Buffalo Theatre Ensemble (BTE), the professional Equity company in residence at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, is adding American Sign Language (ASL) to one performance of each of the three productions in its 2019-2020 Three-Play Season. ASL is the predominant sign language of Deaf communities in the United States and English-speaking parts of Canada
The ASL performances will take place on Thursdays as follows:
Thursday, Sept. 26, 8 p.m.
“Holmes and Watson”
By Jeffrey Hatcher | Directed by Ron May
Tickets: $42
Three years following the mysterious “death” of Sherlock Holmes at Reichenbach Falls, there have been many who have claimed to be Holmes, all de-bunked as imposters by the faithful partner of the sleuth, Watson. Now three separate men insist that they are the famous sleuth, having survived that encounter at the Falls. Robyn Coffin (Cindy Hermann on “Chicago Fire”) is featured in this is riveting and clever adventure from award winning playwright Hatcher who penned the screenplay to the 2015 film “Mr. Holmes.”
Thursday, Feb. 20, 8 p.m.
“The Cake”
By Bekah Brunstetter | Directed by Steve Scott
Tickets: $42
Della’s bakery in Winston-Salem, North Carolina is a landmark, largely because of the love and care Della takes in following recipes. When Jen, the girl she thinks of as her “goddaughter,” returns from New York and asks Della to make her wedding cake, not for one bride but two, it is hard for Della to follow one of her tried and true set of instructions for a perfect outcome. Faith, family and food impact one another in the discovery that love is the key ingredient to any recipe in this timely play from a writer of NBC’s hit “This is Us.”
Thursday, May 21, 8 p.m.
“Naperville”
By Mat Smart | Directed by Kurt Naebig
Tickets: $42
It is Naperville, 2012. Anne works on a new project, T.C. is captaining the first shift as new manager and Candice and son Howard, back from Seattle, arrive at her favorite coffee spot: a Caribou. What follows is a day full of eccentricity, cups of coffee and affecting conversation creating a turning point that shows how community can add to your life. The New York Times says, “…everyone in this shop has a story, a loss, a regret, and Smart weaves their tales together adeptly.” This funny and moving play is a heartwarming salute to the moment we discover a new definition of home.
ASL interpreters will be located near the stage for patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing, seated in an area of the theater that gives the best sight lines to follow the interpretation and the action on stage. To access reserved seating in view of the interpreters for a signed performance, call the box office at 630.942.4000 or 630.858.9692 (TDD) or visit www.AtTheMAC.org for additional information.
Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
The mission of Buffalo Theatre Ensemble is to provide a forum in which artists, scholars, writers, students and community members explore new ideas and provocative issues through the production of high-quality theater for the enjoyment of its audiences. Since 1986 BTE has staged more than 117 productions. For more information about BTE visit www.btechicago.com.
BTE thanks the DuPage Foundation for their generous support in the reinstatement and continued operation of Buffalo Theatre Ensemble. BTE also thanks the Norm Woodel Inspiration Fund for its assistance in the rebirth and further development of Buffalo Theatre Ensemble.
About the MAC
The McAninch Arts Center (MAC) at College of DuPage is located 25 miles west of Chicago near I-88 and I-355. It houses three indoor performance spaces (the 780-seat proscenium Belushi Performance Hall; the 236-seat soft-thrust Playhouse Theatre; and the versatile black box Studio Theatre), the outdoor Lakeside Pavilion, plus the Cleve Carney Museum of Art, and classrooms for the college’s academic programming. The MAC has presented theater, music, dance and visual art to more than 1.5 million people since its opening in 1986 and typically welcomes more than 75,000 patrons from the greater Chicago area to more than 230 performances each season.
The mission of the MAC is to foster enlightened educational and performance opportunities, which encourage artistic expression, establish a lasting relationship between people and art, and enrich the cultural vitality of the community. For more information visit www.AtTheMAC.org or www.facebook.com/AtTheMAC.
The MAC’s 2019-2020 Season is made possible in part with support by The DuPage Foundation, Follet, Hilton Lisle/ Naperville, WDCB 90.9 FM and the College of DuPage Foundation.
Programs at the MAC are partially supported through a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.