DANCE | Enthusiastic amateurs What does a realtor, a programmer, a banker, a disc jockey, a doctor and a
manager have in common? They wear tights and dance ballet Friday night at the
Hoogland Center for the Arts for the hilarious production titled “Men in Tights” to raise money for the Springfield Ballet Company. The 17 performers, who
practice and rehearse for a week before the gala, dance as a group and
alongside SBC dancers. They are: Hank Helton, Patrick Russell, John Ridley,
Black Stadel, Craig Martin, Kyle Killebrew, Michael Neumeister, Bob Gray, Gray
Noll, Johnny Molson, Steve French, Jeff Nevins, Larry Hardy, Allan Hamilton,
Jim Yale, Matt Ratz and Dave Chapman. Auction items will be highlighted and on
display throughout the evening. This year, the performance tickets include a
free drink at the after-party where activities will continue. Tickets are
available from the HCFTA Box Office at 523-2787 or can be purchased online at
scfta.org.
Men in Tights
Friday, May 1
7pm
LRS Theatre
Hoogland Center for the Arts
420 S. Sixth St.
544-1967
$15
MUSIC | Heavenly music Karen Lynne Deal directs the Illinois Symphony Orchestra’s season finale, The Planets, by Gustav Holst. Featured will be a Realtime 3D high definition NASA video of
the solar system projected above the orchestra and the percussion talents of
David Collier playing eight timpani. Another highlight of the evening is the
interactive solar system computer displays set up in the lobby for concert
goers to explore before or after the show. This concludes the 16th year for the
symphony.
Illinois Symphony
Orchestra
Saturday, May 2
8pm
Sangamon Auditorium
University of Illinois at Springfield
206-6160
$20-$42
Science & Religion | Man vs. God Benedictine University at Springfield hosts a public panel on evolution,
creationism, intelligent design and Catholic, Judaic and Islamic worldviews.
Panelists include: Father Christopher House, director of the diocesan Office of
Vocations. Rabbi Barry Marks, Dr. Maryam Mostoufi, of the Islamic Society of
Greater Springfield and the Greater Springfield Interfaith Association,
evolutionary biologist Darlene Snyder and Benedictine University at Springfield
science professor David Holland. Rick Rossetto, chair of the university’s science division, will moderate the event. A question-and-answer session is
included. The panel discussion is sponsored by the campus Interdisciplinary
Committee.
Science and Religion
Panel Discussion
Thursday, Apr 30
7-8:30pm
Beata Hall
Benedictine University at Springfield
1500 N. Fifth St.
525-1420 ext 290
Free
Work & Labor | Remembering the fight Labor struggles are remembered during a gathering in Springfield this Friday
featuring speakers Al Pieper, retired field organizer from SEIU Local 73, and
Dr. Richard Gilman-Opalsky, assistant professor of political philosophy at the
University of Illinois at Springfield, and the music of Tom Irwin, Reel Channel
Cats, Gypsy Collabo and the Sarah Schneider Band. The Haymarket Affair, or as
it is otherwise known, Haymarket Massacre, took place on May 4, 1886 at the
Haymarket Square in Chicago. What began as a rally in support of striking
workers trying to acquire eight-hour work days, turned horribly wrong when a
bomb was thrown at police. Eight officers and an unknown number of civilians
died as a result of the blast and ensuing gunfire. Subsequently, eight
anarchists were tried for murder, four put to death, while one committed
suicide in prison. Haymarket celebrations are held around the world each May in
remembrance and support in the effort for fair labor practices and treatment.
The Haymarket
Friday, May 1
5:30-10:30pm
Douglas Park Band Shell
West Jefferson Street
Free
Animals & Pets | Caring for the underdog Sunday afternoon, Robbies houses a birthday bash for two-legged folk in honor of a four-legged friend, who is actually a three-legged dog. Tres is Doug Mayols 15-year-old Pomeranian, adopted from the Animal Protection League in 2002. Doug hosts an annual soiree in honor of Tres, and decided to incorporate a fundraiser into the parties to celebrate adopted pets and give back to the place from whence Tres came. These events are fashioned after the very popular New Orleans dog parties. Mayol hopes to continue to grow this event into an annual formal fundraiser for the APL. For more info about adopting a pet at the APL, call 544-PETS or visit www.apl-shelter.org.
Tres Birthday Bash
and APL Fundraiser
Sunday, May 3
3-5pm
Robbies Restaurant
Old State Capitol Plaza
Free
BAND SPOTLIGHT | Tombstone Bullet With longtime area players Rick Hardin on vocals and guitar, Mike Gillette on
bass and sax, and Mike Rapier on rhythm and lead guitar, plus relative
newcomers Cory Brown on keyboards and Jeff Tucka on drums, Tombstone Bullet
forms an outstanding and authentic-sounding blues combo. This Saturday the
group plays at Marly’s Pub after the Rutledge Youth Foundation hosts an American Idol-type contest
featuring Roger Boyd of Head East as MC from 7 to 9 p.m. Show plans include
Tombstone Bullet collaborations with Boyd on a Head East song before the
contest and blues tunes during the band gig later in the evening. Also be sure
to catch the band on the streets of downtown Springfield this summer at the
Washington Street Jazz and Blues festival in June.
Tombstone Bullt
Blues Band
Saturday, May 2,
10 pm-1:30 am Rutledge Youth Foundation
talent contest with
MC Roger Boyd of Head East,
7 to 9 p.m. Marlys Pub,
9 West Old State Capitol Plaza
217-522-2280
www.tombstonebullet.net
This article appears in Apr 23-29, 2009.
