Monday, September 28, 2009

Unravelling parking at Sangamon Auditorium

Parking is an important part of the patron experience when attending events at Sangamon Auditorium. Both the Auditorium and its larger host institution, the University of Illinois Springfield, want to make patron parking as pleasant as possible. To that end, the university restructured its parking efforts this summer and created an Office of Parking Operations. Here are some important details and tips about parking for Sangamon Auditorium events:

The biggest tip is to arrive early! If you already have your tickets in-hand, arriving no less than 30 minutes prior to the show will give you plenty of time. If you still need to purchase or pick-up tickets, we suggest arriving no less than 45 minutes prior to the show. UIS has evening classes Monday-Thursday, so if you’re arriving for a 7:30 p.m. show, some of the closer parking may already be full of commuter students who arrived for a 6 p.m. class. If you arrive at the Auditorium doors later than the published start time, you may not be allowed in the hall right away; some performers want to avoid distractions in the audience and they specify to our house management staff when people are allowed inside.

The other important tip is to try to try to avoid the intersection near the “teardrop” circle drive of the Public Affairs Center unless you need to drop a passenger off or would like to use our valet service. This intersection can get very congested on show nights, so it is best to avoid it unless you require one of these services.

WHERE CAN I PARK?

PARKING LOTS AND SIGNAGE: Visitor parking at UIS is now clearly marked by signage at the entrance to each applicable lot. Visitor parking is available in lots A, B, C-north, D, and I. After 5 p.m. and on weekends (when most Auditorium events occur), you may also park in lots C-south, F, G and I. The new map provides details.

VALET & PREMIUM PARKING: These services are available for most, but not all events at Sangamon Auditorium. If you are interested, please call the Ticket Office at 217.206.6160 to confirm whether or not your event will have valet and/or premium parking.

* Valet Parking: Use the “teardrop” circle drive of the Public Affairs Center if you would like valet service. The cost is currently $8. Follow campus signage to the Public Affairs Center and event signage will direct you to the valet parking line once you are near the PAC.

* Premium Parking: “Premium Parking” is available in Lot E, the lot that is closest to the Public Affairs Center. This normally costs $5, but if you become a Friend of Sangamon Auditorium – at the Terrific level or above – you get at least 2 vouchers each year for free premium parking.

PASSENGER DROP-OFF: Use the left lane of the “teardrop” circle drive of the Public Affairs Center if you would like to drop off a passenger(s).

ACCESSIBLE PARKING: The closest accessible parking is available just south of the Premium Parking area (Lot E) by the Auditorium loading dock. To get to these spaces, use the small road that runs along the south edge of Lot E; it’s marked with a sign for Auditorium Receiving. There are also accessible parking spaces in Lot C-south (next best option), and Lots A & B.

"CREATIVE" PARKING: The campus police are not shy about giving parking tickets, so don’t try to create your own space at the end of a row or in the grass.

SUGGESTION: If you don’t mind some walking and you want to avoid traffic you can use Lot B. It’s a huge lot and I’ve never seen it completely full. If the weather is bad you can enter Brookens Library, go to Level 1 (a.k.a. the basement) and follow the signage in the tunnels to get to the PAC. Lot B provides one of the best ways to exit the university following a performance; you can avoid the intersection at the teardrop.

WORTH NOTING: My favorite place to park is Lot C. Even though it feels a little farther away, it’s actually the same distance as the very popular Lot D. As an added bonus, if you go east when you leave, you can cut through Lot B to get out to University Drive (a.k.a. the circle road) and completely avoid the intersection at teardrop.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Try Something New with Audition Ticket Prices

Through Sangamon Auditorium's new "Audition" ticket prices, you can explore different genres of the performing arts and see events that spark your curiosity.

Audition ticket holders are not guaranteed a specific seat. The day of the performace, Ticket Office staff will place all Audition tickets in the best available locations. Patrons who order Audition tickets will not be able to pick up thier tickets until the evening of the performance. Audition prices are only available for individual ticket sales, and a limited number are available for select performances. Audition tickets are not available for purchase the day of the performance.


09-10 Shows with Audition Pricing

Tommy Emmanuel - $25

Virsky Ukrainian National Dance Co - $20

Neil Berg's 101 Years of Broadway - $33

Kevin Locke Native Dance Ensemble - $20

Romeo & Juliet - $20

Ballet Folklorico de Mexico - $19

Academy of St. Martin in the Fields - $32

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Singing with the Stars - Audition Assistance

Do you want to audition for Singing with the Broadway Stars but aren't sure how to record and upload your own video? Let us help! Just stop by the Sangamon Auditorium Lobby any time between 6 and 8 p.m. on Sept 21 to sing a 90-120 second clip of a Broadway showtune. We will record a video of your audition and upload it for you online. All for free!

Audition Assistance
Monday, September 21
6-8 p.m.

Sangamon Auditorium Lobby


Call 206-8286 for more information, and visit our website for complete rules for Singing with the Broadway Stars.

Darwin the Dinosaur +PLUS+

See the performance and then participate in a learning activity the next day! Sangamon Auditorium is proud to partner with Lincoln Land Community College Community Learning to present these workshop opportunities for children and adult family members and friends. Please note that the prices for the workshops below include a ticket to the Friday, October 16 performance of “Darwin the Dinosaur”; you should not purchase a separate ticket to the performance if you want to participate in a workshop. Register by phone and charge your workshop fee by calling 217.786.2292 or outside Springfield, 1.800.727.4161, extension 62292.


Darwin The Dinosaur & Special Corbian Theater Movement Workshop

CREATURE MOVEMENT: At the early Saturday morning workshop, instructors lead participants in a series of simple creative exercises. Next, students branch from simple actions that bring to life the idea of a particular creature or character on to the development of a simple scenario and the

actions that go along with it. This is limited to youth between ages 8–16.

Instructors: Performers from Corbian Visual Arts and Dance

Dates: Saturday, 10/17/09

Time: 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Registration Fee/Course Code:

$25 for children / YES 112-53

$20 for performance only for accompanying adults / CEW 112-53

Location: LLCC, Trutter Center


Darwin The Dinosaur and Origami Dinosaur Workshop

Prehistoric creatures magically appear during this special paper-folding workshop! Create your own 3-D paper display of dinosaurs as you practice the ancient Japanese art of origami paper folding. Open to participants of all ages.

Instructor: Dolores Wright

Dates: Saturday, 10/17/09

Time: 1-3 p.m.

Registration Fee/Course Code:

$25 for workshop and performance for child / YES 112-41

$32 for workshop and performance for adult/ CEW 112-54

$20 performance only for adult/CEW 112-55

Location: LLCC, Trutter Center


Register by phone and charge your workshop fee by calling 217.786.2292 or outside Springfield, 1.800.727.4161, extension 62292. Please have workshop/class and credit card information ready before calling.


To access LLCC’s Community Learning Catalogue, please visit: http://www.llcc.edu/commed/CommunityEd/CommunityLearningCatalog/tabid/1006/Default.aspx

Monday, September 14, 2009

Special audition opportunity tomorrow - we will take care of the filming!

You could perform on the Sangamon Auditorium stage with professional Broadway singers during Neil Berg’s 101 Years of Broadway on Saturday, October 24, 8 p.m.

To audition, submit a 90-120 second video of yourself singing a showtune via YouTube, MySpace or Facebook and complete the online form. More information and the form are available at http://www.uis.edu/sangamonauditorium/onstage/SWTBS.htm.

SPECIAL AUDITION OPPORTUNITY! – Sign up to record your video audition in the UIS Office of Electronic Media (PAC level 1, near the Studio Theatre) on Tuesday, Sept 15, 5-6 p.m. Call 206-8287 or email audonstage@uis.edu to reserve your time. Walk-ins also welcome between 5 and 6 p.m.

Here is a sample audition if you want to see what this process is all about!

Garrison Keillor performance postponed

Due to medical reasons, Garrison Keillor’s performance at the University of Illinois Springfield – Sangamon Auditorium on Monday, September 21, 2009 has been postponed and will be rescheduled for a later date in the 2009-2010 season. The rescheduled performance will be announced as soon as open dates can be identified.

Keillor’s doctors have instructed him not to fly in the coming weeks due to medication he is taking following a recent minor stroke. The performance at Sangamon Auditorium is one of several September dates across the country that is being postponed due to doctors’ orders.

Ticket Information

All current ticket holders will be transferred to the exact same seats for the rescheduled performance. Patrons are encouraged to wait for the announcement of the rescheduled date before requesting refunds, if possible. Patrons who choose to take a refund now will lose their current seat location. Ticket holders who require it can receive a refund for the face value of their tickets. Refunds are not available for processing or online fees.

The pre-show dinner sponsored by the UIS Alumni SAGE Society and Friends of Sangamon Auditorium will also be postponed until the rescheduled performance date.

For more information, please contact the Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office at 217.206.6160 or 800.207.6960 Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

About Garrison Keillor

Garrison Keillor, the host and writer of “A Prairie Home Companion” and “The Writer's Almanac,” is one of America’s greatest storytellers. He is heard on public radio stations across the country and the author of more than a dozen books, including “Lake Wobegon Days,” “The Book of Guys,” and “Love Me.”

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Do you have what it takes to sing with Broadway stars?

Local singers will have the opportunity to perform with Broadway professionals during Neil Berg's 101 Years of Broadway at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS on Saturday, October 24, 8 p.m. Ten winners will be chosen by the show's panel of industry experts (including producers, singers, managers, and Neil Berg himself). WICS NewsChannel 20 will air interviews with the winners, and the public will vote for two "central Illinois favorites". The two favorites will each sing a small solo and the remaining winners will sing as an ensemble during "Seasons of Love" from RENT.



How to audition:

Entrants must be at least 14 years old and able to participate in interviews and other publicity leading up to the performance. All auditions must be submitted by September 25, and the 10 winners will be announced October 2.

More information and complete rules are available on our website.