We can’t remember the last magic show to come to town. So we’re excited to have An Evening of Magic at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, June 7. Six nationally known magicians are appearing, including 17-year-old Trent James. Touted as having a “fresh approach to magic, charismatic personality and hip style” that has won him […]
Anita Stienstra
Posted inArts & Culture
Ideal identities
The first event of the University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Experience Speakers Series is the film Two Spirits. Nominated for a GLAAD Media Award 2012, the documentary tells the story of young Navajo Fred Martinez who was murdered in a hate crime. Fred was what the Navajo call a nadleehi or male-bodied person with […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Everything Indian
Here’s a great reason to drive east from Springfield this Friday night, June 6, to Madden Arts Center. The Decatur Area Arts Council is hosting an event for the opening of its newest exhibit, Native American Art: Splendid Heritage, and it promises to be fun and inspiring. Honoring the Native American culture, activities include Jo […]
Posted inArts & Culture
First-class bells
PHOTO BY ANITA STIENSTRA The International Carillon Festival returns to Washington Park June 4-8. Touted as one of the world’s most important and prestigious carillon events, this year’s carillonneurs are Robin Austin (USA), Geert D’hollander (Belgium), Frans Haagan (The Netherlands), Claire Halpert (USA), Caleb Malamed (USA), Eddy Marien (Belgium), James Rogers (USA) and students Annie […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Unwavering spirit
The Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Dairy of Anne Frank opens Theatre in the Park’s summer season May 30. There will be six performances in the outdoor theatre at Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site in Petersburg. “The play transports the audience back more than 70 years to experience what it was to be a Jew […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Inside look
This downtown architectural walking tour begins in front of the Lincoln Herndon Law Office on south Old State Capitol Plaza at Sixth and Adams streets at 5:30 p.m. Join Anthony Rubano (pictured here on a previous tour), of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, who will discuss the architectural styles, materials and treatments on Adams St. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Civil War experience
Local poet Mark Flotow is the featured presenter this Memorial Day weekend, May 24, at 2 p.m. during the Poets in the Parlor series. This reading showcases Flotow’s researched series of poems about the Civil War experience at the soldier, spouse and civilian level. The Sesquicentennial Civil War Series of poems includes an installation piece […]
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Get the scoop
Join Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site Saturday, May 24, for an old-fashioned ice cream social. Springfield Municipal Band will perform and the original First Street cemetery entrance restoration will be explained. Another exciting part of the gathering will be an introduction by the Lincoln Monument Association of its new historic tree tour. The tour allows […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Exciting summer events
PHOTO COURTESY CHAD MITCHELL PHOTOGRAPHY Assumption Fest6-11 p.m. Thursday, June 26; 5 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Friday, June 27; 11 a.m.-12:30 a.m. Saturday, June 28 Here’s a festival that’s been going on and growing for more than 80 years. Originally called Assumption Homecoming, Assumption Fest continues to expand. This year there’s a new large carnival, more […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Flamboyant song and dance
There will be six performances of La Cage aux Folles at the Hoogland Center for the Arts May 23-25, 30-31 and June 1. The hilarious Tony Award-winning Broadway musical is about flamboyant couple Albin (aka ZaZa on stage) and Georges, a French Riviera drag nightclub manager, who finds out his son, Jean-Michel, is marrying the […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Inclusion celebration
The Phoenix Center will host the fourth annual Springfield PrideFest on Saturday, May 17, from 12-10 p.m. on Capitol Ave. between Fourth and Sixth streets. The free day-long celebration of diversity strives to offer something for everyone whether you are gay, straight, bisexual, transgendered, queer and no matter what your age. Headlining is the dynamic-performing […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Pipers in the park
Maybe you’ve heard the St. Andrew’s Society of Central Illinois Pipes and Drums. If you thought they were amazing, listen to several regional bag pipes and drum groups at noon and 5:30 p.m. at the 19th Annual Springfield Highland Games and Celtic Festival Saturday, May 17. The gathering celebrates the Irish and Scots but you […]
