MAC showcases local, international artists during 2025-2026 season
Comedians Paul Reiser, Paula Poundstone and Pat Tomasulo, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, Second City and the Capitol Fools, The Soweto Gospel Choir, The New Philharmonic, Ailey II (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s second company), The Salt Creek Ballet, TheatreWorksUSA and the family-friendly circus troupe Cirque Kalabanté are among the performers set to appear at the McAninch Arts Center at the College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, during the upcoming 2025-2026 season announced Tuesday.
The season begins Sept. 28 with actor/comedian Steve Solomon performing “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m In Therapy.” That’s followed by the New Philharmonic performing Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” and Alexander Borodin’s “Polovtsian Dances” (Oct. 4 and 5).
The orchestra returns Nov. 1 and 2 to perform Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet” and Sergei Prokofiev’s “Cinderella.”
The Soweto Gospel Choir performs a cappella renditions of traditional and contemporary songs on Nov. 8. And Cirque Kalabanté brings “Afrique en Cirque” to the MAC on Feb. 7, 2026.
The laughs commence Oct. 12 with the Capitol Fools sketch-comedy group followed by actor/comedian Reiser on Oct. 17 and Tomasulo on Nov. 22. The Second City brings its holiday revue to the MAC Dec. 6. And Poundstone follows up last fall’s sold-out show by returning Jan. 24.
TheaterWorksUSA presents “Ada Twist, Scientist & Friends” by playwright Lauren Gunderson on Oct. 24. Resident theater company Buffalo Theatre Ensemble revives “Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley,” the third in the Jane Austen-inspired trilogy by Gunderson and Margot Melcon, Nov. 20-Dec. 21.
Ailey II performs Oct. 25. The Salt Creek Ballet, accompanied by the New Philharmonic, reprises “The Nutcracker” Dec. 19-21.
Pop concerts include the Neil Diamond tribute “I Am, He Said” (Oct. 18), “The Life and Music of George Michael” (Nov. 9), “Are You Ready for It? A Taylor Experience” (Nov. 21) and Carpenters tribute “Top of the World” (Nov. 23).
Current subscribers can renew now. New subscriptions go on sale Tuesday, July 8, at the box office or at (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. Single tickets go on sale Aug. 8.