2009-10 Season

Emerald City Theatre Company presents
If You Take a Mouse to School
Based on the popular series that began with If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, this “world premiere” adaptation follows the hijinks of a young boy who brings a mouse to school. Throw your homework in a backpack, run to catch the bus, and get ready for a day of adventure like no other. Recommended for all ages.
Saturday, September 12, 3 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
$7 general admission; $5 children under 12; $4 group rate

Music In Person Series: Benjamin Verdery Concert
Guitar virtuoso Benjamin Verdery is an ’American original,” according to The New York Times. Chair of the Guitar Department at Yale University School of Music, Verdery has released more than a dozen acclaimed classical recordings and performed throughout the world with artists including John Williams, Leo Kottke, and David Russell.
Sunday, October 4, 2 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
$5 general admission; $3 students and seniors

Don’t miss
Benjamin Verdery’s free “Master Class”
Saturday, October 3, 6 p.m.

The American Pilot by David Greig
A staged reading directed by Charlene Acasili
When his plane crashes in a distant land divided by civil war, an injured pilot finds his fate being debated by the local rebel leader and a group of villagers. One side argues that ransom would financially benefit their cause. Others advocate for the pilot’s execution, as a way to elevate the conflict to the world stage. This dark comedy explores the dehumanizing influence of civil and global discord on its coincidental victims.
Saturday, October 10, 8 p.m.
Sunday, October 11, 2 p.m.
Studio One Theater, Des Plaines campus
$8 general admission

Honey Brown Eyes by Stefanie Zadravec
(MIDWEST PREMIERE)
Directed by Margaret Knapp
In Bosnia circa 1992, two soldiers in two different kitchens try to recover some of what they’ve lost during the war. A Serbian paramilitary officer faces the consequences of his own brutality, while a Bosnian resistance fighter, crippled by the limits of his own courage, seeks refuge with a kindred soul. This emotionally charged play explores the disastrous effects of conflict, not just on nations, but on each of us individually.
Thursday, October 15, 8 p.m. ($5 Preview)
Friday, October 16, 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 17, 8 p.m.
Sunday, October 18, 2 p.m.
Thursday, October 22, 8 p.m.
Friday, October 23, 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 24, 8 p.m.
Sunday, October 25, 2 p.m.
Studio One Theater, Des Plaines campus
$10 general admission; $8 students and seniors; $6 group rate

Jazz Lounge
Chill out in the Performing Arts Center’s transformed “Lakeview Lounge.” Enjoy an evening of jazz standards—and a few surprises—performed by Oakton students under direction of Carey Polacek.
Friday, October 30, 8 p.m.
Performing Arts Center Lobby, Des Plaines campus
$5 general admission; $3 students and seniors

Brunch and Concert Series: Say It With Music
Master vocalist Eileen Berman and special guests return for this popular brunch and concert series. From Mozart and Rachmaninoff to Gershwin and Rodgers and Hart, your appetite for delicious food and delightful music is certain to be satisfied.
Sunday, November 1, 1 p.m.
TenHoeve Center, Des Plaines campus
$25, includes brunch buffet. No discounts apply. Reservations required.

Smash by Jeffrey Hatcher
Directed by Mary Ringstad
Twenty minutes after saying, “I do,” millionaire socialist Sidney Trefusis abandons his bride, fearing that his passion for her will inhibit his efforts to overthrow the British government. He takes up hiding at a girls’ finishing school, hoping to sow impressionable young minds with the seeds of radicalism. This plan hits a snag, however, when one enthusiastic rabble rouser falls hopelessly in love with Sidney and his politics.
OPENING NIGHT BENEFIT
Saturday, November 14, 8 p.m.
Tickets are $20 and include post-show party.
Proceeds benefit Oakton student scholarships.
Thursday, November 12, 8 p.m. ($5 Preview)
Friday, November 13, 8 p.m.
Saturday, November 14, 8 p.m.  (Opening night benefit)
Sunday, November 15, 2 p.m.
Thursday, November 19, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, November 20, 8 p.m.
Saturday, November 21, 8 p.m.
Sunday, November 22, 2 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus .
$12 general admission; $10 students and seniors; $8 group rate

Storytellers: We Have More in Common Than You Think
Join artist-in-residence Arif Choudhury—storyteller, filmmaker, and stand-up comic—as he shares a tapestry of stories about growing up in one of the Chicago area’s few Bangladeshi-Muslim families. Focusing on issues of ethnic and religious identity, immigration, assimilation and diversity, Choudhury explores the humor in how we think about and relate to one another. Don’t miss this intimate and important event showcasing what the Chicago Tribune called “kernels of universal relevance.”
Sunday, December 6, 2 p.m.
Studio One, Des Plaines campus
$5 general admission

Choral Recital
Selections of popular Broadway shows including Rent, Miss Saigon and Phantom of the Opera, as well as classical compositions by Schubert and Dvorak, highlight this celebratory vocal extravaganza. The Oakton Community Choir, featuring student soloists, performs under the direction of Eileen Berman. 
Thursday, December 10, 8 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
Free admission

Jazz Invasion
The legendary Oakton Jazz Band is now under the direction of Mr. Bob Evans — and they're better than ever! Featuring piano, drum and saxophone soloists, the group turns out timeless tunes by Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Oliver Nelson and Horace Silver. If you dig jazz, you’ll dig Jazz Invasion.
Friday, December 11, 8 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
$5 general admission; $3 students and seniors

Christmas with Rudolf
Back by popular demand! What better way to spend the holidays than with popular family entertainer Dave Rudolf? Whether elves have placed your name on Santa’s “naughty” or “nice” list, Rudolf’s interactive show offers something for everyone, from jolly parodies including “Candy Cane Twist’ and ’Frosty the Slow Man,’ to traditional songs of the season. Recommended for all ages. 
Saturday, December 12, 3 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
$7 general admission; $5 children under 12; $4 group rate

Guitar Recital
Six-string serendipity makes this one of the North Shore's most unique musical events. Oakton guitar students showcase their talent under the direction of Tom Clippert, a Yale University School of Music graduate who has performed with the Northwest Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Northwest Chicago String Quartet, L'Opera Piccola, CUBE and Heartland Voices. 
Sunday, December 13, 2 p.m.
Studio One Theater, Des Plaines campus
Free admission

The Chicago Bar Association presents
I'm a Lawyer, Get Me Out of Here!
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 and celebrity newsmakers of the past year. Enjoy a post-performance party at this one-night-only event. All proceeds support the Student Scholarship Fund.
Saturday, January 30, 8 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
$50
For reservations call 847.635.1893.

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
There are two sides to every story. According to Mr. Alexander Wolf, he was baking a cake for his granny and, as neighbors might do, called on the Three Little Pigs to borrow a cup of sugar. A poorly-timed sneeze, however, resulted in disaster. This hilarious account was called the “Funniest Book of the Year” by Publishers Weekly.
Saturday, February 6, 3 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
$7 general admission; $5 children under 12; $4 group rate

Jazzin’ Around
Join the standing ovation for members of the Oakton music faculty as they join forces to burn off the cold weather and create a delightfully warm evening of jazz favorites.
Friday, February 12,  8 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
$5 general admission; $3 students and seniors

Beast on the Moon by Richard Kalinoski
A staged reading directed by Therese Trevias
This gripping and strange romance tells the story of a husband and his mail-order bride struggling to escape the dark shadows of the Armenian holocaust. As they fight to define family – and a new life in Milwaukee – these unlikely strangers realize a deeper love than ever imagined. Recently presented in 12 languages in 17 different countries, this play is the recipient of five French Tony Awards.
Saturday, February 27, 8 p.m.
Sunday, February 28, 2 p.m.
Studio One, Des Plaines campus
$8 general admission

Play On Festival
Play On features a variety of original one-act plays written and submitted by Illinois community college students as part of a statewide playwriting competition. Proceeds from this event support the Performing Arts Scholarship Fund.
Saturday, March 13, 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 14, 2 p.m.
Studio One, Des Plaines campus
$10 general admission; $5 students and seniors

The Tempest by William Shakespeare
Directed by Kathleen Carot
Privilege and ambition are explored with an innovative blend of poetry and technical wizardry in this feminist interpretation of Shakespeare’s enchanting romance. Be carried away in the storm along with a group of wealthy, powerful men to a remote island inhabited by Prospero, his daughter Miranda, and the enslaved Ariel and Caliban. The island’s original inhabitants collide with shipwrecked newcomers in a fury of intersecting truths, transformation, and renewal.
Thursday, March 25, 8 p.m.
Friday, March 26, 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 27, 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 28, 2 p.m.
Thursday, April 1, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 2, 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 3, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
$12 general admission; $10 students and seniors; $8 group rate

Six Piano Ensemble Celebrates 30th Anniversary
Join us for two special birthday concerts celebrating the only group of its kind in the world. Formed in 1980 and comprised of talented students selected through a rigorous audition process, the Six Piano Ensemble performs favorites from the classical, ragtime and popular songbooks, with original arrangements by founder and conductor Glenna Sprague, professor and coordinator of the music program at Oakton. The rich, layered sound of the Six Piano Ensemble is comparable to that of an orchestra, with each member playing a different part of a composition as the melody transfers from pianist to pianist. Hearing is believing.
Saturday, April 24, 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 25, 3 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
$17 general admission; $14 students and seniors; $12 group rate

Fiddler on the Roof
Based on stories by Sholem Aleichem, with special permission from Arnold Perl.
Book by Joseph Stein; Music by Jerry Bock; Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Directed by John Frisco
Experience all of the songs you love, the laughter you remember, and the tenderness you cherish – closer than ever been before. We’ve taken away the big orchestra and cavernous theater to present the acclaimed music, dancing, and energy of this 45-year tradition in a very intimate setting. Join Tevye as he struggles to find a future for each of his five daughters while balancing faith with the difficulties of a new world in Tsarist Russia. Never has an audience been so much a part of this miracle of miracles.
Thursday, April 29, 8 p.m.
Friday, April 30, 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 1, 8 p.m. (SOLD OUT)
Sunday, May 2, 2 p.m.
Thursday, May 6, 8 p.m.
Friday, May 7, 8 p.m.*
Saturday, May 8, 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 9, 2 p.m.
Thursday, May 13, 8 p.m.
Friday, May 14, 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 15, 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 16, 2 p.m.
Studio One, Des Plaines campus
$10 general admission; $8 students and seniors; $6 group rate

*Friday, May 7, 8 p.m. Special Benefit Performance to support Oakton student scholarships.
Tickets are $20 and include post-show party.

Choral Recital
Student vocalists, under the direction of Eileen Berman, welcome the warmth of spring in this audience favorite. Join us for an afternoon of song, from the classics to contemporary fare.
Thursday, May 13, 8 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
Free admission

Jazz Invasion
If you love jazz, it’s time to prepare for the invasion! Join Robert Evans, director of the Oakton Jazz Band, for his first highly anticipated spring concert of big band favorites.
Friday, May 14, 8 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
$5 general admission; $3 students and seniors

Guitar Recital
Cutting-edge guitar and bass students, under the direction of instructor Tom Clippert, present an afternoon of classical, contemporary, and original music performed by combos, duets and soloists. Don’t miss this intimate afternoon of sensational strings!
Sunday, May 16, 2 p.m.
Studio One, Des Plaines campus
Free admission

Emerald City Theatre presents
Peter Pan
Neverland beckons as Peter Pan and Wendy encounter spirits, mermaids and a ticking crocodile while trying to defeat the nefarious Captain Hook! This musical by Alyn Cardarelli and Steve Goers – the team behind Emerald City favorites How I Became a Pirate and Cinderella – is sure to capture the imagination of little pirates and fairies everywhere.
Saturday, May 22, 3 p.m.
Footlik Theater, Des Plaines campus
$7 general admission; $5 children under 12; $4 group rate

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.