2011-12 Season

Friends of the Gamelan
With roots stretching back to the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago, this unique group of musicians, playing together since 1980, brings the traditional music of south Asia to life with a rich and diverse repertoire, from centuries-old traditional Javanese compositions to contemporary works.
Saturday, September 10, 8 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
$8 general admission; $5 students and seniors

Music in Person Series
Frederic Hand and Roddy Ellias
Join Grammy-nominated and Emmy-winning composer Frederic Hand and Roddy Ellias, one of Canada’s most respected jazz guitarists, for two days of guitar virtuosity culminating in a concert that showcases their talent. Hand, who serves as the Metropolitan Opera’s guitarist and lutenist, teaches at the Mannes College of Music, Purchase College at the State University of New York, and Bennington College. Ellias serves as associate professor at Concordia University in Montreal and writes music for the Ottawa Guitar Trio, of which he is a founding member.
Saturday, September 17, at 8 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
$10 general admission; $7 students and seniors

Master Classes
Each of these award-winning musicians will lead a separate master class — a unique opportunity to work with and learn directly from these world-renowned artists!
Roddy Ellias ~ Friday, September 16, 3 p.m.
Frederic Hand ~ Saturday, September 17, 3 p.m.
Free admission

Children of a Lesser God
By Mark Medoff
Directed by Marti Lyons
When James Leeds arrives to teach lip-reading at a school for the deaf, he meets the troubled Sarah Norman: school dropout, deaf from birth, and estranged from the world of hearing.  Gradually they fall in love and marry, seemingly bridging the gulf of silence between them. But Sarah’s militancy regarding rights for the deaf — and her hostility toward any hint that she is being patronized or pitied — sows seeds of discord. Is the chasm between the worlds of sound and silence too great to cross? Winner of the Tony Award for best play.
Thursday, October 27, 8 p.m.
Friday, October 28, 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 29, 8 p.m.
Sunday, October 30, 2 p.m.
Thursday,  November 3, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, November 4, 8 p.m.
Saturday, November 5, 8 p.m.
Sunday, November 6, 2 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
$12 general admission; $10 students and seniors; $8 group rate

Razzle Dazzle Musical Brunch
Master vocalist Eileen Berman and special guests are back by popular demand for this always sold-out brunch and concert series. From Mozart, Gershwin, and Rachmaninoff to Rodgers and Hart, come hungry for delicious food and deliriously delightful music – and be Razzle Dazzled!
Sunday, November 13, 1 p.m.
TenHoeve Center, Des Plaines campus
$25 includes brunch buffet. No discounts apply. Reservations required.

Jazz Lounge
Relax in the transformed Lakeview Lounge and chill out with the unique personalities and musical tastes of Oakton jazz students in this intimate setting. Drinks and snacks accompany this unforgettable evening of smooth jazz standards and a few surprises.
Friday, November 18, 8 p.m.
Performing Arts Center Lobby
$5 general admission; $3 students and seniors

ArtsPower National Touring Theatre presents
Hans Brinker's Christmas
Hans and Gretel are too poor to hire a doctor to help their ailing father. But the annual Christmas ice-skating race offers a chance for prosperity: the winner receives a pair of silver skates! When the nephew of the wealthy, elitist town doctor joins the competition, brother and sister face real challenges – but the holiday spirit prevails in the end. ArtsPower’s musical, based on Mary Mapes Dodge’s classic novel, is sure to warm the heart and bring a festive touch to the season.
Saturday, November 19, 3 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
$7 general admission; $5 children under 12; $4 group rate

The Winter Noteworthy Festival
A week-long celebration of Oakton’s talented student performers and outstanding music faculty, featuring traditional recitals and concerts.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus

• String Ensemble
  Join student ensembles and soloists, under the direction of Daniel Golden, for a program featuring familiar classics and stimulating selections from around the globe.
  Monday, November 28, 8 p.m.
  $3 general admission

• Vocal Recital
  Voice students directed by Eileen Berman, a performing member of Oakton’s music faculty, present an evening of classic and contemporary song favorites.
  Wednesday, November 30, 8 p.m.
  $3 general admission

• Choral Recital
  Classical and contemporary selections, including Broadway favorites, highlight this performance of the Oakton Community Choir, directed by Eileen Berman.
  Thursday, December 1, 8 p.m.
  $3 general admission

• Jazz Invasion
  Enjoy big band jazz standards in this audience favorite!  The legendary Oakton Jazz Band, under the direction of Robert Evans, performs timeless classics by Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Horace Silver, and more.
  Friday, December 2, 8 p.m.
  $5 general admission; $3 students and seniors

• Guitar Ensemble
  Six-string sorcery makes this one of the North Shore’s unique events. Oakton guitar students showcase their talent under the direction of Tom Clippert, a member of the Avanti Guitar Trio and graduate of Yale University School of Music.
  Sunday, December 4, 2 p.m.
  $3 general admission 

Urinetown
Music by Mark Hollmann
Directed by Jason Fleece
Lyrics by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis
Book by Greg Kotis
An uproariously funny award-winning musical, Urinetown is a tale of greed, corruption, love, and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold. In a Gotham-like city, the terrible water shortage caused by a 20-year drought has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. Citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs. But one hero decides he's had enough, and plans a revolution to lead his people to freedom!
Thursday, December 8, 8 p.m.
Friday, December 9, 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 10, 8 p.m.*
Sunday, December 11, 2 p.m.
Thursday, December 15, 8 p.m.
Friday, December 16, 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 17, 8 p.m.
Sunday, December 18, 2 p.m.
Studio One, Des Plaines campus
$10 general admission; $8 students and seniors; $6 groups

*BENEFIT NIGHT
Saturday, December 10, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $20
Proceeds support the Performing Arts Scholarship Fund

Jazzin’ Around
Don’t miss this annual audience favorite! Oakton music faculty members – joined by the Loyola Academy Jazz Band, combine forces to burn off the winter cold and create a delightfully warm evening of jazz favorites – from Duke Ellington to Dizzy Gillespie.
Friday, January 27, 8 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
$5 general admission; $3 students and seniors

LawLawPalooza
Singing, dancing, and hilarity ensue during this musical parody presented by the Chicago Bar Association. No one is spared as top legal minds satirize political, sports, and show business celebrities. Enjoy a post-performance party at this one-night-only event. Proceeds support student scholarships.
Saturday, January 28, 8 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
Tickets $50. For reservations call 847.635.1893.

Dave Rudolf’s Beach Party
Looking for a way to warm up your winter? Do the limbo, pick up a hula hoop, join a conga line, jump rope, blow some bubbles, and listen to some great summer-time music with this Grammy-nominated entertainer—winner of multiple Parent’s Choice Awards!
Saturday, February 4, 3 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
$7 general admission; $5 children under 12; $4 group rate

Oleanna: A Staged Reading
By David Mamet
This controversial drama about a university professor accused of sexual harassment by his female student is a seething investigation of “political correctness.” Over the course of three acts, John, who is on the brink of tenure, and Carol, his student, become embroiled in a power struggle and a war of words—leading to a shocking conclusion. The New York Times noted, “Oleanna is likely to provoke more arguments than any play this year.”
Saturday, February 18, 8 p.m.
Sunday, February 19, 2 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
$8 general admission

Kita Y Fernanda
By Tanya Saracho
Directed by Kathleen Carot
A timely look at class, immigration, and women’s friendships, this Jeff-nominated play tells the tale of Fernanda, the privileged daughter of a wealthy Mexican family living in Texas, and Kita, the child of the family’s undocumented Mexican maid. When a chance meeting during an immigration march in Chicago brings the women together after many years, it prompts a flood of memories about growing up in the same household, the friendship they shared, the complicated relationships they had with their mothers, and the tensions created by their different circumstances.
Thursday, March 1, 8 p.m. ($5 preview)
Friday, March 2, 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 3, 8 p.m.*
Sunday, March 4, 2 p.m.
Thursday, March 8, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 9, 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 10, 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 11, 2 p.m.
Studio One, Des Plaines campus
$10 general admission; $8 students and seniors; $6 groups

*BENEFIT NIGHT
Saturday, March 3, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $20 and include post-show party.
Proceeds support the Performing Arts Scholarship Fund

Six Piano Ensemble
Conducted by Glenna Sprague
This year, the Six Piano Ensemble is proud to honor Beatriz Levi, who is celebrating 25 years as a member of the group. Founded by Glenna Sprague, Oakton professor and coordinator of music, the Six Piano Ensemble—comprised of adult students chosen through a highly selective audition process—performs classical, ragtime, and popular music transcribed for six pianos by Professor Sprague. The rich, layered sound of the Ensemble is comparable to that of an orchestra as the melody transfers from pianist to pianist. It’s the only group of its kind in the world, hailed by critics from Vienna to Honolulu as “extraordinary,” “unique,” and “innovative.”
Saturday, April 28, at 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 29, at 3 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
$17 general admission; $14 students and seniors; $12 group rate

Speech Showcase
Don’t miss this golden opportunity to hear Oakton’s speech students showcase their public speaking skills—and play an important role in their class experience.
Tuesday, May 1, 8 p.m.
Wednesday, May 2, 8 p.m.
TenHoeve Center, Des Plaines campus
Free admission

Richard III
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Mary Ringstad
The machinations of the deformed villain, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, made this story of war, power, and blind ambition an Elizabethan favorite. Determined to be king, Richard ruthlessly eliminates anyone who stands between him and the throne, executing his younger brother; hastening the death of his older brother, the king; imprisoning and then assassinating his young nephews, heirs to the throne; even murdering his wife. But those who live by the sword die by the sword, and Richard faces his greatest challenge at the Battle of Bosworth Field.
Thursday, May 3, 8 p.m. ($5 preview)
Friday, May 4, 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 5, 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 6, 2 p.m.
Thursday, May 10, 8 p.m.
Friday, May 11, 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 12, 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 13, 2 p.m.
Studio One, Des Plaines campus
$10 general admission; $8 students and seniors; $6 groups

The Spring Noteworthy Festival
A week-long celebration of Oakton’s talented student performers and outstanding music faculty, featuring traditional recitals and concerts.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus

• String Ensemble
  Join student ensembles and soloists, under the direction of music instructor Daniel Golden, for a program of familiar classics and stimulating selections from around the globe.
  Monday, May 7, 8 p.m.
  $3 general admission

• Vocal Recital
  Voice students directed by Eileen Berman, a performing member of Oakton’s music faculty, present an evening of classic and contemporary song favorites.
  Wednesday, May 9, 8 p.m.
  $3 general admission

• Choral Recital
  Welcome warmer weather with some bright notes in this annual recital series favorite. Oakton’s vocal students, under the direction of Eileen Berman, perform a modern and traditional repertoire of songs.
  Thursday, May 10, 8 p.m.
  $3 general admission

• Jazz Invasion
  Celebrate longer days, more sun, and lots of fun with this highly-anticipated spring jazz concert. Under the direction of music instructor Robert Evans, the legendary Oakton Jazz Band will perform big band favorites from every era.
  Friday, May 11, 8 p.m.
  $5 general admission; $3 students and seniors

• Guitar Ensemble
  Oakton’s classical guitar and bass students play contemporary and original pieces under the direction of music instructor Tom Clippert, member of the Avanti Guitar Trio and graduate of Yale University School of Music.
  Sunday, May 13, 2 p.m.
  $3 general admission

Jim Gill Family Concert
Welcome spring with a dance party your kids will never forget! Every Jim Gill concert creates a joyful musical experience for parents and children together, filled with songs and stories. Sing, jump, clap, and even sneeze along with this award-winning musician and author.
Saturday, May 12, 3 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
$7 general admission; $5 children under 12; $4 group rate

Play On Playwriting Festival
Now in its fourth year, Play On is the only festival in the state featuring a variety of original one-act plays written and submitted by Illinois community college students as part of a statewide playwriting competition. Proceeds benefit the Performing Arts Scholarship Fund.
Tuesday, July 24, 8 p.m.
Wednesday, July 25, 8 p.m.
Thursday, July 26, 8 p.m.
Studio One, Des Plaines campus
$10 general admission; $5 students and seniors

For ticket information, call the Oakton Box Office at 847.635.1900.
Seating is at the discretion of the house manager. Seating in Studio One is on a first-come, first-served basis.