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 […]
Arts Features
Posted inArts & Culture
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 […]
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Sex, lies and political power
The Muni Opera is staging the groundbreaking and endlessly entertaining musical Evita for the first time in a generation, and it is a must-see. Evita is the very adult Cinderella story of Eva Duarte, a poor Argentinian girl. Through powers of seduction, Eva rises from rags to riches and marriage to Juan Peron, the autocratic […]
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Please touch the art
“Please Touch the Art Gently” is not your typical sign posted in an art gallery. But, that is the message in a new exhibit at the Springfield Art Association from June 1-29. “What Art Feels Like” features metal and wood sculptures, paper, fiber, collage, glass, woodturning, ceramics and paintings made by 14 Illinois artists and […]
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Five presidents and a funeral
“If you want this job, there’s something deeply wrong with you.” – Ronald Reagan in Five Presidents When former president Richard M. Nixon died in 1994, his funeral brought together the four living ex-presidents, along with current commander-in-chief Bill Clinton to attend the funeral. When writer Rick Cleveland, who has contributed scripts to politically themed […]
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Pathways to Watercolor
Pathways to Watercolor opens at the Springfield Art Association on April 5 and continues through April 27. Curated by Rod Buffington, the exhibit features highly diverse work by Sandy Meyer, Robert Mejer and Buffington – three artists applying very different techniques to create their art, but all using watercolor as their media. All are highly […]
