Naperville's BrightSide announces 'guilty pleasures' season
BrightSide Theatre announced its ninth season, titled "Guilty Pleasures," which will mark the debut of a new series consisting of musicals staged in concert form.
The inaugural production of that series is "Nine in Concert" from the musical "Nine." The Maury Yeston-Arthur Kopit musical was adapted from Federico Fellini's semi-autobiographical, 1963 film "8½" about a famous Italian film director who turns 40 and faces a troubled marriage, a troubled film and memories from his troubled history with women.
"Nine in Concert" runs Feb. 7-9, 2020, at the Madden Theatre at North Central College, 171 Chicago Ave., Naperville.
The season begins Nov. 29 with "A Christmas Carol the Musical," a musical retelling of Charles Dickens' classic tale with a score by Alan Menken and Lynn Aherns.
That's followed by Robert Harling's melodrama "Steel Magnolias" (March 6-22, 2020), about the triumphs and tragedies of six women who patronize a small-town Louisiana beauty shop.
The season concludes with the hit jukebox tuner "Mamma Mia!" (dates to be announced). Set against the pop tunes of ABBA, it tells the story of a single mom whose 20-year-old daughter wants her biological father to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day. The trouble is, mom Donna isn't sure which of three former suitors is the father.
Mainstage performances take place at the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall at North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth St., Naperville. Individual tickets go on sale July 15. (630) 447-8497 or brightsidetheatre.com.