Arriving just in time for the spooky season, Spencer Theatre Company’s production of Misery, directed by John Sivak, delivers a taut, 105-minute psychological thriller without an intermission. It is adapted for the stage by William Goldman, who also penned the screenplay for the award-winning film based on Stephen King’s novel. The play keeps much of […]
Courtney Wick
Courtney Wick is active in the area theater scene. Most recently, she wrote and directed the murder-mystery comedy “Nightmare at the Hot Mess Hair Salon,” a follow-up to her previous production, “Nightmare at the Sweet Dreams Inn.”
Posted inArts & Culture
From me to you, 100% true
Sprightly co-directed by Jasmine French and Reggie Guyton for Springfield Theatre Centre, Seussical Jr. is a kinetic, family-friendly mash-up of Dr. Seuss’s popular rhymes and tales. Brought to life by a 40-member cast of children ages 5 to 17 from all across central Illinois, this production radiates whimsical energy. “Kids come into this with a […]
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A flurry of magic
Transitioning an epic Disney blockbuster set in a frozen winter to an outdoor stage during a muggy, Midwest summer is no easy task — making this stunning directorial debut by Alyssa and DJ Shultz all the more impressive. Frozen at the Muni is big, beautiful and packed full of fun surprises and talented performers who […]
Posted inArts & Culture
A flurry of magic
Transitioning an epic Disney blockbuster set in a frozen winter to an outdoor stage during a muggy, Midwest summer is no easy task— making this stunning directorial debut by Alyssa and DJ Shultz all the more impressive. Frozen at the Muni is big, beautiful and packed full of fun surprises and talented performers who bring […]
Posted inArts & Culture
An ambitious journey to the promised land
Adapted from the beloved 1998 DreamWorks animated film of the same name, The Prince of Egypt follows the story of Moses from his infancy through his quest to free the Hebrew people from the Pharaoh of Egypt. Rooted in the biblical themes of sacrifice, trauma and justice— with music by Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz— this […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Hoity-toity hilarity
Most modern-day audiences are not familiar with this delightfully punny musical comedy, but Me and My Girl originally opened as a smash hit in London in 1937 and enjoyed a long run. It is one of those breezy, timeless musicals that any theatergoer can appreciate. The Legacy Theatre provides the ideal backdrop, as its classic […]
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“Who’s your daddy?”
Since its world premiere in 1999, Mamma Mia! has been a continuous fixture of the theatrical landscape, drawing crowds with its timeless 70s soundtrack. Co-directors Morgan Kaplan and Andrew Maynerich are on their second go-round of this iconic, disco fever show after having directed it previously at Sacred-Heart Griffin High School. “We wanted to take […]
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An immaculate conception
Jesus Christ Superstar is the 1971 Andrew Lloyd Webber Biblical rock-musical that narrates the last seven days of Jesus’s life in a flashy, pop-filled 90-minute package. There is no intermission, so audiences make it back home for their bedtime prayers, hallelujah! A talent-studded odyssey of love, power and protest, Springfield Theatre Centre’s gender-bending production, co-directed […]
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Nerds’ night out
The 25thAnnual Putnam County Spelling Bee or Putnam, as it’s lovingly referred to by theater connoisseurs on a time crunch, is a sweetly funny but sincere musical about a small-town spelling bee and the cast of fiercely competitive children (all played by adults) who are vying for first place. It is essentially a comedic A […]
Posted inArts Features
Put on a happy face
Bye Bye Birdie is a satirically corny, upbeat and schmaltzy musical waxing nostalgia about the 1950s. The show was a hit on Broadway when it debuted in 1961 and only grew in popularity with the release of the 1963 Ann-Margret film. It delivers a hefty songbook of toe-tapping tunes including “How Lovely to be a […]
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
Mapping merriment
From the west side to downtown and beyond, area businesses and organizations are preparing for this season with cheerful events, shopping and nostalgic traditions for the whole family. We’ve charted a complete winter route with a little something for everyone this yuletide season. WHITE OAKS MALL WINTREE WONDERLAND If it’s been a while since you […]
Posted inArts Features
Fences is raw and essential theater
August Wilson’s Fences is one of those plays that most people read at some point in their education, but only by seeing it performed can one fully grasp its poetic simplicity. Fences was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award for its intricately woven story of the personal struggles of a 1950s Black family […]
