In both the hit ‘90s-era sitcom Seinfeld and his current web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, Jerry Seinfeld habitually cedes the spotlight to others, content to play a supporting role in his own projects, providing his colleagues and co-stars the opportunity to shine. This tendency obscures the fact that the reason Seinfeld is in […]
Sangamon Auditorium
Posted inArts & Culture
A children’s reggae musical
Three Little Birds is a modern-day fairytale for children ages four and up about the zany adventures of shy, 11-year-old Ziggy. The production is based on a children’s story of the same name penned by Cedella Marley, the first-born daughter of reggae artists Bob and Rita Marley. According to Cedella, “‘Three Little Birds’ is one […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Talking to Ry
The Sangamon Auditorium at UIS presents An Evening with Ry Cooder, Sharon White and Ricky Skaggs on Sunday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. Off we dash through the end of January, heading pell-mell into February like nobody’s business. Look out world; here comes the music, and there’s not a thing you need to do but […]
Posted inNews
A civil rights icon comes to Springfield
Illustration of John Lewis speaking at the 1963 March on Washington from MARCH. ALL ILLUSTRATIONS ARE BY NATE POWELL “We are tired. We are tired of being beaten by policemen. We are tired of seeing our people locked in jail over and over again. And then you holler, ‘Be patient.’ How long can we be […]
Posted inArts & Culture
A Winter Fable
PHOTO BY HARALD BOERSTLER On Friday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m., enjoy a classic tale of romance and deceit performed by the sweet sounds of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. The symphony will be joined by St. Louis-based Circus Flora, a traveling one-ring circus featuring acts that emphasize the connections between people and animals. The show […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Save our species
Biodiversity Blitz Celebrate the biodiversity of Illinois at the Illinois State Museum on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This free event is designed to raise awareness for the wide variety of plant and animal species in our state and highlight those species that have made a triumphant return from near-extinction. Children […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Where there’s a will there’s a way
Tickets are still available for the rescheduled Willie Nelson concert taking place on Tuesday night, Aug. 12, at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS. We’re ecstatic Willie’s back in town. The incomparable Nelson continues to create as if there’s a fountain of youth inside his soul. Who else can boast a successful 60-year career with almost 300 albums, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Come together
Classic Albums Live is coming to the Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, Friday, April 4, to perform songs from the Beatles classic album Abbey Road. That’s what the group Classic Albums Live does. Founded in 2003 by Craig Martin, the musicians perform the songs cut for cut, note for note, without “gimmickry and cheesy impersonations” as stated […]
Posted inMusic
No fooling around this April
Famed jazz drummer Barrett Deems (born in Springfield on March 1, 1914 and died in 1998) was honored last Sunday at Sangamon Auditorium during a performance by the SFJazz Collective. Oh, how I wait for April Fools’ Day to fall on a Thursday again. But alas and alack, we have a few years left to […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Master instrumentalists
From the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco and on a spring tour around the country, SFJAZZ Collective makes an appearance at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS on Sunday, March 30. Hailing from around the world with accolades to each of their names, the group consists of eight performers/composers: Miguel Zenón, alto sax; David Sánchez, tenor sax; Avishai […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Song and storytelling
Chicago-based Fifth House Ensemble returns to UIS Studio Theatre Feb. 15 for a collaboration with University of Illinois Springfield faculty members that takes from the theme of the ancient Greek Muses and their influence over the arts and sciences. Known for their innovative chamber music programs, Fifth House Ensemble will play musical selections between the […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Dreamy dynamics
PHOTO BY DONNA LOUNSBERRY Springfield Ballet Company presents its 39th annual Nutcracker at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, Dec. 14 and 15. Set to Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score, the dance follows Clara and her Nutcracker from a lavish Christmas party to a fierce battle with the evil Mouse King, then to a magical journey through the Land of […]
