Sangamon Auditorium is proud to serve as a multi-use venue for important community events. In some cases, this means hosting non-arts events such as commencements, inaugurations of elected officials, and even a conference by a regional food company (that event has included samples of food at booths in the lobby...always a tasty day!)
But this week, we are pleased to host the Illinois High School Association State Finals for Drama and Group Interpretation. It is especially exciting to see high school students from around the state descend upon the Public Affairs Center for performances in the drama (fully-produced with sets and costumes, in Sangamon Auditorium) and group interpretation (less fully-produced, in the Studio Theatre) for this state finals in these drama events.
Most of the attendees at these events are the other high school participants and their parents, but the public is welcome to attend, free of charge. These are some of the most exciting plays produced by high schools across the state. Having watched a few over the seven years Sangamon Auditorium has hosted the event, I encourage you to check it out. Events run all day and into the evening on Friday, March 22 and for the first part of the day on Saturday, March 23. Check the schedule to see if there are particular productions that might interest you personally!
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
Thoughts about the Studio Theatre and intimate performances
I have had the fortune to be present at several of our more recent UIS Kitchen Sink series events in the UIS Studio Theatre. While the Kitchen Sink series includes a broad range of performing artists, the two most recent events I've attended - concerts by Time for Three and The Good Lovelies - boasted at least two commonalities: both artists covered Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" as their encore and both talked about how great they thought it was to be involved in a series coined "Kitchen Sink". Yes, the series name is meant to imply that we try to include a broad range of performances (as in, "everything and the...") and it is also meant to imply that the events have the intimacy of being gathered around a kitchen sink, discussing anything and everything you care about.
We have just made special arrangements with Janis Ian and Livingston Taylor to move their performance, coming up on Saturday, March 16, to the Studio Theatre. This space, just below Sangamon Auditorium, will enable the most intimate experience between the solo artists and the audience. While I am somewhat inclined to say that it will be a rarity to see artists of this caliber in such an intimate space, given the caliber of some of our recent Kitchen Sink artists, that rarity hardly stands. What I suppose is really unique is seeing TWO artists of caliber in an intimate evening like this. Here's what you can expect:
Livingston Taylor has been a force on the folk music scene for over 30 years. He has toured and collaborated with major artists such as Linda Ronstadt and Fleetwood Mac and has over a dozen albums to his credit.
With hit songs like "At Seventeen" and "Society's Child," Janis Ian is one of folk music's living legends. A prolific songwriter, she is known for her warm, intimate live shows.
Janis Ian also recently won a Grammy for narration of the audio book of her autobiography, Society's Child, in a category up against Bill Clinton and Michelle Obama. It is this kind of exciting exchange that she will bring to UIS on Saturday evening for a beautifully intimate Studio Theatre audience. Check our website for ticking information.
We have just made special arrangements with Janis Ian and Livingston Taylor to move their performance, coming up on Saturday, March 16, to the Studio Theatre. This space, just below Sangamon Auditorium, will enable the most intimate experience between the solo artists and the audience. While I am somewhat inclined to say that it will be a rarity to see artists of this caliber in such an intimate space, given the caliber of some of our recent Kitchen Sink artists, that rarity hardly stands. What I suppose is really unique is seeing TWO artists of caliber in an intimate evening like this. Here's what you can expect:
Livingston Taylor has been a force on the folk music scene for over 30 years. He has toured and collaborated with major artists such as Linda Ronstadt and Fleetwood Mac and has over a dozen albums to his credit.
With hit songs like "At Seventeen" and "Society's Child," Janis Ian is one of folk music's living legends. A prolific songwriter, she is known for her warm, intimate live shows.
Janis Ian also recently won a Grammy for narration of the audio book of her autobiography, Society's Child, in a category up against Bill Clinton and Michelle Obama. It is this kind of exciting exchange that she will bring to UIS on Saturday evening for a beautifully intimate Studio Theatre audience. Check our website for ticking information.
Monday, March 4, 2013
A lovely evening with the Good Lovelies
A time or two a year, I get the opportunity to travel on behalf of the Auditorium and attend conference events. Sometimes these conferences permit me the opportunity to preview artists and events that we might be able to bring to UIS. On a couple of different occasions, I have been able to see The Good Lovelies. Most recently, just this past January, I whipped my iPhone out to capture a few seconds of their lovely harmonies on "The Chipmunk Song", which you can be sure is something of a departure from their usual fare of song choices.
And now they're coming to UIS. They're the next event on the intimate and eclectic UIS Kitchen Sink series. Join us this Saturday at 8 p.m. for those fantastic harmonies and the charming instrument-swapping event that is The Good Lovelies. Click her for more information and to purchase tickets.
See you there.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Engage!
You might have heard this little soundbite Sunday night:
“Every day through engagement in the arts, our children learn to open their imaginations to dream just a little bigger and to strive every day to reach those dreams.”Even if you didn't catch it live, you might have heard about Michelle Obama's appearance at the Oscars through some media outlet. While there seems to be some debate about whether or not it was appropriate to cut to the White House camera for the delivery of the news of the Oscars' top prize, I can't imagine that anyone can argue with Mrs. Obama's stated sentiment about engaging children in the arts.
At least, I know that I can't. But I would like to elaborate on the sentiment and point out that not only does engagement in the arts enable children to open their imaginations and strive to reach dreams, but it prepares them for learning and work in many areas. Arts learning helps students develop 21st century learning skills and requires development of teamwork and cooperation skills. At Sangamon Auditorium, we strive to facilitate programs that enable local students to deepen their engagement in the arts.
Our flagship education program, Class Acts, is a matinee performance series that students attend with their teachers. Each year, we assemble a series of performances that cover a broad range of subject areas and grade levels. This season has included: Rock the Presidents, a middle-school introduction to all the presidents in close proximity to the national election; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn for high school literature students; and later this week, elementary students will enjoy a play based on the well-loved literary chant, We're Going on a Bear Hunt. For all the performances, we provide age-appropriate study materials for teachers to use in the classroom.
Partners in Education is a program offered in conjunction with Springfield Public Schools and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Through this program, Sangamon Auditorium provides professional development opportunities for teachers in the arts and arts integration.
Arts Start enables Sangamon Auditorium to reach local Head Start students, families, and teachers so they can benefit from engagement in the arts. Funded by PNC Bank's Grow Up Great initiative, the Arts Start program is now in its second year. We are pleased to work with the Springfield Urban League and the great staff of Springfield and Central Illinois PNC on this effort.
There are other engagement efforts as well. The ClassPass program offers discounts to K-12 teachers so they can bring students to weekend/evening events. We work with faculty on the UIS campus to develop opportunities for UIS students to engage with our programming. We offer pre- and post-show discussions, master classes and workshops to the public and to identified interest groups in the community. Have an idea? Want to see something in particular offered. Let me know!
Monday, February 18, 2013
Experience the Beatles with RAIN...again and again and again
Experience the Beatles with RAIN, the Broadway-sized Beatles tribute that leaves audiences wanting more, makes its third visit to Sangamon Auditorium this Sunday, February 24 at 7 p.m. After appearing in two back-to-back seasons, RAIN has now been absent from our stage for a few years. Advance sales indicate that the show still draws crowds, and anecdotal evidence suggests that this is a show that even the same audiences will return to see over and over again. In the two back-to-back years RAIN played the Auditorium previously, we saw many repeat patrons, and they were delighted both times.
It's great to know that a show can draw audience members back for repeat performances, but what causes that? There have been other shows that when offered up a second time, audiences politely say, "Thanks, I think that's a great show, but I've seen it before and don't need to see it again." I have no hard and fast answer to this question, and I'm sure there *is* no hard and fast answer to this question, but in the case of RAIN, I believe it has to do with the EXPERIENCE part of the show's title.
We all know that EXPERIENCE is significant. Have you ever been part of a live event and felt like you were experiencing a magic of forces coming together that could never happen exactly that same way again? That's exactly what was happening. Sure, that dance company will present that same piece in another city, on another night, but the exact gasps of the audience that *you* heard were unique to that evening when you were there in the audience, having just eaten a particular meal, having come to the show with a particular loved one, and sitting in just that exact spot in the hall. The audience is part of the experience, and in cases where the artist feeds off that audience contribution, the best in-home video and sound system can never replace the experience of being present...live and in person...in the concert hall.
I think RAIN brings the experience to a new level. So come be part of it. It will never happen that way again.
Experience the Beatles with RAIN
Sunday, February 24 at 7 p.m.
Sangamon Auditorium
More information
It's great to know that a show can draw audience members back for repeat performances, but what causes that? There have been other shows that when offered up a second time, audiences politely say, "Thanks, I think that's a great show, but I've seen it before and don't need to see it again." I have no hard and fast answer to this question, and I'm sure there *is* no hard and fast answer to this question, but in the case of RAIN, I believe it has to do with the EXPERIENCE part of the show's title.
We all know that EXPERIENCE is significant. Have you ever been part of a live event and felt like you were experiencing a magic of forces coming together that could never happen exactly that same way again? That's exactly what was happening. Sure, that dance company will present that same piece in another city, on another night, but the exact gasps of the audience that *you* heard were unique to that evening when you were there in the audience, having just eaten a particular meal, having come to the show with a particular loved one, and sitting in just that exact spot in the hall. The audience is part of the experience, and in cases where the artist feeds off that audience contribution, the best in-home video and sound system can never replace the experience of being present...live and in person...in the concert hall.
I think RAIN brings the experience to a new level. So come be part of it. It will never happen that way again.
Experience the Beatles with RAIN
Sunday, February 24 at 7 p.m.
Sangamon Auditorium
More information
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
It's Shrek Week!
I don't know if "Shrek Week" is appropriately akin to the Discovery Channel's famed "Shark Week", but I know that we're all really excited here in the Sangamon Auditorium Administrative Offices. We have been eagerly anticipating our Valentine's Day presentation of Shrek The Musical since we first learned about the date nearly a year ago. Valentines come in all sizes and ages, so whether your Valentine is a big ogre or a tiny little cutie patootie (kids' tickets are 50% off!), why not bring them out Thursday evening for a Valentine treat?
Remember that Shrek is a classic story of fairy tales and romance, not necessarily just for the kiddos! Come see Shrek The Musical's first appearance in Springfield!
 |
Shrek The Musical
Thursday, February 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Sangamon Auditorium
Thursday, February 7, 2013
No rest for the weary!
What a busy couple of weeks it has been at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS! From time to time, I believe it is valuable to touch base about all the great stuff that happens in the course of only a few days. Here's that listing for the current two weeks in progress:
Monday, January 28 - Schoolchildren in grades 3 through 6 were treated to performances by Kim and Reggie Harris, "Music and the Underground Railroad." This small Studio Theatre performance on our Class Acts series gave students an up-close-and-personal look at the code songs used in the pre-Civil War days of slavery. Did you know the popular hymn "Let Us Break Bread Together" was a code song for the Underground Railroad? Neither did I!
Tuesday, January 29 - We hosted another school performance of "Music and the Underground Railroad," plus an after-school teacher's workshop led by Kim and Reggie. This event was part of our Partners in Education program, a partnership between Sangamon Auditorium, Springfield Public Schools, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
And coming up later this week...
Thursday, February 7 - Upper elementary school students will travel back to the pioneer days with Laura Ingalls Wilder on the Class Acts series.
Friday, February 8 - Music and arts specialist teachers from Springfield Public Schools and from across central Illinois will participate in a professional development session, Assessment in the Arts, led by Kennedy Center teacher-trainer Deb Brzoska. This is another session in our Partners in Education program.
All the while, we continue to plan ahead, laying the groundwork for future projects that will happen months and even years from now. It's an exciting time. It always is.
Monday, January 28 - Schoolchildren in grades 3 through 6 were treated to performances by Kim and Reggie Harris, "Music and the Underground Railroad." This small Studio Theatre performance on our Class Acts series gave students an up-close-and-personal look at the code songs used in the pre-Civil War days of slavery. Did you know the popular hymn "Let Us Break Bread Together" was a code song for the Underground Railroad? Neither did I!
Tuesday, January 29 - We hosted another school performance of "Music and the Underground Railroad," plus an after-school teacher's workshop led by Kim and Reggie. This event was part of our Partners in Education program, a partnership between Sangamon Auditorium, Springfield Public Schools, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Saturday, February 2 - The Fabulous Thunderbirds took to the stage as the house band along with guests Kim Wilson, Tinsley Ellis, Bob Margolin, and James Cotton for Blues at the Crossroads 2: Muddy and the Wolf, a blues tribute to Chicago blues greats Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. It was a fantastic showing of blues!
Sunday, February 3 - The first event in this season's UIS Family Series, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn took to the stage to the delight of families of all ages (but mostly with students a little older than attend our standard family fare, like our upcoming The Ugly Duckling and the Tortoise and the Hare). It was a great Black History Month kick-off and a unique adaptation of Twain's classic.
Monday, February 4 - Junior high and high school students enjoyed their own showing of Huck Finn on the Class Acts series.
And coming up later this week...
Thursday, February 7 - Upper elementary school students will travel back to the pioneer days with Laura Ingalls Wilder on the Class Acts series.
Friday, February 8 - Music and arts specialist teachers from Springfield Public Schools and from across central Illinois will participate in a professional development session, Assessment in the Arts, led by Kennedy Center teacher-trainer Deb Brzoska. This is another session in our Partners in Education program.
All the while, we continue to plan ahead, laying the groundwork for future projects that will happen months and even years from now. It's an exciting time. It always is.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
