It is a well-kept secret that you can watch a live performance of New York City’s Metropolitan Opera right here at our local AMC Springfield 12 movie theater. The Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD series brings the magic of the Met to movie theaters in more than 70 countries worldwide, including here in Springfield. The […]
Arts Features
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Making an art gallery out of Enos Park
A giant paper spiderweb containing an oversized morning glory flower covering the front of an abandoned house. A series of synchronized video monitors flashing various leisure activity options from an upper porch. A palm frond waving maniacally at passersby from a storefront window. A series of bright pink lawn ornaments made out of thrift store […]
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Mature Mob goes for rock ’n’ roll
The Mature Mob was born in 1991 as a fundraiser for Senior Services of Central Illinois, a revue of talented actors, singers and dancers aged 50 and over. Few Mob shows in recent memory have been as successful, in terms of popularity and audience acceptance, as last year’s “Flashback to the 50s,” a salute to […]
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The joyful journey
A number of years ago there was a craze for bracelets with the initials “WWJD” which stands for “What would Jesus do?” Surely this is a worthy question, but the sheer number of those bracelets sold and worn all but ensured that somewhere along the line, some wearer of one of these bracelets might have […]
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Memphis is a revelation
When the musical Memphis opened on Broadway in 2009 it was certainly successful, winning four Tony Awards including Best Musical. Critical response, however, was mixed, with the book by Joe DiPietro (of All Shook Up, seen this summer at Theatre in the Park) and music by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan both singled out […]
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A wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz is part of American entertainment’s DNA. Since its publication in 1900, L. Frank Baum’s book, and the films and stage versions to follow, have been celebrated and analyzed as a political allegory, a coming of age story, and even a spiritual quest. The 1939 film won Academy Awards for best song and best […]
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The art of the fair
Mention the Illinois State Fair, and things like corn dogs, lemon shakeups, the giant slide, concerts in the Grandstand, animal barns, dizzying rides and all types of food on a stick come to mind. But a professional art exhibition is also a stalwart of the Illinois State Fair. There has been a professional art exhibition […]
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Women’s Art Alliance, now 40, looks back
Some cities sponsor “art hops” where area residents “hop” between various venues on the same night to see a variety of art exhibits. In Springfield the Springfield Art Association (SAA) Collective is offering a multi-week “hop” between two venues to enjoy works by women artists. The two-gallery exhibit – one at the Springfield Art Association […]
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Thoroughly Modern Millie
Thoroughly Modern Millie is The Muni at its best, filling the stage with spectacle and the night with song and laughter. It’s (mostly) a charming and hilarious story of misguided lovers struggling to find themselves and each other in the big city. Directors and choreographers Morgan Kaplan and Andrew Maynerich lead a talented cast and the […]
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import test
Whale of a sale THR assets up for auction COURTS | Bruce Rushton What’s bigger than a Hummer but smaller than an elephant? Dregs from the empire that was once THR and Associates, an erstwhile buy-and-sell Springfield outfit that declared bankruptcy seven years ago, with its founder Jeff Parsons facing criminal investigation and lawsuits galore. […]
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The King and The Bard
All Shook Up at Theatre In The Park is a constantly entertaining Elvis Presley “jukebox musical” with surprising depth. From the rousing “Jailhouse Rock” opening to the “Burning Love” finale, it’s a fantastic way to spend a midsummer evening. All Shook Up is not an Elvis Presley biography but a magical fairy tale combining The […]
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Big Hair at the Barricades
From its magical and jaw-dropping opening moment to the finale that had the audience on its feet cheering, Hairspray at the Legacy Theatre reinvents the delights of old-fashioned musical comedy without seeming old-fashioned. Hairspray is a sweet, infectious bubblegum-flavored confection with a cartoon story line and a surprisingly deep message. This inventive production, with a […]
