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Upcoming Shows & Events
TWISTED MELODIES
BY KELVIN ROSTON JR
July 10 – August 10, 2025
Northlight’s 50th Anniversary Season
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FUTURE HOME IN EVANSTON
Northlight’s bold vision is to build a world-class theatre in Evanston, the vibrant community where Northlight began in 1974. With a new theatre in downtown Evanston, we will entertain and inspire audiences with compelling new and existing work. We’ll nurture and grow the next generation of theatregoers, expand our civic impact, spark economic development, and serve as a cultural hub for the entire community.
NORTHLIGHT NEWS
As we gear up for Twisted Melodies, it’s important to us that we’re providing our audiences with the right tools to navigate their own mental...
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The Tony Awards are just around the corner, and in preparation for theatre’s biggest night, Northlight Artistic Director BJ Jones sat down with friend and...
My friend, George Wendt, was as kind and thoughtful a human being as walked on this planet. He was a true man of the Theatre,...
I first met Russell Vandenbroucke in the summer of 1987 when he had just started as Northlight’s 5th Artistic Director. I was remounting Michael Maggio’s...
A Deeper Look at Prayer for the French Republic. Below, we’ve collected a list of events that occurred either in 1940s France or in modern-day...
Connect With Us
Last night, we opened TWISTED MELODIES, a stunning one-man show written and performed by Kelvin Roston Jr. The evening ended with a standing ovation and kicked off what we`re sure will be an amazing run! We can`t wait to see you at the theatre.
July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, and we want to provide audiences with the right tools to navigate their mental health as they catch TWISTED MELODIES. Donny Hathaway struggled with schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression, even as a groundbreaking musical artist. Even the most put-together people can be grappling with complex inner struggles. If you’re in need, explore these resources, and remember to take some time to care for yourself and your community.
It’s opening night, and preview audiences have already been loving TWISTED MELODIES! See what they’re saying about Kelvin Roston Jr’s mesmerizing one-man show, and grab your tickets to see it yourself before August 10!
This summer, Northlight is offering three FREE theatre-based educational workshops in Evanston parks. The first workshop is all about eco-friendly theatre, and upcycling materials to build your very own puppet. Follow the link in our bio to register for this free, all-ages event. We can’t wait to see you there!
As TWISTED MELODIES has traveled to different theaters around the country, it has been given the Hathaway seal of approval from the Donny Hathaway Legacy Project. The DHLP was founded by Donny Hathaway’s daughter, Donnita Hathaway, who has seen every production of TWISTED MELODIES since it was performed at The Apollo Theatre! Click the link in our bio to learn more!
It’s not every day you get face time with a playwright, music director, and performer all-in-one! Northlight Artistic Director BJ Jones sat down with our own resident superstar, Kelvin Roston Jr, to ask him about the origins of TWISTED MELODIES. See what he has to say, and grab your tickets to catch the show yourself before August 10!
Previews are off and running for TWISTED MELODIES, and audiences are loving this powerful tale of an artistic legend’s inner struggle. Kelvin Roston Jr has already earned plenty of standing ovations, and we can’t wait to keep them coming for the rest of the run - grab your seats ASAP!
At long last, previews for TWISTED MELODIES have arrived! Lose yourself in the music of Donny Hathaway as you watch the artistic genius grapple with his inner struggles on the last day of his life. Kelvin Roston Jr is a musical talent that will not disappoint! Now playing until August 10.
It’s the final day to donate to our Malort challenge! Help us reach our goal of 25 donors by tomorrow, and not only will you be entered to win two tickets to the Crosstown Classic, but our entire office will do a shot of Malort! Follow the link in our bio to add your donation to the pot and seal our fate!
#malört #crosstownclassic #chciagotheater
Our design team has been living in the world of TWISTED MELODIES for weeks, building the life of Donny Hathaway on stage from the ground up just for you! Check out this rendering by Costume Designer Gregory Graham and model photos by Scenic Designer Sotirios Livaditis for a sneak preview at the world of the play, and grab your tickets to see it live starting tomorrow!
Tune in tomorrow for Associate Director Alexis J. Roston`s instagram takeover! She`ll be posting stories throughout the day as we lead up to our first preview performance of TWISTED MELODIES. We can`t wait to see you at the theatre!
