Illinois Symphony Orchestra has a spectacular concert planned for Saturday, Feb. 22, at Sangamon Auditorium UIS that includes a special guest percussionist and a dramatic performance. ISO is joined by Illinois Shakespeare Festival players who will bring Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet” to life. Multi-percussionist Joseph Gramley joins the concert playing different percussion instruments in Chen […]
Anita Stienstra
Posted inArts & Culture
Embracing differences
Illinois State Museum is planning a fun and educational Saturday for families and individuals on Feb. 22. Learn about the heritage and traditions of various world cultures through hands-on crafts, international displays, live performances and more at Celebrate Cultural Diversity. Countries and groups represented include India, China, Philippines, Japan, China, the Middle East, Lithuanian-American Club, […]
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Giving and gifting
Local artist Stan Squires offers limited edition prints of three Springfield landmarks through March 31 as a fundraiser for the Salvation Army. Half of the proceeds go to the nonprofit. The illustrations include Lincoln Park’s stone bridge (pictured), Illinois Watch Company and Pillsbury Mills Flour Plant. Only 100 of the 11-inch by 14-inch prints on […]
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Poetry Out Loud
Poetry Out Loud is a national contest for teens that challenges them to eloquently recite poems aloud by memory. The Poetry Foundation and National Endowment for the Arts cosponsor the annual competition. Contests are held at the state and regional levels prior to the national event. The Springfield Area Arts Council organizes and holds […]
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Play of lovers
Three performances of Romeo and Juliet will be shown on the big screen at AMC Showplace 12 on the Westside Valentine’s Day weekend. This is not the classic 1968 movie, or the 1996 Leonardo Dicaprio version of the film. This is a film of the critically acclaimed Broadway production starring Orlando Bloom opposite Tony-nominated Condola […]
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Valentine show
Phone now to make your Valentine’s Day reservations for an evening at Abe’s Southside Pub for a romantic dinner with the R&B music of Jerry Hendrix and The Legendary Drifters with Tony Whitehead, backup lead singer for The New Stylistics, formerly of the Delfonics. Also offered is the show, dinner and a room for $99 per […]
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Sound portraits
Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site kicks off its new 2014 series of musical performances, Made for Music, on Feb. 15 with an appearance by the innovative jazz trio Wertico Cain and Gray, featuring Grammy-winning drummer Paul Wertico. Wertico Cain and Gray create what they call “sound portraits” using both music and visual effects. Tickets are […]
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Song and storytelling
Chicago-based Fifth House Ensemble returns to UIS Studio Theatre Feb. 15 for a collaboration with University of Illinois Springfield faculty members that takes from the theme of the ancient Greek Muses and their influence over the arts and sciences. Known for their innovative chamber music programs, Fifth House Ensemble will play musical selections between the […]
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Calling teens and teachers
Deadline for this year’s edition of the international teen poetry anthology, Navigating the Maze, is Friday, Feb. 28, 2014. Teens are invited to submit their work. Teachers are invited to submit their students’ work. Poet and Vachel Lindsay Association President Lisa Higgs is the guest editor this year. Higgs’ poetry book, Lodestar, was published in 2011 by Fishing […]
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Exclusively Elvis
Elvis tribute artists from across the country will vie for $15,000 in cash and prizes at the Midwest Tribute to the King contest, Feb. 7-9, at the Hilton Springfield, downtown. All contestants are accompanied by the EAS Showband, the official band of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Graceland. Shawn Klush, grand champion of the $25,000 World Elvis […]
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African-American awareness
Many Black History Month events are scheduled to take place during the month of February around the area. Most of the colleges have a slew of commemorative events. At the University of Illinois Springfield Brookens Auditorium, Wednesday, Feb. 9, hear a talk by Chigozie “Gozie” Umeadi, former UIS men’s basketball player and now basketball operations […]
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Landmarks and famous effects
PHOTO BY ANNIE LEIBOVITZ Probably the most famous contemporary photographer in the U.S., Annie Leibovitz is known for her amazing images of celebrities. Recently, the New York-based Leibovitz has been shooting famous places and objects. More than 70 of those shots are assembled in an exhibition “Pilgrimage,” from the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection and […]
