A performance that explores and honors the experience of those who serve

by Bob Vaughn, Director of Sangamon Auditorium

Born in the base hospital at Ft. Sheridan, IL and raised by a former drill sergeant, I will never forget the sense of pride I felt as I watched Audie Murphy leap from that burning tank after gunning down enemy forces in the 1950’s film, To Hell and Back. Military exploits were front and center in the public media during those years, and young boys were engaged in war strategies on mounds of dirt with plastic soldiers, wrapped up in the rat-a-tat-tat of machine gun fire somewhere in the Pacific Theatre so vividly illustrated in comic books, or examining the relics of war brought home by friends’ parents. Here a helmet liner, there a flashlight, ribbons, medals, and other trophies took center stage as we discussed each item carefully amongst ourselves.

My dad, friends and acquaintances who so generously served were not so anxious to discuss their experiences.  One lost his hand trying to throw back a potato masher that had landed in his vicinity. Others…well, these were not subjects that elicited more elaboration.  This was made abundantly clear.  Even Independence Day fireworks, so exciting and entertaining to my friends and I held little fascination for many whose experience with exploding fare brought back difficult and painful memories.  Many of us were unaware of the consequences of war; the loss or injury of loved ones, the day to day effects of the condition known as shell-shocked, battle fatigue, or more recently, post-traumatic stress disorder.  And what about the full range of effects on the families?

When I encountered the Basetrack Live program as a possible theatre piece to include on our series at the University of Illinois Springfield, I knew I had to include it, and I had so many reasons to do so.  A full appreciation of those who have served and the families that support them requires life-long learning for all concerned.  We cannot fully grasp their importance, pay reasonable homage, create a fair and equitable system of support, and repair the damage done without better understanding the experience of those affected and reordering our priorities to appropriately assist.

Basetrack Live is a documentary theatre piece produced by the not-for-profit theatre company En Garde Arts about the impact of war on veterans and their families.  Two actors portray the real life characters of AJ and Melissa Czubai, a young Marine and his wife.  We follow their journey through his deployment to Afghanistan and back home again, her birth of a child while he is overseas and his injury that sends him home.  Photographs and videos shot by embedded journalists bring to light the stories of other Marines with whom AJ served in Unit 1/8, their feelings about deploying and their hopes and dreams for coming home.  There is additional video footage of Marines and their families once they are back home that shows the transformation of ordinary people fundamentally changed by the extraordinary experience of fighting a war. Basetrack Live does not represent these characters as either heroes or victims.  Instead, it shows a complicated and sensitive portrayal of how war affects us all.

Perhaps unlike any other theatre piece of the last decade, Basetrack Live gives us an up-close-and-personal look at the impact of war on the families and caregivers of those who have served.  Right along with them, we come to experience the difficulty of separating from a loved one, the anxiety provoked by their long absence overseas, the angst of not knowing day-to-day whether or not a family member is safe and the tremendous adjustment families undergo when those who have served come home and begin to reintegrate back into American life in search for a place for themselves.

En Garde Arts formed an advisory committee of service members, combat veterans and other key leaders to guide and advise them through the development of Basetrack Live.  Sangamon Auditorium staff are working to make similar connections locally to help strengthen the impact of the performance in our community.  We are partnering with the University of Illinois Springfield’s department of Veteran’s Affairs and the Chancellor’s Office to develop a post-show panel discussion that will provide audience members with the opportunity to hear local service and veteran responses to the performance piece, followed by break-out sessions that will provide a forum to listen and tell personal stories.

Basetrack Live will be presented at Sangamon Auditorium on Wednesday, September 28 at 7:30 p.m.  For more information and to purchase tickets, please call 217.206.6160 or visit our website. Veterans, service personnel and their families are welcome to contact us about discounted tickets to the show, special events and opportunities to share your experiences.

#doUwannaGo - Announcing the 2016.2017 season lineup at Sangamon Auditorium!

We are so pleased to announce the 2016-2017 Performing Arts Season at Sangamon Auditorium.  It is sure to be another exciting season, with a range of Broadway, Visiting Artist, and Kitchen Sink events from which to choose.

I encourage you to check out the exciting Broadway lineup, which includes:

Dirty Dancing, September 20 & 21 @ 7:30 p.m.
Once, October 9 @ 8 p.m.
Cirque Dreams Holidaze, November 30 @ 7:30 p.m.
PIPPIN, January 18 @ 7:30 p.m.
Chicago The Musical, March 13 & 14 @ 7:30 p.m.
Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella, April 4 @ 7:30 p.m.

Broadway subscription packages, securing the same seat location for this year and subsequent years, should you choose to renew, are now available.  This is the best way to lock in your price and your seat!

But what if a Broadway subscription doesn't seem right for you?  Do you already know you’ll definitely go to Once and PIPPIN? Absolutely confident that you want to see Natalie Randall sing with the smash-hit vocal group Vocalosity? Have a kid in your life who would love to see the Wild Kratts Live? If there are at least four shows you would pick, can you commit to them now as a Create Your Own buyer? I find that making this kind of up-front commitment makes an event so much more enjoyable; you are putting some events on your calendar and promising yourself four great nights in the coming year. In addition to setting your calendar, as a Create Your Own buyer, you can access the Broadway events early and get a discount on many of the events you choose. CYO buyers can also buy different numbers of tickets for each event, so that makes date nights + kid nights + treat-your-mom-to-a-show nights all possible through this purchase.

Additionally, did you know that supporting Sangamon Auditorium’s events as a package buyer is one of the best ways to help assure that Springfield can access the hottest Broadway shows? Producers care about the package load we carry as they consider what shows to send our way. Sure, a trip to the Fabulous Fox is absolutely fun on occasion, but your gas money, time, and restaurant spending is less expensive supporting your hometown, and – I would argue – knowing you are contributing to the arts in your own community.

Research has been saying recently that the money we spend on EXPERIENCES has a more lasting impact than money we spend on THINGS. Consider how that has played out in your own life. That one great night at a show spent with someone you love? Worth as much or more than some item for which you paid a similar price?

I hope you will consider it.

New assistive listening equipment at Sangamon Auditorium provides increased level of patron services

By Susan Koch, Chancellor at the Springfield campus of the University of Illinois. 

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), hearing loss is a major public health issue affecting more than 28 million people in the United States.  Overall, the prevalence of hearing loss increases with every age decade and about 1/3 of Americans over age 65 have a significant hearing impairment - a loss that can negatively affect communication, personal relationships and even safety.

Hearing loss also affects the ability to fully enjoy music and other forms of entertainment.  This concern has been the subject of considerable discussion for the UIS Sangamon Auditorium Advisory Board – a group of active community volunteers who help to guide, promote and support the University of Illinois Springfield campus’s performing arts programming each year.

According to Bob Vaughn, Director of Sangamon Auditorium’s performing arts programs, the Auditorium (and its smaller Studio Theatre venue) has had an assistive listening device system since 1981, but advances in technology in recent years offered new options for greatly improving the listening experience.  “I’d been concerned for some time about our outdated assistive listening system,” says Bob. “Most of it was the inadequacy of the sound quality and the degree of difficulty of operating the unit.”

Bob’s concerns were shared by longtime Sangamon Auditorium patrons, Carol Esarey (a member of the Auditorium Advisory Board) and her husband, Clark, both of whom had noticed they were sometimes having trouble understanding and hearing the performers speak or missing various nuances of the programming. “We reached out to auditorium Director Bob Vaughn,” says Carol, “to see what options were available to increase our ability to better hear what was going on.”

Carol’s and Clark’s inquiry resulted in a generous gift from the Esareys to fund the installation of a new digital assistive listening system this year in both the Auditorium and the Studio Theatre.   The system, purchased from Listen Technologies, was used for the first time in November for the Broadway show Elf the Musical and is now available to patrons by request at no charge for performances in both venues.

Ease of use was a major factor considered when selecting the new system and, for Auditorium and Studio Theatre patrons, it couldn’t be easier.  Patrons simply stop by the coat check before the performance to request a Personal Assistive Listening Unit, leaving a form of ID to pick up later when they return the unit after the performance.  (The PAL unit is a small, inconspicuous receiver that fits conveniently into a pocket or hangs from a lanyard around the neck.) Coat check personnel briefly consult with each patron to determine headphone or earpiece preferences, with a variety of options being available.  The Auditorium provides high-quality Sennheiser headphones that have a wider frequency range, but patrons are also welcome to bring their own if they prefer. PAL units are compatible with various hearing aid devices and, if the patron has a T-coil equipped hearing aid, induction loops that eliminate the need for headphones entirely are also provided.

The PAL devices can also improve the listening experience for patrons with hearing loss who do not have a hearing aid, allowing them to adjust volume though not replacing ranges they can no longer hear. The devices help reduce distracting background noise, reverberation and sound distortions and help improve clarity, understanding and hearing from a distance.

“This exciting upgrade to UIS performing arts programming will make a huge difference in the quality of enjoying a performance for many of our patrons,” says Bob. “I’m hoping this will bring some folks back to the Auditorium who had given up on being able to fully enjoy the experience due to hearing loss.”

“We are so pleased to have had the chance to work with the Auditorium and the UIS Foundation on a project that can truly enhance the enjoyment for patrons attending the great programs at Sangamon Auditorium,” said Carol in a recent email message.  “Our hope is that the PAL program will be a boon to all who might need a boost to enjoy this wonderful community asset to its fullest.”
With the second half of the 2015-16 season, including the Broadway shows Annie, 42nd Street, Ragtime the Musical and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast on tap, this is an ideal time to take advantage of the new PAL program and enjoy enhanced performing arts performances at UIS.

Please consider this your personal invitation! Tickets are available at www.SangamonAuditorium.org or by phone at: 217-206-6160.

Give the gift of entertainment for the holidays!

In the past few years, there has been a lot of lip service given to the idea of giving the gifts of EXPERIENCES to yourself and to others.  Many would say that we live in a world cluttered with *things* and while we do need a certain amount of *things* to function in the 21st Century, we could also stand to forego some things and let the power of experiences do its magic instead.

Have you ever been able to witness a child's first experience as an audience member at a performance?  I can assure you that it is magical moment.  Choose tickets to Annie or Three Little Birds, both coming up in February, to see it happen for yourself.

Do you have a family member or friend whose possessions create a real challenge for you when trying to determine an appropriate gift for them?  A Sangamon Auditorium gift certificate can be redeemed toward any Sangamon Auditorium event tickets, which means you don't even need to know if the person's taste would lean more toward Broadway, traditional Irish music, non-traditional organ music, or the world's greatest living tap dancer.

And what about for yourself?  Do you remember and cherish that flatscreen television you bought five years ago on Black Friday, or has it already hit the electronics recycling center and its memory been erased?  How about that time you enjoyed an intimate evening with friends at a concert by an artist you really cared about...or an artist you knew nothing about until that evening?  I would argue that the stronger connection was probably forged by the live experience.

I encourage you to invest in that live experience for yourself and for others this holiday season!

Guest blog: Graduate Assistant Katie Woodford reflects upon her performing arts experiences

Here at Sangamon Auditorium, we are fortunate to be a vibrant part of a public university, interacting with college students alongside the public.  I asked our current graduate assistant, Katie Woodford, to reflect upon the experiences she's had so far with us, and she offered up the following thoughts:  

Throughout my life I have witnessed and participated again and again in the beauty of the performing arts. Whether singing in the children's church musical at a young age or watching a professional production as I grew older, theater performances were always special and important in my life. Throughout my high school and college career, I have enjoyed watching shows at the Sangamon Auditorium. With such a generous student ticket price, Sangamon Auditorium has made it possible to experience spectacular, high quality performances during the course of my college years. Then while pursuing graduate school and an assistantship to pay for this higher education, I was pursued by Sangamon Auditorium for a marketing position. I was thrilled with the opportunity and following the interview process, eagerly awaited my possible selection for the Graduate Assistantship at Sangamon Auditorium.

Now I am the marketing Graduate Assistant for the Sangamon Auditorium and have the opportunity to see the other side of fine arts. We work diligently to promote our shows to specific target audiences while still pursuing overall awareness and knowledge on the expansive array of shows offered by the Auditorium. In addition, I work with many different individuals with a passion for their work and for the importance of culturally diverse offerings. This environment has allowed me to develop as a business woman, performer, and audience member.

I began this season attending the Metropolitan Opera Rising Stars Series event in September. With my new position, I felt I should expose myself to the various presentations Sangamon Auditorium offers.  While I have tons of experience in vocals, opera has never appeared in my repertoire. I took my seat, sat back, and thought, “let’s give this a try.” By intermission I was nearing a state of total awe. The four vocalist sang beautifully and powerfully (without microphones might I add) in a language that meant both nothing and everything to me. Concluding the evening with classic pieces from legendary Broadway shows, the audience erupted in true graditude for such a spectacular evening. From the very beginning to the very end I was blown away with the beauty, control, and power these individuals brought to the stage.

Without Sangamon Auditoriums focus on student involvement and opportunity I would not have pursued this type of event. Investing in the students of UIS now allows for the development of loyal customers in the future. We will one day be (as many like to remind us) “in the real world” and will seek out opportunities of entertainment and beauty in the performing arts. With the fond memories we built during college, many UIS alum will attend and become loyal audience memebers of Sangamon Auditorium. The truth is, few college students had as many opportunities to experience the stage as I did growing up; however with the help of Sangamon Auditorium, UIS students, young children, and experienced veterans can begin and continue to receive and appreciate the true magnificence of live performing arts.

Connecting to our community

Here at Sangamon Auditorium, we try to take every opportunity to make the arts enriching and tie events to other interest areas in the community.

On Sunday, October 4, we were pleased to host a performance by Compañia Flamenca José Porcel, a company fronted by Spain's premier flamenco dancer and choreographer.  Prior to the performance, high school Spanish students from several schools enjoyed a Spanish-themed pre-show meal alongside UIS students from the Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS) and the Sangamon Auditorium Student Club (SASC).  Following the meal, Sangamon Auditorium marketing graduate assistant Katie Woodford interviewed the OLAS and SASC students about campus life and college choices.  Then, those present were treated to a pre-show discussion with José Porcel himself.  Sangamon Auditorium Volunteer Association member and Pleasant Plains High School Spanish teacher Fernando Ares served as interpreter, though it was great for the students to hear so much Spanish being spoken and interpret on their own.

Fernando Ares and José Porcel

Following Mr. Porcel's discussion, Sangamon Auditorium Volunteer Association and Springfield International Folk Dancers member John Petter discussed the significance of preserving folk dancing and the role of the local club.  

John Petter

It was a great event for providing additional context to the performance that followed.  Many thanks to Audience Development Coordinator Amy Zepp and other members of our staff for making the event possible and thanks to the teacher participants who organized student groups to attend.

Create Your Own Experience

Are you familiar with our Create Your Own (CYO) package?  You can choose four or more events on our Performing Arts Season, getting up to a 15% savings on the tickets you purchase, lock in great seats, and secure access to Broadway events before individual tickets are on sale.  Becoming a CYO package buyer is a great way to treat yourself by setting some performance dates on the calendar and making sure you save room in your year for some great Performing Arts events.

Each year, I ask our staff to comment on the events they would choose if putting together their own CYO package.  Here are this year's responses:

Jen Tibbs

Jen Tibbs, Coordinator of Public Information and Marketing:

The Illusionsists
Elf
Annie
Beauty and the Beast

Of course The Cat in the Hat for my kids

Hey Jen - Of course, you don't *have* to limit yourself to four choices.  You can choose more!  It's part of the beauty of the CYO package.  Also, you can purchased different numbers of tickets for the shows in your package.  So you can get 2 tickets to The Illusionists and 4 for The Cat in the Hat.  

Michelle Yenerall

Michelle Yenerall, Ticket Sales Assistant:

I am leaning towards most of the Broadway shows this season.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (saw it before when it was here and just loved it)

The Illusionists (Looks interesting)

Annie (Classic)

Maybe ELF (I liked the movie but I don’t know if I could sit through the musical)

The Chieftains (I want to take my dad to this)

Cameron Carpenter featuring the International Touring Organ (I just think this sounds interesting)

Hey Michelle - Taking a risk on something you're not entirely sure you'll like might feel better when you're getting a savings overall.  Another benefit to the CYO package! 

Shannon Smith

Shannon Smith, Ticket Office Manager:

The Met Opera – to see if I would like it…think I will but no real experience

Corky Siegel – I mean, it’s the blues, man

Lakota Sioux – beyond a shadow of a doubt, gonna be there

The Chieftains – of course

One extra maybe The Fab Four

Hey Shannon - Taking a risk is great and it's easier with a CYO package.  Also...of course you can pick more than four!  

Amy Zepp

Amy Zepp, Audience Development Coordinator:

Met Opera – I’ve never attended a live opera, and this seems like a good opportunity to get a sample of live opera performance.

Cameron Carpenter – A friend is getting her master’s in sacred music with an emphasis in organ performance, so she’s going to come with me.  I think his style and the variety of music genres will be fun, and I’ll also enjoy the reaction from someone who really understands organ music. 

Fifth House Ensemble – I want to experience a show that is truly interactive for the audience because we aren’t often able to present something like that.

Ragtime – It’s a classic show that I’ve never seen.

And from those who know exactly what they want, without need for comment:  

Mindy McCaffrey

Mindy McCaffrey, Volunteer Coordinator:

Victoria

The Chieftains

Cameron Carpenter 

Ragtime

Mandy Buchanan

Mandy Buchanan, Ticket Sales Assistant:

The Illusionists 

ELF

The Fab Four

Beauty and the Beast

Elise Robertson

Elise Robertson, Event Administrator:

The Illusionists

Elf

Victoria

42nd Street

Brandy Stabler

Brandy Stabler, Development Assistant:

Elf

Beauty and the Beast

42nd Street

Illusionists

Are you a Friend of Sangamon Auditorium?

To those of you who purchase tickets to Sangamon Auditorium events: thank you!  Your purchase of tickets helps to make the quality programs at Sangamon Auditorium possible.

But did you know that ticket sales only provide a portion of the funds needed to enable us to fulfill our mission?  We rely on a wide range of revenue sources including grants, sponsorships, university/state support, and individual gifts.

The Friends of Sangamon Auditorium provide important individual gifts that help support our mission-driven programming.  But Friends also are part of an "inner circle" that offers them access to pre-purchase opportunities and event receptions.

Earlier this spring, Friends of Sangamon Auditorium were offered an opportunity to meet Garrison Keillor at a post-show reception.  This fall, Friends will be treated to a reception prior to The Illusionists.

Please visit our website for more information about joining Friends of Sangamon Auditorium and becoming part of all the activities.

Want a great price and the same great seats all year?

Becoming a subscriber to one or more of the three series at Sangamon Auditorium secures you the same seat, a great price, and locks the event dates on your calendar.  Most of us have an ever-increasing habit of making last-minute decisions about our schedules, but aren't a few events worth some advance planning?  When you buy tickets to a live event in advance, you lock the date in your calendar, you pay in advance, and you are able to plan your week around the event.  Who will go with you?  Will you go to dinner in advance?  What will you wear?  Being able to focus on these details makes a live event so much more enjoyable!

So what's the hang-up?

Are you worried you would lose your tickets if you buy them so far in advance?  Don't be.  Our Ticket Office can reprint *any* of your tickets based on your account information, and for subscriber tickets, that reprint is FREE (typically, the reprint will cost $1 per ticket).

Are you worried that something will come up and you will be unable to attend an event?  You can always gift your tickets to a friend or colleague.  Or if you contact the Ticket Office 24 hours prior to the event, you can receive paperwork confirming the value of your tickets as a tax-deductible donation to the University of Illinois Foundation.

Are you concerned that it's a lot of money to pay up front?  For many of us, it is a lot of up-front money, but the savings is up to 25% off the ticket prices if you bought them outside of a subscription package.  If you think about it that way, it's like every fourth ticket you purchase in a subscription is FREE!

You can get all the information you need about becoming a subscriber on our website, but the short scoop is this:

• UIS Broadway Series subscriptions:  Our pre-made packages have 4-7 shows included and subscriptions start at $222.
• UIS Visiting Artist Series subscriptions:  Choose six events from among our Visiting Artist and Kitchen Sink events to be a subscriber.
• UIS Kitchen Sink Series subscriptions:  All 5 Kitchen Sink Series events for the low price $158.  

As an added benefit this year, subscribers will receive a keytag good for 25% off any entree at Engrained Brewing Company on Sangamon Auditorium show nights!

Please join us as a 2015-2016 subscriber!

Do you like having Broadway shows in your community?

What can you do to assure that Sangamon Auditorium continues to offer great Broadway events, including new titles alongside classic favorites?

SUBSCRIBE TO THE UIS BROADWAY SERIES!

Broadway agents and producers consider many factors when determining where to send some of the hottest Broadway shows, and one important element is the number of Broadway subscribers in a community.  If you'd like to see more Broadway shows like this coming season's ELF: The Musical, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and Bullets Over Broadway, consider a subscription today!

This year, we're offering six different Broadway subscription packages, with between four and seven shows per package.  Hop over to our website for more information about the packages available.  Broadway subscription packages begin at only $222.

Visit our homepage for more information about the 2015-2016 season!  #doUwannaGo

2015-2016 season announcement coming soon!

Sangamon Auditorium staff have been busy working on the exciting 2015-2016 season.  Stay tuned for our season announcement next week.  We are pleased to continue to be able to offer an exciting line-up of Broadway and performing arts events, including Sangamon Auditorium favorites alongside new events never before seen in Springfield.

We hope you will join us and consider either subscribing or becoming a Create Your Own series buyer.

Subscriptions give patrons the opportunity to secure their same-seat location at the best possible price by committing to a series package (Broadway, Visiting Artists, or Kitchen Sink).

The Create Your Own (CYO) series option gives patrons the most flexibility, allowing them to choose the events they want to see the most across all series, offering some special ticket pricing and early ticket access to many of the most popular events.  You simply choose 4 or more events across our season to become a CYO patron.

Subscriptions and CYO purchases may be made as soon as our season is announced on June 4.  Stay tuned!

Addition of Rich Dworsky to Garrison Keillor event

We are pleased to announce the addition of pianist and composer Rich Dworsky to An Evening with Garrison Keillor May 6, 2015 at 7:30 PM, as a part of the Sangamon Auditorium Visiting Artist Series.

Garrison Keillor

Rich Dworsky, pianist/music director for A Prairie Home Companion for the last twenty years, is a classically trained pianist and composer who rocks, swings, plays great Blues and Gospel, tears it up on the Hammond B3 organ and keeps up with world class pickers playing his unique “Bluegrass piano” style.  He composes classical, theater and film music and has the amazing ability to improvise compositions on the spot in virtually any style.

Rich Dworsky

Dworsky will share the stage with Keillor and also have musical moments of his own during the event.

Garrison Keillor is a master storyteller and host of Public Radio’s A Prairie Home Companion. He is also the author of many books, including Lake Wobegon Days (1985); The Book of Guys (1993); The Old Man Who Loved Cheese (1996); Wobegon Boy (1997); Me: By Jimmy "Big Boy" Valente As Told to Garrison Keillor (1999); Love Me (2003);Homegrown Democrat (2004); Pontoon (2007); Liberty: A Lake Wobegon Novel (2008); and Life Among the Lutherans (2009). In 2013, Keillor released his first book of poetry called O, What a Luxury: Versus Lyrical, Vulgar, Pathetic & Profound.  In addition to A Prairie Home Companion, Keillor hosts public radio’s The Writer’s Almanac.

Tickets for the event are on sale now! Contact the Ticket Office at 217.206.6160 or log on to SangamonAuditorium.org.

A visit by The Acting Company

The Acting Company's Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

This week, we are pleased to welcome The Acting Company back to Springfield for a series of events.  The centerpieces of the week will be the performances of Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court on Wednesday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. and the Class Acts performance of Macbeth on Thursday, March 5 at 9:45 a.m.  In addition to the performances, however, the following will also be happening:

Teaching Artist at Springfield Southeast High School week of March 2-5

The Acting Company’s Learning Through Theater residency program is a week-long, intensive exploration of one play. Teaching Artists specially trained by The Acting Company spend up to five days working in a school, teaching a hands-on curriculum related to a play in The Acting Company's repertoire. At the end of the week, students attend the play, and have an opportunity to meet and share ideas with the actors in the company.

This residency program is a cross-curricular drama-based exploration of language, literature, visual art, music, design, and acting. The Teaching Artists use a variety of teaching techniques, modeling new teaching techniques for the classroom teacher and leading the students through experiential learning at its best. In their work with students and teachers, Teaching Artists stress the multidisciplinary and collaborative nature of the theater. Students read, write, improvise, play with language, and explore the play in a variety of ways. Each residency is designed with the classroom teacher to meet the specific curriculum needs of the students.

Teaching artist Leslie Geraci will visit multiple class periods of Southeast High School literature classes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, March 2, 3, and 5.  On Thursday, March 4, she and the students from the classes will attend the 9:45 AM performance of Macbeth on Sangamon Auditorium’s Class Acts series.

Workshop for UIS Theatre students

UIS Theatre students will participate in a workshop on stage combat led by Devin Brain of The Acting Company on Wednesday, March 4 at 2 p.m. in the UIS Studio Theatre.

This workshop will serve as an introduction to stage combat. A fully interactive workshop, the goal is to demonstrate how combat can take place on stage while looking realistic and maintaining safety. This workshop will demonstrate the basic principles of hand-to-hand combat, while simultaneously training the participants to tell a story though the fight and to maintain a character while engaging in combat. This workshop can be altered to fit the ability of the participants.

Public workshop by members of the touring company staff

Sangamon Auditorium is pleased to offer a theater workshop from 5:15-6:30 PM Wednesday, March 4 in the Public Affairs Center in conference room G.  The workshop, “Acting Clues in Shakespeare” will be led by Devin Brain, staff repertory director for The Acting Company.  The workshop is open to the public, though advance registration is required.  There is no fee to attend.

The workshop will use interactive textual analysis to give participants many of the tools they need to research and examine a piece of Shakespearean text so that they might better appreciate and understand that text and be prepared to begin rehearsing it. Most of the class will be spent examining several passages from Macbeth, discussing Shakespeare's use of Iambic Pentameter, Irregularities in Verse, Prose, Antithesis and other literary devices as they relate to the actions, intentions, and emotional life of the character.  There is no advance preparation required to attend the workshop.

Devin Brain is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama and a member of The Hypocrites.  Devin has returned to the Acting Company after having served as Artistic Director of both the Yale Cabaret and Yale Summer Cabaret Shakespeare Festival.  Credits include Rose Mark’d (an adaptation of Henry V, Henry VI parts 1-3, and Richard III), The 4th Graders Present an Unnamed Love Suicide and The Phoenix.

The workshop is open to all individuals ages 15 and older with an interest in theatre, especially actors and directors.  There is no fee to attend the workshop, but space is limited and registration is required.  Please register by filling out the online form.  Please contact Carly Shank at carmi1@uis.edu or 217.206.8286 if you have questions.

The engagement by The Acting Company is supported by the Arts Midwest Touring Fund, a program of Arts Midwest, which is generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts with additional contributions from The Illinois Arts Council.

Indian Ink Theatre Company: panel presentation to UIS Theatre students

Yesterday evening, we welcomed Indian Ink Theatre Company into town as they began to load in for their performance of The Elephant Wrestler this evening.  This morning, Assistant Professor of Theatre Dathan Powell brought his Principles of Stagecraft class to the Studio Theatre for a panel discussion with members of Indian Ink about the Art and Business of Theatre.

UIS Theatre students with members of Indian Ink Theatre Company

It is always refreshing to have an opportunity to debrief about the process of touring and presenting arts events.  The "stepping back" to discuss with others always leads to reflection - usually valuable or thoughtful, but also amusing sometimes.

The Elephant Wrestler will be presented in the UIS Studio Theatre, a transformable space where Sangamon Auditorium presents its Kitchen Sink series and also where UIS Theatre produces its theatrical productions.  But it is rare for Sangamon Auditorium to present touring theatre in this space.  Intimate and unique, The Elephant Wrestler seemed like a piece that could fit well in the small space.  I think this evening's event will be an incredibly unique and memorable experience for the audience.  Please consider joining us.

I had the pleasure of seeing The Elephant Wrestler at a conference a year ago and am very much looking forward to having it in the Studio Theatre on February 3.

I always say that I love theatre because of the way it sheds light on the condition of being human; this piece is a funny, moving, surprising example of that. Check out the sneak peak for more and please consider joining us.

Tickets start at just $25. I promise you'll be glad you took a risk on this unique experience.  Buy online or call the Ticket Office at 217.206.6160.

STOMP returns to Sangamon Auditorium

On Monday, January 26, we're pleased to have the longtime audience favorite STOMP return to Sangamon Auditorium.  STOMP is such a great event for audiences of all ages.  Tickets for students high school age and younger are

STOMP appears at Sangamon Auditorium Monday, January 26 at 7:30 PM

I have a theory that STOMP has thrived for so long because it really is such a great gateway show for audience members who may not necessarily think they are the "type" who attends live events.  The show makes great "wow" moments out of everyday people and things, proving that *nothing* is "everyday."

The show also communicates effectively across language barriers, as no words are used, but instead the performers use objects and movements to communicate ideas.  It is a show for which it is thrilling to be in the audience, having a communal experience with everyone else in the room as you laugh and gasp at the same moments...again, with no words ever being spoken.

Past STOMP audiences should be pleased to know that while the show is mostly the show you remember from the past, some sections of the show have been updated and restructured and two new full-scale routines, utilizing props including tractor tire inner tubes and paint cans.

Come join us!  Tickets are still available (but moving quickly) at our website and at 217.206.6160.

Reflecting back and imagining the future

As each New Year dawns, I take the opportunity to reflect on the past and imagine the future.  Such is my lifelong habit regarding New Years.  But in very recent years, a lot of that reflection hinges upon the arts experiences I have had in the past year and will have in the year to come.  I wrote about this at length last January.  (Go ahead...please read it!) 

I remember that when my mother turned 50, she declared that she wanted to see more live arts events.  Year after year since then, she's made it happen.  She's seen a wider range of events than what she experienced prior to age 50, and I hope that range continues to widen for her.  

As a bona fide list-making geek, I keep track of the live events I see each year.  I get excited about seeing the annual number grow, as it did in 2014 (albeit by just a few, but still!)  But also, I get excited to consider the range of events I experienced.  Music.  Dance. Theatre.  Older styles.  New styles.  Amateurs.  Professionals.  Living legends.  New works.  Classics.  Reinterpretations.  Was I the oldest or youngest member of the audience, or something in between?  How many venues did I set foot in?  How many cities did I travel to in order to experience live performance?  

And then there's the question of what impact those performances had on me.  Some of that impact can't yet be measured.  It will take years to know the full impact.  

I look forward to 2015 and what the year's end list will look like for me.  I hope you look forward to your year-end list as well.  And I hope you'll get out and be a part of the arts by being a part of the audience this year.  

Give the gift of entertainment!

Meaningful life experience, not stuff, is the greatest gift of all.

Anticipating an experience gives us time to imagine all the fun we're going to have on vacation or to begin savoring the steak from that new restaurant before we even walk through the door.  Anticipation drives the happiness.

As you're gift-buying this month, consider a Sangamon Auditorium gift certificate or choose an event and plan a night out with someone special in 2015.  Tickets and gift certificates are always available by calling 217.206.6160.  Gift certificates are also now available online.  (Gift certificates available in any increment when you call...only in specific increments when you buy online.)

Happy Holidays!

A special holiday event about coming together during conflict

Join us Monday, December 1 for the musical ensemble Cantus' performance, "All is Calm - The Christmas Truce of 1914."  The evening commemorates the memorable WWI Christmas truce when Allied and German soldiers laid down their arms to celebrate the holiday together.  Sharing the stage with Cantus will be three actors, who will bring to life the historical event through quotes and letters from thirty World War I figures.

"All is Calm - the Christmas Truce of 1914" commemorates a special event in history. 

Cantus is acclaimed as "the premier men's vocal ensemble in the United States" (Fanfare), committed to inspiring audiences with music performed at the highest level.  The adventurous programming of this nine-member group spans many periods and genres, but at "All Is Calm," we can expect music drawn from patriotic tunes, trench songs, medieval Scottish ballads and holiday carols from England, Wales, France and Germany.

Joining us in the lobby prior to the event will be Living Historians from the Illinois State Military Museum, student musicians from the UIS Camerata group, and the Sangamon Auditorium Student Club hosting a "Holiday Cards for Heros" table, where you can write a holiday note of thanks to a current serviceman or woman.

Please ask about veteran pricing when you call to purchase your tickets, as we are offering special pricing for veterans and their families!  Happy Holidays!

New Research Supports Educational Benefits of Attending Live Theater

According to a new study published in Education Next, attending a live theater performance has benefits for students that are greater than what can be achieved through traditional classroom teaching or even watching a movie of a performance.  Researchers followed students who attended performances of Hamlet or A Christmas Carol and measured greater literary knowledge, tolerance, and empathy as compared to students who read or watched movies of these stories.  As the researchers concluded:

“Culturally enriching field trips matter. They produce significant benefits for students on a variety of educational outcomes that schools and communities care about. This experiment on the effects of field trips to see live theater demonstrates that seeing plays is an effective way to teach academic content; increases student tolerance by providing exposure to a broader, more diverse world; and improves the ability of students to recognize what other people are thinking or feeling. These are significant benefits for students on specific educational outcomes that schools pursue and communities respect.”

Students attend Five Little Monkeys on the Class Acts series in spring 2014.

Sangamon Auditorium is pleased to be a local cultural institution that is able to offer educational arts experiences for students in central Illinois.  Our K-12 matinee series, Class Acts, is well into its third decade of presentations.  Each year, we welcome 10,000-20,000 students to the series.  Consider joining us for any and all of these events.