Here's the Monmouth College theatre and music schedule for the coming months
First concert is Family Weekend event Sept. 26; "Macbeth" will open theatre season Oct. 9-11
Monmouth, Ill. (09/17/2026) — Something "can't-miss" this way comes - a series of plays and concerts at Monmouth College.
Astute readers likely caught the reference to William Shakepeare's Macbeth, which will open the curtain on the theatre season Oct. 9-11, the same weekend as the college's Homecoming festivities.
Theatre professor Todd Quick will direct the timeless tragedy that delves into the corrosive effects of unchecked ambition. Set against the backdrop of medieval Scotland and performed in the college's Wells Theater, the play follows the tragic downfall of Macbeth, a loyal warrior. Most critics agree that the play is in the top tier of The Bard's tragedies, along with Hamlet and King Lear.
The following month, Nov. 20-22, Monmouth theatre students will direct Chelsea Marcantel's Airness, which features an "instrument" that wasn't quite in Shakespeare's realm. When Nina enters her first air guitar competition, she thinks winning will be easy. As she befriends a group of charismatic air guitar enthusiasts all committed to becoming the next champion, she discovers that there's more to this art form than playing pretend. Airness is a shred-or-be-shredded comedy about the spirit of competition and community found through music.
Speaking of music
Monmouth's main musical groups - the Chorale, Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, Wind Ensemble, Monmouth Civic Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble - perform in the Kasch Performance Hall of Dahl Chapel and Auditorium. Their concerts are free and open to the public.
Up first on the fall semester calendar is a Family Weekend Concert at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 26, featuring both the Chorale and the Wind Ensemble. The season-opening concert will give audience members a taste of the fall music program.
"Chorale and Wind Ensemble have welcomed talented new members this year, and we are expecting great things from both groups," said music professor Tim Pahel. "We are excited to share the work we have done so far this year."
The next music date on the campus calendar will feature an outside group, Alliance Brass, who will open the 34th season of the Maple Leaf Community Concert Series at 7 p.m. Oct. 1 in Dahl Chapel.
The ensemble's "Made in America" concert is a celebration of 250 years of American music. The selections of their program cover a wide variety of styles, including everything from Aaron Copland's ballet Rodeo, to American folk songs such as "America the Beautiful," to orchestral music including Leroy Anderson's "Bugler's Holiday," to popular songs such as Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke," to the marches of John Philip Sousa (look for more on the famous American composer and conductor below).
Tickets will be available at the door the night of the concert. Memberships, which include all four concerts of the season, are $70. Single concert tickets are also available for $30 each. Students are free.
The remainder of the fall music calendar includes these dates:
Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m. Chorale, Chamber Choir, Concert Choir
Oct. 27, 7 p.m. MLCCS concert - "It Takes Two: A Legendary Duo Revue"
Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m. Wind Ensemble
Nov. 8, 3 p.m. Monmouth Civic Orchestra
Nov. 15, 3 p.m. Jazz Ensemble
Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m. the annual "Christmas at Monmouth" concert
"Right before Halloween will be a busy time as we host our annual Monmouth College Honor Band on Oct. 29, including a preview from the Wind Ensemble during the event," said music professor Justin Swearinger. "Our Oct. 30 concert will feature music that celebrates community, love and identity. We'll sprinkle in a few folk songs as well as celebrate the 100th year anniversary since John Philip Sousa was here in Monmouth in October of 1926."
A sneak peek ahead at 2027
Looking ahead to the 2027 portion of the theatre season, Emma Heiser '27 of Marseilles, Illinois, will direct Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Feb. 19-21 in the college's Hewes Studio Theater. Using small extracts and echoes from Everyman, the quintessential medieval morality play, alongside brilliant and original writing, Everybody highlights the paradoxes of living in the world today with its focus on the individual.
Another retelling of a classic tale, Once Upon A Mattress, will conclude the theatre season April 15-18 in Wells Theater. Theatre professor Vanessa Campagna will direct and choreograph the updated spin of the classic fairy tale The Princess and the Pea.
Media Attachments
LIFTING THEIR VOICES: The Chorale will be joined by the Wind Ensemble Sept. 26 for the season-opening concert at Monmouth College.
ALLIANCE BRASS: The first Maple Leaf Community Concert Series event of the 2026-27 season will feature the Chicago-based ensemble.
Monmouth College
Barry McNamara 309-457-2117, mcnamara@monmouthcollege.eduShare this Story
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