Free summer concerts and movies at COD
College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center has announced its free Lakeside Pavilion Summer 2015 series that includes pop music, jazz and singalong family movies.
The series opens July 16 and runs through Aug. 21 at the COD campus, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn.
"The enormous public response to last year's inaugural Lakeside Pavilion Summer Series blew us away," MAC Director Diana Martinez said.
The series begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 17, with a concert by the internationally acclaimed Chicago-based Beatles tribute band American English. Then, on Friday, July 24, Elvis tribute artist Scot Bruce, a regular performer at Disneyland who has also performed in music videos with Faith Hill and Sheryl Crow, revives the sounds of the King with "Shake, Rattle and Roll, a Tribute to Elvis the Early Years."
The series continues with Wade Preston, the original "Piano Man" hand-selected by Billy Joel himself for the Tony Award-winning musical "Movin' Out," and the Movin' Out Band performing songs by Joel and another classic rock pianist, Elton John, on Friday, July 31.
MAC's resident symphony orchestra, New Philharmonic, provides an entertaining evening of pops music Friday, Aug. 7. The Magic of Motown recreates the harmonies and smooth moves made famous by the Temptations, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Earth, Wind, & Fire and more Friday, Aug. 14.
A concert by The Hit Men, featuring former performing and/or recording members of the Four Seasons and other pop groups of the '60s and '70s, completes the series on Friday, Aug. 21.
Parking and admission to all concerts is free and performances begin at 7:30 p.m.
New this year, the Lakeside Pavilion also will feature the 90.9FM-WDCB Live Jazz Concert Series at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Aug. 6, 13 and 20. Admission is free. Programming is still in progress and will be announced at a later date.
The "singalong" experience is part of this summer's Family Movie Series, which begins Thursday, July 16, with Sing-Along "Frozen," followed by Sing-Along "Grease" July 23 and singalong "The Sound of Music" July 30. Admission is free; costumes are welcome. All movies begin at 8:30 p.m.
All concert and movie events take place rain or shine. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early and bring a lawn chair or blanket and picnic to enjoy at the event. Available for purchase will be concessions, including wine, beer, soda, gourmet sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream, popcorn and snacks. Pets and outside alcohol are not permitted onto the property.
For more information about any of these events, call (630) 942-4000 or visit www.atthemac.org.