Elliana Teuscher of Hinsdale will dance in the Salt Creek Ballet’s production of “Harlequinade: An Italian Fairy Tale,” May 14 and May 15.

DuPAGE COUNTY

COD hires first woman as college president

A retired U.S. Navy vice admiral has been chosen as the next president of the College of DuPage. Ann Rondeau will begin July 1 as the sixth — and first woman — president in COD’s 49-year history.

The majority of the college’s Board of Trustees on May 2 voted to approve Rondeau, at a starting salary not to exceed $325,000 a year.

Voting “yes” were board Chairwoman Deanne Mazzochi, Vice Chairman David Olsen, Secretary Frank Napolitano and trustee Charles Bernstein. Trustee Erin Birt abstained from voting, while trustees Dianne McGuire and Joseph Wozniak voted “present.”

Rondeau will replace former President Robert Breuder, who was fired by the board fired in October 2015. Joseph Collins has been serving as acting interim president.

Rondeau is a consultant and partner with IBM Watson Group. She is a past president of the National Defense University, a consortium of five colleges and nine research centers in Washington D.C.

One of her first challenges will be to get COD off probation. In December 2015, the Higher Learning Commission put the college on probation for two years after expressing concerns about its integrity and governance.

GLEN ELLYN

Park District considering referendum for lake project

The Glen Ellyn Park District Board of Commissioners is studying a proposed $5 million referendum to fund shoreline stabilization and trail improvements at Lake Ellyn Park and other projects.

If the board decides to go to referendum, voters could see the question on the ballot in fall of this year or spring of next year. To place the question on the November ballot with the presidential election, commissioners would have to adopt a resolution by Aug. 22.

The commissioners are expected to further discuss the proposal this summer.

WESTMONT

Salt Creek Ballet presents ‘An Italian Fairy Tale’

Does father know best? Columbine has her eye on Harlequin but her father doesn’t approve. He’s determined to have her marry the wealthy older suitor he selected for her in “Harlequinade: An Italian Fairy Tale,” choreographed by Marius Petipa. Performances will be at 3 p.m. May 14 and 1 p.m. May 15 at McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn.

Olivia Brooks, 18, of Clarendon Hills, dances the role of Columbine in Salt Creek Ballet’s production of the commedia dell’arte-style ballet. The role of Harlequin will be danced by guest artist Yoshihisa Arai of the Joffrey Ballet.

The piece will be performed by about 70 dancers, ages 10-18.

The company will also perform the world premiere of Eddy Ocampo’s “Beatbox.” The choreographer describes the piece as an athletic, hard-hitting contemporary work.

More than 20 dancers perform in the piece which runs about 12 minutes.

The program will also include an excerpt from the ballet, “La Bayadere,” choreographed by Petipa. Petipa is considered to be the most influential ballet master and choreographer in ballet history and is called the “father of classical ballet.”  

Tickets cost $30 for adults, $25 for seniors, $20 for those under 18. For $5 extra, following the May 15 performance, a child can join the cast onstage, meet the costumed characters, learn some dance steps and have cookies and punch; parents can attend for free with their child.

For more information about the performance, call (630) 942-4000 or go to www.atthemac.org. For more information about the ballet company, visit www.saltcreekballet.org.

DOWNERS GROVE

Students win national art, writing awards

From photography to poetry to digital art, Downers Grove high school students received national medals in the 2016 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition. Winners were five students from Downers Grove North High School and two students Downers Grove South High School.

Claire Pikul of South won two gold medals in the digital art category for “Paper Chase” and “Struck.”

Aubrey Saha of North earned a gold medal in the drawing and illustration category for “Am I Pretty?”

Olivia Wojciak and Angela Wong, both of North, won silver medals in the ceramics and glass category, and Alessandra Lane of South and Jessica Novotny of North won silver medals in the photography category.

Emma Wilson of North received a silver medal for her poem, “On Flight.”

WHEATON

‘Drood’ finishes where Dickens left off

The five-time Tony Award winning musical, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” comes to the Playhouse in downtown Wheaton, opening May 20. The play, produced and performed by Wheaton Drama, is a hilarious, interactive whodunit mystery musical that allows the audience to enter the action and become the ultimate detectives.

The show is based on Charles Dickens’ unfinished novel of the same name. In small town of Chesterham, England, the young and charming Edwin Drood has been mysteriously murdered. But by whom? His leering romantic rival, John Jasper? The infamous purveyor of opium and vice, Princess Puffer? The mysterious Landless twins, newly arrived from Ceylon? Or someone else even more dastardly and villainous? Dickens died before he was able to reveal the culprit. Rupert Holmes’ award-winning musical solves this predicament by asking the audience to choose which character is the killer by putting it to a vote.

“The Mystery of Edwin Drood” will be presented at the Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale St,, Wheaton, May 20 through June 12. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday performances begin at 8 p.m. and Sunday matiness are at 3 p.m. For ticket information, go to www.wheatondrama.org or call (630) 260-1820.

–DuPage County News Briefs–