History

A History of Generosity and Excellence

The Dellora A. Norris Cultural Arts Center includes a 1,000-seat performing arts theater and spacious, two-level art gallery. The Norris was founded in 1978 with funding from the St. Charles Charities, which was created in 1924 by Lester and Dellora Norris and Edward Baker and now is known as the Norris Foundation.

The Norris has a long history of bringing downtown Chicago-quality entertainment and arts to the suburbs, featuring theater, illusion, comedy, dance, and virtually every genre of music, from pop and blues to big band, classical and opera.

The variety of acts through the years has included the Chicago City Ballet, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Peking Acrobats, Glen Miller and the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras, Harry Belafonte, Maynard Fergerson, the U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America, as well as Northern Illinois University, Jazz Band, Steelband, and Chamber Music Ensembles.

The Dellora A. Norris Cultural Arts Center is located on the Norris Campus, which includes the John B. Norris Recreation Center, the Lester J. Norris Sports Complex, the Norris Stadium, and the St. Charles East High School. The St. Charles East High School also uses the theater for theatrical and musical performances.

Dellora A. Norris Cultural Arts Center

A look back at the milestones that shaped our growth and brought us closer to where we are today.

1917

At 15 years of age, St. Charles, IL native, Dellora Angell, inherited a portion of the $38 million fortune of John W. “Bet-a-Million” Gates, founder of the Texas Oil Company (later called Texaco) and maker of barbed wire.

1923

Six years after receiving her inheritance, Angell married childhood sweetheart and local cartoonist, Lester Norris.

In advance of World War II

A Red Cross volunteer, Dellora Norris worked as a nurse’s aide at Delnor. She also supported her husband in the founding of Thrift Gardens (later Victory Gardens) as a means to support the country in advance of World War II. Lester, who later received a commendation from the President forthis effort, chaired the national Victory Garden Program.

1972

The couple donated the 70 acres of land on which the St. Charles East High School sits today and made an initial gift of $4.25 million toward construction of a cultural arts center and a recreation center

1977

St. Charles East High School opened.

1978

Followed by the Dellora A. Norris Cultural Arts Center.

1979

Dellora died at 77.

1980

The Lester J. Norris Sports Complex opens (with an additional $2.5 million grant from the Norris family), and the John B. Norris Recreation Center opens (named for one of the couple’s children).

1981

Lester died two years after Dellora.

Our Sponsors

We’re grateful to the organizations for sponsoring our performances and exhibitions.