They say history often repeats itself. For director Gus Gordon, who has performed in or directed 1776 a half-dozen times, in this case, it’s about bringing back the perfect show to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence’s signing. “I’m old enough to remember our nation’s bicentennial and how emotional and exciting that […]
Mary Young
Mary Young was born and raised in Springfield and has been performing in, producing and directing live theater for decades. She's done film and voice-over work, performs occasionally with local bands and takes part in improv troupe The Portuguese Rodeo Clown Company.
Posted inArts & Culture
Footloose meets Jailhouse Rock
When talking with All Shook Up director Kelly Robertson, she cleverly offers, “If you bring the wine and crackers, we’ll bring the cheese.” The show, a jukebox musical packed with Elvis songs and loosely based on Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, indeed stands as a high-energy, crowd pleaser with lots of corny jokes and a campy storyline. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Follow this rainbow
“These last few weeks working with this group of beautiful Black women and this amazing staff has healed me in ways I can’t even put into words! We don’t usually get opportunities like this. This is so much more than a show. It’s poetry, it’s art, it’s truth, it’s life!” – excerpt from Brianna Gude-Price’s […]
Posted inSummerguide
Drama, comedy and family fun await
Theatre in the Park (TIP) in Petersburg has another unique and exciting season planned for summer. If you’re considering a return trip to be surrounded by history and nature or planning a first-time visit to this well-kept secret for performers and audience members alike, here’s a glimpse into what’s in store. I Remember Mama May […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Nightmare at Camp Killamanbimbo
Continuing on her journey through the decades, local playwright Courtney Wick brings the third story in her trilogy of plays to a colorful conclusion with Nightmare at Camp Killamanbimbo. Billed as “a gnarly prequel to her previous murder mysteries, Nightmare at the Sweet Dreams Inn and Nightmare at the Hot Mess Hair Salon, Camp Killamanbimbo […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Disaster!: A jukebox musical
Most people of a certain age can probably say they’ve at least heard of, if not watched many popular disaster films of the 1970s such as Airport, The Towering Inferno, Earthquake and The Poseidon Adventure. Personally, I couldn’t get enough when I was a kid. They were epic. These films boasted major special effects for […]
Posted inArts Features
The Trojan Women, a Greek tragedy
In one of those rare but welcome departures from local norms, a play is being performed in Springfield that probably hasn’t been done in years, if ever. While Greek tragedy might not be high up on everyone’s list, I hope you make the time to see this one. The story and the production expertly explore […]
Posted inArts & Culture
STC’s The Addams Family – An ooky love story
The Addams Family musical is based on a 1964 sitcom which was inspired by the cartoons of Charles Addams. All feature Gomez Addams, his wife Morticia and children Pugsley and Wednesday. They share their home on Cemetery Lane with Uncle Fester, butler Lurch, helping hand Thing and someone’s grandma. They are a close-knit family with […]
Posted inArts Features
The Muni’s season of love
The Springfield Muni Opera’s Season of Love theme promises to be another memorable summer under the stars with an expanded slate of offerings from four shows to five, including a junior production. The season kicks off with Mamma Mia! opening May 29, followed by All Shook Up opening June 19, The Prince of Egypt: The […]
Posted inArts Features
Something’s Afoot: A musical mystery spoof
Something’s Afoot, written by James McDonald, David Vos and Robert Gerlach, is a silly musical whodunit that lightheartedly pokes fun at, of all things, murder. Specifically, it makes light of the kind of murder mystery conceived in the mind of popular writer Agatha Christie. The show, with a direct nod to Christie’s novel And Then […]
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
What to see this winter
The cold, dark days of winter may be upon us, but area stages will be merry and bright with plenty of music, dance and theater shows to keep us entertained. Here’s a sampling of what we have to look forward to for the next few months. Bye Bye Birdie A loving send-up of 1950s small-town […]
Posted inArts Features
Springfield Theatre Centre’s The Hello Girls
Area audiences have the chance to catch a new (for Springfield) musical about a small group of World War I heroes, and this writer hopes you take it. The Hello Girls is an uplifting and exciting history lesson that chronicles the journey of five courageous women who served as bilingual telephone operators on the front lines […]
