2009-2010 Season Announced!

Photo: Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

We are pleased to announce the University of Illinois at Springfield’s 2009-2010 Performing Arts Season at Sangamon Auditorium! Several years ago, we would only announce the fall series at this time of year and then wait until December to announce the winter/spring series. A few years after that, our Broadway series would be announced at a time that was not aligned with the rest of the season announcement. Now we are happy to roll out the entire season at once so that you can see the broad array of options available across the entire year!

You can view the entire season at http://www.sangamonauditorium.org/.

Because there are so many options available, it is sometimes easy for patrons to be overwhelmed by it all. Here are some Frequently Asked Questions and Answers that should help clear things up and bring simplicity to the offerings:

What are series that comprise the Performing Arts Season?

Visiting Artists at UIS – This is a catch-all series that brings the best in music, theatre and dance from the U.S. and abroad to central Illinois. This year, the series includes 14 events from a variety of artists – from public radio storyteller and national treasure Garrison Keillor to world-renowned chamber ensemble Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and from cherished rock legend Brian Wilson to the visually stunning Ballet Folklórico de México.

Broadway at UIS – The 2009-2010 Broadway series includes a variety of classic Broadway musical favorites alongside some of the more recent hottest tickets on the Great White Way. Among the six events on the series are the 2004 smash-hit Avenue Q, family favorite The Wizard of Oz, and a return engagement of RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles.

Family Series at UIS – The Family series provides the young (and the young-at-heart) the opportunity to experience quality live performing arts in a setting that is welcoming and interactive. These events are only one-hour in length and offer affordable ticket prices for family audiences.

So what kind of tickets can I buy right now?

Same-seat subscriptions are currently available for each of the three series. This year, we’ve made subscriptions more accessible than ever before. Here are the details:

Visiting Artists at UIS – Become a Visiting Artist subscriber by selecting at least 7 performances on the series. Enjoy the same seat and save up to 25% off regular ticket prices.

Broadway at UIS – The “Classic Series” includes Cirque Dreams Illumination, Cabaret, and The Wizard of Oz. Purchase of this package guarantees you the best seats and enables you to add on the additional Broadway events of your choosing before they go on sale to the public.

Family Series at UIS – With only three events on the series, a Family Series subscription is incredibly affordable. Subscriptions to the three-event series are $45 for an adult and $33 for a child (12 and under) – that’s about 25% off regular prices for the adult subscription and about 50% off the regular prices for the child subscription.

Call the Ticket Office at 217.206.6160 or 800.207.6960 for additional details or to purchase your subscription today.

But what if I want to purchase events from different series?

You are in luck! Our Create Your Own (CYO) package was designed for you! Beginning August 24, you can become a Create Your Own package buyer by purchasing tickets to 4 or more events across the entire Performing Arts Season. You will enjoy savings of up to 20% off many of your tickets and will have access to Broadway at UIS tickets before they are available to those wanting to purchase individual event tickets. We want the Create Your Own package to be flexible to fit your needs, so you may purchase varying amounts of tickets for each event in your Create Your Own package – some tickets could be for spouse “date night”, others for a night out with girlfriends, and still others for an event the entire family will enjoy!

Call the Ticket Office at 217.206.6160 or 800.207.6960 for additional details.

What if I just want to purchase tickets to a particular show?

At 10 a.m. on Monday, August 24, individual tickets go on sale for Visiting Artist and Family Series events. So if you just want Tommy Emmanuel tickets, or just Blind Boys of Alabama tickets, or any other single event on those series, August 24 is the day to mark on your calendar. Or give us your email and we’ll remind you ourselves! Tickets will be available for purchase both online, over the phone, and in person at the Ticket Office on August 24.

Broadway at UIS events are not available for individual ticket purchases until approximately six weeks prior to each event, but they *are* available as part of Create Your Own packages beginning August 24.

Call the Ticket Office at 217.206.6160 or 800.207.6960 for additional details.

Check this blog throughout the coming months for more information about the fabulous line-up of artists and events for our 2009-2010 Performing Arts Season!