IT Picks

Elvis fans are expected to pack downtown’s Hilton Hotel this weekend for the popular Elvis competition. Seventeen Presley tribute artists, selected from over 200, shake, sing and strum for cash prizes. Special guests are KAVAN, World’s No. 1 Rock ‘n Roll Elvis and Alphonse Franklin, a Smokey Robinson look-alike and former lead singer of the […]

This weekend and next, Springfield Theatre Centre presents Earnest Oscar Wilde’s comedy of mistaken identities and deflated Victorian pomposity. No one is quite who they seem to be in this witty farce. Directed by Rebecca Loschen and produced by Jim Leach. The cast includes Matthew Husky as Algernon; Steven Stowers as Jack; Jessica McCormik as Cecily; […]

Poet and hip-hop artist A.D. Carson leads a blended-media seminar titled “Making Lyrics Work on the Page and Making Poetry Work Out Loud” in Dawson Hall, Room 17. Community members ages 16 and older are invited to craft along under his lead. The University sponsors this event, hosted by Quiddity International Literary Journal and public […]

They stand tall. They run fast. They dunk and dribble well. Don’t miss basketball at its finest and funniest. The Harlem Globetrotters, also dubbed the Magicians of Basketball, take the court at the Prairie Capital Convention Center this Sunday. An afternoon of fun is planned with the likes of Special K Daley and Scooter Christensen. […]

Rick Dunham, aka Elvis Himselvis, and the Easy Street Band engage the audience in a birthday celebration for the king of rock and roll. Dunham has performed his tribute show in 31 states, Canada and Europe. He has been featured in the Chicago Tribune and USA Today and has been seen and heard on a […]

The all-adult amateur orchestra performs under the direction of Richard A. Haglund, Conductor and Music Director for the Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony and the Community Orchestra. Though the show is free, donations will be accepted to benefit the group the evening of the performance. For more info visit their Web site at www.svys.org. Sangamon Valley […]

Three free performances of the compelling 1892 drama The Yellow Wallpaper will be held in the bedroom of poet Vachel Lindsay on Thursday evening as part of the annual First Night Springfield celebration. This unique offering stars Aasne Vigesaa and is based on the short story by American writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman about a woman […]

Gather in front of the Center at 6:30 p.m. to kick off the Springfield Area Arts Council’s First Night celebration held at various locations downtown. A soft, prize-ball blast will be launched above the crowd — with three lucky catchers reaping cash prizes of $25, $50 or $100. Throughout the evening, the Springfield Municipal Opera, […]

Springfield High School brims with the laughter and togetherness of families on New Year’s Eve afternoon where First Night Springfield offers activities and entertainment for kids. The popular DePriest Puppets perform from 1:30-2pm, and hands-on activities include a harmonica workshop with the charismatic Mark Russillo. Also, Chris Camp cracks his whip, Troy Roark surprises with […]

The picturesque Presbyterian Sanctuary hosts four distinct musical acts during First Night Springfield that you are sure to enjoy. Representing the sound and dance of Ireland, Wales and Scotland are the St. Andrew’s Society Pipes, Drums and Celtic Dancers. The Four Sopranos belt out beautiful gospel tunes. Rudy Zuiderveld performs a Brombaugh Opus 35 Pipe […]

Enjoy after-Christmas blues of the best kind with the Sally Weisenburg Blues Trio. From Peoria, Sally (vocals, keyboards and keyboard bass) Don Berbaum (guitar, harmonica, vocals) and Tony Corpus (drums) execute their professional sound of blues and R&B during the Illinois Central Blues Club Blue Monday at the Alamo. Held every Monday, musicians are encouraged […]

Check out our calendar under the category, “Faith,” for Christmas Eve and Christmas services at Springfield churches. Many offer candlelight and music. If you want to combine prayer with a beneficent deed, the folks at First Church of the Brethren, with the help of community volunteers, prepare meals for nearly 200 people on Christmas Day, […]