MAC to host open house, ticket sale at COD

As part of College of DuPage's Homecoming Weekend festivities, the McAninch Arts Center will host "MAC-tastic," a fall open house and ticket sale event.

Ticket purchasers at "MAC-tastic" will receive 10 percent off single ticket prices with no handling fees and the chance to walk into the Belushi Hall and try out seat locations from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, on the college's campus at 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn.

There will be ticket giveaways every half-hour and the first 50 ticket buyers will get a free McDonald's Big Mac. Everyone will have the chance to eat mac-and-cheese, enjoy lobby entertainment by COD student musicians, and sneak a peek of Cleve Carney Art Gallery's upcoming exhibition, "Zoe Nelson: Recto/Verso," in advance of its opening Sunday, Oct. 18.

Highlights of the MAC's 2015-16 season events include:

• Dance events such as Alvin Ailey II Oct. 18, Moscow Festival Ballet performing the "Cinderella" Jan. 10, and Thodos Dance Chicago performing "A Light in the Dark: The Story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan," plus other works from their repertoire, March 19.

• All-ages entertainment, including Mike Super, winner of NBC's hit show "Phenomenon" and finalist from "America's Got Talent" Oct. 24, and National Acrobats and Circus of the People's Republic of China on Oct. 25.

• Thought-provoking discussions with best-selling author Erik Larson on his newest work, "Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania" Nov. 10; and Jessica Fellowes, British journalist, New York Times best-selling author and niece of "Downton Abbey" creator Julian Fellowes on all things "Abbey" Jan. 31. Both are presented by the MAC in collaboration with the Daily Herald Author's Circle Book Club and the College Lecture Series.

Other shows feature improv and sketch comedy with Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood of "Whose Line is it Anyway" on Dec. 12, The Second City Dec. 5 and Feb. 13, 2016, and The Capitol Steps April 23, 2016.

"New Year's Eve with an International Twist" Dec. 31 and concert staged performances of Mozart's "Cosi fan tutte" Jan. 23 and 24, 2016, are performed by New Philharmonic, the MAC's resident symphony orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Kirk Muspratt.

Events coming up next spring include a weekend celebration of jazz with artists of the Monterey Jazz Festival on March 11, plus a concert by iconic jazz great Ramsey Lewis March 12, presented in partnership with WDCB-FM 90.9.

Other culturally rich performances include Fiesta Mexico-Americana! featuring Los Lobos with Ballet Folklorico Mexicano Feb. 21, 2016, and "African Footprint," a celebration of South Africa's influence on music and dance as seen on PBS Feb. 28, 2016.

A production of Arthur Miller's Tony Award-winning drama "All My Sons" will be performed by one of the most-respected touring theater companies in the country, Montana Repertory Theatre, March 5, 2016.

For information, call (630) 942-4000 or visit atthemac.org.