Rockford University

Rockford University's dance company, Orchesis, was originally founded by the late Professor Jayne Poor, who is remembered for her passionate dedication to dance as an artist and educator at our institution and in the Rockford community. This concert, produced in collaboration with various local artists and under the direction of our new Assistant Professor of Dance, Lindsay Hawkins, took the stage on January 23- 25, 2020.

"35mm" is a stunning new multimedia musical, that explores a groundbreaking new concept in musical theatre. Directed by Rockford University Associate Professor of Music, Timm Adams. This intricately woven collection of stories told through song will be showcased on November 21-24, 2019.

This play is Neil Simon's heartwarming and hilarious tribute to Anton Chekhov, the early twentieth-century playwright and short story writer. Directed by Rockford University Professor of Performing Arts and Department Chair, Deborah Mogford. This celebration of the folly and tenderness of what it is to be human took the stage October 3-6, 2019.

This happy musical inspired by and featuring the songs of Elvis Presley will have you jumpin' out of your blue suede shoes, and takes center stage on April 25- 28, 2019. Directed by Rockford University Associate Professor of Music, Timm Adams and Rockford University alumnus and Performing Arts Musical Theatre major, Kyle Donahue '03.

The new musical "Techies", a fourth-wall shattering pop-rock musical comedy about being weird and fighting for respect in one of the most judgmental places on earth: high school, takes center stage on February 21- 23, 2019. Directed by Rockford University Associate Professor of Music, Timm Adams.

In their annual concert, Rockford University's resident dance company shared modern, ballet, tap, and jazz dances ranging from '40s big band style to contemporary techniques and themes. This year's concert included original choreography by Profs. Amy A. Wright and Mitchell Stolberg, and guest artist Penna Broman.

The famous and profligate playwright Sidney Bruhl is having a tough time coming up with a successful work. He is desperate for a new play, but then an admiring young fan sends him a masterpiece. With the help of his wife, Sidney plans to kill the man and steal his script. Will it work? This comic and yet highly suspenseful plot will keep you on the edge of your seat. Ira Levin is no stranger to suspense having written A Kiss Before Dying, Rosemary's Baby, The Boy's From Brazil, and The Stepford Wives to mention a few. Directed by Prof. Angelo O'Dierno.

Don't miss the disco party that ensues when a beautiful Greek muse and her sisters come back to earth to help a struggling chalk artist fulfill his wildest dreams. Roller skates, leg warmers, Venice Beach, and 80s pop-rock hits will permeate Maddox Theatre in this laugh-out-loud parody of the cult movie classic of the same name.

Paranoia, infidelity, and lechery take center stage in racuous bedroom farce "A Flea in Her Ear," a hysterical cocktail of chaos that could only have been devised by the master of comic stagecraft, Feydeau. The production runs April 27-30, 2017, and is directed by Rockford University Professor of Performing Arts Deborah Mogford.

You'll want to sing along with "The Great American Trailer Park Musical," a naughty, bawdy, mischievous, and dysfunctional Florida community set to music. The musical production runs Feb. 23-26, 2017, and is directed by Rockford University Professor of Performing Arts Jeff Hendry.

Established by Leonard Bernstein after his 1966 commencement address to the College, the Leonard Bernstein Award in Performing Arts is presented to a student who has made the greatest contribution to the performing arts at Rockford University.

Stephen Sondheim's landmark musical, is a sophisticated and frank story of finding love in the modern urban landscape. On the night of his 35th birthday, confirmed bachelor Robert contemplates his unmarried status. Over the course of a series of dinners, drinks, and even a wedding, his friends explain the pros and cons of taking on a spouse.

The annual Edinburgh Festival Fringe will be held August 5-29 at hundreds of venues throughout Edinburgh, Scotland. The 2015 event featured 3,314 performances from 49 countries, including examples of cabaret, comedy, dance, physical theater and circus, music, musicals and opera, spoken word, theater and more.

A co-production between Rockford University and Artists' Ensemble; Producer, Oscar Jaffe, has only the time aboard a luxury train to New York to sign a Hollywood diva, Lily Garland, to a contract. Problem is, she's his ex.

The musical "Seesaw" is based on the William Gibson play "Two for the Seesaw". The plot focuses on a brief affair between Jerry Ryan, a young lawyer from Nebraska, and Gittel Mosca, a kooky, streetwise dancer from the Bronx.

The Rockford University Vocal Collective is a select, mixed choral ensemble of 15 singers that performs a wide variety of choral literature, from Renaissance polyphony to jazz and popular music.

Established by Leonard Bernstein after his 1966 commencement address to the College, the Leonard Bernstein Award in Performing Arts is presented to a student who has made the greatest contribution to the performing arts at Rockford University.

The quintessential "Hey kids, let's put on a show!" musical boasts one of the greatest scores ever written. Songs include My Funny Valentine, Where or When, I Wish I Were in Love Again, The Lady is a Tramp, and Johnny One-Note.

"And Miss Reardon Drinks A Little" is an American play written by Paul Zindel. The story surrounds three sisters: Catherine, an alcoholic; Anna, a hypochondriac and Ceil, an attention-starved socialite.

Local students participated in the Fall 2011 Performing Arts Senior Seminar at Rockford College on November 5th. During a Seminar students display the synthesis of the knowledge they have acquired from their course work in performing arts and other liberal arts classes. These productions must be centered on a single individual at the moment of decision or crises. Each student is responsible for the selection or creation of all material within his or her own performance. The following local students participated in the Fall 2011 Performing Arts Senior Seminar at Rockford College: