Julio Barrenzuela joins The Mosaic Project to explore how Latin music and dance can become powerful tools for connection, healing and self-discovery. Drawing from his experiences as a Navy veteran, educator and motivational speaker, he shares how culture has the power to build stronger communities. It’s a conversation about identity, belonging and the rhythms that bring people […]
Newsletter – Event
Posted inArts & Culture
A Holocaust survivor tells her story
Our community at the Chabad Jewish Center of Springfield recently gathered for an evening that will not soon be forgotten. Walking into the room, one could immediately feel that something meaningful was about to unfold. Every seat was filled, and more chairs had to be added. There was a quiet sense of anticipation, a recognition […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Live from Loomis at Theatre in the Park
Theatre in the Park at New Salem announced a change to its summer lineup. Due to the production of Hands on a Hard Body being postponed until 2027, three new performances have been scheduled. Popular impersonator Rick Dunham brought Elvis Himselvis to the park on July 11 for an evening of rock and rolls hits […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Shakespeare in the Park returns to Enos Park for a third year
The Springfield Area Arts Council is facilitating the return of Shakespeare in the Park on Friday, July 24, from 6-8 p.m. at Enos Park, 1000 N. Seventh St., in Springfield. Now in its third year, Shakespeare in the Park will take a different approach than previous seasons. This year’s event will showcase Illinois playwright Kevin […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Odyssey an ambitious, grand film; Invite looks at domestic discord
Nolan’s realistic approach grounds epic Odyssey If nothing else, Christopher Nolan must be commended for his ambition in adapting Homer’s The Odyssey. No half measures are taken in this $250 million production and if the filmmaker’s reach exceeds his grasp, it certainly isn’t for lack of imagination or effort. By its very nature, this unwieldy, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Live from Springfield
Entertainment offerings in the 217 just got an injection of original sketch comedy. A new, local ensemble called the Capital City Comix debuted its show “Friday Night Live” on July 10 to a sold-out crowd. It’s billed as “SNL, but local, louder, and way weirder,” and while it might not be as groundbreaking as SNL, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Jack Hart interview
Jack Hart, founder of ILSportsWire and one of this year’s Springfield Business Journal Forty Under 40 honorees, shares with The Mosaic Project how he’s changing local sports coverage by giving overlooked schools, communities, and student athletes a platform. The conversation explores entrepreneurship, purpose driven leadership, and the power of telling stories that often go unheard. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
An ambitious journey to the promised land
Adapted from the beloved 1998 DreamWorks animated film of the same name, The Prince of Egypt follows the story of Moses from his infancy through his quest to free the Hebrew people from the Pharaoh of Egypt. Rooted in the biblical themes of sacrifice, trauma and justice— with music by Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz— this […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Hoity-toity hilarity
Most modern-day audiences are not familiar with this delightfully punny musical comedy, but Me and My Girl originally opened as a smash hit in London in 1937 and enjoyed a long run. It is one of those breezy, timeless musicals that any theatergoer can appreciate. The Legacy Theatre provides the ideal backdrop, as its classic […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The legacy hanging inside this downtown boutique that isn’t for sale
At first glance, the Itty Bitty Fashion Trunk looks like exactly what you’d expect from a charming downtown boutique. But if you look a little closer, you’ll realize the most valuable thing inside isn’t hanging on a rack or nestled in the storefront. It’s the legacy of a sister whose dream still greets customers every […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Springfield DAR commemorates Declaration of Independence
Springfield members of the Daughters of the American Revolution gathered near the carillon in Washington Park at 5 p.m. on July 8 read out loud the Declaration of Independence, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the first public reading of this founding document. Four days after the Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence on […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Jessica Covey interview
Forty Under 40 honoree Jessica K. Covey serves as a regional hospice care coordinator, supporting families through some of life’s most sacred and difficult moments. On this episode of The Mosaic Project, she reflects on leadership, compassion and what working so closely with the end of life has taught her about how to live. It’s a […]
