Peter & Paul, paying tribute to Mary

"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..."

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By Brian Mackey

THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER

Quiet Success Defines Actor Anthony Zerbe's Career

"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....

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By Brian Mackey

THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER

FREE Public Lecture with Anthony Zerbe!

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.

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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

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
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Theater Review: Spinning Into Butter

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?
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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

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.

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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!

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!