Magical Starlight Theatre to present ‘Shrek: The Musical’
Naperville Park District’s Magical Starlight Theatre will perform “Shrek: The Musical” on two weekends in January, officials said.
Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9 and 16; 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 and 17; and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11 and 18, at Naperville Central High School, 440 Aurora Ave.
A sign language interpreter will be present at the 1:30 p.m. Jan. 10 and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16 performances.
Tickets are $23 at the door and $20 in advance online at napervilleparks.org/magicalstarlighttheatre or by calling 630-848-5000 or going to the Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center and Fort Hill Activity Center during regular business hours.
The cast of the production has been rehearsing since early October. The story follows the adventures of Shrek the ogre, Donkey and Princess Fiona as they find acceptance and beauty in themselves, a park district news release said.
Feedback sought on proposed Plank Road Park name
Resident input is being sought on the name Plank Road Park for a new 0.62-acre site being donated to the Naperville Park District as part of The Claire subdivision development.
The Claire will be built on about 8.2 acres of land west of Naper Boulevard and north of Plank Road. It will include 90 rental townhomes.
It will be the district’s 141st park and is to include a playground, site furnishings and landscaping.
Park district staff suggested the name Plank Road Park based on the historical significance of the wooden plank road that ran along Ogden Avenue through Naperville, allowing travelers to go to Chicago by carriage or wagon, officials said in a news release.
The future park will use the historical theme when designing park structures and furnishings, the release said.
Under district policies, residents have 60 days to offer input before the park board moves to give it an official name.
DuPage Foundation awards $100,000 to local food pantries
The DuPage Foundation has awarded $100,000 to five area food pantries, including Loaves & Fishes Community Services in Naperville.
Food insecurity has become one of the county’s most pressing challenges, affecting more than 94,000 residents, a foundation news release said. About 8.4% of DuPage children are food insecure, in part because they live in households that do not qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits.
The foundation is using a portion of its proceeds from a recent benefit to donate $20,000 each to Loaves & Fishes Community Services, Neighborhood Food Pantries, The Outreach House, People’s Resource Center and West Suburban Community Pantry.
The donation will help support immediate food purchases, the release said.
