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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.
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Connect With Us
This Fourth of July, Northlight celebrated alongside our future Evanston neighbors by participating in the Evanston Parade. We’re sending out a big thank you to all of the community members who joined us, both as spectators and marchers! We’re so thankful to be a part of this community, and we look forward to officially moving in next fall. Happy Independence Day to all!
Tune in to WVON 1690 AM at 12:15 today to hear the team behind TWISTED MELODIES talk all things Donny Hathaway! And grab your tickets to see Kelvin Roston Jr onstage live and in person this week!
The office is getting antsy! We only need a few more donations to meet our goal by July 11th. Follow the link in our bio and make a donation in any amount today to seal our fate!
#malort #malört
Follow the link in our bio to check out this New York Times article on TWISTED MELODIES from its production in Baltimore back in 2019! And make sure to grab your tickets to catch it live later this month!
While Northlight’s complete 50th Anniversary 2025-26 Season will take place in our current location at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, we are delighted to share the progress of our upcoming new home, currently under construction in downtown Evanston. General Contractor Bulley & Andrews reports that we’re on track to open in fall 2026, and we have a sneak peek video of the build so far. Take a look, and mark your calendars to join us for the 2026-27 season in our new home!
It’s National Social Media Day! Are you connected to all things Northlight Theatre? Follow us on TikTok, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter for updates, inside scoops, and more! #nationalsocialmediaday
Here in Chicago, we’re all more than familiar with the famous Malört liqueur. We were shocked to discover most of our staff have never tried it! To remedy that problem, pop into the link in our bio before July 11 and support the theatre with a small donation, and our whole office will take a shot of this beloved Chicago delicacy, for your viewing pleasure. We only need 25 donors (in any amount) to make it happen!
#malort #malortface
This week, we started rehearsals for Twisted Melodies, and we can say without a doubt that this show is going to be miraculous! Kelvin Roston Jr has not only constructed a mesmerizing play, written from the heart, but also stuns with unmatched musical talent and a voice that would make Donny Hathaway weep. Get ready for a powerful evening of theatre that dives into the mind of a musical genius.
This week, Northlight kicked off rehearsals for TWISTED MELODIES. We have a powerhouse team bringing this script to life, including playwright Kelvin Roston Jr. in the staring role, Director Ron OJ Parson at the helm, and Associate Director Alexis J. Roston bringing her expertise to the team. After a first read through filled with laughter, tears, and sweet, sweet music, we know this one is going to be miraculous! Grab your tickets and get ready to spend an evening with a musical genius.
Meet the man behind TWISTED MELODIES, our upcoming one-man-show all about R&B legend Donny Hathaway! The award-winning Kelvin Roston Jr. not only wrote the show himself, but he’s performed it for audiences Off-Broadway and in theatres around the country! Spend a day with him in the mind of a musical genius, and find solace in the smooth hits that laid the foundation for modern soul music.
Kelvin Roston Jr. is excited to be back at Northlight with this show! Off-Broadway credits include: Twisted Melodies (Apollo); Regional credits: Radio Golf (The Black Rep STL); The Wiz (Fulton); The Color Purple (MSMT); Gem of the Ocean (Goodman); Oedipus Rex and The Gospel at Colonus, The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice (Court); James Thunder Early, Dreamgirls (Fulton, MSMT, Marriott- Lincolnshire, Orb [Tokyo, Japan], Festival Hall [Osaka, Japan]); My Heart is Crying (Black Ensemble); Twisted Melodies (Congo Square, The Black Rep, Baltimore Center Stage, Mosaic, Apollo[NY, NY]), and many others. TV: South Side, Chicago Med, Chicago PD, KFC, Instant Care, Ace Hardware. Film: Get a Job, Princess Cyd, Breathing Room. Awards: Jeff Award, 4 BTA Awards, 3 Black Excellence Awards, NAMI Award, Court Theater’s 2019/20 Nicholas Rudall Classic Artist Award. Kelvin is a proud member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA, a Congo Square Ensemble Member, and represented by Paonessa Talent and Michael Moore Agency!
June 21 is World Music Day, a day dedicated to listening to, making, and celebrating beautiful music! We invite you to take some time today to explore the discography of R&B legend Donny Hathaway, whose influential work shaped modern American soul music. Once you’ve had a listen, grab your tickets to TWISTED MELODIES and dive into a day in the life of a musical genius.
