July 16, 2025
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The Scene

Tribute bands, musicals, movies highlight summer & fall lineup at The Dixon Theatre

By Aimee Barrows
Mike Venier, president of The Dixon: Historic Theatre Board, welcomes guests Sunday, March 2, 2025, to the reopening of The Dixon after a lengthy renovation. New paint, plaster, roof, restrooms and brick work were all part of the rehab.

Mike Venier, president of The Dixon: Historic Theatre Board, welcomes guests Sunday, March 2, 2025, to the reopening of The Dixon after a lengthy renovation. New paint, plaster, roof, restrooms and brick work were all part of the rehab. (Alex T. Paschal)

If you can’t see iconic artists like Taylor Swift, Billy Joel or Oasis live in concert, you can certainly enjoy the next-best thing at The Dixon Historic Theatre this year.

The theatre, which reopened in March after extensive renovations, will welcome several tribute bands and artists to the stage this season, as well as musical theatre shows and movie screenings.

The exterior of The Historic Dixon Theatre, seen from its front entrance at 114 S Galena Ave, Dixon,

The exterior of The Historic Dixon Theatre, seen from its front entrance at 114 S Galena Ave, Dixon, (Shaw Local File Photo)

The lineup of musicals, which the theater is producing with both professional and local actors, includes “Sweet Charity,” opening July 24; and “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story,” opening Sept. 19.

The national touring company of “Menopause 2 The Musical: Cruising Through the ‘Change’” will do two shows, a matinee and evening performance, on Nov. 8.

On Oct. 11. Dishwalla, known best for their 1996 hit “Counting Blue Cars,” will perform on Nov. 29. National touring Sister Hazel performed at the theatre in May.

A variety of tribute acts will pay homage to iconic artists like Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons on July 19, Foreigner on Aug. 8, Billy Joel on Aug. 30, Steely Dan on Sept. 13, Fleetwood Mac on Oct. 4, Oasis on Oct. 18, Stevie Ray Vaughn on Nov. 9, Taylor Swift on Dec. 13 (Taylor Swift’s birthday) and Trans-Siberian Orchestra on Dec. 27.

Bring the family to enjoy movie nights, featuring iconic films like “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” “Remember the Titans,” “Clueless” and a series of Halloween-themed scary and not-so-scary films throughout October, including “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” with a shadow cast Oct. 24.

For more information and a full lineup of events, or to purchase tickets, visit dixontheatre.com.

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Aimee Barrows

Aimee Barrows

Aimee Barrows is the editor of The Scene, Shaw Local News Network's entertainment section. The Scene is your go-to destination for all things fun in Northern Illinois. Prior to The Scene, Aimee was the editor of the Kane County Chronicle for five years, and a freelance reporter for Shaw Media for four years.