Green posters, pages of signatures, full hearts and countless petitions from community members is what finally got the Buffalo Theater Ensemble (BTE) reinstated into COD and given them the opportunity to open with their comeback: “Don’t Dress for Dinner.”

For the past three years, COD’s residential theater ensemble has been put on the back burner. The ensemble lost its residency at the college due to numerous confusing and ambiguous reasoning, all being blamed on budgetary issues.

While the Board of Trustees focused on the new presidential search and getting COD back on track, students and community members continued to push for BTE to return.

BTE has been around as long as the MAC has, being established in 1986. It wasn’t until 1996 that the ensemble became an equity group.The ensemble has provided a place where students are able to work hands on and even act themselves with professionals. Students get an inside look into the business and learn far more than a classroom can teach.

Already offering opportunities for students, BTE has established a BTE Stage Management scholarship, new acting shadows for theater students and a high school ambassador program.

“At Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, we are most interested in our relationship with the community, because we are a vital member of your community,” said professor and ensemble member, Amelia Barrett. “We are fully committed to the education of both students and the DuPage community at large. Everything we do— every production we mount, every experience we create —both in and out of our theatre—is about initiatives to enrich and engage the lives of all the potential theatre going community.”

To celebrate their return, the ensemble has opened back up with “Don’t Dress for Dinner,” a farce written by Marc Camoletti that centers around Bernard who has invited his mistress for the weekend as his wife is away. Everything seems to be planned perfectly, but if it worked out perfectly, that would make for a boring show.

“It is an honor to be back in residence at the MAC,” said Connie Canaday Howard, professor and ensemble member. “In choosing our season, we thought that doing a farce, which is meant to be silly and elicit enjoyment and laughter, was a great way to celebrate BTE’s return to the MAC.  It’s also a type of play that BTE has been noted as doing well. And, in spite of all of the silliness, it’s ultimately saying that all of us, as individuals, can come through adversity and be even better, and that relationships are worth the work.”

“Don’t Dress for Dinner” has already made good impressions with raving reviews in the Daily Herald, NewCity Stage and being a Critics’ Pick in Windy City Times.

“There isn’t a weak link in the cast with Brad Walker, Robert Jordan Bailey and BTE artistic director Connie Canaday Howard setting the stage as the husband, friend and wife respectively,” said NewCity Stage.

“Don’t Dress for Dinner” runs through Oct. 9 in the Playhouse Theater, tickets are available for purchase at the box office.