Have you recently attended an event in the UIS Studio Theatre?
Over the past year, the UIS Performing Arts Center has
expanded presentations in the UIS Studio Theatre, offering a multitude of
engaging events for anyone seeking entertainment, cultural enrichment or a
memorable night out. As a complimentary space to the 2,000-seat Sangamon
Auditorium, the size and technical capabilities of the 124-seat UIS Studio
Theatre offers the opportunity for the center to feature local artists and
reach unique audiences for equally unique events.
One of the most compelling reasons to attend events in this
space is the intimate setting it provides. The theater offers an up-close and
personal experience, allowing the audience to truly connect with performers and
immerse themselves in a story or an art form. The small seating capacity
ensures that every seat is a good one, creating an atmosphere where every
moment feels significant.
The space has been and continues to be the performance home
for events produced by UIS Theatre and UIS Music, both part of the UIS
Department of Art, Music and Theatre. However, in the past year, many new and
unique programs have been added to the center’s expanded offerings.
The UIS Performing Arts Center’s Date Night series features
skilled local artists in short performance events that allow audiences to
“sample” an art form, an instrument or a composer. The events are offered at
6:30 p.m. so audiences can either get home early or enjoy a late dinner
afterward. Recent past events have included a “Date Night with Jazz,” featuring
the Groove Merchants; “Date Night with Improv,” featuring the Capital City
Improv troupe; and “Date Night with Mother Road Bones,” a trombone quartet.
Some of these events are presented in partnership with UIS Music, whose
teaching roster includes a wealth of excellent musicians. As with all events in
the UIS Studio Theatre, these Date Nights provide a fantastic opportunity to
connect with friends, family or fellow culture enthusiasts, fostering a sense
of community and shared appreciation for the arts.
Providing a platform for emerging talent and creativity, Our
Stage / Our Voices is the Center’s program in which members of historically
underrepresented communities address the issues of inequality in the regional
performing arts. An annual artist-in-residence advances a project that touches
on these issues. This year, artist-in-residence Tim Crawford is writing Outraged: Terror in Springfield 1908, a
play that tells a family story of the racially-charged events that took place
in Springfield in August of 1908. In November, the UIS Studio Theatre will host
a staged reading of this work-in-progress and three ten-minute plays written by
local playwrights also will be presented.
In 2022-2023, the center offered the first events in the UIS
Studio Theatre designated as sensory-friendly. These events are specifically
designed to cater to audience members with sensory needs. Lighting and volume
changes are kept to a minimum and artists and ushers are prepared to
accommodate audiences who may be vocal or may need to move from their seats
during the performance. The center recently became certified as a
sensory-friendly venue through KultureCity, with staff participating in
sensory-friendly training and the venue offering resources that may help
individuals with sensory needs. This year, the Performing Art Center’s
sensory-friendly events are “Experience Folk Dance” in November and “Experience
Joyful Music” in February.
As part of the expanded use of the UIS Studio Theatre, the
UIS Performing Arts Center has also started creating events from scratch by
acting as a theatrical producer in the UIS Studio Theatre. In this capacity,
the center selects a script, hires the creative staff and individual artists
and does all of the other work involved in creating a show. This year, two
plays were produced: the Holocaust remembrance play And Then They Came For Me in February, and a riveting new play
about race and power structures within academia, The Niceties in September. Watch for more information about a
production of Larry Kramer’s AIDS play The
Normal Heart coming in March 2024 to this stage.
We invite you to explore our website, UISpac.com, to learn
all about the events in the UIS Studio Theatre, which offer an unmatched blend
of artistic excellence, intimate ambiance, community engagement and diverse
entertainment options. Whether you’re looking for a memorable night out or a
deeper connection with the arts, attending events in this charming venue is a
choice you won’t regret. Come join us and be a part of the magic unfolding on
this intimate stage.
Carly Shank is the
artistic programs director at the UIS Performing Arts Center and has been
involved on and off the stage in local theater for 40 years.
