Blue Man Group is a wildly popular stage act consisting of three guys who paint themselves blue and perform a theatrical show that combines comedy, music and multimedia. If you’ve never seen Blue Man Group, they take the stage in Springfield, Sept. 5-6, at Sangamon Auditorium UIS. The New York Times touted the group’s concert […]
Anita Stienstra
Posted inArts & Culture
Our objects, ourselves
University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery kicks off their season Monday, Aug. 25, with the installation project Filler by Springfield native Jeff Robinson, UIS Visual Arts Gallery director, UIS instructor and DEMO Project gallery co-founder. Explains the artist, “I’m interested in exploring the role that amassed objects play in our lives and how we, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Just Abe
There are two days left to catch John O’Connor as Mr. Lincoln in the Theatre in the Park production Mr. Lincoln that opened with two amazing performances earlier in the month. A one-man play written by American playwright Herbert Mitgang and directed by central Illinois’ Carly Shank, Mr. Lincoln brings to the stage a portrayal […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Beer and vittles and pipes
Rain or shine, Sunday, Aug. 31, enjoy a festival put on by a group that likes to have a good time. Central Illinois St. Andrew Society and the folks of Celtic Mist invite you to their second annual Celtic Festival on the streets of downtown Springfield in front of the Celtic Mist Pub. The St. […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
2014 Fall Calendar
AUGUST Pittsfield Fall FestivalAug 28-31, 6pm Thu-Fri, 9am Sat, Food vendors, crafts, carnival and many activities. Parade on Saturday. Free. 217-617-2656. Pike County Courthouse, 100 E. Washington St., Pittsfield. Budweiser Illinois Blues FestivalAug 29-30, 1pm-12am Fri-Sat, Internationally-known blues artists on three stages. Bring a lawn chair. Admission. Ticket prices to be announced soon. RiverFront […]
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Things are looking up
Lincoln Art and Balloon Festival A mere 30 minutes north of Springfield, the Lincoln Art and Balloon Festival, Aug. 22-24, combines small town charm with the magic of hot air balloons. The fun takes place at two locations, on the square in downtown Lincoln and at the Logan County Airport. There is truly something for […]
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Great taste ’n’ tunes
The Lee Boys Kicking off a fast approaching fall festival season, the ever-popular Old Capitol Blues and BBQS has great blues music paired with a food favorite, barbecue. Put on each year by Downtown Springfield, Inc. the festival has another amazing lineup. Headliners this year are Victor Wainwright and The Wild Roots on Friday and […]
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Two nights of funny
Portuguese Rodeo Clown Company The popular Portuguese Rodeo Clown Company returns to the Hoogland Center for the Arts Aug. 22 and 23 with live improvised comedy theater. Get your tickets now by phone or online – these shows have been known to sell out. PRCC consists of five local performers who take audience suggestions and spontaneously […]
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That’s a wrap
TWO (2) — “The journey not the arrival matters,” wrote poet T.S. Eliot. “All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware,” stated philosopher Martin Buber. Anytime I go anywhere, it is unexpected beauty or inspiration that I eagerly anticipate. The fair is large enough there’s sure to be adventure. Unfortunately the day […]
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Talk of the town
PHOTO BY LAURA KAY COFFEY Thursday, Aug. 21, is the next installment of the entertaining and informative PechaKucha at the Hoogland Center for the Arts. Some of Springfield’s movers-and-shakers take the stage and talk about what they know best, accompanied by PowerPoint presentations they have made. What moves the evening along and provides the challenge […]
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Not a sleeper
PHOTO COURTESY THEATRE IN THE PARK Theatre in the Park at Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site presents the Tony Award-winning musical comedy Pajama Game on Aug. 15-17 and 21-23. Directed by Sean Rose of Jacksonville, the storyline follows the clash between workers and managers at Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory. The production stars Becky Bertram (Petersburg) […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Installation environments
Contemporary art gallery DEMO Project will host an opening reception Friday, Aug. 15, for the exhibit Communal Paradox by Illinois artist Lauren Turk. “These installation environments tell the story of a journey through communal paradoxes; craving and contentment, lack and overabundance, sorrow and jubilation,” says Turk. She also discusses a specific work that will be […]
