University to host Illinois House Inauguration

Many people associate UIS Sangamon Auditorium as the place where they saw a fantastic arts event, favorite musician or comedian.  That’s an identity that we embrace, and it is central to our mission as a performing arts presenting organization!

But also important to our work is that our venues – Sangamon Auditorium and the UIS Studio Theatre – host a variety of significant university and community events, everything from high school commencements (in spring 2012, we hosted six area high schools) to studio dance recitals, and from significant speakers and authors to governmental events.

On Wednesday, the inauguration of the 98th Illinois House of Representatives will take place at the University of Illinois Springfield in Sangamon Auditorium.  This will be the fourth House inauguration held in the hall, beginning with the 2007 inauguration when renovation of the house chamber caused a need for an alternate location.  The House enjoyed the space and the UIS hospitality so much that they’ve returned to UIS ever since then.

Hosting events like this is an additional important way we serve our campus and community with the resources available to us.  But you can bet we’ll be thrilled to get our performing arts hats back on after the Wednesday inauguration and work toward bringing you more of those fantastic arts events!

Here's a video about the most recent House inauguration held at the University of Illinois Springfield.

Great Holiday Gift Idea!

For the arts lover in your life, consider the Sangamon Auditorium Holiday Package!  Our $60 Holiday Package offers the recipient the choice of two tickets to any one of the following spring semester shows:  

Time for Three

Sat. Jan 19 @ 8 PM

Blues at the Crossroads 2: Muddy & The Wolf

Sat. Feb 2 @ 8 PM

The Campbell Brothers

Sat. Feb 16 @ 8 PM

The Good Lovelies

Sat. March 9 @ 8 PM

Livingston Taylor & Janis Ian

Sat. March 16 @ 8 PM

Chanticleer

Sun. April 14 @ 7 PM

For more information or to purchase a Holiday Package, call the Ticket Office at 217.206.6160.  

Blues at the Crossroads 2: Jody Williams

"Audititon" tickets for $25 available for LEO!

With LEO just around the corner, we figured it might be the perfect time for a refresher on "Audition" tickets!

“Audition” ticket prices are available for a few our shows this season, including LEO.

"Audition" tickets are reduced-price tickets that allow patrons to explore different genres of the performing arts and see events that spark curiosity. These tickets may only be ordered by phone at 217.206.6160. "Audition" ticket holders are not guaranteed specific seats."Audition" tickets must be purchased no later than close of business one day prior to the performance. Patrons who order “Audition” tickets will not be able to pick up their tickets until the evening of the performance.

This is a great option to consider, especially for new patrons who might want to check out the different offerings of the Auditorium.

LEO is a mind-bending, funny, surreal, and surprisingly touching work that challenges the senses and tests perceptions of reality through the clever interplay of live performance and video projection. The newest creation of the innovative Berlin-based production company Circle of Eleven, LEO leaves audience members wondering which way is up and which way is down. Directed by the Montréal actor and director Daniel Briére, and based on an original idea by Tobias Wegner, LEO won several major awards at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival including the Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award, the Three Weeks Editors Award and the Scotsman Fringe First Award. LEO has since gone on to dazzle audiences and critics in New York, Berlin and around the world. "An eye-teasing, grin-inducing, deeply impressive work of sustained absurdist magic!" --Time Out New York

LEO will be presented Friday, October 19 at 8 p.m. at Sangamon Auditorium. 

Call the Ticket Office at 217.206.6160 to learn more and to purchase your ticket today!

What's on sale on August 27 at 10 a.m.?

Create Your Own series packages – Simply select at least 4 season events and save up to 20%.  You can choose from among *all* the events in our Broadway, Visiting Artists, Family, and Kitchen Sink series.  Create Your Own series packages are only available over the phone by calling 217.206.6160.

Individual event tickets to all Visiting Artists, Family, and Kitchen Sink events will go on sale over the phone and online.  Tickets can be purchased online beginning at 10 a.m.

Tickets for several events are already on sale and can be purchased online NOW.  These events include Rockballet, Michael W. Smith, The Midtown Men, Matthew West, and Celtic Woman.

Individual event tickets for Broadway shows go on sale approximately 6-8 weeks before the show.

Illinois Symphony Orchestra events will go on sale Tuesday, September 4, at 10 a.m.

For tickets, call 217.206.6160 or visit www.sangamonauditorium.org to purchase online.  

Top Ten Reasons to Become a UIS Broadway Series Subscriber

1. SAVE $$$ 
   Benefit from the ticket discount available to subscribers.
2. SPEND TIME WITH SOMEONE
   Make plans now to treat yourself and someone special to a few fun evenings at the theater.
3. SEE THE BEST
   See the best of Broadway ranging from classics like West Side Story to exciting new shows like TRACES.
4. ENJOY EARLY ACCESS
   Get access to prime seats before they go on sale to the public.
5. SAVE TRAVEL COSTS
   See great professional productions without the expense of traveling to Chicago or St. Louis.
6. BE BROADWAY “HIP”
   Stay up-to-date with the newest Broadway shows coming to Springfield for the first time.
7. SECURE THE SAME SEATS
   Enjoy the same great seat at every performance and renew those same seats year after year.
8. BUY LOCAL
   Show your support for the local economy and for the local presentation of professional theater.
9. ACCESS ADDITIONAL EVENTS
   Take advantage of your pre-purchase opportunity to keep your same seats if shows are added to the series.
10. ENJOY! 
    Experience the magic that only happens during a live performance.

To subscribe to the UIS Broadway series, 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. and a ticket seller will help you put together your subscription package. Packages start at as little as $183! 

Visit http://www.uis.edu/sangamonauditorium/tickets/subscriptions.html for more information about packages available.  

Become a Subscriber!

Have you 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 Kitchen Sink – 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.

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 $183!
Package 1 – All 6 events! – The Midtown Men, West Side Story, Shrek The Musical, Experience the Beatles with RAIN, TRACES, Rock of Ages
Package 2 – The Midtown Men, West Side Story, Shrek The Musical, TRACES, Rock of Ages
Package 3 – The Midtown Men, West Side Story, Shrek The Musical, Experience the Beatles with RAIN, TRACES
Package 4 – The Midtown Men, West Side Story, Shrek The Musical, TRACES

Visiting Artist Series
Simply select at least 6 performances from the Visiting Artists at UIS Series to enjoy the same seat and save!
•    William Fitzsimmons*
•    Savion Glover – SoLe Sanctuary
•    LEO
•    Jackson Browne
•    The Royal Drummers and Dancers of Burundi
•    Stanley Jordan*
•    A NIGHT IN TREME (The Musical Majesty of New Orleans)
•    Boston Brass and the Brass All-Stars Big Band: Christmas Bells are Swingin’
•    Time for Three*
•    Blues at the Crossroads 2: Muddy & The Wolf
•    The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
•    The Campbell Brothers*
•    The Good Lovelies*
•    The Ugly Duckling & The Tortoise and the Hare
•    An Evening with Janis Ian and Livingston Taylor
•    Chanticleer
•    3-Legged Tale
•    Leon Redbone*
    *Performances in the UIS Studio Theatre

 Kitchen Sink Series
Subscription packages are just $185 for all six events! What greater benefit could we offer?
•    William Fitzsimmons
•    Stanley Jordan
•    Time for Three
•    The Campbell Brothers
•    The Good Lovelies
•    Leon Redbone

Family Series
Purchase all three Family Series events and make an already affordable ticket price even more affordable!
•    The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
•    The Ugly Duckling & The Tortoise and the Hare
•    3-Legged Tale

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

Memorable responses to Class Acts 2011-2012

After each Class Acts performance, teachers are emailed a link to a brief survey about their experience.  They are asked to share their comments, as well as the comments of their students.  Below are the highlights of responses received for shows in the 2011-2012 Class Acts season.  Many thanks to the students, teachers, artists, staff, volunteers and our series sponsor, PNC Bank for making this great season possible.

Students were very engaged.  I saw many instances of carry-over of concepts over the next few days.  One student commented, "He was hilarious."  When I responded, "Yes, he was funny."  she said, "No--hilarious!"  I heard several students quote the presenter throughout the day.

-          6^th grade teacher attending Garry Krinsky: Toying with Science

Both the students and I loved the performance and it was a gateway to discuss important issues back in the classroom.  It made me laugh and it made me cry.  Excellent performance!

-          4^th grade teacher attending Danny, King of the Basement

The topic coincided perfectly with our Unit of Inquiry about Heroes.  Within this unit we are studying Civil Rights.  The actors made the characters we have only read about or seen pictures of come alive.  It was very meaningful.

-          3^rd grade teacher attending The Color of Justice

I thought the performance was great! It really kept the students on the edge of their seats (literally) and tied right into our unit on simple machines! 

-          3^rd grade teacher attending Garry Krinsky: Toying with Science

I really liked the connection to children's literature.  My students enjoyed seeing stories that they had read "come to life."

-          3^rd grade teacher attending Fancy Nancy and Other Story Books

I had seen Gary Krinsky's performance before and was excited to see him return because it is one of the best Class Acts I've seen.  He makes the learning seem like a magic act and kept all of the students’ attention the entire time.   My students said he was awesome.  I watched them laughing and staying focused the entire time. 

-          3^rd grade teachers attending Garry Krinsky: Toying with Science

The Class Acts performances can often bring history and literature to life.  The students can see the fun in learning when it is something live presented to them.  It is a nice option to have to supplement school.

-          Homeschool parent of a 6^th grade student attending The Color of Justice

My students enjoyed the production immensely and look forward to seeing another production soon!  One student said that she wanted to be on stage with the actors and wanted to be the main character's little sister. :)

-          6^th grade teacher attending The Color of Justice

My students and I LOVED the performance.  They talked about the puppets all the way back to school and during our lunch.  The children commented on how the puppets looked so real.  Some shared how the puppets looked like the illustrations in the book.

-          1^st grade teacher attending Treasured Stories by Eric Carle

This presentation fit in perfectly with our Science curriculum. Mr. Krinsky was very entertaining and kept the attention of all the kids and teachers. :)  They all thought it was really cool!

-          4^th grade teacher attending Garry Krinsky: Toying with Science

My students were very engaged and entertained.  They loved the connections to the literature that they have already read.

-          1^st grade teacher attending Fancy Nancy and Other Story Books

I loved that it was set to music! The kids were highly engaged throughout the entire production!  This is the second year we have attended a Class Acts performance at Sangamon Auditorium. I have been greatly impressed by the professionals and organization of the day. It is often difficult for me to find field trips that all of my students with Autism and other disabilities will enjoy and be engaged with. They were engaged throughout the performance this year! My students have enjoyed both shows and I look forward to taking them to view another!

-          Teacher of a K-3 special education class attending Fancy Nancy and Other Story Books

Their comments were very simple. They said "it was good." It was a bit hard for some of them to understand the story as they are all students with special needs and lower cognitive ability. However, bringing them to the play is a great way to help them practice their social and daily living skills.

-          Teacher of 7^th-8^th grade learning disabled students who attended A Thousand Cranes

Excellent!  Enjoyed the smaller atmosphere.  Brought a tough and serious topic to real life for students.  Really like the feeling of learning outside the classroom.  It provides a different outlook to education, and it provides variety rather than just reading a textbook.  They bring lessons to life.

-          Homeschool parent of a 6^th grade student attending Through the Eyes of a Friend: The World of Anne Frank

The topic was excellent.  I hope it helped open some of my students’ eyes (and hearts) so they will be more understanding of their peers that are living in poverty.  Many students never get the opportunity to attend a play and they are in awe of the whole experience.

-          5^th grade teacher attending Danny, King of the Basement

Students related what the characters went through in the play to their own lives and their friends.  They felt empathy for the characters.  For some it was the first play they had ever seen.

-          4^th-5^th grade teachers who attended Danny, King of the Basement

Our school has a high percentage of poverty children who would never get to see anything like that if we did not go to the class acts. Thanks so much.

-          Kindergarten teacher attending Treasured Stories by Eric Carle

My son came home and wanted me to read The Very Hungry Caterpillar to him right away, and many times since then.  My second grader loved that they showed how they moved the puppets after the performance. She was sitting there the whole time guessing about how it was done, so she loved seeing "behind the scenes."  My almost 5-year-old would break out into spontaneous clapping he was so into the story. The production was so well-done the entire audience was interacting without any prompting at all...a great early theater experience.

-          Homeschool parent attending Treasured Stories by Eric Carle

I loved the performance!  The actors were fun and kept the children entertained...adults too!  I saw many of our students laughing throughout the performance...I think that says it all.

-          Teacher of a 3-year-old preschool class attending Fancy Nancy and Other Story Books