Joliet’s outdoor concerts return for 38th year
By Annie Alleman For Sun-Times Media May 17, 2012 11:48AM
A view of Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park in Joliet, IL on Thursday May 26, 2011 | Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media
Concerts on the Hill
♦ June 7-Aug. 30
♦ Bicentennial Park, 201 W. Jefferson St., Joliet
♦ Free
♦ (815) 724-3760
Bicentennialpark.org
THE SCHEDULE
June 7: Metropolitan Youth Symphony and Joliet American Legion Band
June 14: Bicentennial “Pops” Band, Bicentennial Park’s musical preview of “Oklahoma!”, Tinley Park Arts Alive! Band
June 21: Joliet Central High School Big Band, vocalist Karen Isberg, Joliet Township Alumni Choir — 58th Anniversary
June 28: Bicentennial “Pops” Band, Bicentennial Park’s musical preview of “Oklahoma!,” Joliet Junior College Jazz Band
July 5: Bicentennial “Pops” Band, vocalist Lexi Smith, Joliet American Legion Band
July 12: Bicentennial “Pops” Band, Hatfield Sister Fiddlers, Cloggin’ Craze and Kidz Clog
July 19: Plainfield Community Choir, vocalist Marvina Bowker, Jimmy and The Bavarians
July 26: Frankfort Brass Band, Joliet Township Alumni Jazz Band
Aug. 2: Too Loud Polka Band, Eddie Korosa and the Boys From Illinois Polka Band
Aug. 9: Bicentennial “Pops” Band, Joliet Drama Guild’s musical preview of “Lucky Stiff,” Chorus of DuPage
Aug. 16: Times III Arts Academy Dancers, Jay Mau Big Band Orchestra
Aug. 23: Joliet Central High School Marching Band, Midwest Crossroad Chorus of Sweet Adelines International, Keigher Academy of Irish Dance
Aug. 27: United States Air Force Band of Mid-America from Scott Air Force Base
Aug. 30: Joliet Township High School Orchestra, Joliet American Legion Band
Updated: May 17, 2012 12:55PM
The annual Concerts on the Hill returns for the 38th summer to Bicentennial Park in Joliet.
The free concerts are every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. during June, July and August.
Highlights include a preview of the musical “Oklahoma!” and the U.S. Air Force Band on a one-off Monday performance at the end of August.
“We’re always thrilled to have the Air Force Band,” she said.
The musical runs for three weekends in June and July, and is directed by Mark Parker. Curly will be played by John DeVries, and Annie will be played by Annie Roach.
“I’m very excited about that, because I was married in Oklahoma,” she said. “This is a fundraiser for the park. This is our baby.”
She thinks having the musical preview will be a nice draw.
Wadsworth Golf Construction Company is the main sponsor of Concerts on the Hill, along with new sponsor Joliet Township government and CenterPoint Properties.
She thinks it’s important to keep Concerts on the Hill going, especially in tough economic times.
“This place was built in commemoration of our great nation’s 200th birthday, and was built without any tax support money. We did this because there’s so much talent in our community,” she said. “We raised the money and built this place and saved this important piece of property — this was the first street in Joliet. It’s important that we keep the concerts going. What community has a drama guild that is over 50 years old and still maintaining itself? We’ve got a lot to be proud of here.”
Concerts on the Hill are still very popular, she said. Concert-goers can expect to hear performances by acts like the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, the Joliet American Legion Band, Joliet Central High School band, Plainfield Community Choir, Frankfort Brass Band, Chorus of DuPage, Hatfield Sister Fiddlers, the Too Loud Polka Band, Eddie Korosa and the Boys From Illinois Polka Band, and the Joliet Township Alumni Jazz Band.
In addition, they will see performances by Times III Arts Academy dancers, Cloggin’ Craze and Kidz Clog, Keigher Academy of Irish Dance and a preview of the Joliet Drama Guild’s musical “Lucky Stiff.”
In addition, members from community service clubs the Noon and Evening Lions, the Exchange Club and Kiwanis will serve as ushers at the Concerts on the Hill.
Hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, coffee, lemonade and ice tea will be for sale.
Seniors can park at the Senior Services Center, take a bus over to the park and have a meal for $15, and take a return bus back to the Center after the concert.
