Monday, November 30, 2009

Sangamon Auditorium Holiday Gift Ideas for Cyber-Monday; givers save!

HOLIDAY GIFT SPECIAL: Make your gift giving simple this holiday season and give your loved ones a gift they will always remember. For a limited time, Sangamon Auditorium is offering a holiday special that allows you to purchase a voucher for just $60 that your loved ones can redeem for a pair of tickets to one of the following performances:

Russian Ballet Gala: In an Afternoon of Ballet’s Greatest Hits
Sunday, January 17, 3 p.m.

Band of the Irish Guard / Royal Regiment of Scotland
Thursday, February 11, 7:30 p.m.

The Blind Boys of Alabama with John Hammond
Saturday, February 20, 8 p.m.

Romeo and Juliet
Friday, March 5, 8 p.m.

Ballet Folklorico de Mexico
Friday, March 12, 8 p.m.

Call the Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office today to purchase! For more information, visit http://www.uis.edu/sangamonauditorium/onstage/HolidaySpecial.htm or call 217.206.6160 or 800.207.6960. Not valid on previous purchases. Availability may be limited.

MUNI SEASON PASSES: Purchase your 2010 Muni Season Passes through the Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office at 217.206.6160 or 800.207.6960. Muni Season Passes are available at the discounted rate of $40. A Season Pass offers 4 reserved seat admissions over the course of the summer season. Season Pass holders can reserve exact seats by calling 217-793-MUNI (6864). Season Pass holders who reserve seats must exchange their season pass stubs at either the box office the night of the performance or in advance at the Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office.

To purchase your Muni Season Passes, call the Ticket Office at 217.206.6160 or 800.207.6960 or go online to http://www.uis.edu/sangamonauditorium/onstage/MUNITickets.htm.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Kevin Locke - More than a Performance

Kevin Locke did much more than perform on Nov. 10, 2009 at Sangamon Auditorium. He spoke. He taught. And he communicated culture. With his Native Dance Ensemble, Locke contributed to this area’s cultural understanding.

In honor of Veteran’s Day, which was the day after the evening performance, they sang the “Flag Song” and spoke about The “Code Talkers,” who were crucial to American communication and intelligence during WWII.

In honoring his own culture, Locke explained hoop dancing and gave a wonderful demonstration of his technique and the meaning behind each display of the hoops. Locke displayed metaphorical hoop dancing forming globes and wings and other meaningful manipulations of the hoops.

He asked volunteers to stand up on stage and learn hoop dancing. Mainly children went on stage and learned the basics of hoop dancing and the meaning behind the simple poses. This was all in the post-show discussion, after the performance of “Drum is the Thunder, Flute is the Wind.”


In an interview before the performance, Locke described his vision and dream for the future.

NH: What are the important aspects of your performance that you wish to communicate to young and old?

KL: Well, the main thing is to extenuate or highlight the universal human values or the core values- you have what you call core values-and to bring them, because it’s very important I think to keep this in front of people’s consciousness- the reality of the oneness of humankind and the fact that now is the day when we have to really consciously create unity in the world. And the art is a part way to propel this into people’s consciousness. And hopefully it results in action.

NH: Cool. I know dreams are important in this show. What important dreams do you have for the world: daydreams or night dreams?

KL: It’s just an overarching vision or dream of a place that I personally can find useful, going out in the world in the process of advancing this new civilization.

- by Nathan Harmon

Friday, November 13, 2009

Avenue Q is coming soon!

The much-anticipated fall event on the Broadway at UIS series is the Tony Award-winning Avenue Q. Avenue Q is the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who comes to New York City with big dreams and a tiny bank account. He soon discovers that the only neighborhood in his price range is Avenue Q; still, the neighbors seem nice. There's Brian the out-of-work comedian and his therapist fianceƩ Christmas Eve; Nicky the good-hearted slacker and his roommate Rod -- a Republican investment banker who seems to have some sort of secret; an Internet addict called Trekkie Monster; and a very cute kindergarten teaching assistant named Kate. And would you believe the building's superintendent is Gary Coleman?!? (Yes, *that* Gary Coleman.) Together, Princeton and his newfound friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life.

Not only does Avenue Q boast an interesting, funny story, but about half the characters are PUPPETS! It’s as if the themes and structure of a children’s television show have been re-interpreted to tell stories to twenty- and thirty-somethings about what they can expect from “real” life.

Adults love Avenue Q, but they seem a little, er, fuzzy on whether it's appropriate for kids. We'll try to clear that up. Avenue Q is great for teenagers because it's about real life. It is not so appropriate for young children because Avenue Q addresses issues like sex, drinking, and surfing the web for porn. It's hard to say what exact age is right to see Avenue Q - parents should use their discretion based on the maturity level of their children. But we promise you this - if you DO bring your teenagers to Avenue Q, they'll think you're really cool.





Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Blues Legend B.B. King Returning to Springfield

Blues legend B.B. King will return to Springfield Friday, April 23, 2010 for a concert at Sangamon Auditorium, venue officials announced Friday.

Known as the King of the Blues, the 84-year-old is among the most important electric guitar players in history. He’s had dozens of songs on the R&B charts and achieved crossover success with his 1970 hit “The Thrill Is Gone.”

Read the full article

The State Journal-Register