Building CHICAGO: Thank You Crew!

Often building, painting, lighting, creating soundscapes, running video feeds, and costuming late into the night or on weekends once the actors have gone home, the Crew of CHICAGO is at the heart of a successful production. When the curtain goes up, the stage is illuminated, the instrumentalists begin to play, and the actors make their entrance, it's easy to forget the dozens of dedicated thespians who dedicate their time and talents as members of various Crews (Scenic, Lighting, Sound, Costumes, Props, Run), or the student Stage Managers and Crew Heads who organize and supervise this critical work. 

Near the end of Act 1, Velma sings "I Can't Do It Alone," which is wonderfully apropos given the fact that without the tireless work of our Crew, the show literally could not, and would not, take place. When the Crew does their jobs correctly, you never see them, and audience members completely forget about them because - through the magic of theatre - you have been transported. 

Thank you to each and every member of the CHICAGO Crew, for your incredible work, and providing all the "Razzle Dazzle" that makes all of our DGN Theatre productions shine!  

DGN Theatre Presents: CHICAGO (March 9, 10 & 11)

March 9, 10 & 11

7 PM

Downers Grove North High School

4436 Main Street - Downers Grove, IL

Advance ticket purchase encouraged!

DGNTHEATRE.COM

DGN Musicians Find Success at 2023 State Contest

Downers Grove North High School student musicians participated in the Illinois High School Association State Solo and Ensemble Contest on March 4, 2023.

37 music events from Downers Grove North High School earned a Division I rating of SUPERIOR.  A Division I score is categorized as “A Superior Performance – outstanding in nearly every detail.”  Three of North High's Division I soloists received perfect scores. In addition, seven music events from Downers Grove North High School garnered a Division II rating of OUTSTANDING.  A Division II score is categorized as “An excellent performance – only minor defects.”

“Preparing for a Solo and Ensemble contest is a great opportunity for our students to express their individualism as soloists and to develop team-work skills with small ensembles,” said Brayer Teague, Fine Arts Department Chair at North High.  “We’re very proud of all our students who entered the state contest this year.  They did a terrific job representing North High with their musicianship.”

The following North High Music Events received a “Division I—Superior” rating:

Audrey Anderson, Violin Solo

Kirsten Anderson, Flute Solo

Peter Anderson, Trumpet Solo

Bryan Attika, Trombone Solo

Grace Avila, Horn Solo

Shannon Casey, Horn Solo

Stephen Cecil, Viola Solo (*)

Marc Contreras, Horn Solo

Isabel Eide, Flute Solo

John Fioti, Trombone Solo

Pallavi Fisher, Violin Solo

Audrey Graves, Viola Solo

Robert Huth, Cello Solo

Charlie Janka, Oboe Solo

Hannah Janka, Horn Solo

Sadie Kearney, Flute Solo

Hannah Keefer, Clarinet Solo

Ella Knickerbocker, Violin Solo

Juliana Kolatek, Clarinet Solo

Ava Kuether, Violin Solo

Ethan Martin,Tuba Solo (*)

Caleb McCloud, Violin Solo (*)

Colleen Milos, Oboe Solo

Nicole Moravec, Violin Solo

Joaquin Orellanna, Violin Solo

Aarush Palli, Flute Solo

Avery Pawlak, Euphonium Solo

Adam Pearson, Trombone Solo

Holden Peckenpaugh, Double Bass Solo

Addison Potter, Violin Solo

Erin Tamasi, Flute Solo

Julia Toth, Horn Solo

Allison Waden, Oboe Solo

Ethan Weingust, Bassoon Solo

Isabel Eide, Sadie Kearney, Erin Tamasi - Flute Ensemble

Bryan Attika, John Fioti, Owen Hardage, Ethan Martin, Adam Pearson, Griffin Sullivan - Mixed Brass Ensemble

Stephen Cecil, Joshua Ho, Robert Huth, Nicole Moravec, Holden Peckenpaugh - String Ensemble

* - Perfect Score

Two DGN Events received "Best of Day" awards from an adjudicator:

Ensemble: Bryan Attika, John Fioti, Owen Hardage, Ethan Martin, Adam Pearson, Griffin Sullivan

Solo: Hannah Janka, Horn

The following North High Music Events received a “Division II—Excellent” rating:

Natalie Folkening, Cello Solo

Claire Gustis, Flute Solo

Samantha Hansen, Flute Solo

Natalie Lamar, Flute Solo

Sarah Lampsa, Violin Solo

Mara Neil Violin, Solo

Jared Waden, Trombone Solo

National Arts in Education Week Winner Enjoys 'Into The Woods'

Senior Claire Gustis, winner of our "National Arts in Education Week" Celebration Grand Prize, claimed her prize this weekend as she attended Paramount Theatre's production of Stephen Sondheim's "Into The Woods." Congratulations Claire, and we hope you enjoyed the show!

CHICAGO Tickets Now on Sale; Select Your Seats in Advance!

DGN Theatre is proud to present the 2023 DGN All School Musical: CHICAGO. Performances are scheduled March 9, 10 & 11 (7 PM).

Tickets may be purchased in advance using the GoFan website. All seats are reserved, and patrons may select their seats using a standard computer web-browser. (Note: specific seat selection is not available on mobile OS; please use a computer when purchasing tickets.)

For Tickets, Please Visit:

DGNTHEATRE.COM 

This production contains adult themes not suitable for young children. 

Gina Wych Named New DGN Fine Arts Department Chair

February 28, 2023 -- Downers Grove, Ill. -- The District 99 Board of Education has approved the hiring of Gina Wych to serve as the next fine arts department chair at North High School in Downers Grove, effective July 1. Wych will succeed Brayer Teague, who has served in the role since 1993 and is retiring at the end of this school year.

Wych currently serves as a music teacher at Minooka Community High School District 111, where she teaches four concert bands as well as the marching band and jazz band. She has worked at District 111 since 2008, and has guided the band to more than double in size during her tenure. Under her direction, the school’s wind ensemble was selected as the grand champion at the Midwest Music Festival in 2020. In addition to directing, Wych teaches a variety of general music classes, including guitar, music technology, piano, music production and dual-credit American music history. 

“Gina has the perfect mix of experience, education and enthusiasm to become the next outstanding leader of our fine arts department,” said North High Principal Dr. Courtney DeMent. “We’re confident that she will continue to ensure a high level of excellence within our fine arts program.”

Wych holds both a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as a master’s degree in teacher leadership from Concordia University Chicago. She was a student teacher at North High in the fall of 2007.

"I have enjoyed working directly with Gina on the Illinois Music Education Association Board of Directors, and have the utmost respect for her leadership and approach to education,” said Fine Arts Department Chair Brayer Teague. “I am thrilled that she will be joining the Fine Arts team at North High, and know she will be an incredible advocate for the important role the arts play in the fabric of our community." 

Wych serves on the Illinois Music Education Association executive board as Junior/Senior General Music Division President, which allows her to support students and teachers throughout the state in engaging with, initiating and improving general music access and programming. Wych also coordinates the Illinois All State Music Composition Contest, a nationally admired program that aims to foster and recognize outstanding student music composition.

“My student teaching here 15 years ago was an experience that introduced me firsthand to the high quality, collaborative learning community that exists throughout the school and district,” said Wych. “District 99 is known for its commitment to the arts, and I look forward to amplifying that commitment in a way that truly serves DGN students, staff, and community.”

Congratulations to the DGN Winter Guard on a job well done and for their great performance this weekend at the Winter Guard International regional! The team competed against groups across six different states, and landed a stellar score of 64.97. Way to go, Winter Guard!

Thank You DGN-FOFA! 2023 Dessert Showcase Gala

The faculty, staff and students of the DGN Fine Arts Department wish to extend gratitude and thanks to the DGN Friends of Fine Arts for their ongoing support of arts programming at North High. Specifically, appreciation is offered for the time, talent, and volunteer/financial resources that went into planning, coordinating and executing the 2023 "Sweets & Treats" Dessert Showcase Gala. 

Special thanks is offered to DGN-FOFA President Ziba Irvin, as well as DGN-FOFA Fundraising Chair Jennifer VanHoutan, for the many hours dedicated to the gala.

DGN Winter Guard Takes 2nd Place at Schaumburg Contest

Congratulations to the DGN Winter Guard for their 2nd place finish in the SAA class at this weekend's contest in Schaumburg!  The team's score increased by 6 points from contest to contest, and they're excited to continue adding to and improving their show.  Best of luck to the team as they head to the Winter Guard International (WGI) Regional this coming Saturday!

National Black History Month Spotlight: Kadir Nelson (1974 - )

February is Black History Month, and @DGNFineArts is pleased to spotlight the pioneering work of Black artists.

Kadir Nelson (kadirnelson.com/about) is an award-winning American author and artist based in Los Angeles, California. His paintings are in the permanent collections of several notable institutions including the United States House of Representatives, the Muskegon Museum of Art, The National Baseball Hall of Fame, United States Postal Museum, the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland, and most recently, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, the World Trade Center, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Nelson received a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and upon graduating with highest honors, he was summoned by DreamWorks Pictures to create conceptual artwork for Steven Spielberg’s Oscar® nominated feature, “Amistad” and the animated feature, “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron”. He is the recipient of multiple awards from the Society of Illustrators in New York, including the prestigious Hamilton King Award as well the 2020 recipient of the Caldecott Medal and Coretta Scott King Award for illustration. He adds this to multiple Caldecott Honors, Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator Awards, New York Times Best Illustrated Book Awards, several NAACP Image Awards and an Olympic Art Bronze medal, among others. Mr. Nelson has also created artwork for a host of distinguished clients, including but not limited to National Geographic, HBO, Nike, Disney, Hennessy, and Sony Music, for whom he painted the cover artwork for Michael Jackson’s posthumously released album, “Michael,” which was listed in the Guinness Book of Records® for the largest poster in the world. Nelson’s artwork was also featured on the cover of recording artist Drake’s multi-platinum selling album, “Nothing Was the Same”; over a dozen commemorative US postage stamps honoring American legends, such as Major League All-Stars Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, NBA great Wilt Chamberlain, and most recently Motown’s Prince of Soul Marvin Gaye, which altogether have sold several million stamps.

Nelson’s masterful artwork also frequently graces the cover of The New Yorker magazine, paying tribute to historical and contemporary American figures in New York City and abroad, including the magazine’s dandy, Eustace Tilley. Additionally, Nelson has also authored and illustrated several award- winning New York Times Best Selling picture books including, “WE ARE THE SHIP: The Story of Negro League Baseball”, which was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine, and “Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans”. Currently, he has over 30 children’s book titles in print with a global circulation in the millions, and in multiple languages. Nelson’s list of illustrated children’s books include titles by Debbie Allen, Will Smith, Spike and Tonya Lee, and Delores Jordan, mother of NBA great Michael Jordan.

Nelson’s primarily figurative paintings and sculptures focus on historical narratives and heroic subjects in American culture and are often informed by the Old Masters like Ingres, Michelangelo, Hopper, and Tanner. His sumptuous settings and characters, rich palette, and realistic, yet painterly technique speaks to both modern urban realism and masterly works of turn-of-the century American painters.

National Black History Month Spotlight: Omar Thomas (1984 - )

February is Black History Month, and @DGNFineArts is pleased to spotlight the pioneering work of Black artists.

Omar Thomas (https://www.omarthomas.com/)

composer // arranger // educator

Described as "elegant, beautiful, sophisticated, intense, and crystal clear in emotional intent," the music of Omar Thomas continues to move listeners everywhere it is performed. Born to Guyanese parents in Brooklyn, New York in 1984, Omar moved to Boston in 2006 to pursue a Master of Music in Jazz Composition at the New England Conservatory of Music after studying Music Education at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He is the protégé of lauded composers and educators Ken Schaphorst and Frank Carlberg, and has studied under multiple Grammy-winning composer and bandleader Maria Schneider.

Hailed by Herbie Hancock as showing "great promise as a new voice in the further development of jazz in the future," educator, arranger, and award-winning composer Omar Thomas has created music extensively in the contemporary jazz ensemble idiom. It was while completing his Master of Music Degree that he was appointed the position of Assistant Professor of Harmony at Berklee College of Music at the surprisingly young age of 23. He was awarded the ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award in 2008, and invited by the ASCAP Association to perform his music in their highly exclusive JaZzCap Showcase, held in New York City. In 2012, Omar was named the Boston Music Award's "Jazz Artist of the Year." Following his Berklee tenure, he served on faculty of the Music Theory department at The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Now a Yamaha Master Educator, he is currently an Assistant Professor of Composition and Jazz Studies at The University of Texas at Austin.

Omar's music has been performed in concert halls the world over. He has been commissioned to create works in both jazz and classical styles. His work has been performed by such diverse groups as the Eastman New Jazz Ensemble, the San Francisco and Boston Gay Mens' Choruses, and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, in addition to a number of the country's top collegiate music ensembles. Omar has had a number of celebrated singers perform over his arrangements, including Stephanie Mills, Yolanda Adams, Nona Hendryx, BeBe Winans, Kenny Lattimore, Marsha Ambrosius, Sheila E., Raul Midon, Leela James, Dionne Warwick, and Chaka Khan. His work is featured on Dianne Reeves's Grammy Award-winning album, "Beautiful Life."

Omar's first album, "I AM," debuted at #1 on iTunes Jazz Charts and peaked at #13 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Albums Chart. His second release, " We Will Know: An LGBT Civil Rigths Piece in Four Movements," has been hailed by Grammy Award-wining drummer, composer, and producer Terri Lyne Carrington as being a "thought provoking, multi-layered masterpiece" which has "put him in the esteemed category of great artists." "We Will Know" was awarded two OUTMusic Awards, including "Album of the Year." For this work, Omar was named the 2014 Lavender Rhino Award recipient by The History Project, acknowledging his work as an up-and-coming activist in the Boston LGBTQ community. Says Terri Lyne: "Omar Thomas will prove to be one of the more important composer/arrangers of his time."