ACLU Asks for Changes in LW East's Madrigal Performances

will perform its 10th annual Madrigal Dinner-Concert next month, but not without some changes to last year's program. 

"We had gotten a complaint about the nature of the concert last year," said Edwin Yohnka, director of communications and public policy for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. "The concert was heavily targeted and weighted as almost a religious service." 

According to Yohnka, the complaint addressed concerns over the Madrigal dinner's songs, dialogue in the performance and actions people were asked to do that could be interpreted as prayers. 

The ACLU received the complaint several weeks ago, he said, and the organization was able to view a video of the 2009 performance before it contacted the Lincoln-Way High School District 210 about the complaint.

"(The district has) taken a look at it and said they're going to make changes with the program," said Yohnka, adding that the district was very responsive to the ACLU's concerns. "We're very hopeful that the program will change."

Although she didn't know what specific changes are being made to the performance, Stacy Holland, the district's director of communications, said the school has addressed the concerns in the complaint.

"There's not a whole lot to say," she said. "We cooperated with them, and everything is fine."

The other high schools in the district also hold Madrigal performances in December, but they were not cited in the complaint and weren't asked to change their programs. 

Lincoln-Way East's 10th annual Madrigal Dinner-Concerts are Dec. 8-11. Tickets go on sale 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 13, in the lobby of the school's auditorium, 201 Colorado Ave., Frankfort. Click for more information.