McAninch Arts Center

There's a beauty to music that the New Classic Singers will exemplify in their concert "Beauty" on Saturday, March 13, at the McAninch Arts Center at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn.

The 8 p.m. concert will feature guest artists John Floeter, string bass, Michael Buckwalter, French Horn, and regular NCS pianist William Buhr, with founder and director Lee Kesselman conducting.

The McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage has added “Loud and Rich: Loudon Wainwright III and Richard Thompson” to the current season.

The concert, featuring the fan favorites, is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, April 17. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13.

A darkly witty and touchingly personal songwriter and storyteller, Loudon Wainwright III is one of America’s most cherished music icons. He has recorded more than 20 albums, acted in a long list of productions, from “M.A.S.H.” to the “40-Year-Old Virgin,” and has created music for film and theater. This year brought him a 2010 Grammy Award for his album “High Wide & Handsome — the Charlie Poole Project.”

Richard Thompson is founder of British musical pioneers Fairport Convention and was named by “Rolling Stone” as one of the top 20 guitarists of all time. He’s created critically acclaimed music both as a solo artist and through collaborations.

For more information, call the MAC Ticket Office at (630) 942-4000, or visit: www.atthemac.org.

Award-winning singer and recording artist Gavin Coyle comes to the McAninch Arts Center for a benefit performance at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, in Glen Ellyn.

Coyle will be accompanied by Paul Burgess on the keyboards and together they will perform holiday favorites from both the U.S. and Ireland. The concert is a partnership between the People's Resource Center and the arts center at the College of DuPage, and it will benefit the resource center.

Tickets are $25 and available by calling (630) 942-4000 or by going online to www.atthemac.org.

The People's Resource Center is a non-profit organization that helps those in need in DuPage County with such services as their food pantry and clothes closet, emergency rent/mortgage assistance and empowerment programs to break the cycle of poverty including computer training and access, literacy and art classes and job search assistance.

Performer Dee Dee Bridgewater has a spiritual connection to jazz legend Billie Holiday. At first, it was unsettling for Bridgewater — until she embraced it. Now, she celebrates the infamous “Lady Day” in her own way and in her own voice. Bridgewater performs “To Billie With Love: A Celebration of ‘Lady Day’” on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn. She will perform songs off her upcoming album that will be a tribute to the life and music of Holiday.

Dee Dee Bridgewater. SUBMITTED PHOTO

A smidgen of soul music, a fragment of folk, and a drop of rhythm and blues make up the melting pot musical stylings of Sisters in Soul. The group performs on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn. Solo recording artists Marcia Ball, Bettye LaVette and Maria Muldaur make up the soulful trio, each bringing their respective and award-winning sound to performances. Ball, who grew up in Louisiana, is all about that New Orleans rhythm and blues.  

(l to r) Bettye LaVette, Maria Muldaur and Marcia Ball make up the voices of Sisters in Soul. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Mop Top Mania comes to Glen Ellyn’s McAninch Arts Center. Beatles tribute act The Fab Four kicks off the center’s 2009-2010 season of entertainment with a performance on Saturday, Sept. 12. The all ages show will feature Ron McNeil (John Lennon), Ardy Sarraf (Paul McCartney), Michael Amador (George Harrison) and Rolo Sandoval (Ringo Starr) portraying the British boy band and singing such hits as “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “I Want To Hold Your Hand.” McNeil says many people don’t realize the effort that goes into portraying the Beatles -- from the vocals to their appearance and even, the British accent.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

With glowing reviews from everyone from George Harrison’s sister to Monty Python’s Eric Idle, The Beatles tribute band, “The Fab Four,” brings the best of mop top mania to the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage with an 8 p.m. performance Saturday, Sept. 12, in Glen Ellyn.

Concert organizers say the players are known for their attention to detail as they perform record-perfect renditions of The Beatles’ most popular hits. Musicians Ron McNeil (John), Ardy Sarraf (Paul), Michael Amador (George) and Rolo Sandoval (Ringo) present a myriad of the quartet’s hits, such as “Please Please Me” to “The White Album.” From their vocals to the smallest detail, including Sarraf’s left-handed playing as Paul, the quartet pays homage to one of the world’s most beloved bands.
 
For ticket information, call the MAC Ticket Office at (630) 942-4000 or visit www.atthemac.org. The center is at 425 Fawell Blvd.

Club MAC, the intimate, cabaret series launched in 2006 at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, returns for the 2009-2010 season with a host of new artists spanning folk, bluegrass, a contemporary string quartet, blues and even a jug band.

All Club MAC performances begin at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the 200-seat Theatre 2, where patrons get closer to the action in a setting with limited division between audience and stage. With a choice between traditional theater seats and cabaret tables, concert-goers can enjoy wine and other refreshments while taking in the performers.