Sangamon Auditorium, UIS

Perfect show for the very youngest audience members…and their parents will probably enjoy it too!

2012-01-04T13:23:00.000-06:00

Treasured Stories by Eric Carle

Friday, January 13, 7 p.m.

www.sangamonauditorium.org
Tickets also available at the door

Treasured Stories by Eric Carle features three beloved Eric Carle stories presented by the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Mermaid Theatre creates scenic elements and non-traditional puppets that closely duplicate the artwork of Mr. Carle that is so beloved and so recognizable to young children and their parents. The show is less than an hour in length and includes a post-show sneak-peek at the magic of some of the puppetry elements.

We are pleased to have some outstanding organizations in the community presenting pre-show activities in the lobby from 6 to 7 p.m. Come early to participate in the fun!

The Music Factory – Teaching staff from The Music Factory will bring rhythm instruments for participating children to enjoy. http://springfieldmusicfactory.com/
LLCC Community Learning –Youth Coordinator Jessica Ingold always brings an exciting craft or interactive activity to the UIS Family Series events. http://www.llcc.edu/YouthPrograms/tabid/4922/Default.aspx
Springfield Art Association – Education Coordinator Erin Svendsen will host an art project for participants. http://www.springfieldart.org/
Dr. John Martin – Building on themes from “Papa, Please Get the Moon For Me”, UIS Astronomer Dr. John Martin will share some night sky information with interested kids and families in the lobby.

Hope you can join us!

Class Acts 2011-2012 Season

2011-10-26T15:38:00.002-05:00

The University of Illinois Springfield kicks off the 2011-2012 Class Acts series at Sangamon Auditorium, Thursday, October 27th with 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. performances of Skippyjon Jones. Class Acts is a series of educational shows and performances designed for young audiences which take place during the school day. The goal of Class Acts is to present a diverse performing arts program for youth in support of educational and cultural goals mandated by the State of Illinois for grades K through 12. The 2011-2012 Class Acts season is sponsored by PNC Bank.

2011-2012 is the twenty-sixth season of Class Acts events. For each of the last several seasons, between 15,000 and 20,000 students and teachers have attended Class Acts events.

Speaking of PNC’s involvement with the series, Doug Stewart, Regional President for Central Illinois said, “At PNC, we have a long history of strengthening and enriching the communities where we live and work, and we are pleased to serve as this season’s presenting sponsor for Class Acts.”

Teachers, administrators, and home school parents can reserve tickets through the Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office at 217.206.6160 or 800.207.6960 or online at www.SangamonAuditorium.org. Tickets are $5.50 each, and every 16th ticket is free. The general public may purchase walk-up seats, if available, on the day of the scheduled event. Parents interested in having their child attend a Class Acts performance are encouraged to talk to his or her teacher about arranging a field trip. Additional information about the upcoming performances is available by contacting the Sangamon Auditorium Administrative Office at 217.206.6150.

Youth programming in the Class Acts series and in conjunction with other Sangamon Auditorium events is supported in part by the Helen Hamilton Performing Arts Endowment for Youth Fund, gifts from Elizabeth and Robert Staley, the PNC Foundation’s Grow Up Great® initiative, and a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

2011-2012 Class Acts season:

Skippyjon Jones

Theatreworks USA

Thursday, October 27, 2011

10:00 am & 12:30 pm

Grades preK-2

Based on the book by Judy Schachner, Skippyjon Jones is an enchanting musical about unleashing your powerful imagination and following your dreams. Skippyjon Jones is a little kitten with big ears and even bigger dreams! Sometimes he pretends to be a bird, sometimes he pretends to be a llama, and sometimes he pretends to be a whale… Anything BUT a Siamese cat! Skippyjon’s wild imagination takes over as he catches his reflection in a mirror. “I am not a Siamese cat,” Skippyjon exclaims, “I am a CHIHUAHUA!” He dons a mask, a cape, and an accent, and transforms into the greatest canine sword fighter in old Mexico! But when the local pack of chihuahuas is terrorized by the gigantic bee, will Skippyjon be a ‘fraidy-cat or the top dog?

Aesop’s Fables

Eckerd Theater Company

Thursday, November 3, 2011

10:00 am

Grades preK-3

For centuries, the wit and wisdom of Aesop’s Fables have been passed down from one generation to the next, and now these well-loved animal tales are presented in interactive, story-theater style. Through lively storytelling and with the help of the audience, the actors use physical comedy with minimal props and costumes to bring to life familiar favorites like The Lion and the Mouse, The Tortoise and the Hare and The Fox and the Grapes along with tales not so familiar. Fun and chock full of imagination, Aesop’s Fables is a perfect introduction to some of the world’s most cherished stories and to the magic of live theatre!

A Thousand Cranes

Eckerd Theater Company

Thursday, November 3, 2011

12:30 pm

Grades 4-6

There is a legend that says that any person who folds a thousand paper cranes will be granted a wish. Sadako Sasaki was two years old. Her mother held her in her arms and sang a lullaby. In the house, her grandmother was making tea. Suddenly, a flash of light cut across the sky. Ten years later, in 1955, when Sadako was a happy 12 year old school girl in Hiroshima, the radiation sickness came. Sadako began to fold cranes, wishing to be well again, wishing that an atom bomb like the one that took her grandmother would never be dropped again. This play tells the true story of Sadako and of how her spirit of hope and strength continues to inspire young people the world over to work for peace.

Danny, King of the Basement

Roseneath Theatre

Thursday, November 10, 2011

10:00 am

Grades 3-8

Danny’s life is all about embracing change. He and his mom are constantly on the move, struggling to evade homelessness and overcome poverty. When Danny moves into a basement apartment, the kids he meets have more problems than being hungry. Penelope’s parents won’t talk to each other, and Angelo’s Dad sounds like a dinosaur. But Danny’s imaginative play creates a community that allows his friends to cope with their problems and ultimately to help Danny tackle the shame he feels about his inability to read.

Treasured Stories by Eric Carle

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia

Friday, January 13, 2012

10:00 am

Grades preK-2

Mermaid's much-anticipated new production will bring together old favorites and new friends. Featuring evocative music, stunning visual effects and innovative puppetry, the triple-bill highlights three of Eric Carle's most beloved tales. The Very Hungry Caterpillar is joined by a whimsical cast of adventurous animals drawn from the pages of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? The poignant story of a young girl's unusual quest, Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me, completes an hour-long performance, which both entertains and educates.

The Color of Justice

Theatreworks USA

Friday, February 17, 2012

10:00 am

Grades 3-9

Thurgood Marshall, prominent legal counsel for the NAACP, has been traveling around the country looking for families who will step forward and join the battle against segregation in the Supreme Court case Brown vs. the Board of Education. He finds the Carter family, including eight-year-old Grace Carter, who is tired of "colored" schools having to settle for ripped books and hand-me-down school supplies from well-equipped white schools. And so the little girl and the great man begin a battle. A battle against fearful friends and neighbors who want to leave well-enough alone. But a battle that they ultimately win, changing their lives and the lives of black schoolchildren all over America.

Fancy Nancy and Other Story Books

Theatreworks USA

Thursday, March 8, 2012

10:00 am & 12:30 pm

Grades preK-3

A series of mini-musicals based on your favorite story books! Fancy Nancy just doesn't understand why she's the only one who appreciates the value of frilly accessories and a prodigious vocabulary. As Duck is elected as the leader of the farm, and then governor, voters wonder if Duck will bring a new bill to Capitol Hill in Duck for President. Find out if Babymouse win the lead in the school musical, or if will Felicia Furrypaws steal the show in Babymouse: The Musical. In Pirates Don’t Change Diapers, Jeremy Jacob's seafaring mateys show up to claim a buried treasure, but they wake up his little sister and the crew must go on babysitting patrol. Leonardo, the Terrible Monster learns that maybe it's better to be a wonderful friend rather than a terrible monster. Andrew insists that he doesn't need to use the restroom first, but once he's buckled in the backseat, he hears the call of nature in I Have to Go!

Garry Krinsky

Toying with Science

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

10:00 am, grades 5-8

12:30 pm, grades 2-4

Commissioned and developed with the Museum of Science in Boston, Toying with Science explores the scientific principles of gravity, leverage, fulcrums and simple machines. Combining circus skills, mime, original music, and audience involvement, Garry and his audience investigate basic scientific information and delve into the imaginations of scientists who explore our world. He turns audience members into stars as he playfully shares the stage, juggling, balancing and welcoming them into his colorful world. In a dramatic finale, he balances five ladders at one time on his chin as he demonstrates how to find the center of gravity!

Illinois Symphony Orchestra

Play Me A Story!

Friday, April 20, 2012

10:00 am, grades K-3

12:30 pm, grades 4-6

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra Youth Education Concerts are designed to introduce and acquaint students with the exciting sounds of symphonic music. Play Me A Story! will explore music's ability to create moods, express emotions, and communicate ideas - all of which are important elements of storytelling. Conductor Donato Cabrera, Resident Conductor of the San Francisco Symphony and Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, has selected a variety of colorful orchestral works to illustrate music as a communicative and expressive tool. These works will serve to "set the scene" of a story, introduce and develop characters, and evoke action and emotion. Music's suggestive power can relay stories in the most vivid way, especially when listeners are engaged and their imaginations are active. Students will become aware that music is a powerful communicator, one which communicates to us in a way that goes beyond speech or sight.

Through the Eyes of a Friend: The World of Anne Frank

Theatreworks USA, a Living Voices’ Production

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

9:30 am, 11:00 am & 12:30 pm

Studio Theatre

Grades 6-9

This moving program is a poignant portrait of friendship and survival, brought to life through the eyes of Anne Frank's "best" friend. Sarah Weis, the daughter of an average German family, is forced to move to Holland when the Nazis come to power. In Holland, Sarah becomes friends with Anne Frank, but the Nazis invade when they are teenagers. The story follows Sarah and Anne as they are transported to prison camps and endure pain and loss. Sarah survives and is living a new life in America when she is sent a copy of Anne's diary. Sarah learns that she must never forget; through her, the memory her friend lives on.

Through The Eyes of a Friend is told from the view point of a fictional "best friend" of Anne Frank. Sarah is a composite character inspired by the experiences and testimonies of many individuals who knew Anne Frank at certain points in her life as well as those young people who experienced the Holocaust throughout Europe.

A week of events with "It's All Relative"

2011-09-29T10:50:00.000-05:00

In the week leading up to September 24, Sangamon Auditorium staff had the distinct pleasure of working closely with singing sisters Karin and Kirsten Paludan as we prepared for the first UIS Kitchen Sink Series event, “It’s All Relative.” On Wednesday, September 22, Kirsten and Karin led a discussion/demonstration in a UIS Music course on American Music in which they shared their personal perspective on the ever-evolving shape and influence of music on the American public and on American individuals. On Thursday, September 23, Karin presented a discussion/demonstration about opera with an interested group from the Academy of Lifelong Learning. Accompanied by the talented Pei-I Wang on piano, Karin shared a few opera selections to whet our appetites for future opera events in Springfield. The week culminated with a delightful performance of the main event in the UIS Studio Theatre on Saturday, September 24. Following the performance, the audience was treated to a casual dessert reception hosted by faculty emeritus Cullom Davis while the ladies and their accompanying musicians signed the kitchen sink, an architectural feature that will no doubt evolve as our new series does the same.

Professional Development for K-12 teachers

2011-08-18T09:09:00.000-05:00

Sangamon Auditorium and Springfield Public Schools are pleased to announce this year's season of events in the Partners in Education program.

Through the Partners in Education program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the two local entities work together to create and develop arts programs for the education of teachers. This includes expanding teachers’ abilities to integrate the arts into the curriculum using the best teaching practices and building their confidence, comfort, and enthusiasm in teaching in and about the arts.

Participation in the Partners in Education professional development events is encouraged for fine arts teachers and any teachers wanting to integrate arts learning with other subject areas.

2011-2012 Partners in Education Workshops
All workshops are $15 per person. If you register for two or more workshops they are only $10 per person. If two or more people from your school register for the same workshop, you will also receive the discounted price of $10 per person. To register for these workshops, please call the Ticket Office at 217.206.6160 or click here for the online registration form.

DOCUMENTING THE POWER OF LEARNING THROUGH THE ARTS*
Friday, February 3, 2012, 1-4 p.m.
Regional Office of Education Staff Development Center
For Teachers of All Grade Levels, Art Specialists, and Administrators
Workshop leader: Melanie Layne
3 CPDUs

Communicating what students have learned through arts-integrated instruction can be complex and challenging. How do we share the learning process or the depth of student understanding when a product or performance only shows a part of it? In this session, explore purposes, components, and formats for communicating arts-integrated instruction and student learning, and consider ways to align them to the needs of various constituencies, such as school administrators and parents. Melanie Layne shares a wealth of experience and authentic examples of documentation that demonstrate student learning in a variety of art forms and subject areas.

POETRY OFF THE PAGE*
Tuesday, February 21, 2012, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. (a light meal will be provided)
Regional Office of Education Staff Development Center
For Teachers of Grades 5-8
Workshop leader: Glenis Redmond
3 CPDUs

This workshop is based on the belief that poetry, in addition to being written and read, should be performed. Teachers will learn ways to help students use brainstorming, imagery, and layering to write powerful and effective poems. Clear and easy poetic structures and formats empower students to expand their imaginations and to cross creative boundaries. Participants will also examine ways to involve students in memorizing and performing their poems to further communicate the written word with appropriate voice projection, physical stance, and gesture.

TOYING WITH SCIENCE TEACHER WORKSHOP
Monday, March 26, 2012, 5 to 7 p.m. (a light meal will be provided)
Sangamon Auditorium stage (enter through Sangamon Auditorium lobby)
For Teachers of Grades 2-8
Workshop leader: Garry Krinsky
2 CPDUs

Through his “Toying with Science” teacher workshop, Garry Krinsky encourages participants to experience content that integrates scientific principals with creative performance skills. Participants will experience the information in three ways: 1) as learners (students), 2) as appliers (teachers), and 3) as adapters. Teachers will first experience and digest this new information for themselves, as their students do. After each activity, they will then explore how they would apply this experience to their classrooms, adapting it to their individual needs and themes. Topics include gravity and air resistance, juggling, simple and compound machines, and exploring mechanics through mime.

READING PORTRAITS AS BIOGRAPHIES*
Thursday, April 19, 2012, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. (a light meal will be provided)
Regional Office of Education Staff Development Center
For Teachers of Grades 1-5
Workshop leader: Melanie Layne
3 CPDUs

There’s more to a portrait than you might think. Portraits are often viewed as a mere depiction of a person when in actuality they are a visual text that can be read as biographies that communicate significant information about a person’s life. This engaging workshop teaches how to help students build background knowledge. Teachers can apply this strategy to teaching historical and literary figures across the curriculum.

*These workshops were developed in association with The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and are partially underwritten by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Committee for the Performing Arts.
Payment Options:

Mail a check payable to Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office, University of Illinois Springfield, One University Plaza MS PAC 292, Springfield, IL 62703. Please write the name of the workshop in the memo line of the check.
Pay with credit card over the phone at 217.206.6160, Monday through Friday, 10 am to 5 pm.
Pay in-person at the Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office (Level 2 of the Public Affairs Center on the UIS campus), Monday through Friday, 10 am to 5 pm.

Payment is due one week prior to the workshop.
If you have any questions, please contact Carly Shank at 217.206.6150 orshank.carlyn@uis.edu

Sangamon Auditorium Volunteer Association is currently accepting new volunteers for 2011-2012

2011-08-05T11:20:00.001-05:00

The Sangamon Auditorium Volunteer Association is currently accepting new volunteers for the 2011-2012 schedule of events and performances at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS.

A dedicated, trained corps of over 280 volunteers, SAVA (Sangamon Auditorium Volunteer Association) members make up a team of ushers that help greet, tear tickets, hand out show programs and help ensure the safety and comfort of patrons attending performances and other events at Sangamon Auditorium and the UIS Studio Theatre. Volunteers also have opportunities to provide support, if interested and available, in the administrative office as needed assisting with marketing, community outreach and the Auditorium’s educational and family programs.

Speaking about the benefits of being a volunteer at Sangamon Auditorium, Carly Shank, director of audience and development and communication said, “Although it’s a wonderful way to support the university and the arts, it’s also great way to network and make social connections within the community. It’s the best way to get involved with our organization.”

Requirements and Expectations - Sangamon Auditorium Volunteers are requested to volunteer for at least three events a semester and required to attend at least one mandatory training session. There are still two training sessions that will be offered during the month of August on Saturday, August 20^th, 10:00 AM-12:30 p.m. and Sunday, August 28^th, 3:00-5:30 p.m. New and returning volunteers are only required to attend one of the sessions. Training sessions are held at Sangamon Auditorium. Those planning on attending are asked to RSVP by calling Mindy McCaffrey at the number below.

For a complete description of volunteer responsibilities and expectations, please visit www.uis.edu/sangamonauditorium/support/SAVA.htm

For additional information, or to join the Sangamon Auditorium Volunteer Association, contact Mindy McCaffrey at 206-8288 or audfohga@uis.edu

We want your kitchen sink! Seriously, we do.

2011-08-03T15:03:00.003-05:00

Still got that interesting sink from last year when you remodeled your kitchen? Or maybe an old sink you discovered in the basement or out in the barn?

We would like to see it.

Sangamon Auditorium is so excited to present, new this year, a series of eclectic performing arts events in the intimate setting of the UIS Studio Theatre that we are calling the UIS Kitchen Sink Series. For fun, we are looking for a unique kitchen sink that we can decorate and display at all our upcoming UIS Kitchen Sink Series events. Between now and September 1, 2011, we are accepting images of unique kitchen sinks that you might have and would like to donate to Sangamon Auditorium. If your sink is selected, we will give you a pair of tickets to UIS Kitchen Sink Series event of your choice – plus all the bragging rights that come with it! Simply email your images to onstage@uis.edu to enter to win.

Is Sangamon Auditorium haunted?

2011-07-29T16:00:00.000-05:00

The Legend of Ruby

By Chad Wester

Is Sangamon Auditorium haunted? Many venerable performing houses have ghosts. Whether they are theaters dating back to the 1800s like the National Theater in Washington D.C. or 20^th century theaters like the Lincoln Theater in Decatur, few are immune from rumors of haunting. According to legend, Sangamon Auditorium at the University of Illinois at Springfield acquired its requisite ghost almost as soon as it opened.

In the fall of 1986, just five years after the opening of the auditorium, a woman allegedly collapsed in seat E-7 of the orchestra pit during the intermission of a performance. She died before she could be transported to the hospital.

The UIS campus police have no record of a death in the auditorium, but few theater buffs doubt its occurrence. They just can’t agree when. Auditorium director John Dale Kennedy places the death at a time before the autumn of 1986; technical director Scott Wilson asserts that the death occurred in the autumn of 1986; and head flyman (a term for the person who controls the curtains and lights of the auditorium) Robert Taylor estimates the untimely death occurred earlier in 1986.

Wilson says he remembers exactly when Ruby, as the ghost is named, made her first appearance. Two weeks after the unfortunate incident, during a rehearsal for the Flying Karamazov Brothers (a traveling acrobatic group), a small child of one of the performers came crying to his father saying that he was scared of the lady down in front of the stage. The child pointed right to seat E-7. The performers had no idea that a death had occurred in that very spot only days before.

Wilson says, “I didn’t believe in any of that stuff, but that really got to me.” Although he has not been visited by Ruby personally, Wilson claims that several members of his staff encounter her on a regular basis. It is convenient to blame missing equipment and unexplained noises on the ghost, so Wilson lets the Ruby-mania run wild backstage.

Not all of the staff approach Ruby with such nonchalance. One person has seen Ruby up close on more than one occasion. Taylor has twice seen Ruby, or what he believes to have been Ruby. Several weeks after Ruby made her first appearance, Taylor was walking with a coworker on one of the rails where the curtains and lights are controlled. Taylor says he saw something “like a cloud, like a light, but not quite as bright, about the size of a human body” descending a staircase in front of him. The apparition came down the stairs and then flitted away into the shadows. Taylor stopped so suddenly that his coworker ran into his back. Taylor asked him what he had seen and the worker described the same spectacle.

Taylor describes an even more dramatic encounter with Ruby that occurred months after the first sighting. Late one evening, while the crew was taking down the orchestra shell on stage, one worker was assigned to turn out the lights in the sound booth in the center of the auditorium. Robert Schleyhahn (no longer employed by the auditorium) dashed up the stairs to turn off the lights. As he did so, the same light that Taylor had seen months before began moving rapidly across the auditorium towards the running man. Another stage crew member saw the apparition and called out to Schleyhahn to look out. Schleyhahn made contact with the apparition and came to a complete halt. Taylor described the look on Schleyhahn’s face as stunned. “He kept asking what happened,” says Taylor. “I asked him what it felt like, and he said that it felt like he ran into a person, even though there was no one there.” Taylor says that the hair on the back of his neck has stood on end only two times in his life- both in the presence of Ruby.

It has been several years since Ruby has been spotted by any of the staff, but strange things are still blamed on the ghost. Taylor admits that the stage crew often tries to scare new employees with the Ruby phenomenon. Practical jokes like leaving speakers turned on low and making strange noises into microphones are common backstage.

Taylor is not sure why Ruby has not been spotted in the last few years, but he says that he would not be surprised if she came back.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires auditoriums to keep at least one light on at all times for safety reasons, even when there is no staff working in the building. This lone bulb is often referred to as the “ghost light.” Rumor has it that the light is to keep the ghosts happy, but some say it is to keep the ghosts at bay. Whichever is the case, Wilson says that he keeps the light on because “OSHA is more of a specter to me than any ghost.”

Chad Wester is a former graduate assistant at Sangamon Auditorium.

(Previously published in Springfield Magazine, June 2001.)

Update on opportunity for K-12 teachers

2011-07-19T11:25:00.000-05:00

John Bertles, Bash the Trash

As part of the longtime mission to support K-12 arts programming that meets the educational and cultural goals of Illinois schools, Sangamon Auditorium recently entered into partnership with Springfield Public School District 186 to work together to offer arts programs for the education of teachers. As one of only three Illinois partnership teams in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Partners in Education program, Sangamon Auditorium and Springfield Public Schools are hoping to effect systemic change in educational priorities and teaching practices so that arts teaching and learning will continue to be valued by local schools and its impact deepened.

Outcome of the First Year:

· Three professional development workshops led by Kennedy Center teaching artists were offered to local teachers during the 2010-2011 school year.

o “Focusing on Arts Integration” led by Karen Erickson of Chicago, September 2010, held at and in cooperation with the Regional Office of Education Staff Development Center

o “Using Visual Arts to Encourage Thinking and Writing” led by Sandra Phaup of Washington, D.C., February 2011, held at and in cooperation with the UIS Visual Arts Gallery

o “Building Musical Instruments from Recycled Materials” led by John Bertles of New York City, May 2011, held at and in cooperation with the Regional Office of Education Staff Development Center

· Forty-eight unique teachers, both from Springfield Public Schools as well as from other public and private schools, participated in the 2010-2011 workshops.

· In addition to the teacher workshops, John Bertles led in-classroom teaching demonstrations at a Springfield elementary school, affording classroom and arts specialist teachers at that school the opportunity to observe his teaching methods in action. We hope to engage future workshop leaders in additional classroom and community opportunities to help extend and deepen the learning for teachers.

Responses from Teachers:

· In June 2011, the partnership team convened a meeting of teachers interested in serving on an advisory committee to advise this program. Five teachers, both from inside and outside district 186 attended the meeting and provided valuable feedback on their experiences with the workshops this year and insight that will assist with planning future years’ workshops. We plan to have this committee convene once or twice annually to provide feedback and engage in planning.

· A teacher who attended the February workshop provided the following testimonial to the partnership team: “My class did a painting project in the style of Rie Munoz, an Alaskan artist, because of the connection to their study of the Iditarod in Alaska in fourth grade. (a stretch - but the same state.) Anyway, we drew some of her paintings, using the process we learned in the last workshop, and then wrote our cinquains (poems). I am typing them up and gluing them on their pictures, and that, along with a letter, is what we sent off to the artist. Then the kids wanted to write another artist we have studied, and so we did it again. It has been a great exercise, and the poems really reflect the feeling of the paintings, which is very rewarding.”

· Selected feedback from workshop participant evaluations is as follows:

o “The compare and contrast of the same lesson was excellent and very helpful in what I can take back to my principal and teachers.”

o “Excellent presentation and presenter wonderful. Loved learning more drama terms.”

o “Superb. Workshop leader is so creative – she makes it happen.”

o “Very engaging!”

o ”Amazing opportunities to learn from expert in field. Real-life examples helped put process into perspective.”

o “This was the best workshop I’ve been to in the district.”

o “Great motivator!”

We look forward to announcing the 2011-2012 season of events for teachers later this summer.

What would you choose? Plus staff picks…

2011-07-12T11:22:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed several upcoming events on our Performing Arts Season that are of interest to you, but thought, “Well, I’m not really a *subscriber* type. I’ll just wait for the individual ticket on-sale.”

Hold on there! Not so fast! Have you considered our Create Your Own Series option?

Four shows. That’s all you need to commit to. They can be from among events on the UIS Broadway, Visiting Artists, Kitchen Sink and Family Series. The “Create Your Own Series” package gives you the freedom to select all the shows that you want to see and still receive many subscriber-type benefits.

· Create your own personal series, selecting the shows you want to see the most.

· Receive up to a 20% discount on the shows you select.

· Enjoy access to UIS Broadway Series tickets before they go on sale to the general public.

So what would *you* choose as your four events? Here are the picks of several Sangamon Auditorium staff members:

Michelle Yenerall, Ticket Sales Assistant:

5^th House – Listen to the River

Beauty and the Beast

Young Frankenstein

Imago

*Michelle says, “And if I could add a fifth, I’d add ScrapArtsMusic”

Elise Robertson, Event Coordinator:

Jake Shimabukuro

Eric Bibb & Grant Dermody

Tribute to the Blues Brothers

Young Frankenstein

Mike Bermingham, Administrative Office Student Worker:

My Fair Lady

South Pacific

Riverdance

Pink Floyd Experience

Mindy McCaffrey, Volunteer Coordinator:

Fifth House

Jake Shimabukuro

Erin Bode

JLCO w/Wynton

*Mindy says: “There are actually many more I would choose...but if I had to rank them, this would be it!”

Brandy Stabler, Development Assistant:

Beauty and the Beast

In the Heights

Imago

Treasured Stories by Eric Carle

*Brandy says, “My choices almost always center around something I can take my children to so that I can make sure they get to experience live performances. However, In the Heights is totally selfish – I’ve never seen that musical, and would love to!”

Amy Zepp, Audience Development Assistant:

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra

My Fair Lady

Jake Shimabukuro

In the Heights

Alice Bettis, Administrative Aide:

Original Tribute to Blues Brothers

Pink Floyd Experience

Riverdance

Scrap Arts Music

Bryan Leonard, Associate Director of Marketing:

Erin Bode
Imago
Ruth Moody
Pilobolus

So again, what would *YOU* choose?

What the heck is the UIS Kitchen Sink series?

2011-06-28T14:03:00.000-05:00

You have heard the expression, “everything but the kitchen sink”?? Well, welcome to the series that offers diverse events presented in the intimate UIS Studio Theatre on the first floor of the Public Affairs Center. This season includes a smattering of opera, popular tunes, blues, jazz, classical, roots, traditional and contemporary – themes from family to the Illinois River.

And yes, we’ll even *have* a kitchen sink.

It’s All Relative with Kirsten and Karin Paludan

Saturday, September 24, 2011, 8 p.m.

Midwestern natives and acclaimed singing sisters, Kari and Kirsten Paludan, make their Springfield debut in the uplifting, multi-media musical memoir, “It’s All Relative”. Uniquely personal, yet universal, “It’s All Relative” showcases the sisters’ diverse vocal talents and features memorable songs both familiar and brand new.

Erin Bode Group
Friday, October 14, 2011, 8 p.m.

The Erin Bode (BOH-DEE) Group creates music forged from the Americana of its members' midwestern roots, infused with jazz grooves and made magic by Bode's bell-like voice. Sophisticated arrangements and attention to phrasing, both vocal and instrumental, further distinguish the band's fresh sound. Her distinctive repertoire and crossover appeal - evoking comparisons to Eva Cassidy and Norah Jones - have proven equally at home in grand venues or relaxed clubs.

Jake Shimabukuro
Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 7:30 p.m.

As the San Francisco Gate recently posited about the Hawaiian musician: “The sounds the boyish 33-year old wrings from his ukulele…are unlike anything else in the history of the instrument.” In the hands of Shimabukuro, the traditional Hawaiian instrument of four strings and two octaves is stretched and molded into a complex and bold new musical force. On an album like his new ‘Peace Love Ukulele,’ Jake and his “uke” effortlessly (it seems) mix jazz, rock, classical, traditional Hawaiian music and folk, creating a sound that’s both technically masterful and emotionally powerful…and utterly unique in the music world.

Eric Bibb & Grant Dermody
Saturday, January 28, 2012, 8 p.m.

Already enjoying success in Europe, Grammy nominee Eric Bibb is becoming a familiar face - and voice - in the U.S. Nominated for nine W.C. Handy Blues Music Awards and winner of the Best Newcomer title in the British Blues Awards, Bibb has been appropriately described as “discreetly awesome” and “a total original.” Bibb will be joined on stage by Grant Dermody (DER-muh-dee), who has been described as "an understated harmonica virtuoso and a vocalist of subtlety and warmth" by Don McLeese of No Depression magazine.

Ruth Moody Band
Saturday, February 11, 2012, 8 p.m.

Although best known for her role as a founding member of the internationally renowned, Billboard-charting trio The Wailin' Jennys, Ruth Moody is also an exceptional solo artist full of depth and grace. Critics have lauded her ethereal vocals, impressive multi-instrumentalism (she plays guitar, banjo, accordion, piano, and bodhrán), and her talent as a songwriter. Writing with a maturity and wisdom that belies her age, her songs are timeless, universal, and exceptionally well-crafted, all sung with an intimacy and honesty that is unmistakably her own.

5^th House
Saturday, April 14, 2012, 8 p.m.

The Chicago-based Fifth House Ensemble is defined by its limitless imagination and energy, and an insatiable desire to bring chamber music to audiences of all types. 5^th House harnesses the collaborative spirit of chamber music to create transformative cross-media performance experiences that bring together elements as diverse as storytelling, physical theatre, graphic novels, and fashion design. With humor and joy, they breathe life into repertoire both established and emerging, equally at home on the most prestigious stages and unexpected venues.

Why Subscribe?

2011-06-24T12:53:00.001-05:00

Ever wondered how to get the best seats at the best prices for the shows you want to see? Become a Sangamon Auditorium subscriber! You can subscribe to one or more of our four series – Broadway, Visiting Artists, Family, and new this year, the UIS Kitchen Sink Series – or you can personalize your experience and Create Your Own series. The Ticket Office staff will be happy to answer your questions and help you put together the best package for you.

Series Subscriber - Benefits

By subscribing, you are guaranteed to experience it all! Secure the best seats at the best prices by subscribing today, plus receive many benefits that only our subscribers enjoy…

Receive up to a 25 % savings on series tickets.
Never hear the words “sold out!”
Get the best seats at the best prices before the general public.
Enjoy the same great seat at every show with the series subscription you select.
Benefit from Lost Ticket insurance, available only to subscribers.
Secure the right to renew the same great seat, or upgrade, year after year.
Never wait in line to see your favorite show again!

Broadway Series

To subscribe to the UIS Broadway series, simple pick one of the following package options. Package options start at as little as $182!

· My Fair Lady, South Pacific, Young Frankenstein, In the Heights

· My Fair Lady, South Pacific, Young Frankenstein, In the Heights + Beauty in the Beast
My Fair Lady, South Pacific, Young Frankenstein, In the Heights + Riverdance

· Or just see them all! My Fair Lady, South Pacific, Young Frankenstein, In the Heights , Beauty in the Beast and Riverdance

Visiting Artist Series

Simply select at least 6 performances from the Visiting Artists at UIS Series to enjoy the same seat and save!

It’s All Relative with Kirsten Paludan and Karin Paludan*
ScrapArtsMusic
Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis
Erin Bode Group*
In the Mood
Midori
Jake Shimabukuro*
Mannheim Steamroller
Eric Bibb & Grant Dermody*
Ruth Moody Band*
Ballet Folklorico de Antioquia, Columbia
The All New Original Tribute to The Blues Brothers™
Pink Floyd Experience
Soweto Gospel Choir
5th House*
Pilobolus

*Performances in the UIS Studio Theatre

Kitchen Sink Series

Subscription packages are just $174 for all six events! What greater benefit could we offer?

It’s All Relative with Kirsten and Karin Paludan.
Erin Bode Group
Jake Shimabukuro
Eric Bibb & Grant Dermody
Ruth Moody Band
5th House

Family Series

Purchase all three Family Series events and make an already affordable ticket price even more affordable!

ScrapArtsMusic
Imago
Treasured Stories by Eric Carle

For more information about subscriptions or to fill out our online subscription request form, please visit http://www.uis.edu/sangamonauditorium/tickets/subscriptions.html

Announcing Sangamon Auditorium's 2011-2012 season of events!

2011-06-24T10:51:00.000-05:00

We are so pleased to announce our 2011-2012 season of events. Please visit our website for more information and details about how to subscribe!

Click here to read Brian Mackey's State Journal-Register article about the new season.

Class Acts Notes from Students

2011-06-22T16:08:00.000-05:00

This spring, Theatreworks/USA’s play “Charlotte’s Web” appeared on the Class Acts series and was enjoyed by more than 2900 students and teachers. We received some delightful student thank you notes/pictures from this performance and have included some of our favorites here.

Class Acts is Sangamon Auditorium’s Performing Arts Series for K-12 youth offered through the schools. Through the Class Acts program, more than 500,000 students and teachers have attended live events at Sangamon Auditorium over the past 25 years.

Reservations are already being taken for the 2011-2012 Class Acts season. You can view the schedule here.

PNC awards grant for arts and cultural education to Sangamon Auditorium

2011-05-25T15:28:00.000-05:00

The PNC Bank Foundation awarded its first Grow Up Great grant in the Springfield area to Sangamon Auditorium, UIS during a May 18, 2011 press conference. The $90,000 grant will be awarded to the auditorium over a three-year period.

The funded Arts Start program will have three distinct yet integrated goals:

Involve 36 classrooms of Springfield Urban League Head Start students (approximately 620 students) in age-appropriate school matinee performances
Involve 60 Springfield Urban League Head Start teachers in teacher training related to use of the performing arts in pre-school classrooms
Involve 100 Springfield Urban League Head Start families in family-appropriate evening/weekend performances

Sangamon Auditorium is so pleased to be able to provide these opportunities to such an important segment of our community. For the UIS news item about this grant and program, please visit the UIS News page.

Monty Python's Spamalot

2011-05-13T16:27:00.003-05:00

The cast of “Monty Python’s Spamalot” can always tell if you’re a fan.

“King Arthur and Patsy enter, and they hear the coconuts,” said Glenn Giron, who plays Patsy. “If they go crazy, I imagine they’re going to be a big Python crowd.”

If you’re a fan of Monty Python in general and “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” in particular, you’ll know that the sound of coconuts being banged together indicates characters clippity-clopping about on horseback.

We’ll find out whether Springfield is Python-friendly at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, when the musical comes to Sangamon Auditorium at the University of Illinois Springfield. The show originally was scheduled to be performed at the Prairie Capital Convention Center, but presenter Broadway in Springfield decided to change venues earlier this year.

Story by Brian Mackey
The State Journal-Register
Click here to read full story

Peter & Paul, paying tribute to Mary

2011-04-28T13:53:00.001-05:00

"When Peter Yarrow and Noel “Paul” Stookey take the stage this weekend at Sangamon Auditorium, it will be among the last opportunities to see them performing together.

The men — two-thirds of the folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary — are billing the show as a tribute to the late Mary Travers, who died in 2009..."

...

Read the ARTICLE

By Brian Mackey

THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER

Quiet Success Defines Actor Anthony Zerbe's Career

2011-04-28T13:49:00.003-05:00

"Hollywood is filled with veteran character actors who have long, solid careers without ever achieving the level of fame that makes them household names.

They’re the actors who, when you’re struggling to describe them to friends, you say, “You know, that guy.”

In scores of movies and TV shows, “that guy” has been Anthony Zerbe....

...

Read the ARTICLE

By Brian Mackey

THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER

FREE Public Lecture with Anthony Zerbe!

2011-04-19T11:03:00.002-05:00

A FREE public lecture, titled "True Grit to True Grit", with Emmy Award-winning actor, Anthony Zerbe, will be taking place at the UIS Studio Theatre on Thursday, April 28th at 7 p.m.

************************************************************************************

Stage, film and Emmy Award-winning actor, Anthony Zerbe did not appear in the 1969 original TRUE GRIT, but appeared opposite John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn in its sequel, ROOSTER COGBURN. From 1969 to 2011, when the new version of TRUE GRIT claimed an Oscar, Zerbe has witnessed and been part of the evolution of American Theater and Film and in the art, craft and business of being an actor. To spend time listening to and speaking with him is to come away with a deepened connection of one's own relation to art in general and the art of acting in particular.

Call the Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office for additional information at 217.206.6160!

See YOU there!

Review: Springfield Ballet's 'Cinderella' includes modern overtones

2011-04-16T22:03:00.000-05:00

On its surface, the story of "Cinderella" is an old-fashioned fairy tale: a woman freed from her circumstances by a handsome prince.

But there's also a more modern take lurking underneath: Like a lot of young women, it's only when Cinderella realizes the beauty that was within her all along that she will ever truly be free.

That theme of growth and discovery is apparent throughout the Springfield Ballet Company's production of "Cinderella," which opens a two-day run this afternoon in Sangamon Auditoriun, on the campus of the University of Illinois Springfield. (The State Journal-Register was invited to review the final dress rehearsal Friday night.)

Review by Brian Mackey
The State Journal-Register
Read the review

Theater Review: Spinning Into Butter

2011-04-12T13:06:00.003-05:00

Theater Review: A frank discussion on race — with humor
The question at the heart of “Spinning Into Butter” — the play that opened Friday at the University of Illinois Springfield’s Studio Theatre — is whether we should be judged by our actions or our intentions.
A student may not want to be categorized by his ethnicity, but should he buckle and check a box if it leads to a scholarship? A person may hold racist attitudes, but is it a problem if they’re outwardly polite and do not discriminate?
...

BY BRIAN MACKEY

THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER

Read more of the review of Spinning Into Butter by clicking HERE!

UIS Studio Theater: Spinning Into Butter, April 14-16

2011-04-07T13:55:00.003-05:00

Shortly after the election of our first black president, there were questions about whether the United States had reached a turning point in its long, troubled history of race relations.

It’s worth remembering that, although much of our society has moved beyond the overt forms of racism that were a hallmark of the past 400 years, subtler forms of discrimination are still at play.

...

Read more of this article in the SJ-R by clicking HERE.

By BRIAN MACKEY

THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER

Seltic Women? Nope! Try Kel-tick WomAn!

2011-04-06T11:51:00.005-05:00

During a bit of discussion about Celtic Woman, coming to Sangamon Auditorium on April 18th at 7:30 p.m., while sitting around our lovely meeting table here in the Sangamon Auditorium office, we discovered a misconception of many of the general public.

I (Lexie, the Graduate Assistant) was a little confused. I knew that Celtic Woman was on April 18th, but I just wasn't sure how to pronounce the name of the group.

My first point of confusion stood in the second word. "Wait. There are FOUR women, but the second word 'Woman'." Interesting. Apparently, a lot of individuals are confused. So, we cleared that up at the table. The second word is singular. WomAn.

My second issue had to do with the pronunciation of the first word. Celtic. Okay, so we have the Boston Celtics, and that is pronounced like "Sel-Tick". However, Celtic woman is NOT pronounced that way. I was informed that it's actually pronounced with a "K" sound at the beginning, as in "Kel-tick". Cool. There was my grammar lesson for the day. Celtic as in Keltic, not Seltic.

Putting that altogether, we have Celtic Woman (a.k.a. Kel-tick WomAn)! Who would have thought that I would learn so much in graduate school?

Now, the real question is... Do YOU have your tickets yet?

For more tickets and/or more information, visit our website by clicking HERE or call the Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office at 217.206.6160!

Sangamon Auditorium receives recognition for arts education efforts

2011-03-25T22:53:00.000-05:00

Sangamon Auditorium honored at this year’s Illinois Alliance for Arts Education Service Awards Ceremony

Sangamon Auditorium was honored at this year’s Illinois Alliance for Arts Education Service Awards Ceremony on March 17, 2011.

The 2011 IAAE Service Recognition Awards Ceremony, held in Springfield at the Governor's Mansion, recognized 24 individuals and organizations for their part in promoting and supporting arts education in Illinois. Sangamon Auditorium was one of four recipients recognized in the Public/Community Service category. Robert Vaughn, director of Sangamon Auditorium, Carly Shank, director of audience development, and Amy Zepp, audience development assistant, were in attendance to receive the award.

Sangamon Auditorium was recognized for both long-standing as well as new initiatives related to arts education. Class Acts, the Auditorium’s school matinee series, welcomes 15,000 children annually to enjoy curriculum-based performances and lecture/demonstrations. Students come from 15 counties, roughly a 50-mile radius of Springfield, to participate in Class Acts. The series is celebrating its 25^th anniversary season this year.

Through the Auditorium’s ClassPass program, school groups can purchase discounted tickets to weekend/evening events. This program enables K-12 teachers and their students to experience a wide variety of performing arts events. When possible, ancillary activities are built into the ClassPass program, including artist master classes, performing arts career information workshops, and cultural immersion activities.

Along with Springfield Public Schools, Sangamon Auditorium recently became one of fourteen new teams to offer professional development for K-12 teachers through the Kennedy Center’s Partners in Education program. Two workshops led by Kennedy Center workshop leaders have been held in the 2010-2011 school year, with a third workshop planned for May 10.

Illinois Alliance for Arts Education (IAAE)
The Illinois Alliance for Arts Education is a non-profit organization of arts educators in dance, drama, music and visual art. Our mission is to ensure high quality arts education for all Illinois students, grades K-12.

As the only state alliance member of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network (KCAAEN) in Illinois, the IAAE receives support from KCAAEN promotions, award recognition programs and professional development opportunities. In 2006 an Illinois school received the national Creative Ticket Award, in 2007and 2009 Illinois schools received the National School Boards Association award, and in 2010 an Illinois school received the National Schools of Distinction in Arts Education Award. The arts are alive in Illinois!

Arlo Guthrie coming to Sangamon Auditorium

2011-03-10T11:30:00.002-06:00

Folk singer Arlo Guthrie is, among other things, a hippie icon.

Long before he started touring venues like Sangamon Auditorium, where he performs next Wednesday evening, he was on the bill at Woodstock. One of his best-known songs, “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree,” is an 18-minute ballad that confronted the Vietnam-era draft with dark humor.

...

BY BRIAN MACKEY

THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER

Read the article

Mamma Mia! Coming to THIS Friday and Saturday, March 11th and 12th!

2011-03-07T13:20:00.005-06:00

Mamma Mia! Here we go again!

Mamma Mia! will be lighting up the stage at Sangamon Auditorium this weekend. Performances are Friday, March 11th at 8 p.m. and Saturday, March 12th at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Feeling adventurous? Click HERE to take a quiz from the North American tour website of Mamma Mia! It's called "Does your mother know?", and it's sure to be something fun to get you excited about the show.

Don't have your tickets yet or need more information? Call the Ticket Office at 217.206.6160 or visit our website at www.uis.edu/sangamonauditorium!

Great seats are still available! Call TODAY!

Hot Tuna to perform at Sangamon Auditorium

2011-03-03T10:38:00.003-06:00

From its origins in the folk-rock psychedelia of ’60s San Francisco, Hot Tuna earned a spot at the vanguard of the blues-rock explosion of the 1970s.

Created as a side project by Jefferson Airplane members Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, Hot Tuna has had nearly two-dozen members and featured countless more guest artists over the years.

...

BY BRIAN MACKEY
THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER

Read the article

Hot Tuna Blues coming THIS FRIDAY to Sangamon Auditorium!

2011-03-01T09:22:00.003-06:00

From their days playing together in the iconic psychedelic band Jefferson Airplane probably no one has more consistently led American music for the last fifty years than Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, the founders and continuing core members of HOT TUNA. Now joined onstage with blues legend Charlie Musselwhite, winner of eighteen W.C. Handy Awards and six Grammy® nominations and Jim Lauderdale, two-time Grammy® winner and premier Americana and Bluegrass artists, Hot Tuna Blues is an excited evening of music legends and electric and acoustic blues.

Hot Tuna Blues
Friday, March 4, 2011, 8 p.m.
Featuring Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady with special guest Charlie Musselwhite and Jim Lauderdale.

For more information and/or tickets, call 217.206.6160 or visit our website by clicking HERE!

The King's Singers collaborate with local ensemble The Springfield Choral Society

2011-02-21T16:06:00.003-06:00

Grammy Award-winning a cappella ensemble The King’s Singers will be coming to Springfield to perform a concert featuring a mix of traditional vocal works as well as close harmony pieces from the group's much-loved, lighter repertoire. The Springfield concert will include a set of North American folk songs, concluding with “The gift to be simple.”

A special component of this concert is that The King’s Singers will perform a piece with a local ensemble, the Springfield Choral Society. The two groups are collaborating on “High Flight,” a piece by Bob Chilcott originally commissioned in celebration of The King’s Singer’s 40^th birthday.

The Springfield Choral Society is known for high-quality performances presented in historically correct text settings and musical styles. Its body of work includes masses and motets by the great masters, carols and celebratory pieces and a range of outstanding contemporary choral selections. The Choral Society contains an exciting mix of amateur, professional and semi-professional singers, some of whom have taught music at elementary, secondary and college levels. Others, while engaging in various professions, enjoy performing choral music as their avocation. For more information visit http://springfieldchoralsociety.org

Don't miss out! - Saturday, February 26, 8 p.m.

Get tickets today at 217.206.6160 or www.SangamonAuditorium.org

Menopause the Musical Coming Next Tuesday and Wednesday to Sangamon Auditorium

2011-02-16T12:12:00.003-06:00

Menopause the Musical is coming to Sangamon Auditorium NEXT Tuesday and Wednesday, February 22-23. The show starts at 7:30 both nights, and tickets are still available for next week's performances!

Come see what nearly 11 million people worldwide are laughing about!

Click HERE for a clip of audience reactions the Menopause the Musical in Florida! The audience loved it!

For more information and tickets, visit www.uis.edu/sangamonauditorium or call our ticket office at 217.206.6160!

Also, don't forget to "Like" us on Facebook. Visit www.facebook.com/SangamonAuditorium and click "Like" at the top of the page to become a fan and keep up on Sangamon Auditorium news and events!

Sweet Thunder, featuring Delfeayo Marsalis- POSTPONED

2011-01-27T14:44:00.000-06:00

We regret to inform you that Sweet Thunder, featuring Delfeayo Marsalis, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday, February 8, 2011, 7:30 p.m., has been postponed due to an illness within the cast that will prohibit them from making certain tour dates. At the moment, a new date for this performance has not yet been announced, but Sangamon Auditorium Staff are in the process of working with the company to designate one. We hope that those who have already purchased tickets for this event would consider waiting to see if they could attend the rescheduled date prior to requesting a refund, but refunds are available for the ticket’s face value, plus $2 facility fee, but minus any processing fees and administration fees. For more information about refunds, please contact the Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office at 217.206.6160 or 800.207.6960. Those who have purchased tickets will be contacted by the Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office once a new date is announced. Thank you.

Get The Led Out and Led Zeppelin Trivia

2011-01-27T11:50:00.004-06:00

Hello, Sangamon Auditorium blog followers! Lexie here, and I've got a bit of a treat for you.

If you haven't noticed, Get The Led Out, a band dedicated to the near perfect recreation of original Led Zeppelin studio sound, is coming to Sangamon Auditorium. Super cool, right? I know!

In honor of this rockin' event, we at the Sangamon Auditorium offices, have been posting Led Zeppelin trivia on our Facebook page. [Wait. You're not a fan yet? What are you waiting for? "Like" us today at http://www.facebook.com/SangamonAuditorium.]

Here's what we've posted so far:
Q: What is Led Zeppelin's longest studio recorded song?
A: In My Time of Dying. That's right, 11 minutes and 4 seconds! Whoa! (Congratulations to Michael.)

Q: What was the name of Zeppelin's own record company?
A: Swan Song. (Congratulations to Lara and Amanda for getting that answer at lightning fast speed!)

Q: What was the very first album released on Led Zeppelin's Swan Song label?
A: Bad Company. This one was a little tricky because it wasn't actually recorded by the band. A little internet research informed us that Zeppelin used their label to further careers of other bands, including Bad Company. (Good tries, everyone!)

Q: What name did Led Zeppelin use for their very first tour?
A: The New Yardbirds. (Congratulations to John on that answer!)

Keep checking for more Led Zeppelin trivia on our Facebook page. We're pumped for a great show on Thursday, February 3rd at 7:30 p.m.

Click HERE for tickets and more information! See you there, rockstars!

Tango Buenos Aires Heating Up Sangamon Auditorium on January 28!

2011-01-11T14:38:00.001-06:00

Looking for something to heat up your January?

Click HERE for a look at TANGO BUENOS AIRES, coming to Sangamon Auditorium on January 28th at 8 p.m..

Sweet Thunder Added to the Sangamon Auditorium Line-Up!

2011-01-10T13:46:00.004-06:00

Sweet Thunder: Duke & Shak- Delfeayo Maralis has been added to the event line-up at Sangamon Auditorium!

The theatrical jazz production, honoring Duke Elllington and William Shakespeare featuring internationally acclaimed trombonist, composer, producer and 2011 NEA Jazz Masters Award recipient Delfeayo Marsalis, actor Kenneth Brown, Jr. (Treme) and a jazz octet, plus full stage set and costuming, will take place on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.

Want to hear more? Check out the Delfeayo Marsalis MySpace page.

For more information and tickets visit our website. (Click HERE!)

We're looking forward to seeing you at this great event!

Tickets on Sale Friday, December 10 for Celtic Woman

2010-12-09T12:55:00.003-06:00

Celtic Woman, a smash hit around the globe, is returning to Sangamon Auditorium with their most recent live show on Monday, April 18, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.!

The awe- inspiring vocalists along with mesmerizing Celtic violinist continue to capture the hearts of fans across the country. Their Emmy-nominated television special, Celtic Woman – Songs from the Heart, filmed live from Powerscourt House and Gardens in Ireland, is a blockbuster on PBS. Come see Celtic Woman with their 6 piece band and the Aontas Choir perform unique renditions of Irish standards, classical favorites and contemporary hits. Celtic Woman – Songs from the Heart promises to be a live concert event that you and your entire family will never forget!

Tickets are on sale to the general public Friday, December 10, 2010, 10 a.m.

For tickets or more information, call Sangamon Auditorium at 217.206.6160 or visit our website by clicking HERE!

Holiday Gifts @ Sangamon Auditorium

2010-12-08T10:22:00.000-06:00

Got a hard-to-buy-for friend or family member this holiday season? Consider a unique gift from Sangamon Auditorium!

Between now and December 23, our Holiday Gift Special will be available for purchase. For just $30, the Holiday Gift Special is a voucher that can be redeemed for a single ticket to one of our spring Visiting Artist events, listed below. The price is a savings over the regular ticket price (gift giver bonus!) and the recipient gets to choose the event (gift recipient bonus!):

Tango Buenos Aires
Friday, January 28, 2011, 8 p.m.

The King’s Singers
Saturday, February 26, 2011, 8 p.m.

Hot Tuna Blues
Friday, March 4, 2011, 8 p.m.

Arlo Guthrie
Wednesday, March 16, 2011, 7:30 p.m.

Anthony Zerbe, “It’s All Done with Mirrors”
Thursday, April 28, 2011, 7:30 p.m.

Peter Yarrow and Noel “Paul” Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary
Sunday, May 1, 2011, 7 p.m.

Also remember that tickets to the following events are now on sale. Tickets would make excellent holiday gifts!

Get the Led Out
Thursday, February 3, 2011, 7:30 p.m.

Menopause The Musical
Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011, 7:30 p.m.

Mamma Mia
Friday, March 11, 2011, 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 12, 2011, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Omigod, You Guys! I'm Serious! Legally Blonde is Coming!

2010-11-17T10:47:00.003-06:00

Elle Woods is totally making her first appearance at Sangamon Auditorium on Monday, December 6th at 7:30 p.m.

So, you want the low-down on the show? Here's the brief (according to Legally Blonde the Musical's UK website):

"College sweetheart and homecoming queen Elle Woods doesn't take no for an answer. So when her boyfriend, Warner, dumps her for someone serious, Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and heads for Harvard Law School! Based on the hit movie of the same name starring Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde the Musical is the award-winning Broadway sensation created by a top-of-their-class creative team, led by Tony Award-winning director and Olivier Award-nominated choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray). This all singing, all dancing, feel good musical comedy will be the highlight of your year. Legally Blonde the Musical will take you from the social whirl of California Campus life to Harvard's Halls of Justice with the brightest new heroine (and of course, her Chihuahua, Bruiser).The verdict? This much fun shouldn't be legal!"

Ummm... check out the website's "Fun Stuff" section- including videos of the London cast performing numbers from the show: OMIGOD! CLICK HERE!

So, do you, like, have your tickets?! No? You should totally click HERE for more info!

Jamie Cavanaugh project a success!

2010-11-12T10:42:00.001-06:00

On Friday, November 5, Sangamon Auditorium hosted a particularly unique project, “The Incredible Speediness of Jamie Cavanaugh.” This play, by the innovative Canadian theater company, Roseneath Theatre, presented a family story of a young girl’s diagnosis and ultimate treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Additional social themes in the thoughtful script included in-school bullying and divorce.

The day started with a Class Acts performance of the play attended by 550 3rd-8th grade students and teachers from throughout central Illinois.

Later in the day, 35 educators and parents participated in a professional development event, “Exploring ADHD,” that began with a presentation by Dr. Glen Aylward from SIU School of Medicine. Dr. Aylward’s presentation, “ADHD: Issues in Diagnosis and Treatment,” offered discussion about diagnostic issues, common misconceptions regarding ADHD, how it overlaps with other problems, and suggestions for interventions. Dr. Aylward’s presentation was made possible through Springfield Parents for Students with Disabilities.

Also later in the day, 150 Girl Scouts, parents, and troop leaders from throughout central Illinois participated in a badge-earning event, “Dealing with Drama,” which included two learning components: one session about bullying taught by the Girl Scouts, and one session about drama taught by Carly Shank of Sangamon Auditorium.

Beginning at 6 p.m., public displays and activities in the Sangamon Auditorium lobby highlighted learning about disabilities and disability resources in our community. Attendees were able to try a mirror-tracing activity that mimicked how the brain of a person with dyslexia might have difficulty drawing. In keeping with the themes of the play, attendees were also able to create a logo for their own super hero and write a recipe for friendship.

Finally, at 7 p.m., the main event occurred with the UIS Family Series presentation of “The Incredible Speediness of Jamie Cavanaugh.” The five hundred in attendance were able to enjoy the performance and a brief post-show question-and-answer session with the performers from Roseneath Theatre.

Many thanks to our community partners in this effort, Springfield Parents for Students with Disabilities and The Children’s Center, a program of Mental Health Centers of Central Illinois, a Memorial Health System affiliate. Along with Peggy Cormeny from Springfield Public Schools, these groups were incredibly instrumental in helping to spread the word in the community and help make the event a resounding success!

A&E Notebook: 'Spring Awakening,' 'Altar Boyz'

2010-11-11T12:13:00.002-06:00

‘Spring Awakening’ coming to UIS

The critically acclaimed and award-winning rock musical “Spring Awakening” will be presented at 8 p.m. Sunday in Sangamon Auditorium, on the campus of the University of Illinois Springfield.

The show is set in a provincial German town in the 1890s, and tells the story of a group of teenagers discovering their sexuality...

From the SJ-R. To read more, CLICK HERE!

Drumline LIVE! at Sangamon Auditorium on November 21st!

2010-11-08T12:38:00.003-06:00

Drumline LIVE! will be at Sangamon Auditorium on Sunday, November 21st at 7 p.m. (This event is sponsored by 99.7 KISS FM)

Showbiz Chicago says, "Drumline LIVE" dazzles with explosive choreography and thrilling spectacle…"

The Morning Call says this about Drumline LIVE!: It’s a marching band extravaganza that parades out of the football stadium onto the stage with explosive percussion, resounding brass and dazzling choreography.

Check out this clip from the group's March 10, 2009 performance: CLICK HERE!

Visit www.sangamonauditorium.org for tickets and more information!

See you there!

Spring Awakening at Sangamon Auditorium on November 14 at 8 p.m.

2010-11-03T13:25:00.005-05:00

Spring Awakening, the winner of 8 Tony Awards (including Best Musical), will be making its first appearance at Sangamon Auditorium on November 14th. The shows starts at 8 p.m., and tickets are on-sale now!

CLICK HERE for a clip of the original Broadway cast (including GLEE star, Lea Michele as Wendla) performing at the 2007 Tony Awards to give you a taste of this award-winning musical.

Broadway’s most talked about new musical is now the biggest Tony Award Winner in years. SPRING AWAKENING is the groundbreaking fusion of morality, sexuality and rock & roll that has awakened Broadway like no other musical in years. Winner of 8 Tony Awards including BEST MUSICAL, SPRING AWAKENING celebrates the unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood with a power, a poignancy and a passion you will never forget. We agree with the NY Times “Broadway may never be the same again!”

“HAUNTING AND ELECTRIFYING! This brave new musical has a shivery sensual allure unmatched by anything in the theatre right now.” – Charles Isherwood, The New York Times

You can visit the SPRING AWAKENING ON TOUR website by clicking HERE.

For more information and ticket purchasing opportunities, visit our website at www.sangamonauditorium.org. Get your tickets now!

Exploring ADHD through the play ‘The Incredible Speediness of Jamie Cavanaugh’

2010-11-02T12:22:00.002-05:00

The challenges children endure in facing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder will take center stage at Sangamon Auditorium at 7 p.m. Friday. The play, "The Incredible Speediness of Jamie Cavanaugh," examines the disorder through the eyes of a young schoolgirl.

The play provides understanding for children and families who have a connection to ADHD.

...

BY TODD SMITH
THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER

Read the article

'Chorus Line' a Slice of Dancers' Lives

2010-10-28T10:15:00.001-05:00

The plot of the touring musical “A Chorus Line” hits close to home for cast member Julia Freyer, who plays the tall, thin, talkative dancer Judy.

In the show, several dancers vie for a chance to perform in a new Broadway musical — with the auditions in an empty theater, on a bare stage. For Freyer, a recent Penn State University musical theater graduate, her greatest goal is to perform in a significant production, just like those hopefuls.

...

Article by Tamara Browning
The State Journal-Register
Read the article

The Incredible Speediness of Jamie Cavanaugh at Sangamon Auditorium on November 5th!

2010-10-27T12:42:00.004-05:00

The Incredible Speediness of Jamie Cavanaugh, a theatrical performance focusing on the challenges of ADHD and a child’s struggle to fit in, will kick-off the UIS Family Series at Sangamon Auditorium on Friday, November 5, 2010 at 7 p.m.

So, what's the show about?
Well... Jamie and Max are best friends – Jamie is a trouble magnet who thinks her ADHD is some kind of amazing ‘super speed’ superpower and Max is the smartest kid in his grade. But when Jamie tries to protect Max from a bully named Rock, her ‘super power’ ends up creating more trouble for both of them. Jamie learns that to be a good friend, she needs to slow down and listen, but how can you turn off a super power?

Fast-paced, funny and full of energy, this great new play tackles issues of bullying, violence, peer pressure, learning disabilities and the struggle to fit in. The champion in this play is a positive role model for young people with ADHD and will promote greater empathy and understanding around learning disabilities among teachers and students alike.

Fun family activities including crafts, displays and hands-on-learning will be present in the Sangamon Auditorium lobby starting at 6 p.m. The activities are free of charge.

Sangamon Auditorium is always pleased to partner with community organizations. The Incredible Speediness of Jamie Cavanaugh is resented in cooperation with Springfield Parents for Students with Disabilities and The Children’s Center, a program of Mental Health Centers of Central Illinois, a Memorial Health System affiliate. Supported by the Say it out loud campaign.

The event will be performed by the Roseneath Theatre of Ontario, Canada and sponsored by Springfield Moms.org, ABC News Channel 20 , 104.5 WFMB and 99.7 KISS FM.

The Incredible Speediness of Jamie Cavanaugh are $19 for adults and $11 for youth, High School age and under. Tickets on sale now. For more show and/or ticket information, visit our website! CLICK HERE

Paul Taylor Dance Company at Sangamon Auditorium on Nov 7

2010-10-25T13:43:00.003-05:00

An evening of modern dance with the Paul Taylor Dance Company

Want to know more about Paul Taylor? The company's website says the following:
"More than a half-century ago, Paul Taylor became the youngest member of the pantheon that created American modern dance.

Now in his 80th year – an age when most artists’ best work is behind them – Mr. Taylor is acclaimed for the vibrancy, relevance and power of his dances. As prolific as ever, he continues to offer cogent observations on life’s complexities while tackling some of society’s thorniest issues. He may propel his dancers through space for the sheer beauty of it, or use them to wordlessly illuminate war, spirituality, sexuality, morality and mortality. If, as Balanchine said, there are no mothers-in-law in ballet, there certainly are dysfunctional families, ex-lovers, fallen preachers, rapists, angels and insects in Taylor dance." See more from the company's website by CLICKING HERE.

The Paul Taylor Dance Company will be visiting Sangamon Auditorium on November 7th. The performance begins at 7 p.m. For more information and ticket purchase, visit our website now!

Humorist David Sedaris coming to Springfield

2010-10-21T11:59:00.001-05:00

When signing a contract for a performance, rock stars might demand a bottle of top-shelf liquor or the elimination of brown M&Ms from the premises.

All David Sedaris wanted was a typewriter.

Specifically, he wanted an IBM Wheel Writer 1, 2 or 3.

...

Article by Brian Mackey
The State Journal-Register
Read the article

A Chorus Line Coming to Sangamon Auditorium November 2!

2010-10-19T12:41:00.003-05:00

"Step-kick-kick-leap-kick-touch! AGAIN!"

A Chorus Line, a Tony Award winning Broadway show, is coming to Sangamon Auditorium on Tuesday, November 2nd at 7:30 p.m.

Click HERE to view a clip from the Chorus Line cast opening the 2007 Tony Awards to give you a little taste...

So, step-kick-kick-leap-kick-touch your way to our website for more information and tickets:
A Chorus Line at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS

Tickets On Sale for Legally Blonde on October 25!

2010-10-12T12:48:00.003-05:00

Omigod, you guys!

Legally Blonde: The Musical is coming to Sangamon Auditorium, UIS on Monday, December 6th at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for the performance go on sale on Monday, October 25th!

For tickets and other information, CLICK HERE.

Humorist and Author, David Sedaris, at Sangamon Auditorium

2010-10-06T13:13:00.003-05:00

NPR humorist and bestselling author, David Sedaris, is coming to Sangamon Auditorium, UIS on Friday, October 22, 2010 at 8 p.m.

Did you know Sedaris' newest book, a collection of fables entitled Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary is being published this month? In fact, the UIS Bookstore will have books available!

One more interesting note: Sedaris has agreed to stay after the show to sign anything and everything you could ever want signed! He literally will stay until he's met with and signed anything audience members would want autographed.

Check out this hilarious clip of Sedaris on Letterman:
CLICK HERE!

So, do you have your ticket yet?

Check out more information and buy your tickets at our website: Sangamon Auditorium

Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company Coming to Sangamon Auditorium October 13th

2010-10-05T13:48:00.003-05:00

Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company
coming next week to Sangamon Auditorium, UIS

Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company
Wednesday, October 13, 7:30 p.m.
Ticket Prices: $40, 35, 20

One of the national treasures of the Philippines, the story of the Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company spans 43 years of performances all over the world. With its early roots in the Filipiniana Folk Music and Dance Committee of the Philippine Women’s University (PWU), it was not until 1957 that the PWU Bayanihan Folk Arts Center and its performing arm, the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company, were founded to preserve ethnic rites, tribal folklore and regional folk ways, and to collect indigenous art forms.

The first Filipino group to perform on Broadway, Bayanihan opened at New York’s Winter Garden Theater on Oct. 13, 1959. They were accorded unanimous critical acclaim for their skill, grace and joie de vivre, and the company’s flawless transference of indigenous dance and music traditions from their ancient origins to the stage without sacrificing authenticity.

From that time forward, Bayanihan has mounted 15 international tours and more than one hundred brief tours to international events and festivals covering 55 countries on five continents.

WATCH VIDEO: Who is the Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company?

This presentation is supported by the Peforming Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts Midwest funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. which believes a great nation deserves great art, with additional contributions from the General Mills Foundation, Land O' Lakes Foundation, and the Illinois Arts Council.

Get tickets today!

For more information visit www.SangamonAuditorium.org or call the Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office at 217. 206. 6160 or 800. 207. 6960, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Opportunity for FREE Tickets to Spring Awakening at Sangamon Auditorium

2010-10-04T12:15:00.002-05:00

Have you heard of the ‘Guilty Ones?’ They’re the group of fans that love SPRING AWAKENING so much, they felt the need to organize and spread the word on their own. Well Sangamon Auditorium, UIS is looking to create our own group of Guilty Ones! We only have room for the 5 most ambitious SPRING AWAKENING fans out there! If you are interested in becoming a Guilty One for the Sangamon Auditorium, UIS engagement, contact us to let us know why’d you be the best – but hurry – only the first 5 will be allowed in. Did we mention if you complete all the Guilty Ones tasks you can receive free tickets to the performance and more? Join the Sangamon Auditorium, UIS Guilty Ones today and help spread the word that SPRING AWAKENING is coming to Sangamon Auditorium!

Sangamon Auditorium, UIS

Perfect show for the very youngest audience members…and their parents will probably enjoy it too!

Class Acts 2011-2012 Season

A week of events with "It's All Relative"

Professional Development for K-12 teachers

Sangamon Auditorium Volunteer Association is currently accepting new volunteers for 2011-2012

We want your kitchen sink! Seriously, we do.

Is Sangamon Auditorium haunted?

Update on opportunity for K-12 teachers

What would *you* choose? Plus staff picks…

What the heck is the UIS Kitchen Sink series?

Why Subscribe?

Announcing Sangamon Auditorium's 2011-2012 season of events!

Class Acts Notes from Students

PNC awards grant for arts and cultural education to Sangamon Auditorium

Monty Python's Spamalot

Peter & Paul, paying tribute to Mary

Quiet Success Defines Actor Anthony Zerbe's Career

FREE Public Lecture with Anthony Zerbe!

Review: Springfield Ballet's 'Cinderella' includes modern overtones

Theater Review: Spinning Into Butter

UIS Studio Theater: Spinning Into Butter, April 14-16

Seltic Women? Nope! Try Kel-tick WomAn!

Sangamon Auditorium receives recognition for arts education efforts

Arlo Guthrie coming to Sangamon Auditorium

Mamma Mia! Coming to THIS Friday and Saturday, March 11th and 12th!

Hot Tuna to perform at Sangamon Auditorium

Hot Tuna Blues coming THIS FRIDAY to Sangamon Auditorium!

Hot Tuna BluesFriday, March 4, 2011, 8 p.m.Featuring Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady with special guest Charlie Musselwhite and Jim Lauderdale.

The King's Singers collaborate with local ensemble The Springfield Choral Society

Menopause the Musical Coming Next Tuesday and Wednesday to Sangamon Auditorium

Sweet Thunder, featuring Delfeayo Marsalis- POSTPONED

Get The Led Out and Led Zeppelin Trivia

Tango Buenos Aires Heating Up Sangamon Auditorium on January 28!

Click HERE for a look at TANGO BUENOS AIRES, coming to Sangamon Auditorium on January 28th at 8 p.m..

Sweet Thunder Added to the Sangamon Auditorium Line-Up!

Tickets on Sale Friday, December 10 for Celtic Woman

Holiday Gifts @ Sangamon Auditorium

Omigod, You Guys! I'm Serious! Legally Blonde is Coming!

Jamie Cavanaugh project a success!

A&E Notebook: 'Spring Awakening,' 'Altar Boyz'

Drumline LIVE! at Sangamon Auditorium on November 21st!

Spring Awakening at Sangamon Auditorium on November 14 at 8 p.m.

Exploring ADHD through the play ‘The Incredible Speediness of Jamie Cavanaugh’

'Chorus Line' a Slice of Dancers' Lives

The Incredible Speediness of Jamie Cavanaugh at Sangamon Auditorium on November 5th!

Paul Taylor Dance Company at Sangamon Auditorium on Nov 7

Humorist David Sedaris coming to Springfield

A Chorus Line Coming to Sangamon Auditorium November 2!

Tickets On Sale for Legally Blonde on October 25!

Humorist and Author, David Sedaris, at Sangamon Auditorium

Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company Coming to Sangamon Auditorium October 13th

Opportunity for FREE Tickets to Spring Awakening at Sangamon Auditorium

What would you choose? Plus staff picks…

Hot Tuna Blues
Friday, March 4, 2011, 8 p.m.
Featuring Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady with special guest Charlie Musselwhite and Jim Lauderdale.