James O’Reilly, an actor and director with the Body Politic, a Chicago theater, will perform on Dec. 4 in NIU’s Stevens Building.

Marketing Director Alan Bernstein said, “O’Reilly is an orator, actor, director and theater manager. He’s a renaissance man.”

The show, titled “One Man in His Time,” includes poetry from William Yates, Irish fables and anecdotes, songs and readings from “Othello,” “King Lear” and “The Dresser”.

O’Reilly recently performed in the Chicago International Theater production of “A Whistle in the Dark.” Bernstein said the play is “about an Irish family with five brothers in various stages of decay and their relationship with their sister-in-law and father when he comes back. It is a violent play.”

O’Reilly had a feature role in the television movie “Open Admissions,” starring Jane Alexander. He will appear next spring in the Body Politic’s production of “King Lear.”

In past years, O’Reilly has directed NIU productions of “The Country Wife,” “The Royal Game,” “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” “All My Sons,” “Charley’s Aunt” and “West Side Story.”

Donations are $18 at the door and $12 in advance if made in person by Nov. 21 at the Stevens Building box office. Proceeds from the performance will benefit scholarships for theater students and will enable NIU to invite guest artists in the future.