Sangamon Auditorium, UIS

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Virsky pre-show discussion with artistic director Myroslav Vantukh

Please join us at 6:45 p.m. this evening for a pre-show discussion prior to the evening’s performance by Virsky Ukranian National Dance Company. Artistic Director Myroslav Vantukh will share information about the art form as well as the company’s history and answer questions from the audience. Mr. Vantukh’s discussion will be interpreted by Lena Beneke. The discussion will take place on the first floor of the Public Affairs Center in conference room C/D.

Virsky Ukranian National Dance Company will perform at 7:30 p.m. on the Sangamon Auditorium stage. The renowned folk dance ensemble named after Pavlo Virsky is famous for its bright colors, the unity of content and form and the vivid embodiment of its stage concept. This magnificent artistic group has embraced the beauty of its native Ukraine, the wisdom of its people as well as the folk tradition of humor and optimism.

Each and every performance is a romantic, elevated, passionate and exciting show. The ensemble’s diverse concert programs presenting the exquisite charm of Ukrainian folk dancing and the wealth of its traditions have been warmly received by audiences all over the world. The history of the ensemble goes back to 1937 when Pavlo Virsky and Mykola Bolotov, well-known Ukrainian ballet-masters, brought together a group of folk dancers.

From 1955 to 1975, Pavlo Virsky headed the ensemble, and his outstanding talent was magnificently implemented in the performances of the company. It was under his guidance that the ensemble matured into a highly professional dance company whose art has won the hearts of countlesss reviewers and the general public around the world.

Proceeding from the folk traditions, Pavlo Virsky created such artistic choreographic compositions as We’re from Ukraine, The Sailors, The Dolls, We Remember, The Funny Zaporizhia Cossack Dance Povzunets. Full of soft humor are The Stepp Wagoner’s Delight and Under the Cherry Tree whilst A Girl from Podillya is soft and romantic, and The Weeping Willow is even sad.

Myroslav Vantukh, Pavlo Virsky’s disciple and great expert in folk traditions and ethnography has been in charge of the ensemble since 1980. His main objective and continuing creative quest is the careful preservation and development of folk choreographic art. First class performance and expressiveness of the dancers, exquisite moves and the bright palette of costumes, the wealth of tunes and completeness of the choreographic plot are among characteristic features of the new numbers such as The Carapathians, The Tambourine Dance, The Young Years, In Peace and Harmony, and The Russian Suite, which have entered the ensemble’s repertoire.

In 1962 Pavlo Virsky created a children’s two-year choreographic studio. In 1992 was turned by Myroslav Vantukh into a choreographic school for children, and later it became a source of talented young performers for the ensemble.

The ensemble has toured many different lands quite far from its native Ukraine. Among the viewers who have welcomed the leading company have been people of Austria, England, Argentina, Bulgaria, Brazil. Belgium. Venezuela, Greece, Ecuador, Italy, India, Spain, Canada, Columbia, China, Cuba, Korea, Mexico, Mongolia, Germany, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, the United States of America, Hungary, France, France, Czech Republic, Chile and Switzerland.

The foreign press has been unanimous about the high artistic and professional qualities of the company.

It may seem that the peak of accomplishment and professionalism has been reached, but the Virsky Ukrainian National Dance Company under the direction of Myroslav Vantukh is creating new dances, full of surprises and delight, and is thus letting people of the world learn more about the wonderful land of Ukraine.

Celtic Woman - tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.

At the intersection of pop and classical is a commercial sweet spot.

It’s a type of music that combines the accessibility of popular music with the highbrow feel of classical and a quiet, refined style of singing. It’s also been quite successful commercially.
The sound is exemplified by acts such as Il Divo, Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban, and can be heard locally Oct. 8 when the group Celtic Woman performs at Sangamon Auditorium.

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

Monday, September 28, 2009

Unravelling parking at Sangamon Auditorium

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

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

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

WHERE CAN I PARK?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Try Something New with Audition Ticket Prices

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

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

09-10 Shows with Audition Pricing

Tommy Emmanuel - $25

Virsky Ukrainian National Dance Co - $20

Neil Berg's 101 Years of Broadway - $33

Kevin Locke Native Dance Ensemble - $20

Romeo & Juliet - $20

Ballet Folklorico de Mexico - $19

Academy of St. Martin in the Fields - $32

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Singing with the Stars - Audition Assistance

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

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

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

Darwin the Dinosaur +PLUS+

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

Darwin The Dinosaur & Special Corbian Theater Movement Workshop

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

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

Instructors: Performers from Corbian Visual Arts and Dance

Dates: Saturday, 10/17/09

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

Registration Fee/Course Code:

$25 for children / YES 112-53

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

Location: LLCC, Trutter Center

Darwin The Dinosaur and Origami Dinosaur Workshop

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

Instructor: Dolores Wright

Dates: Saturday, 10/17/09

Time: 1-3 p.m.