An Afternoon with Groucho
Oct 25, 2pm Sun. 90 minutes of hilarity with award-winning actor/director/playwright Frank Ferrante as Groucho Marx. Accompanied by onstage pianist. $15-$30, $5 for school-age kids. eveningwithgroucho.com. Kirkland Fine Arts Center, 1184 W. Main St., 424-6318.
7th Annual Senior Day Event
Oct 26, 10am-1pm Mon. 40 information booths, giveaways, health screenings, cooking demonstrations, door prizes, Bread of Love meal, more. Hosted by Prairie Council on Aging. Reservations for meal, questions to 479-4619. Hamilton’s, 110 N. East St., Jacksonville.
Miss Saigon
Oct 23-25, 8pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun. During the Vietnam War, an American soldier and Vietnamese girl fall in love, marry and are separated when Saigon falls. A Springfield Theatre Centre production. springfieldtheatrecentre.com. $16, $18. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 523-2787.
AARP Finances 50+
Oct 28, Nov 4, 11, 1-3pm Wed. Seminar hosted by Senior Services of Central Illinois. ssoci.org. Senior Services of Central Illinois, 701 W. Mason St., 528-4035.
Rules of the Road
Oct 29, 9:30-11:45am Thu. Seminar hosted by Senior Services of Central Illinois. ssoci.org. Senior Services of Central Illinois, 701 W. Mason St., 528-4035.
The Importance of Being Earnest
Oct 30-Nov 1, Nov 5-7, 7:30pm Thu-Sat, 2pm Sun. Play by Oscar Wilde. Two young Englishmen create alter egos with hopes of adding some excitement to their lives. UIS Theatre’s fall production. $14 adults, $12 seniors, $10 faculty/staff, $8 students. uis.edu/theatre. UIS Studio Theatre, One University Plaza, 206-6160.
Nature Center Celebration
Nov 1, 1-4pm Sun. 50th anniversary celebration of the dedication of the Nature Center. lincolnmemorialgarden.org. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr., 529-1111.
Second City: Fully Loaded
Nov 7, 5pm, 8pm Sat. Comedy stars in the making perform classic material from the Second City archives plus scenes lifted from morning headlines. Tickets: $25-$30. hcfta.org. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 523-2787.
Dancing with the Starz
Nov 7, 6-11pm Sat. Local celebrities matched with professional dancers compete for the trophy while raising funds for the Prairie Art Alliance. Elegant evening includes dinner, dancing and silent auction. $65 per person, tables of 10 for $600. prairieart.org. 544-2787. Plaza III – The Hilton, 700 E. Adams St.
Historian
Nov 7, 6:30pm Sat. Book signing and discussion of Jewish American history with Professor Hasia Diner. Free, reservations required. Union Theater, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 N. Sixth St., 782-5764.
Surviving the Holidays
Nov 8, 1-3pm Sun. A GriefShare seminar. Support and acceptance for attendees grieving over the loss of a loved one in a safe environment. Advice video, discussion, “Holiday Survival Guide” and more. Registration, 899-9418 or j.oest@att.net. trinity-lutheran.com. Trinity Lutheran School, 515 S. MacArthur, 787-2323.
Fighting Illini Basketball
Nov 8, 13, 15, 21 and 23. The University of Illinois Fighting Illini take on Illinois-Springfield, North Florida, North Dakota State, Tennessee-Chattanooga and Chicago State. springfieldpc3.com. $23-$102. Prairie Capital Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, 800-745-3000.
Schoolhouse Rock Live! JR
Nov 13-15 and 20-22, 7pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun. Fast-paced musical based on 1970s cartoon teaches kids lessons using clever, catchy tunes. A Springfield Theatre Centre production. springfieldtheatrecentre.com. $12. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 523-2787.
Veterans Day Ceremony
Nov 11, 12pm. Reception at noon, ceremony at 12:30pm. Free. 786-2241. A. Lincoln Commons, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Road, Springfield, 786-2200.
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas
Nov 12, 7:30pm. Christmas music with dazzling multimedia effects in an intimate setting. Created by Grammy Award-winner Chip Davis. $59+. sangamonauditorium.org. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 206-6160.
Holiday Market
Nov 14-15, 9am-4pm Sat, 1-4pm Sun. Annual holiday sale features a wide range of holiday gifts, decorations, ornaments and other handmade items. Free. lincolnmemorialgarden.org. Lincoln Memorial Garden & Nature Center, 529-1111.
The Caroling Party
Nov 17, 7:30am-6pm Tue. Day trip to Jacob Henry Mansion Estate in Joliet for dinner and a show to put you in the Christmas spirit. $95 includes transportation, dinner, show. Reserve your spot. ssoci.org. Springfield Senior Center, 701 W. Mason St., Springfield, 528-4035.
Lunch and Learn: Caregiver Stress
Nov 18, 12-1pm Wed. Topic: Caregiver Stress: Relief, Acceptance and Empowerment by Sara McGady, manager, education and outreach, Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter. Lunch provided. Preregistration required, call 252-2918. Donations. Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland, 3100 Montvale Dr., 787-9234.
Memorial’s Festival of Trees
Nov 21-29 10am-8pm Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm Sun. More than 150 trees, swags and wreaths decorated by area designers. 2015 theme is “Building Traditions.” Senior Day is Nov 24. Hours: 4-8pm on Thanksgiving. $5 adults, $3 ages 8-12, free to ages 8 and under. memorialmedical.com. 788-4301. Orr Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave., 725-8047.
Holiday Pops in the Heartland
Nov 21, 7:30pm Sat. Community concert featuring the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and special guests. Festive music, traditional songs to celebrate the season. $20-$60. sangamonauditorium.org. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 206-6160.
The Polar Express Pajama Party
Nov 27-29, 5:30 Fri; 1pm, 5:30pm Sat; 3pm Sun. 1.5-hours of crafts and cocoa, followed by screening of The Polar Express, with a special guest from the North Pole afterward. Sensory-friendly showing Nov. 28, 2pm. $15 advance, $20 day of. AtTheLegacy.com. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 800-838-3006.
Money Management
Dec 10, 9-10am Thur. ssoci.org. Seminar hosted by Senior Services of Central Illinois. Senior Services of Central Illinois, 701 W. Mason St., 528-4035.
Baroque Fire – Chamber Orchestra
Dec 18, 7:30pm Fri. An Illinois Symphony Chamber Orchestra performance. Experience the masterpieces of the Baroque era. $20. First Presbyterian Church, 321 S. Seventh St., Springfield, 528-4311.
This article appears in Capital City Senior October 2015.
