IT Picks

THEATER | Russia ballet The tradition and beauty of the Russian ballet captivates the audience as the troupe presents the story of Giselle. The ornate imagery, coupled with the graceful movements of the ballerinas, brings the tragic love story of Giselle and Count Alberecht to life. Giselle is considered one of the classic contemporary ballets. […]

CONCERT | Elvis tribute More than 1,500 Elvis fans from all over Illinois are expected to attend the 13th annual Midwest Tribute to the King Competition. The two-day show, presented by COOL Radio 101.9, features Elvis impersonators competing to take home the king’s crown. Most of the performers involved tour the country on a regular […]

THEATER | Joseph’s dreamcoat The Springfield Theatre Center is giving theater lovers what they have been asking for with a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. According to Bill Bauser, director of the musical, it is the most requested show at the Springfield Theatre Center. The story follows Joseph, who wears a multi-colored […]

HOME IMPROVEMENT | Weatherization workshop Heating a house in the winter can put a strain on the pocketbook, so the city of Springfield is offering a workshop to help reduce the cost of utility bills. City Water, Light and Power is offering a 90-minute workshop focusing on home energy efficiency improvements that can be done […]

DANCING | Salsa nights This New Year’s Eve shake your hips to the mambo, move your booty to the rumba and get spicy with salsa at the National Image Inc. Central Illinois Chapter New Year’s Eve Salsa Night. The event benefits the organization’s scholarship funds, but like most parties is has a ripple effect. After […]

Concert | Holiday magic When The Roxy Group decided to put on a holiday show they wanted to give Springfield an unforgettable experience of Christmas splendor and joy. The result is “Christmas Wishes,” a musical revue of American carols and tap dancing that is sure to entertain crowds. Hard work went into building beautiful scenery […]

Concert | Prairieland Voices Holiday Concert Celebrate Christmas with music from the French Renaissance at the annual PrairieLand Voices Holiday Concert. The concert, titled Joyeux Noël, features Messe de Minuit pour Noël, is a 40-minute mass composed by Marc-Antoine Chapentier. The piece is based on Christmas carols from the 16th century that are set to […]

Christmas parade The Springfield Jaycees and Ansar Shrine are celebrating this holiday season with the return of the annual Christmas Parade. The parade was canceled last year because of the weather, but the show will go on this year, rain or shine. This year’s theme is “Holiday Scenes from the Big Screen” and the committee […]

Winter bells Ring in the holiday season with the sound of Bells in Motion. This Saturday, the progressive handbell ensemble will play classic holiday melodies like The Nutcracker, Carol of Bells and Silent Night. The Springfield-based Bells in Motion is known for jazz-inspired performances, and for bringing originality to every performance. The 17-member group combines […]

Winter garden Volunteers and local designers spent countless hours hanging Christmas lights and ornaments to create Memorial’s Festival of Trees. The festival, a Springfield tradition since 1990, is put on by the Memorial Medical Center Foundation. The theme of the festival is “A Winter Garden” and it features more than 100 decorated trees and wreaths […]

Small world Taste the sweet meat of northern Africa and admire the traditional kimonos of Japan at the 31st annual International Festival. As a part of International Week at UIS, the International Student Association and Office of International Student Services host the annual festival to embrace various traditions and cultures. This year’s theme is Harvest […]

African rites Musicians from Togo, Senegal, Guinea, Ghana, Benin, The Ivory Coast and Mauritania have come together to preserve the arts of West Africa. In an exciting display of ethnic pride, The Song and Dance Ensemble of West Africa will perform oral and musical ritesunique to its people. The sound is a combination of Congolese […]