Something Rotten
Summer Musical
July 26, 27, and August 2 at 7:30 pm July 28, August 3 and 4 at 3 pm
Join us at the Community Arts Center for the musical hailed by Time Out New York as the “funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years!” Big Deal Productions is delighted to present Something Rotten for the 2024 summer musical production. Set in the 1590s, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are frantic to write a hit play, but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star known as “The Bard.” When a mystic prophesies that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing, and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first musical. But amidst the outrageous excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self, and all that jazz. Tickets for this production are $21 . Please note: This production has been rated PG-13 by the licensing company. For more information, contact Lindsay Grandt at 847.850.2132 or lindsay@bgparks.org.
Frozen, Jr.
Fall Children’s Theatre
Big Deal Productions is thrilled to announce auditions for our fall children’s musical presentation of Frozen, Jr. Auditions are open to all performers in grades 5 – 8, and will be held on Monday, August 19 and Tuesday, August 20 from 6 – 8:30 pm at the Community Arts Center. Callbacks will be held on Thursday, August 22 in the evening. Performers should prepare approximately 1 minute of a musical theater song and bring an accompaniment CD/iPod with your song selection. Please dress comfortably and wear appropriate footwear for a dance audition.
If cast in the show, there is a participation fee of $350, which includes topnotch musical theater instruction, a commemorative libretto, and a show shirt. Rehearsals for this production will be held on Monday and Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Cast members will be responsible for securing appropriate footwear/tights/undergarments and stage make-up for the show. Performances are scheduled for October 25 – November 3. Audition appointments will be reserved online for this production starting on July 31 at bigdealproductions.org. Auditions appointments are limited and filled on a first come, first served basis. For more information, contact Lindsay Grandt at 847.850.2132 or lindsay@bgparks.org.
Finding Nemo, Kids
Fall Young Children’s Musical
Big Deal Productions is thrilled to announce auditions for our fall Young Children’s Musical presentation of Finding Nemo, Kids! Auditions are open to all performers in grades 2 – 4, and will be held on Monday, August 19 and Tuesday, August 20 from 6 – 9 pm. Callbacks will be held on Thursday August 22 in the evening. Performers should prepare approximately 1 minute of a musical theater song and bring an accompaniment track on a device that can be connected to a Bluetooth speaker. Please dress comfortably, and wear appropriate footwear for a dance audition. If cast in the show, there is a participation fee of $350 which includes 9 weeks of top-notch musical theater instruction, a commemorative libretto, and a show T-shirt. Rehearsals for this production will be held on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6 – 7:45 pm and Saturdays from 11 am – 12:30 pm. Cast members will be responsible for securing appropriate footwear/tights/undergarments and stage makeup for the show. Performances are scheduled for November 15, 16, 17, 22, and 23 at the Community Arts Center. Audition appointments will be reserved online for this production starting on August 1 at
bigdealproductions.org. Audition appointments are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, contact Ann Marie Shipstad-Schwartz at 847.850.2152 or annmarie@bgparks.org.
History
From a small group of interested citizens in 1993, an all-call to the community for adults who wanted to return to their high school chorus experience was publicized. Hoping that 25 adults showed up, 65 came to the initial meeting of the BG Singers! On a very cold night in February, our first concert was held at Libertyville High School. Through the years, we performed at Buffalo Grove and Stevenson High Schools until we found our home at the beautiful Buffalo Grove Community Arts Center. Over 30 years of planning have brought thousands of audience members great fun and wonderful music. Currently, 73 singers are looking forward to celebrating our 30th season in September 2025. We hold auditions for prospective members in January before the season begins each year.
This family of vocal musicians not only puts on a fully memorized, costumed, and choreographed show every year but also participates in a philanthropic project to raise money for area charities. They have been called, “The Chorus That Cares” for the work they do to enrich the community and beyond.
There is also a small ensemble of singers called Encore that continues to perform at local venues, delighting audiences young and old. They have performed for United Airlines, various libraries, many Del Webb Communities, senior centers, and Wings, a local women’s charity. Among the organizations they have supported are the American Cancer Society, the Ukulele Kids Club, Pediatric Children’s Cancer, and the American Heart Association.
If you are interested in auditioning to be in the BG Singers, please fill out the form below.
Presented by 
Upcoming Public Performances
Wednesday, June 5
7 pm
Prospect Heights Library
12 N. Elm Street
Prospect Heights
Wednesday, June 26
7 pm
Antioch Library
767 Main Street
Antioch
Monday, August 12
1 pm
Libertyville Senior Center
135 W. Church Street
Libertyville
Encore is the traveling performing ensemble of the Buffalo Grove Park District fine arts adult choir, The BG Singers. This talented group of adults performs a variety of music, from jazz to pop, and from oldies to the best of Broadway.
Encore was born in 1997, 3 years after the BG Singers presented their first concert. The BG Singers had been performing since 1993 in the Buffalo Grove area. After the third annual BG Singers concert in March of 1997, several of the singers were lamenting the fact that their “season” was again coming to an end and it seemed like a long time until September when the group would reconvene to begin work on their next concert. Why not, they thought, continue to perform highlights of their concert throughout the summer at venues in the Chicago area? The rest is history.
Since that time, Encore has taken their show on diverse roads, including charitable organizations, summer festivals, library programs, political events, small private parties, and large venues, such as Arlington Park Race Track and Chicago’s Daley Center.
Encore continues to delight audiences with shows that feature their high-energy and enthusiastic vocal performances. Especially popular is their Holiday Show that they offer during the months of November and December. Perhaps their success is best illustrated by the large number of requests that they receive for repeat performances. Encore is proud that they were the champion in “Sing 2011,” a national competition for singing ensembles.
To book Encore for your event, call 847.347.2797, email encore@bgparks.org, or provide your information below.
Videos
Encore was the winner of the 2011 national Sing! competition. Click here to read about their wonderful accomplishment.
View the first of 2 videos of Encore! being featured on the CBS2 Chicago Morning News.
View the second of 2 videos of Encore! being featured on the CBS2 Chicago Morning News.
What past audiences have to say about Encore!
It was a wonderful performance. Everybody thoroughly enjoyed the group and was in agreement that it was the best performance we’ve had in all the years we’ve been doing this. Fabulous job!
-Chicago Skyliners (United Airlines Retirees Group)
Members of the audience have been raving about how much they enjoyed your selections, choreography and stylish staging.
-Morton Grove Public Library
We were delighted with your group’s talent, friendliness and positive attitude…
-Arlington International Racecourse
You have a wonderful ensemble with the attributes of personal camaraderie, good voices and creative choreography.
-Northfield Corporate Plaza
Can’t thank you enough for the wonderful program. My ears are ringing with praise that our group had for Encore’s stirring performance.
-American Legion Post 166
The talent and enthusiasm of your group, plus your exciting program selections thrilled the appreciative crowd.
-Long Grove Merchants’ Association
Encore was a delight to listen to and watch. The music was beautiful and presentation fantastic.
-Indian Trails Library, Wheeling, IL
Encore put on a Holiday Show that blew us away. Two standing ovations were given to them for their efforts, which were truly professional.
-Audience Member at Edgewater by DelWebb
A sampling of Encore! previous performances…
- Chicago Skyliners
- WINGS Fundraisers
- Strawberry Fest, Long Grove
- Buffalo Grove Arts Fest, Buffalo Grove
- Deer Park Concert Series, Deer Park
- Arlington Park Race Track, Arlington Heights
- Taste of Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire
- Sun City, Huntley
- Cambridge on the Lake, Buffalo Grove
- Schaumburg Flyers, Schaumburg
- Glen Fest, Glenview
- Senior Center, Park Ridge
- Daley Center, Chicago
- Wilmette Theatre, Wilmette
- Navistar Retiree Chicago Area Retirement Club, Oakbrook
- Buffalo Grove Chamber of Commerce, Buffalo Grove
Highlights from Encore!’s 50s show.
Encore at WINGS fundraiser at Stephens Convention Center
Encore at Indian Trail Library
Encore at the Mt. Prospect Library
Encore at the Drake Hotel in Chicago
Encore performing at a recent holiday party
At Arlington Race Track
At Cambridge on the Lake, Buffalo Grove
At 4th of July Celebration
At Sun City, Huntley, IL
The Buffalo Grove Park District Performing Arts is looking for volunteers to help with our upcoming productions. We are looking for people willing to usher at performances, assist with set building/painting, help with costumes, and a variety of other tasks related to putting on large-scale productions. For more information about volunteering, contact Brian O’Malley at 847.850.2123 or brian@bgparks.org.
