This theater season, you will find a variety of theatrical performances on our local stages keeping you entertained with plenty of drama, horror and comedy. These stage productions and improv shows are a great way to enjoy local talent, whether in a classic play or a modern musical.
Hoogland Center for the Arts
The Hoogland Center for the Arts has several performance spaces – the LRS Theatre, the Peggy Ryder Theatre and the Club Room – and a production schedule to fill them all this season.
Dreamgirls
Aug. 22-24 and Aug. 29-31
The Dreamettes, a singing group of three young women, struggle for recognition in the cutthroat American music industry in the 20th century. An ambitious manager helps them transition from background singers to stars, but it's an emotional journey as they face personal and professional rivalry, shifting loyalties and the pressures of success. Set to the dynamic sounds of gospel, R&B, pop and disco music, Dreamgirls is a timeless exploration of the power of music. This local production is directed by Springfield native Nattalyee Randall, who now resides in New York City.
Pun
Aug. 22-23
The Portuguese Rodeo Clown Company will present Pun in the center's Club Room. For this live improv, five actors will build two hours of comedy sketches from suggestions from the audience. Unpredictable? Off the cuff? Impulsive? Yes, and improv is also fresh, new and unique. No two shows are ever alike.
Beetlejuice Jr.
Oct. 3-5 and Oct. 10-12
He was the ghost with the most, and now he stars in a frightfully funny musical. Beetlejuice Jr. was nominated for eight 2019 Tony Awards including Best New Musical and has struck a chord with young theater lovers who enjoyed its humor and emotional honesty.
Frankenstein
Oct. 10-12 and Oct. 17-19
"I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous." This quote captures a key theme of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein – the idea that a person's character is shaped by their experiences and environment, rather than being inherently evil. Spencer Theatre Company will present Frankenstein, which contains mature themes, in the Peggy Ryder Theatre. Included with the ticket is "The Frankenstein Experience" which will open 90 minutes before showtime and during intermission and includes activities and special guests.
Little Shop of Horrors
Oct. 24-26 and Oct. 31-Nov. 2.
Blending humor, horror and heart into an unforgettable theater experience, Little Shop of Horrors has been captivating audiences for more than 30 years.
Fences
Nov. 14-16 and Nov. 21-23
Winner of the 1987 Tony Award for Best Play and the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Fences is set in a segregated Pittsburgh in the 1950s. A once-promising baseball player in the Negro Leagues, Troy Maxson's dreams were crushed by racial discrimination. This production is an exploration of the human experience, particularly within the context of African American life in mid-20th-century America.
The Hello Girls
Nov. 14-16 and Nov. 21-23
The Springfield Theatre Centre will present The Hello Girls, a timeless tale of strength, resilience and the pursuit of equality. With its vibrant score and inspiring characters, this musical celebrates the untold story of these trailblazing women who changed the course of history. Inspired by history and with World War I as its backdrop, this musical chronicles the story of America's first women soldiers who served on the front lines as bilingual telephone operators. After the war, they returned home to fight for recognition and equal rights.
The Legacy Theatre
Come from Away
Sept. 26-28, Oct. 1-5 and Oct. 8-12
The musical is based on events that took place on Sept. 11, 2001, when 38 airplanes were rerouted from New York City, suddenly stranding nearly 7,000 passengers in a tiny town in Newfoundland. It tells the true story of strangers who became friends – offering each other hope and humanity during some of history's darkest days.
University of Illinois Springfield Performing Arts Center
The first play on the Sangamon Auditorium stage was more than 40 ago, and it is hard to imagine the number of tremendous performances that have taken place on it since. But it was decided that the time was right for the theater to get a refresh with "new seats, updated surfaces and improved equipment."
The work is expected to be completed by the fall of 2026 when the curtain will again be opened, and patrons can welcome back their favorite performances in the revitalized theater. In the meantime, UIS has launched the 2nd Act Campaign so donors can help support the work and receive some fundraising perks in return. Details of the campaign are on the Performing Arts Center's website at uispac.com.
