Northbrook Theatre Reopens With 'Freaky Friday' After 8-Month Hiatus

NORTHBROOK, IL — Northbrook Theatre will reopen next week after an eight-month hiatus, bringing performances back to 3323 Walters Ave. with “Freaky Friday: A New Musical.”

The theater had temporarily relocated productions since August during construction of the Northbrook Park District’s Northbrook Community Center, which is reopening this month as an upgraded facility for programs for all ages.

The return also marks a debut of new theater amenities inside the renovated building. According to the Northbrook Park District, the project added updated dressing rooms, expanded rehearsal space and a new black box-style studio theater for future productions.

“The building’s transformation has given Northbrook Theatre incredible new tools to elevate every production we bring to this stage,” Northbrook Park District Visual and Performing Arts Manager Drew Kambach said. “From the beautifully updated dressing rooms to the expanded rehearsal spaces, our performers and creative teams will thrive in this environment for decades to come. We are so proud to reopen with 'Freaky Friday' and share this exciting new chapter with our audiences.”

Presented by Northbrook Community Theatre, the musical is based on the classic novel and film of the same name. Performances are scheduled for May 15-17 and feature a cast of 30 actors ranging in age from 9 to 52.

The production is led by Katie Denten, David Zizic and Rhys Steele. It follows teenager Ellie Blake and her mother, Katherine, who switch bodies the day before Katherine’s wedding and must learn to understand each other to switch back.

“Freaky Friday is a hilarious, yet empathetic, theatrical journey that will leave families with a lot to laugh, talk, and think about,” Northbrook Park District Performing Arts Supervisor Melody DeRogatis said. DeRogatis also said staff are happy to be back in the building.

“There are so many reasons to be excited about all the new amenities of the Community Center!” DeRogatis said. “For ‘Freaky Friday,’ actors will be able to enjoy our newly-renovated dressing rooms. Future casts will be able to enjoy our newly-minted rehearsal spaces and our beautiful new black box-style studio theatre.”

Northbrook Theatre has offered educational and recreational programming in dance, drama and music for more than 40 years. “Freaky Friday: A New Musical” will be staged at 7 p.m. Friday, May 15, 7 p.m. Saturday, May 16, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 17. General admission tickets are $25 and are available at nbparks.org/theatre.