eventually only be resolved through violence. Popova is perfectly ready to duel it out with pistols—just as soon as Smirnoff teaches her how to use them.

This hilarious and bizarre battle of the sexes from one of history’s great dramatists is brought into the 21st century with a new production that asks if we can ever escape our seemingly endless day-to-day performances—of grief, of etiquette, and of gender.

Tickets may be purchased directly online through our box office marketplace link. Tickets may also be reserved by contacting our box office at [email protected] or (630) 617-3005.

To provide opportunities for audience distancing, as well as to minimize congestion at the box office in the lobby, seating will not be reserved but will be general admission.

The Bear will be presented without intermission.

Performances are:

• Thursday–Saturday, Feb. 3–5, 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday, Feb. 6, 2:00 p.m.
• Thursday–Saturday, Feb. 10–12, 8:00 p.m.

New Play Workshop and Festival

Announcing a call for playwrights and those eager to stretch their writing muscle:  we have an event for you. We welcome students, staff, faculty, and alums to participate as writers in the workshops.

6-10 playwrights will write ten-minute plays under the mentorship of Dr. Lance Wilcox and Dr. Janice Tuck-Lively.  Writing workshops will be held on campus.  Preparation? Character ideas and a situation.  Must attend all three workshops in order to have your play performed in the festival.

Also announcing a call for actors:  the two person plays crafted call for actors to participate in a first reading, a rehearsal with the revised script, and two staged readings for an audience.  (For the safety of audience and performers, cast members must be vaccinated.)

Andrew Behling and Michael Manocchio will direct.

Evening of Dance

Join us in the Mill Theatre for a fall celebration of dance with our end-of-term dance concert!

Work featured includes choreography of faculty and students. Performances include solos, duets, and small and large group ensembles representing various genres ranging from tap and ballet to jazz and modern/contemporary.

We are very excited to welcome audiences into our theatre space. For the health and safety of all members of the audience and of the performers, we ask everyone to wear masks. Due to the number of performers in the theatre spaces, dancers will also be masked with the exception of one singer.

Tickets may be reserved at [email protected].

To minimize congestion at the box office in the lobby, seating will not be reserved but will be general admission.

Performances are Saturday, Dec. 11, and Sunday, Dec. 12, at 7:00 p.m. To help support more vulnerable members of our extended audience family, we hope to live-stream an Evening of Dance performance. (With respect to royalty issues, we do not anticipate uploading an on-demand recording.)

Follow us on social media for updates.

• Facebook
• Instagram

The Life of Galileo

By Bertolt Brecht
Directed by Andrew Behling

Galileo Galilei hears of a new invention — the telescope — and builds one for himself. In doing so, he uncovers evidence for our actual place in the universe and sparks a dangerous dispute with the supposedly indisputable powers that be. Brecht’s parable explores the battle between belief and reason and how the pursuit of truth, when passed down through generations, can win out over even the greatest of foes.

Performances are:

• Thursday to Saturday, Nov. 11 to 13, at 8:00 p.m.
• Thursday to Saturday, Nov. 18 to 20, at 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 21, at 2:00 p.m.