Hamilton Star Packs the House for Encore Center for Performing Arts' "Intimate" Series

ELMHURST, IL – Broadway star Miguel Cervantes brought warmth, storytelling and powerhouse vocals to Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel on Thursday, June 12, headlining An Intimate Evening with Miguel Cervantes, hosted by Encore Center for Performing Arts (ECPA) as part of its Intimate Series. Nearly 400 guests from Elmhurst, Chicago and neighboring communities filled the historic venue for a night that showcased the transformative power of live performance.

Best known for his long-running role in Hamilton, Cervantes performed songs including “Dear Theodosia,” “My Shot,” “Wait for It” and “Alexander Hamilton,” along with selections from American Idiot and If/Then, where Cervantes starred alongside Idina Menzel on Broadway. Cervantes shared personal stories about perseverance, loss and the growth that comes from life’s most difficult moments. One of the most poignant moments came during “It’s Quiet Uptown,” which Cervantes paired with the story of losing his daughter Adelaide. He encouraged the audience to “put your head down and go through it” when pursuing something meaningful.
The evening also featured Elmhurst native Julie Peterson, who joined Cervantes on stage to perform “The Wizard and I” and shared how theater helped shape her personal journey. A post-show Q&A and raffle of Hamilton Broadway props rounded out the evening, which was also dedicated to honoring veterans in attendance.

As ECPA continues its capital campaign to build a permanent performing arts venue in downtown Elmhurst, the evening offered a glimpse of what the future could hold. The vision began with a small group of artists, civic leaders and community members who asked, “Wouldn’t it be incredible if Elmhurst had a space like this all the time?” That idea sparked a movement that now includes architectural plans, feasibility studies and a growing fundraising effort for a state-of-the-art facility.
“What happened in that room is exactly why we’re doing this,” said Laura Michaud, ECPA founding board member and board secretary. “Live performance creates connection. You feel something. You remember who you were with. That’s the kind of experience we want to make possible.”
“Thank you for allowing me to be part of the push for this amazing facility,” Cervantes said. “I hope next time I come, we can do this again in said facility.”

The proposed venue will feature a 550-seat mainstage theater, a flexible second performance space that seats 125, and areas for education, rehearsals and community programming. Economic studies show that the facility could bring more than $8 million in annual impact to the region, supporting local businesses and expanding access to high-quality cultural experiences in the western suburbs.
The event was made possible with the generous support of Arts DuPage, a DuPage Foundation initiative, and was sponsored by Absolute Production Services.
About the Encore Center for Performing Arts:

Encore Center for Performing Arts (ECPA) is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to offering performances in theater, music, dance and comedy, where artists and patrons share their love of the performing arts. ECPA has the ultimate goal of creating a vibrant theater complex in the western suburbs and beyond–a long-term investment for the community with strong ties to local businesses and residents. To learn more about sponsorship, volunteering, or donation opportunities, contact ECPAElmhurst@gmail.com.