Arts & Entertainment

Thursday, August 21, 2008

WILL radio plans Digital Information Fair, open house Sunday

URBANA – WILL radio will have a Digital Information Fair and Open House from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Campbell Hall for Public Telecommunication, 300 N. Goodwin Ave., U.

The free event will allow listeners to talk to the experts on the WILL technical team: News-Gazette columnist Rich Warren and David Harris of Harris TV and Appliances in Farmer City.

Foghat at Sweetcorn Festival: You know the rhythm is right

Roger Earl, founding drummer of Foghat and Savoy Brown, begins the conversation with a polite apology: He's a few minutes late for our phone interview because he was held up by airport security in Omaha.

Yikes! Not another celebrity handgun-in-the-suitcase scandal!

University High alum to perform and Sweetcorn Festival

URBANA – Guitarist Jake Hertzog, a recent graduate of the Berklee College of Music and an alumnus of University High School, will perform as part of his trio from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Sweetcorn Festival in Urbana.

While here, Hertzog also will do a media tour:

Danville high track team plans fundrasier this weekend

The Danville High School boys track team will take advantage of a Ford Motor Co. promotion as a fundraiser this weekend.

The Courtesy Ford Lincoln Mercury dealership, 231 W. Main St., will host the event and donate $20 (up to a total of $6,000) to the team each time someone mentions Danville High School when test-driving a Ford vehicle during the Cruise 4 UR School event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the dealership.

Thomasboro teen wins national competition with dance routine

THOMASBORO – As Andrew Cribbett sat among his competition, his mind raced.

Did I stick that move? Was my posture strong and stable? Did the judges like me?

The boy from Thomasboro pondered these questions as it came time to announce the winners.

As his category approached, Andrew didn't think he had a chance. "There were 68 people in the dance category," he said. "It was the largest at the competition."

Signs will point out historic Lincoln locations

MAHOMET – Abraham Lincoln worked or stayed in St. Joseph, Homer, Mahomet, Urbana and Champaign, and on Monday the state will be putting historic displays up saying just that.

Cheryl Kennedy, the director of the Early American Museum in Mahomet, said volunteers will be erecting the wayside signs in advance of Lincoln's 200th birthday next February. They're part of the first round of a statewide project, the Looking for Lincoln Coalition, which has already started looking at its next group of sites.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Some kernels of wisdom on sweet corn with season in full swing

Sweet corn season is now.

Festivals for eating ears of the delectable grain abound.

If you are cooking or preserving it at home, here are some ideas.

Vermilion County animal shelter holding fundraiser in Danville

DANVILLE – The Vermilion County Animal Shelter Foundation will hold a "Kitten Shower" from noon to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Village Mall, 2917 N. Vermilion St.

The population explosion of cats with kittens puts a strain on the shelter's budget for supplies about this time each year. The public can help with donations of cash or gift cards to grocery or pet stores and kitten food, non-clumping clay cat litter, small blankets and towels, Clorox wipes or other sanitizing wipes and cat toys.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Stopping By: Walnut Point State Park worth it just for food

OAKLAND – Nestled under a canopy of trees, right on the edge of Shady Bay at Walnut Point Lake, sits the Walnut Point Cafe, where you can satisfy just about any craving for homemade comfort food. Ice cream is a big seller here, as are the cobblers and the hot fudge brownie sundaes.

But it's the hot foods, heaped high on the plates, that get the regulars stopping by each week. Co-owners Kathy and Rick Strange have been running the Walnut Point Concessions within Walnut Point State Park for eight years.

Apple's iPhone offers plenty of options for gamers on the go

If you think Apple's iPhone is just a telephone, Web browser, PDA, camera, GPS and mp3 player, you've got some more thinking to do.

According to video game developers, it – and the iPod Touch (an iPhone without the phone and camera) – is the newest major platform, with more than 400 games already released for the system. Of course, a large number of those are variations on casino games, crossword puzzles and Sudoku.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Danville ensembles plan diverse season of music, theater

Whether it's plays, musicals or symphony music, Danville will have plenty to choose from for the 2008-09 season. And the local performing-arts groups welcome season ticket-holders as well as single-show- and concert-goers.

The Danville Symphony Orchestra features Danville musicians as well as professional and student musicians from Illinois and Indiana.

Champaign doctor seeks lasting tribute to America's pastime

Local physician David Fletcher could easily qualify for another sort of academic degree: doctor of baseball.

How much does Fletcher love the game? Let us count the ways:

Allerton Music Barn fest bigger, better second time around

MONTICELLO – The University of Illinois School of Music has added two concerts to its Allerton Music Barn Festival from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1, making it a seven-concert event, up from five last year.

Last summer, all five concerts sold out. Tickets and festival passes remain available for all of the concerts in the second annual festival.

Danville Family YMCA closing for annual maintenance week

DANVILLE – The Danville Family YMCA, 1111 N. Vermilion St., will be closed for its annual maintenance week, Aug. 24 through Sept. 1.

The front desk will be open for class registration from 8 a.m. to noon Aug. 25 to 29.

Winners of Midwest Heritage Quilt Show announced

DANVILLE – Helen Pentecost of Danville recently won the Schoolhouse Calendar Quilt raffled by the Vermilion County Museum Society during its annual Midwest Heritage Quilt Show during the month of July.

The pieced quilt was donated by the Hearts & Hands Quilt Guild. The design included blocks representing each month of the year surrounding a schoolhouse.

Westville Lions Club seeking funds for Labor Day fireworks

WESTVILLE – The Westville Lions Club is seeking public donations to help defray the cost of the Labor Day Celebration fireworks display.

The display is set for 9 p.m. Aug. 31 at the Westville High School football field. Anyone wanting to donate may mail it to: Westville Lions Club, 119 Mullen, Westville, IL 61883.

Public's choices at Counted Cross-Stitch Show revealed

WESTVILLE – The public has spoken.

At the 17th annual Vermilion County Conservation District Counted Cross-Stitch Show and Exhibition held Aug. 10 at Forest Glen Preserve, the tradition of the public voting for its favorites continued.

Friday, August 15, 2008

3-year contracts approved in Catlin, Bismarck-Henning

Teachers in the Catlin and Bismarck-Henning school districts are heading back to school with one less matter on their mind.

This week, school boards for both districts approved three-year teacher contracts, sewing up several months of negotiations between district officials and their teacher unions.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

98.3 FM 'The Whip' to host live shows in area starting Sunday

FARMER CITY – WWHP-98.3 FM, also known as "The Whip," will host several live music shows in venues across central Illinois, beginning this Sunday, as part of its ongoing 2008 music concert series.

The concerts this and next month will feature Chris Knight and his band, the BSOJC, Bill Kirchen, Fred Eaglesmith and Tab Benoit.

Champaign teen is seventh of seven siblings to go to 4-H event

With seven kids in the family, sibling rivalry is no foreign concept to the Hays family of Champaign.

But that doesn't mean a little competition doesn't have its benefits.

By this fall, rivalry among the Hays siblings will have taken all seven to the National 4-H Congress, an annual event attended by more than 1,000 4-H members from all 50 states, where activities include workshops and service projects.

Parents of disabled kids protest over 'Tropic Thunder'

SAVOY – Parents of children with disabilities recoil at the word "retard," so when it popped up in a movie that opened this week, they mobilized.

Disability advocates protested at the Los Angeles premiere of "Tropic Thunder" earlier this week, and local supporters held a "Rally for Respect" at the movie's opening at the Savoy 16 theater on Wednesday afternoon.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Master drummer from Guinea to teach classes in Champaign

CHAMPAIGN – Bolokada Conde, a master drummer from Guinea, will begin teaching drum classes on Sunday at the Cordoa de Our Capoeira Academy in Champaign.

The academy is Unit 11 in the Green Street Plaza, 24 E. Green St., C.

Mansfield teacher to share experiences in Asia with students

MANSFIELD – Meghan James, sixth-grade teacher at Mansfield Elementary, experienced a trip of a lifetime to Asia this summer and plans to share it all with her students this fall.

Janes and 23 other educators traveled to South Korea and Japan for three weeks. They toured temples and museums, witnessed government protests, observed in Korean and Japanese schools, rode crowded subways and even tasted a McDonald's Oreo McFlurry – Japanese style.

New Chief to appear at Gibson City's Orange and Blue Festival

GIBSON CITY – This weekend's fourth annual Orange and Blue Festival in downtown Gibson City will feature an appearance by the newest Chief Illiniwek and expanded family entertainment.

The former Illini athletic symbol Chief Illiniwek "isn't gone, he's just on vacation" and Gibson City is his "official vacation home," according to Roger Huddleston of Mahomet, president of the Honor the Chief Society.

Animal-welfare agencies plan event in Urbana farmers' market

URBANA – In recognition of International Homeless Animals' Day on Saturday, animal-welfare agencies from East Central Illinois will convene from 7 a.m. to noon that day at Market at the Square in Urbana.

The event at the farmers' market is intended to raise awareness of the plight of homeless animals and to spotlight the work that animal welfare agencies do to find those animals new homes.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Atwood's Apple Dumpling Festival set to begin on Aug. 15

ATWOOD – The Apple Dumpling Festival gets under way at 3 p.m. Friday.

The festival, which is in its 15th year, will once again offer the Apple Raffle. Only 200 apples will be sold at $5 each for a chance for participants to win half the money collected. The winning apple will be drawn at 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Apples can be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce booth near the main stage.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Backstage - and onstage - with cast of CUTC's 'Joseph'

It's opening night for CUTC's "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at the Virginia Theatre, and I find myself in the unfamiliar role of participant rather than observer.

I'm onstage 12 minutes into the first act, along with News-Gazette colleagues Mary Schenk and Jim Rossow, plus so many cast members I can hardly tell what's going on.

Brat Pack to launch arena season with Danville Stadium show

DANVILLE – Jesse Van Halen and the Brat Pack are excited about playing in the Danville Stadium venue.

The interactive band with its all '80s music will perform in concert at 7 p.m. Aug. 15 at the stadium, 9th Street and Highland Boulevard.

Paxton restaurant's event to benefit 10-month-old with cancer

PAXTON – Organizers are calling Aug. 12-16 "Willamina's Week" in Paxton.

Willamina Clayton is the 10-month-old daughter of Will and Katie Clayton. She has been diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer and is currently undergoing treatment at Riley's in Indianapolis.

Urbana organic farm tasting success and sustainability

Bill Bagby calls his business Tiny Greens Organic Farm, but with it he's gone green in big ways.

Foremost among those is the underground cement building in which sprouts and baby micro-greens are grown, some hydroponically, and some in the company's own compost mix.

Lincoln-Douglas debate exhibit visiting Champaign library

A traveling exhibit commemorating the Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas debates is coming Monday to the Champaign Public Library.

The Lincoln Trail Libraries System is commemorating the 150th anniversary with the exhibit. It is currently at the Bement Library through today. It will be at the Champaign library from Monday through Aug. 31; the Danville Public Library from Nov. 1-31; the Paxton Public Library from Dec. 1-31; and the Watseka Public Library from Feb. 1-28.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Counted Cross-stitch artists to show their work Sunday

WESTVILLE – Arlene Olmstead of Danville and Sharon Latoz of Georgetown had to share honors at last year's Vermilion County Conservation District Counted Cross-Stitch Show.

Visitors for the 17th annual show will get to see why, in a display of former best-of-show winners as well as new entries from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the air-conditioned Gannett Outdoor Learning Center in Forest Glen Preserve, seven miles east of Westville.

New Carle clinic facility to host open house on Thursday

CHARLESTON – The Carle Foundation will hold an open house at its new facility at 5731 Park Drive, Charleston, in the Coles Business Park, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

There will be refreshments, door prizes and self-guided tours.

Heritage students enjoy experts' work in creating gardens

HOMER – Master Gardener Joan Lane, with support from naturalist Suzanne Smith, designed and maintain the prairie courtyard garden at Heritage Elementary School in Homer.

The two women volunteer their time in this and two other gardens at the school.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Parkland students getting on track for motorsports industry

CHAMPAIGN – Scott Breeding of Rantoul took a chamois to a freshly washed green and white Chevy Malibu Thursday afternoon at Parkland College, and Lucas Lange of Gibson City drove it onto the trailer that would take it to the St. Louis area, where they would be drag racing.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Galaxy of galleries: Where to view original art in East Central Illinois

If you're looking for original art, you don't have to go far.

East Central Illinois has plenty of galleries, tucked away on small-city streets and along country roads, or in an insurance agency office, or as part of a business, usually custom framing.

Parkland Theatre sets auditions for 'Pillowman'

CHAMPAIGN – The Parkland Theatre will have auditions for Martin McDonagh's "The Pillowman" from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 24 at the theater in west Champaign. Callbacks will begin at 7 p.m. Aug. 25.

Director Randi Collins Hard will cast five men (character ages 20 to 50), one woman (character age 20 to 30) and one girl (character age 8 to 11). The audition will consist of readings from the script and improvisation. The readings are available online at www.parkland.edu/theatre.

Tuesday at Illinois State Fair to showcase Monticello

Monticello residents will get the chance to show off their talents at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield this year since Tuesday, Aug. 12, has been declared "Monticello Day."

Monticello is the smallest community to be selected, said Callie Jo McFarland, Monticello's director of community development.

Little Theatre on Square features musical with Elvis hits

The Elvis Presley musical "All Shook Up!", which opened Wednesday at the Little Theatre on the Square, will close the theater's 51st summer mainstage season.

To be presented through Aug. 17, "All Shook Up!" is a jukebox musical featuring the music of Presley, with book by Joe DiPietro.

Wall of Fame nominations being accepted at Danville High

DANVILLE – Do you know a distinguished Danville High School alum or attendee who would like to hang around with the likes of Gene Hackman and Dick Van Dyke?

You may want to nominate him or her for the school's Wall of Fame.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Despite protests, bar owner pushing ahead with OTB plans

CHAMPAIGN – Carlos Nieto said he intends to push ahead with plans to open an off-track betting parlor at Jupiter's at the Crossing, despite neighbors' complaints to the Champaign City Council.

Nieto wouldn't project an opening date for the OTB Wednesday morning, but said "the sooner, the better." He said he hosted a meeting for residents of southwest Champaign on Sunday night, with 40 or 50 in attendance.

Furniture, food draw folks to Arthur Mennonite Relief Sale

ARTHUR – Homemade Amish furniture, walking tacos and family fun are just a few of the features offered at the 47th annual Arthur Mennonite Relief Sale.

The event runs Aug. 22-23 at the Otto Center just south of Arthur.

Rossville's Labor Day sale in need of vendors

ROSSVILLE – The Rossville Community Organization is seeking vendors for its annual Labor Day Street Sale from Aug. 30 through Sept. 1 in downtown Rossville.

Hours for the event are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 30 and 31 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Labor Day.

WILL's digital radio service on the air

URBANA – WILL has launched its digital radio service after several months of testing a new digital broadcast transmitter at its FM tower near Monticello.

The new FM 90.9 digital service provides three streams of content: FM 90.9 HD1, a simulcast of the FM music service; and FM 90.9 HD2 and HD3, which both carry the news and information service broadcast on AM 580.

Retired teacher puts her cooking craft into book form

URBANA – Shirley Splittstoesser's idea of fun may seem like work to some folks.

She loves to cook, then write about cooking and teach it to others.

"Cooking truly has been my hobby," she said.

Growing up on a farm in Minnesota, her idea of a good time was "cooking up a storm. My sister never understood it, but it was fun to me," she said.

Jazz trio to perform at McLean County Arts Center

The Bruce Breitweiser Trio will perform from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington.

The performance will benefit the center's exhibition programming fund. A donation of $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers is suggestevd.

Downtown Danville seeks vendors for Back to School Bash

DANVILLE – Downtown Danville Inc. is looking for participants for its Back to School Bash from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 16 in downtown Danville.

The event welcomes booths with family-friendly activities for free or a small fee, those that offer educational information or giveaways and those that sell goods and services.

Indian vocalist to perform on UI campus

URBANA – The Indian Cultural Society and Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth will present a vocal music concert featuring Smt. Aruna Sairam at 7 p.m. Friday in the University of Illinois Music Building Auditorium, 1114 W. Nevada St., U. The event is free and open to the public.

Sairam will be accompanied by violinist Sri Vitthal Ramamoorthy, with Sri Thiruvaroor Vaidyanathan on the mridangam.

32nd bluegrass jam set Sunday at Lincoln Log Cabin historic site

LERNA – The 32nd annual Bluegrass Jam Session will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site.

A 19th-century photographer and a blacksmith will be featured at the site on Saturday and Sunday. All of the events are free and open to the public.

Group wants to move Sidney Summer Fun Daze to park

SIDNEY – The village's annual summer festival may get a new home.

Sidney Summer Fun Daze, which is organized by the Sidney Improvement Group, has been held downtown for the last five years. Sidney Improvement Group member Keith Kropp approached the village board Monday to ask about the possibility of moving the event to Witt Park, which is in the northwest corner of the village.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Mahomet-Seymour, Western grad begins Peace Corps journey

Sitting on an Air France plane July 9, preparing to fly overseas for the first time in her life, Mary Scott yelled over the voices of 47 fellow Peace Corps volunteers traveling to Africa.

"I just graduated from college, and nothing is holding me back," said Scott, a Mahomet-Seymour High School graduate before going to Western Illinois University. "I love the idea of foreign travel, of foreign countries and of foreign languages."

Woman has given 30 years to area talent show, its participants

CHAMPAIGN – Unlike "American Idol," the Champaign-Urbana Days Fashion and Talent Show is never about winning, says organizer Linda Turnbull.

"The show is about expressing yourself and getting better. When kids first come, they're nervous. Every year they get better."

Champaign psychiatrist to teach fall class at Parkland

CHAMPAIGN – Dr. David Kopacz, a Champaign-based psychiatrist, will teach an introductory Energy Healing Class this fall at Parkland College. HCS 136 will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays.

The course will combine academic and experiential learning for the purpose of personal growth. Energy Healing is a process of increasing self-awareness to better understand yourself and how you distort reality through your defenses. Human beings are made up of many different mind-body-spirit levels which the class will examine. Other topics will be how people change, the defense system, intuition, and how growth is a function of personal responsibility. The course does not lead to certification in energy healing.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Stopping By: A taste of pioneer life in Forest Glen Preserve

WESTVILLE – Like a lot of children, as a girl I devoured pioneer novels.

As I grew older my taste in books changed. Still, I was entranced when I first saw the Pioneer Homestead at Forest Glen County Preserve near Westville, my hometown.

Rustic and charming, it's a reproduction of an Illinois frontier log cabin, barn, herb garden and outbuilding.

Only staff members or people like frontier re-enactors can use the homestead for public programs. But I gained permission from Ken Konsis, director of the Vermilion County Conservation District, to spend a couple of nights there as long as I write about the experience.

Vermilion County Conservation District sets fundraiser Saturday

DANVILLE – The Vermilion County Conservation District Foundation would like to serve up some cheeseburgers with a slice of tomato – Duke Tumatoe, that is.

"Cheeseburgers & Tumatoe" is scheduled for Saturday. This is the third year for the cheeseburger event sponsored by the foundation board. Members cook the burgers.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

CUTC's 'Joseph' production a dream part for actor in title role

The pop musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" is often billed as family-friendly, with universal themes and catchy music covering myriad genres.

It's a dependable mainstay of musical theater groups, particularly when producers cast a star as Joseph, as the Champaign Urbana Theatre Company has done with its upcoming production, opening Thursday at the Virginia Theatre.

Mahomet woman relishes background roles in films

Cara Day of Mahomet has a cinema resume that's mostly local productions.

When she signed up to be an extra in something called "Rory's Last Kiss," she didn't know that she was signed up for "The Dark Knight" and that she would be a few feet from co-star Gary Oldman.

Women in Outdoors event planned Aug. 16 at Clinton farm

CLINTON – A Women in the Outdoors event is planned for Aug. 16 at a farm east of Clinton.

The event will be held at the Don and Susie Hulvey's farm east of Clinton and hosted by the Dewitt County Longbeards, the local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Rantoul harvest festival about far more than crops

Celebration focus is on diversity, practical topics

RANTOUL – The fourth annual Rantoul Harvest Festival featuring public education, workshops and multicultural presentations will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Wabash Park.

Check it out: Area libraries enjoying rising circulation

Cara Maurizi's daughter Elin is almost 7 with a serious book habit, multiple volumes of cat and dog books on every trip to the library.

Since Maurizi left the steady paycheck of teaching to become an actress, the Urbana mother has been spending less time in book stores and more in libraries. Usually it's the Urbana Free Library, but the family also enjoys Champaign's spanking-new facility, and that's where they were Friday.

Friday, August 1, 2008

'Backyardigans Live!' coming to Assembly Hall

CHAMPAIGN – Nickelodeon and Broadway Across America will bring its new, national touring production of "The Backyardigans Live! Tale of the Mighty Knights" to the University of Illinois Assembly Hall on Oct. 7 and 8.

Tickets range from $18 to $34 and go on sale starting at 10 a.m. Aug. 11 at the Assembly Hall Box Office and all TicketMaster outlets and online at www.Ticketmaster.com or by telephoning 333-5000. Fans may visit online www.nickjr.com for additional local market tour dates and to find a link to purchase tickets.

Georgetown Fair, celebrating 70 years, starts Saturday

GEORGETOWN – The home ec buildings have been hosed down by the fire department, volunteers are setting up the animal pens, tents are going up and the entertainment is scheduled. The 70th annual Georgetown Fair begins Saturday.

Eight full days of livestock shows, seven grandstand shows and loads of free entertainment await anyone willing to pay the $2 gate fee for adults and $1 for children, ages 6 through 12. It's even got free admission Saturday and Sunday.

Hume Festival set for Aug. 22-23

HUME – The Hume Festival will be held Aug. 22-23.

On Friday evening the festival will kick off at 4:40 p.m. with a Smoked Pig Dinner sponsored by the Hume United Methodist Church. Other events scheduled for that evening are a Kiddy Pedal Tractor Pull at 6 p.m. and "Dress Up Dana" event at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Hands-on activities set for Saturday at Cahokia Mounds

COLLINSVILLE – The fifth annual Archaeology Day will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville. It will feature ancient crafts, excavation tours, demonstrations of archaeological techniques and artifact processing and hands-on activities.

Among the demonstrations will be bow and arrow making, flintknapping, cordage making, shell carving and fingerweaving. A professional storyteller will relate American Indian stories. Food and refreshment stands will be available.

Vendors being sought for Monticello's Main Street celebration

MONTICELLO – Monticello Main Street is seeking vendors for its eighth annual Monticello Celebration on Oct. 4 in downtown Monticello.

Main Street is looking for vendors of art, antiques, crafts, pottery, photography, basketry, jewelry, herbal products, candles, garden items, among other items. The vendor hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

AMBUCS campers gather for night of dancing in Danville

DANVILLE – For one night, they flapped their arms like a chicken, waved their hands in the air like they didn't care, courtesy of Will Smith, and cheered the good old boys along with Waylon Jennings – all at the GAO Grotto.

The boat club played host to at least 120 physically and developmentally disabled adults Wednesday night as part of AMBUCS Summer Camp's annual summer dance. AMBUCS hosts a second one in December.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Monticello Farmer's Market's fresh products drawing crowds

MONTICELLO – Community members are lining up in front of the Sager Farms booth to purchase fresh peaches, blueberries and blackberries at the Farmers' Market in Monticello each week.

Other visitors stop to buy a homemade pie or big chocolate chip cookie. Fresh flower bouquets are for sale, and fresh vegetables from squash to tomatoes to eggplant are stacked on tables ready for purchase. The Farmers' Market in Monticello each Thursday is a popular place to stop in after work or to spend a summer afternoon.

Mahomet store, cafe specializes in locally grown foods

MAHOMET – Whether you order the quiche, bison burger or chicken pot pie, the dishes on the cafe menu at Burt and Nancy Asbill's Mahomet store, First Fruits Produce, share at least on thing in common: ingredients fresh from the family's 50-acre farm, located just up the road.

The Asbills run what Nancy thinks is the only "food-to-table" cafe in the area. The dishes served at First Fruits Produce use food that is picked daily, allowing the Asbills to offer items such as a vegetarian sandwich made with locally grown veggies, hamburgers served on made-from-scratch buns and chicken pot pie that uses free-range chicken from the family's farm.

Mahomet residents now have new place to nosh

MAHOMET – JT Walker's Restaurant and Sports Bar on Main Street in Mahomet is now open.

The staff at JT Walker's will include about 40 employees. Executive Chef Mark Bradford's experience includes running the Little Bear saloon and restaurant in Evergreen, Colo. He also was the youngest executive chef for the Denver Press Club from 2005 to 2006.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Orange and Blue Festival in Gibson City to expand

GIBSON CITY – Plans are under way for the fourth annual Orange and Blue Festival in downtown Gibson City on the evenings of Aug. 14-16.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Economy forcing campers to take fewer, shorter trips

DANVILLE – Jeff and Terry Evans of Tolono like to camp so much that in the summer, they usually go to Kickapoo State Park near Danville, park their travel trailer and drive to work.

But higher gas prices and campground fees have forced them to cut back.

Homer museum, its experts open door to community's past

HOMER – At first glance, the Homer Historical Society Museum looks a bit like an antique shop, with more artifacts than space, and the promise of treasures hidden behind other treasures.

Housed in the historic village and township hall on Main Street, the small museum offers a fine horse carriage with spoked wheels, antique cameras, old-time medical equipment, ladies' hats and gloves, school and sports memorabilia, equipment and signs from early local businesses, a floor loom and war artifacts – including Civil War era – originally owned by local veterans. One room is dedicated to local farm implements that date back to the days when farming was about more than corn and soybeans. The museum collection also includes about 3,000 local photos, roughly half of which date to the first decades of the 19th century.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Partners find restoring Watseka Theatre a labor of love

Chuck Gomez always thought the art-deco Watseka Theatre, designed by Louis Skidmore, would be a good investment. But from day one, he said, the theater that he bought 14 months ago turned out to be a magical building instead.

"It changed both of our lives for the better," Gomez said of himself and his partner, Debra Liddell.

Shape-note singing set Saturday at New Salem State Historic Site

NEW SALEM – The Sacred Harp singers from Springfield, Jacksonville, Charleston and other downstate cities and towns will have a shape-note singing from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in the Second Berry-Lincoln Store at Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site.

A "singing" is an informal gathering patterned after singing schools and all-day singing conventions of the 19th century.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Rascal Flatts planning concert in Peoria

Tickets go on sale starting at 10 a.m. Saturday for the Rascal Flatts concert with special guest Taylor Swift on Sept. 19 at the Peoria Civic Center.

Tickets for the "Bob That Head Tour 2008" show are $63.50 and $48.25 and available at the Peoria Civic Center box office, all TicketMaster outlets and online at www.LiveNation.com and www.TicketMaster.com. Tickets also may be charged by calling 309-676-8700.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Rantoul group's production of 'Inherit the Wind' starts Friday

RANTOUL – The Rantoul Theatre Group will present the courtroom drama "Inherit the Wind," based on the "Scopes Monkey Trial," starting Friday at the Grissom Hall Theatre, 914 Arends Blvd., on the former Chanute Air Base in Rantoul.

Actors from Rantoul, Paxton, Loda, Ogden, Sidney, Champaign and Urbana appear in the play. Heading the cast is Robert Picklesimer as prosecuting attorney Matthew Harrison Brady, and Randy Offner as defense attorney Henry Drummond. David Goold plays the defendant Bertram Cates, with Jessica Marcotte as his fiancee Rachel Brown.

ACT Theater Company presenting two shows in Gibson City

GIBSON CITY – The ACT Theater Company of Gibson City for the first time will present two shows this weekend during its eighth season.

Elementary school children are featured in "Disney's 101 Dalmatians, Kids," the well-known tale of Cruella Deville's obsession with spotted puppies. The production involves singing, dancing and lots of "puppies."

40 North 88 West sets Final Friday arts festival at Carmon's

CHAMPAIGN – Anyone interested in the arts in Champaign County is invited to the Final Friday arts social at 5 p.m. Friday at Carmon's Restaurant, 415 N. Neil St., C. The sponsor is 40 North 88 West Champaign County's Arts, Culture and Entertainment Council.

The free "Final Friday" arts social is designed to answer questions or to address challenges concerning the arts in Champaign County. People are also welcome to use 40 North representatives as a sounding board, or just to connect to them and other arts lovers.

Charleston Alley Theatre schedules auditions Monday

CHARLESTON – The Charleston Alley Theatre will have auditions at 7 p.m. Monday for Marsha Norman's "'Night, Mother" at the theater, 718 Monroe Ave., Charleston.

"'Night, Mother" is directed by Ruth Straith. People planning to audition will read from the script. For information or to arrange an alternative audition, contact Straith at 345-1437, the theater at 345-2287 or e-mail CATmail<@>consolidated.net.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Heavy meanings: Hippie encyclopedia's author to visit C-U

CHAMPAIGN – John McCleary likes to call the '60s and '70s hippie movement the Renaissance of the 20th century, one that spawned incredible ideas, other movements and slang terms still in use today.

To emphasize the importance of the era, McCleary wrote "Hippie Dictionary: A Cultural Encyclopedia of the 1960s and 1970s," first published in 2002 and then revised and reprinted in 2004 by Ten Speed Press.

McCleary will sign copies of the book Friday evening in Champaign.

Saturday's used book sale is Danville library volunteer's type of fun

DANVILLE – Millie Wilson first got involved with the Danville Public Library through the onetime Business & Professional Women's Club, now the Danville Business Women's Club, as a community service project.

"I've loved to read, since I was a child," said Wilson, a Danville Realtor. "It seemed natural to get involved with the library."

And involved she got. She volunteered for the used book sale, assumed more responsibility and now is in charge of the entire sale three times a year. She is also on the Friends of the Library Foundation Board.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Lotto numbers corrected

The lottery numbers in Tuesday's News-Gazette  listed some incorrect numbers for Illinois' Monday Lotto drawing:

The Little Lotto numbers, which were correct, were: 8-14-17-29-38

The Lotto numbers were: 14-15-20-23-31-43

Glass FX exhibit to feature new, creative uses of antique glass

CHAMPAIGN – Artists who work at Glass FX Studio will display their work in an exhibit that showcases new and creative uses of antique glass, plus part of the old Champaign County Courthouse clock face.

"Glass from the Past: Antique Glass for Modern Life" will run from Saturday through Aug. 16 at Glass FX, 202 S. First St., C.

Young talent on display at upcoming 'Seussical, the Musical'

CHAMPAIGN — Seventy-some youths, among them Caitlyn Caruso-Dobbs and Alex Miller, will appear in the Urbana Park District's Youth Summer Theatre production of "Seussical, the Musical," opening Wednesday at Parkland Theatre in Champaign.

Miller, a senior at Mahomet-Seymour High School, stars as Horton, the elephant who is chastised by his fellow jungle animals for caring for and protecting the tiny, invisible Who village and the orphaned egg of free-spirited Mayzie le Bird, played by Dobbs, a freshman at the High School of St. Thomas More.

'Civil War' musical to be staged under the stars in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — "The Civil War," a musical performance about one of America's darkest chapters, will be performed Thursday through Sunday under the stars in downtown Springfield.

The two-act show will be presented at 8 o'clock each evening on an outdoor stage in Union Square Park at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Former Air Force musicians spreading wings in C-U

Most people have weird notions about military bands, say Shawn and Darden Purcell. They think of John Philip Sousa and marching music, and bass drums and bugles.

Shawn, a guitarist, and Darden, a jazz vocalist, will tell you their experiences with the U.S. Air Force bands were quite different.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Champaign County Fair opens with crunch of bent metal

URBANA – Jason Dillingham committed at least five traffic violations to claim the top spot in Friday night's Demolition Derby at the Champaign County Fair – a repeat of his performance last year.

In the derby's final moments, Dillingham's 1975 Buick shoved out his father's car to net the $1,000 victory in the full-size division of the derby. This year marked his 17th.

Former Champaign man, wife challenge gravity as acrobats

Professionals who see David Gray and Alyssa Marx's aerial and acrobatic acts can't believe the couple can do what they do.

Area residents will get a chance to see Gray, a 1997 alumnus of Champaign Centennial High School, and Marx, a native of San Francisco, when they perform for the first time in Champaign at the Chester Street Bar around 12:30 a.m. Sunday and Monday.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Volunteers work to make Farmer City Fair special for kids

FARMER CITY — The Farmer City/DeWitt County Fair still has plenty to offer as it concludes its 2008 run on Saturday night. This year marks the 78th year for the annual event at the Farmer City Fairgrounds on the city's northwest edge.

Friday night is the demolition derby and a band playing contemporary blues and rock 'n' roll music. Saturday opens with a Western horse show and ends with back-to-back dances featuring two classic rock bands.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Father, daughter team up for 'Annie' production in Danville

DANVILLE – The sun may come out tomorrow, but if you want to see the Lincoln Park Theatre Company's production of "Annie," you'll need to bring a blanket or lawn chair at twilight.

The show is set for 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday on the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center stage under the tall oaks of the park in the 1000 block of North Logan Avenue.

Plenty to see and plenty for free in East Central Illinois

With the cost of gas, airfare, food and everything else going north, many Americans are staying put and spending less on entertainment.

That doesn't mean, though, that you have to park yourself in front of a television set. There are plenty of things to do for free in East Central Illinois, among them concerts that would carry a pretty hefty ticket fee in most cities.

Mahomet performer among talents in Little Theatre's 'Gypsy'

SULLIVAN – Taylor Lykins of Mahomet, a regular in Champaign Urbana Theatre Company and Brights Lights Theatre Company performances, will portray Baby Louise in the Tony Award-winning musical "Gypsy," opening Wednesday at The Little Theatre on the Square.

The production will star Eleni Kanalos as the adult Louise and Chicago actress Mary Robin Roth as Mama Rose.

Chanute Air Museum to host 'Night at the Museum'

RANTOUL – The Chanute Air Museum will have "A Night at the Museum" from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday to bring alive the characters in the latest Indiana Jones movie.

Also, the movie "A Night at the Museum" will be shown starting at 6:30 p.m.

Works of master of fine arts graduates go on display Friday

CHICAGO – Work by the University of Illinois School of Art and Design's newly minted crop of master of fine arts graduates will be on view Friday through Aug. 16 at I space, the Chicago gallery of the university.

"Pulse of a Perfect Heart," includes paintings, mixed media, digital photography and installations by 13 MFA students who graduated in May.

Full Moon Drum Circle set for Friday at Japan House

The next Full Moon Drum Circle will take place around 9 p.m. Friday near the pond behind Japan House on South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana.

Everyone is invited to bring a drum to beat on, to dance or just to listen. Children and animals on leash are welcome.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Mahomet woman explains creative painting process

MAHOMET – As she first starts working on a Smoky Mountain landscape, watercolor artist Cindy Carlson lightly sketches, using a No. 2 pencil, the trees, rocks and stream.

Her work, though, began much earlier as she took hundreds of digital photographs of scenes in the Smokies that appealed to her.

Professor's contributions to local art scene will be missed

Artist David Bushman was a real character. Many East Central Illinois art lovers know the anecdotes and tales, some legendary, about the retired University of Illinois art professor.

Those stories about the hard-living, hard-working Bushman tend to override the fact that he was a formidable artist, said his good friend Dennis Rowan, also a retired UI art professor.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Attendance drop at Ford County fair blamed on no carnival

MELVIN – The lack of a carnival, and competition from other events, are being blamed for decreased attendance at the Ford County Fair.

Fair President Tim Muehlenpfort of Melvin said it has become increasingly difficult for fair organizers to book carnivals and midway attractions.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Show to benefit office restoration

SPRINGFIELD – The Nauvoo Pageant core cast will present "Our Story Goes On," a musical performance, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday at the Old State Capitol Historic Site in downtown Springfield.

There will be no admission charge, but donations will be accepted to assist with the restoration of the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

N-G Broadway Series to feature five touring musicals

Weekend tickets to "Wicked" in Chicago, $100 each. Hotel room in the Loop, $180. Parking, $35. Dinner for two at a decent restaurant, $100. Gas for the trip, $50.

Total: $565. Ouch.

Or instead you could see "Chicago" in Champaign at the University of Illinois Assembly Hall. Tickets, approximately $40 each, depending on the touring Broadway show. Hotel stay, not necessary. Parking, included in the price of the series tickets. Dinner for two at a decent restaurant, $65. Gas for the trip across town, $4 (if that).

ARTCo celebrates 10th anniversary in Tuscola with 'Oklahoma!'

TUSCOLA – The Actors Rural Theatre Company (ARTCo) in Tuscola is celebrating its 10th anniversary of bringing theatrical performances to East Central Illinois. The last two weekends in July, ARTCo will present the groundbreaking musical "Oklahoma!" to a new generation of performers and audiences, along with those who already count the play among their favorites.

The volunteer group began as the Villa Grove Community Theatre and performed "Oklahoma!" in 1979, almost 30 years ago. The company moved its performances to Tuscola in 1998, where a former church was converted into a playhouse. The playhouse had to be closed, and plays are now performed in the Tuscola Community Building.

Fair to host Old-Time Fiddle Contest

ARTHUR – People who play old-time fiddle music will gather together to compete in the 2008 Illinois State Old-Time Fiddle Contest at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Moultrie-Douglas County Fair in Arthur.

To be eligible for the contest, people must have lived in Illinois for at least one year. There will be four divisions: older than 70; beginning for kids 10 and younger; junior for players 11 to 19 years of age; and open.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Band in Gibson City forms another slice of Americana

GIBSON CITY – It's a scene that could have been a Norman Rockwell painting. A tree-shaded park featuring a historic pavilion built for Chautauqua gatherings. It bustles with young and old alike, gathering for a summer tradition.

The Gibson City Community Band performs at the city's North Park at 7:30 p.m. each Thursday evening through July 17. There's no cost for the performance, but then, there's no reserved seating, either. Folks take their own lawn chairs if they don't want to sit at a picnic table under the pavilion.

Event features American Indian guests, activities and history

DANVILLE – Nearly every weekend across the United States, people of Native American heritage as well as those who have come to love its ceremony and history come together for powwows.

The National Powwow is held every third year and this is Danville's third opportunity to host the event, which runs Wednesday through Saturday at the Vermilion County Fairgrounds, off U.S. 150 west of Danville.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Chicago museum to host African arts exhibits

CHICAGO – The Art Institute of Chicago will explore the African continent this summer with the exhibition "Benin – Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria," which will be mounted only at the Chicago museum.

It opens Thursday.

Nature Center to offer class on basic drawing

Sugar Grove Nature Center near Bloomington is offering adults the opportunity to see art in nature.

Using pencil, adult artists will explore various methods of observing and drawing nature-related subject matter from photos, still life and live specimens. Emphasis will be on components of a successful drawing, such as shapes, shading and negative space. No drawing experience is necessary, just a desire to observe and learn. Space is limited and registration is required.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Country Theatre Workshop's 'Cheaper by the Dozen' opens

The Country Theatre Workshop's dinner and dessert theater presentations of the comedy "Cheaper by the Dozen," will begin July 10 at the theater north of Cissna Park.

The play is based on the true-life story of time and motion study and efficiency experts Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, who try to run their household of 12 children according to the way they would run an efficient factory.

'Seussical' set for Parkland stage

URBANA – Tickets are on sale now for the Urbana Park District's Youth Summer Theatre production of "Seussical, the Musical," to be presented later this month at the Parkland Theatre, 2400 W. Bradley Ave., C.

The show features music by George Stiles and youth performers from ages 9 through 18. It will be presented at 7:30 p.m. July 23-26. Admission is $12 for adults and $6 for children 12 and younger.

Auditions set for 'Hansel and Gretel' theater camp

EFFINGHAM – Children entering grades one through 12 are invited to audition for a production of "Hansel and Gretel" later this summer as part of a theater camp at the Rosebud Theatre in Effingham.

The deadline to pre-register for the summer theater camp, presented by the Missoula Children's Theatre, is July 11.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Boat Drunks co-founder setting new course after last shows

URBANA – You can take Mike Miller out of The Boat Drunks, but you can't take the boat out of Mike Miller.

Miller is a co-founder of the popular band, which travels the country performing Jimmy Buffett songs and its own brand of island rock. And his last local show is Thursday at StreetFest '08, which takes place in the parking lot behind the Highdive in downtown Champaign. The Boat Drunks will perform three sets – at 8, 9:30 and 11 p.m.

Ticket prices set for Carrie Underwood concert Oct. 2

CHAMPAIGN – Ticket prices have been set for the upcoming Carrie Underwood concert at the University of Illinois Assembly Hall. Underwood will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2 with opening act Little Big Town.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday are $37.50 and $49.50 and can be purchased at the Assembly Hall box office (333-5000) or through any TicketMaster outlet, including Bergner's at Market Place Mall (351-2626 or www.ticketmaster.com). The box office is open just on Saturday for the Underwood sales; otherwise the regular summer hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Free entertainment on tap at Illinois State Fair

Grandstand entertainment at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, you have to pay for. But there's plenty of free music, too.

The state fair, which runs from Aug. 8 to 17, has 12 free entertainment stages. One of the stages, the Lincoln Stage, on Aug. 8 and 9 will feature the sterling Old West sound of the Sons of the San Joaquin. The California trio features brothers Jack and Joe Hannah, along with Joe's son, Lon Hannah.

Headline acts scheduled for DuQuoin State Fair

That lesser known state fair, the DuQuoin State Fair, will feature Sawyer Brown, Kellie Pickler, P.O.D. and Corbin Bleu as its entertainment headliners.

Also performing at the fair, which runs from Aug. 22 to Sept. 1, will be Bucky Covington, Sevendust and Justin Stein.

Savoy 16 debuts program boosting state-made films

SAVOY – Angela Smith of Champaign at first thought the Illinois Film Office's free screening here of "Wanted" was a hoax. After all, she reasoned, actress Angelina Jolie is a hot commodity, though a bit overexposed.

"Then I saw the previews, and I thought, 'Oh, no, she is still bad," Smith said.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Q&A with Krannert director Mike Ross

The 2008-09 season at Krannert Center will usher in the start of Mike Ross's 11th year there as director. He's been recognized internationally as an arts presenter, and has turned Krannert Center into the village square. So we thought it was time to ask him some questions. He provided his answers by e-mail:

 

UI librarian's work basis for exhibition

URBANA – A new book co-written by a University of Illinois librarian and faculty member is the basis for an exhibition in New York that explores the early history of the English language and the role that printing played in its development.

Valerie Hotchkiss, head of the Rare Book and Manuscript Library and a professor of medieval studies and of library and information science at the UI, and Fred C. Robinson, a professor emeritus of English at Yale University, are the co-authors of the book, "English in Print: From Caxton to Shakespeare to Milton" (UI Press, 2008). It is the catalog for the exhibition of the same title, on view through July 26 at the Grolier Club, 47 E. 60th St., New York.

Kids free all summer at Museum of Science & Industry

CHICAGO – The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago recently offered free admission for its 75th anniversary. Now it's offering free general admission to children 11 and younger for the rest of the summer, through Sept. 1.

The offer – a savings of $9 per child – must be redeemed in the museum's ticketing hall and cannot be obtained online or be combined with any other offer.

Father offers portrait of son in own words

URBANA – Charles Suhor had several strikes against him as he shopped around the idea of a book of his son's writings: The son was gay, dead and had never been published, and his writings as a whole did not fit into any particular genre.

"Don't send me the manuscript," Suhor was often told.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Charleston Alley Theatre opens 18th season

CHARLESTON – The Charleston Alley Theatre will continue its 18th season with a staged radio adaptation of the classic film noir tale, "The Maltese Falcon." The play opens Friday.

Before television, Lux Radio Theater, one of the most popular dramatic radio anthology series of the first half of the 20th century, adapted stage works and films to hourlong live radio presentations.

Historic Galena offers plenty to see and do in northwestern Illinois

GALENA – Maureen Fallos remembers her first visit to Galena six years ago at Christmastime. The town of 19th-century buildings on a bluff was all decked out, with costumed people on the corners ringing bells.

It looked to her like a scene from a Charles Dickens novel.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Show puts 'Beat Generation' icons back on the road

The Indianapolis Museum of Art will reunite two of the iconic members of the anti-establishment "Beat Generation" in the exhibition "On the Road Again with Jack Kerouac and Robert Frank."

The show, opening Thursday and remaining on view through Sept. 21, will feature the original typescript scroll for Kerouac's 1957 classic beat novel, "On the Road," and 83 photographs taken by Frank during his own two-year cross-country pilgrimage in the '50s.

Rolling out red carpet for state's film industry

SAVOY – The Illinois Film Office is presenting throughout the state a new program called "IFO Night at the Movies" that will screen, for free, movies made in Illinois and give information about the state's film industry.

The program will kick off in Savoy on Monday evening with the free screening of Universal Pictures' "Wanted," starring Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman.

'Cabaret' opens today at Little Theatre on the Square

SULLIVAN – "Cabaret," the second show of the 2008 summer season, will open at 2 and 8 p.m. today at the Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan.

Based on John van Druten's play "I Am a Camera," based in turn on stories by Christopher Isherwood, with a book by Joe Masteroff, the musical is a tale of tarnished innocence in Berlin in the years just before World War II.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Loretta Lynn show set in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD – Country icon Loretta Lynn, who was recently inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, will perform in concert at 8 p.m. Saturday at Sangamon Auditorium in Springfield.

The "coal miner's daughter" has performed for more than four decades, telling through song her rags-to-riches life story, from the poverty of the Kentucky hills to Nashville superstardom.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Early rain not enough to dampen arts festival opening day

DANVILLE – Despite a rainy start, the opening day of Arts in the Park at Lincoln Park was a huge success.

"The crowd was great and seemed to be making a lot of purchases," said board member Andrea Calamari.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Telling Lincoln's story to the music of his times

URBANA – As Abraham Lincoln, Ward Hill Lamon and other lawyers traveled the central Illinois judicial circuit, they would entertain each other in the evenings by telling stories and singing songs.

One of the songs, with Lincoln on the jew's-harp and Lamon strumming a banjo, was "Hoosen Johnny."

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Cast of CUTC's third youth musical having 1960s-style blast

CHAMPAIGN – While re-hearsing the lead role of Chad in the Urbana High School production of "All Shook Up," Kendall Johnson was constantly told NOT to do an Elvis impersonation.

It's just the opposite for him as he plays singer Conrad Birdie in the Champaign Urbana Theatre Company all-area youth production of "Bye Bye Birdie," opening next week at the Virginia Theatre.

Harden back for slew of area shows

Veteran musician Keith Harden returns to the area with a bevy of concerts and a song in Mark Roberts' newest play.

Harden, known best for his mastery of the blues, is a versatile artist who also performs pop, rock, Americana, country and folk. The tearjerker he wrote for "Where the Great Ones Run," which has been drawing packed houses at the Station Theatre in Urbana, is in the country vein. The song is called "Rest in Peace."

Lonnie Brooks to headline first Urbana Blues, Brews and BBQ Festival

If you happen to see this black dude wearing a cowboy hat, driving south on Interstate 57 on a motorcycle with a Gibson 335 guitar and Goldtone amp strapped on back, that's Lonnie Brooks heading to Urbana.

"I'll tell you, if I wasn't scared to ride a motorcycle, I'd get one to go to concerts, although I don't read about that many people getting killed on a motorcycle these days," Brooks says from his Chicago home. "I'd sure save money on gas, though."

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Full Moon Drum Circle set for tonight

URBANA – The Full Moon Drum Circle will take place about 9 tonight near the pond at Japan House on South Lincoln Avenue.

The event will feature drumming, dancing and listening. People who attend do not need to play music or dance. "Just relax and listen to the beats of djembes and the whistling of the crickets," says an e-mail about the event.

Competition for crown gets under way tonight

ST. CHARLES – Competition for the new Miss Illinois starts tonight at the Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles.

The winner will represent the state in the Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas.

Music, arts also highlights of Taste of Champaign-Urbana

CHAMPAIGN – Visitors to Taste of Champaign-Urbana this weekend at West Side Park will notice some new things at the annual event, now in its 38th year. And fairgoers who go green will be rewarded once they get there.

The Taste is centered on C-U restaurants and their offerings. Last year, 35 restaurants participated; this year, a panel of community members tasted food offerings to pare the number of restaurants to 25.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Arts in the Park celebrates 20 years next weekend

DANVILLE – Arts in the Park, an annual celebration of the visual and performing arts, will reach its 20-year milestone with this year's festival.

The two-day event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and June 22 in Lincoln Park on Logan Avenue.

Astronomy, jazz meet in summer solstice celebration

URBANA – With astronomy and jazz, Krannert Center will celebrate on Friday evening the summer solstice – the longest day of the year.

The event will feature University of Illinois astronomy Professor Emeritus Jim Kaler, the C-U Astronomical Society, National Center for Supercomputing Applications and musical guests the Woody Woodward Trio with jazz vocalist Rachael Lee.

Champaign photographer's railroad tower images on display

With their creaky stairs, coal-fired furnaces and windows open to the elements, railroad towers offered few of the comforts of home.

Sometimes they didn't even have running water.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Juggling comedian set for July 31 show

CHAMPAIGN – Nationally touring entertainer Jason Huneke, who is known for his "edgy but clean" comedy, juggling and other acts, including a Michael Jackson-inspired dance routine, will perform at 7 p.m. July 31 at the Virginia Theatre.

Tickets are on sale now and are $8 for adults, $5 for children, or $20 for any four tickets.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Doug Wilson's productions now include 'Guys,' Jibby's restaurant

SULLIVAN – Theatergoers Jean Jones and Janice Catolano of Springfield didn't realize until they arrived at the Little Theatre on the Square on Wednesday that television star Doug Wilson would be on stage in "Guys and Dolls" as Sky Masterson.

"We couldn't be more pleased," Catolano said during intermission. "We were just thrilled that he's here."

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Indiana Badlands Off-Road Park draws all-terrain enthusiasts

With the kids safely strapped in, Ray Clark points his Jeep Cherokee straight toward a muddy pond.

Son Raymond, sitting in the back seat next to his sister, Jessica, couldn't be happier to have the murky brown water nearly reaching the rocker panels – he loves "gettin' dirty."

CUTC plans bus trip to Chicago to see 'Dirty Dancing' on stage

CHAMPAIGN – The Champaign Urbana Theatre Company will sponsor a bus trip on Oct. 4 to Chicago to see "Dirty Dancing, The Classic Story On Stage" at the Cadillac Palace Theatre.

The cost, which covers the play and transportation only, is $135 for CUTC members and $150 for nonmembers for Dress Circle theater seats, $90 for CUTC members and $105 for nonmembers for balcony seating.

Theater camp looks to develop young actors

PAXTON – The Paxton Majestic Theatre Group will have its annual children's theater camp from July 21 to Aug. 1. The camp will meet from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday of both weeks in the basement of Paxton First United Methodist Church.

The group will accept registration for students entering first through eighth grades, while high school students who wish to help with the camp are welcome as space permits.

Underwood to perform at UI arena in October

CHAMPAIGN – Country superstar Carrie Underwood is scheduled to perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at the University of Illinois Assembly Hall.

Select dates for her "Carnival Ride Tour" go on sale June 20 through Underwood's fan club site, available at www.carrieunderwood.fm. Ticket prices were not available at press time. Ticket sales through the Assembly Hall box office will be announced at a later date.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Illinoisan's film focuses on soldier brothers

DECATUR – A Decatur native and first-time filmmaker will present his documentary "Brothers at War," about his two soldier brothers in Iraq and his attempts to understand them, Thursday evening in Decatur.

Actor Gary Sinise, who supports the film, will be there with director/producer Jake Rademacher to answer questions after the screening.

Exhibit to mark 100th anniversary of Springfield riot

SPRINGFIELD – An exhibition marking the 100th anniversary of the race riot in Springfield will open Saturday at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in downtown Springfield.

"Something so Horrible: The Springfield Race Riot of 1908" will remain on display through October in the Presidential Library. Admission is free. The exhibition, guest curated by historian Carole Merritt, features original items, some on display for the first time, from the library's collections as well as materials loaned by institutions and private citizens. In connection to the exhibition, the Presidential Library and Museum is developing a series of public and educational programs.

Strawberry Jam set Saturday in Urbana

URBANA – The Urbana Park District will celebrate the start of summer with Strawberry Jam, an event featuring live folk music and other activities, starting at 4 p.m. Saturday at Meadowbrook Park.

The performance schedule:

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Area native, TV celeb starring in 'Guys & Dolls'

SULLIVAN – Cable TV celebrity and Broadlands native Doug Wilson will star as Sky Masterson in "Guys and Dolls," the musical that will open the Little Theatre on the Square summer season on Wednesday.

Wilson appears on TLC's "Moving Up," "Trading Spaces" and "America's Ugliest." Co-starring with him in "Guys and Dolls" will be Jack Milo as Nathan Detroit. Milo is a regular at the Little Theatre.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Jars of Clay to play the Virginia

CHAMPAIGN – The multiple Grammy Award and platinum-selling Christian rock band Jars of Clay will perform at 7 p.m. July 25, at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign.

Jars of Clay members Dan Haseltine, Charlie Lowell, Stephen Mason and Matt Odmark launched their career in 1995 with the hit song, "Flood."

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Drivin' the Dixie – on the double

DANVILLE – Downstate will get a double dose of the Drivin' the Dixie annual event this year.

Because Drivin' the Dixie is traditionally the third Saturday in June, but the Illiana Pullers Association Tractor Pull is always the Saturday of Father's Day weekend in Rossville, an opportunity arose to offer a choice of drives.

Local couple publish 2nd book featuring dog-people photos

You might not see any dog-people around East Central Illinois, but these furry creatures have come alive in a second book by Champaign County residents.

"Happy Tails: The Call of Nature" features photographs of dog-people Earl and Pearl, who are usually composed of the bodies of authors Cindy and Kirby Pringle. The couple owns Dogtown Artworks, and Kirby is a longtime feature writer at The News-Gazette.

Pollination art sought for show

URBANA – The Champaign Urbana Pollinator Awareness Network will celebrate National Pollinator Week from June 22 to 28 with a number of events, among them an art show.

For that, the network seeks submissions from area artists of works that portray themes of pollination and pollinators, including insects, birds, bats, flowering plants or the products of pollination. Depictions may vary from commentary on contemporary agriculture to a photograph of a child's hand stuck in a jar of honey, according to organizers.

Cavaliers to perform 'Samurai' at EIU

CHARLESTON – The world-class Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps will perform during an open rehearsal from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in Charleston.

The event will showcase what the corps has accomplished during its annual 11-day camp at Eastern Illinois University.

Radio station WEFT on the air again with weaker transmitter

CHAMPAIGN – WEFT radio is operating off a small 50-watt transmitter following an outage on Friday night.

Radio station manager Mick Woolf said that severe thunderstorms caused a transmitter outage at about 6 p.m. Friday when a circuit board was damaged.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Problem keeping WEFT off air

CHAMPAIGN – Bad luck continues for WEFT 90.1 FM, Champaign-Urbana's community-based radio station.

Station manager Mick Woolf said that an attempt to install a repaired transmitter controller went awry Thursday when the controller shorted out for a second time.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Exhibit of hands-on sculptures at Missouri Botanical Garden

Crina, 10, and her 7-year-old sister, Camille, knew exactly what to do when they spotted the huge, colorful, recumbent dragon near a pathway at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis.

They were all over that statue by French sculptor Niki de Saint Phalle, whose works are displayed throughout the grounds of the St. Louis gardens this summer.

Almost 150 years of horticulture display, research

ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the oldest continuous botanical gardens in the United States, founded by an Englishman who prospered on the frontier but found his surroundings there uncivilized.

"Uncultivated," wrote 18-year-old Henry Shaw in 1819 after he took a ride through the countryside around St. Louis and found himself overlooking a prairie. "Without trees or fences but covered with tall, luxurian grass, undulated by the gentle breeze of spring."

Growing attractions at Missouri Botanical Garden

There's lots to see and do at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Here's a partial list of some of the displays and attractions:

l The William T. Kemper Center for Home Gardening is the largest not-for-profit gardening information center in the country. Inside are garden displays for terraces, backyards, city plots, ground covers, vegetables, flower trials, experimental crops, children, birds, prairies, butterflies, shade plots and other areas.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Summer Jazz Festival to salute late trumpeter

URBANA – The University of Illinois Summer Jazz Festival this week will pay tribute to jazz trumpet great Maynard Ferguson, who died two years ago.

The festival will feature musicians who once played with Ferguson, among them Chip McNeill, head of the UI School of Music Jazz Studies, and guest artists Dennis DeBlasio on baritone saxophone, Walter White on trumpet, Tom Garling on trombone and Jim Rupp, drums.

Friday, May 30, 2008

Summer Sounds concerts planned in downtown Danville

DANVILLE – Music will echo through downtown Danville when the CellularOne Summer Sounds concert series kicks off at 6 p.m. today in Temple Plaza, at the corner of Vermilion and North streets.

A partnership between Downtown Danville Inc. and AMBUCS, the free six-concert series will feature several different types of music, thanks to the support of area business sponsors.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

C-U artist's show gives viewers great deal to think about

As an artist, Brian Sullivan likes to make images and let viewers contemplate them and come up with their own conclusions.

In his latest show, "Censored," on view through Sept. 2 at the Illini Union Art Gallery, Sullivan gives gallery visitors a lot to think about: war, the abuse and sexualization of young children, JFK's assassination, liberty.

UI prof to demonstrate Japanese floral art

CHICAGO – University of Illinois Professor Emeritus Shozo Sato will kick off the Art Institute of Chicago summer celebration with an evening demonstration of ikebana – Japanese floral arranging – on Thursday.

Sato will create several arrangements as he teaches the philosophy underlying the ancient and contemporary practice.

Chesnutt, Diffie coming June 6 for show in Danville

DANVILLE – A concert that has been a while in the planning will offer two well-known country stars at a price that's less than what a ticket to a one-star show would be.

"We've been talking about getting a concert like this together since November-December," said Andy Roberts, WIXY assistant program director.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Trips to Krannert museum deepen students' art appreciation

CHAMPAIGN – Rantoul Township High School student Detrion Diaz had thought Krannert Art Museum was just a place full of portraits.

Along with 11 other Rantoul students, he discovered the University of Illinois museum offers much more.

CU Ballet wraps up 10th season with four shows of 'Coppelia'

CHAMPAIGN – The CU Ballet will end its 10th anniversary season with four performances of "Coppelia" this weekend at the Parkland Theatre. Two of the performances are hourlong matinees tailored to children.

Tickets for the matinees, popular with children and adults for the CU Ballet performance of "The Sleeping Beauty" last year, will again be half-price.

T-birds flocking to Monticello car show

A different type of bird migrates to Monticello this weekend – the Thunderbird.

About 25 Ford Thunderbirds will be on display at the "Birds in the Spring" car show from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Monticello Railway Museum, located just off Interstate 72 at the northeast edge of Monticello.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Area musicians do part for China

URBANA – Four area singers and instrumentalists, some with ties to China, will present a benefit concert for victims of the China earthquake at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Wesley United Methodist Church and Foundation, 1203 W. Green St., U.

Admission is free and open to the public; donations will be taken. Information will be available at the concert about disaster-relief agencies that are accepting donations.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Parkland students' digital media show opens Monday

CHAMPAIGN – The Parkland College Digital Media Student Juried Exhibition will open Monday, and the reception is from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the Parkland Art Gallery lounge with music by DJ Lincoln Jones and an award ceremony at 7 p.m. Thursday.

A Gallery Talk by John Havlik, a graphic design instructor at Parkland and a former graphic designer at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, will take place at 2 p.m. June 18. The exhibition will remain on display through June 21.

Gift to fund new EIU arts center

CHARLESTON – The Tarble Foundation, a longtime supporter of the arts at Eastern Illinois University, has given another $2.5 million to help pay for programming at the new Doudna Fine Arts Center, scheduled to open this fall on the campus.

The money, along with earlier gifts from the Tarble family and other donors, brings total funding to $7.5 million for the New and Emerging Artists Series at Doudna.

Singers needed for new chorale

The Champaign-Urbana Summer Chorale, a newly formed group, seeks singers from the greater C-U area for its inaugural season.

People older than 18 who have singing experience are welcome to join the group. No audition is required.

Hollywood acting couple to perform play in area

DECATUR – Emmy Award-winning actress Jean Smart and her husband, actor Richard Gilliland, will star in A.R. Gurney'sﾠ Pulitzer Prize-nominated play "Love Letters" the evening of June 7 at the historic Lincoln Square Theatre in Decatur.

The play, the grand finale performance during the Shadows of Lincoln Festival, will be directed by Ted Weiant.

Students appreciate Parkland prof for sheer artistry of instruction

Like many former students of Don Lake, Judy Ikenberry believes he had a profound influence on her life and art.

She saw her skills and confidence improve considerably after she began studying with Lake at Parkland College – and that was after she had taken courses at a museum-affiliated school in a big city.

Parkland students offer their mentor a lasting gift

Besides having a scholarship established in his name, retiring Parkland College art Professor Don Lake received a special gift from some of his students.

It was a collection of 35 watercolor paintings, all done in the same size by them and organized in a box specially made for the "Don Box Project' by Lincoln Bookbindery in Urbana. The chief organizer of the project was Margaret De Cardy, a perennial student of Lake's and a retired K-12 art teacher.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

The family that plays together stays in tune together

CHAMPAIGN – University of Illinois civil engineering Professor Keith Hjelmstad would be happy to play his violin alone at home. Which he sometimes does.

Often, though, he's rehearsing with his wife, Kara, who plays violin, and their three children, who have all followed in their parents' finger-steps by learning the same instrument.

Auditions set for area productions

Several area community theater groups will have auditions this week and weekend for productions to take place this summer:

– The Paxton Majestic Theatre Group will have auditions from 1 to 4 p.m. May 18 and from 6:30 to 9 p.m. May 20 for the comedy, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." Anyone interested should report to the basement of First Lutheran Church, 301 S. College St., Paxton. Enter the north door or watch for signs.

Fingerstyle guitarist to give free workshop on Tuesday

CHAMPAIGN – Fingerstyle-guitar master Doyle Dykes will give a fingerstyle guitar workshop at 7 p.m. Tuesday at C.V. Lloyde Music Center, 102 S. Neil St., C.

Admission is free, but reservations are recommended by calling 352-7031 or visiting the Music Center. The workshop is aimed at guitarists of all skill levels.

Just Desserts & Jazz set Friday

URBANA – The Urbana Band Boosters will sponsor a fundraising evening, Just Desserts and Jazz, starting at 7 p.m. Friday at Urbana High School.

The Urbana Middle School Jazz Band and Urbana High School Jazz Bands I & II will perform. Individual servings of homemade desserts and beverages will be sold by the Band Boosters. This is the second year for the joint year-end jazz concert and dessert fundraiser.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Classics IV: The music goes on for benefit at the Beef House

COVINGTON, Ind. – When Dennis Yost suffered a brain injury in a fall down two flights of stairs, family and friends wondered if the voice that led the Classics IV was silenced forever.

Though the backup musicians changed over the years, Yost has always handled the lead vocals. His unique sound brought the group four gold records, with such hits as "Stormy," "Traces (of Love)" and "Spooky," which is featured on the TV show "Six Feet Under."

Villa Grove teen to join group touring Europe in June

VILLA GROVE – Though Joe Gulick has studied music and played musical instruments since he was 5, he has only just begun to find his musical voice.

After two years in choir at Villa Grove High School, Joe has been recognized for his singing abilities, including a Best of Day distinction for his vocal solo at this year's Illinois High School Association solo and ensemble contest.

Rantoul Theatre Group's spring family show opens May 16

RANTOUL – The Rantoul Theatre Group will present as its spring family show a stage production of "Cinderella," opening May 16 at Grissom Hall Theatre, 914 Arends Blvd., Rantoul.

"Cinderella" will be the only Rantoul Theatre Group production of the 2008 season featuring a large cast of child actors. In addition to 35 children, four adults appear in the play.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Taking doc to market is now Farmer John's life

The documentary "The Real Dirt on Farmer John," a hit at Ebertfest last week, has been shown in 10 countries and subtitled into five different languages.

It's out on DVD, and a shorter version was broadcast by PBS.

Danville Symphony Orchestra concert to feature tap dancer, percussionist

The Danville Symphony Orchestra and its special guest Saturday will perform an unusual concert for its audience.

"Toe Tapping Treasures" at 7:30 p.m. in the Danville High School auditorium, 202 E. Fairchild St., features Lane Alexander, founder and artistic director of the Chicago Human Rhythm Project.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Program's students plan art exhibition

DANVILLE – College Express students will hold an art exhibition on Wednesday and Thursday at Danville Area Community College.

The exhibition will be from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and from 12:30 to 2 p.m. both days in Room 110 of the Bremer Conference Center, 2000 E. Main St., Danville.

Amasong to present spring celebration twice this weekend

CHAMPAIGN – Amasong, Champaign-Urbana's premier lesbian/feminist chorus, will present its spring concert, "Renewal," at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday at McKinley Presbyterian Church, 809 S. Fifth St., C.

To celebrate nature and spring, Amasong will weave together music from five continents to tell the story of humanity's connection to the Earth. The songs are by indigenous peoples of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Brazil and the Channel Islands off the coast of Santa Barbara, Calif. Also, the chorus will perform a women's ritual weather song from the Republic of Georgia.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Believing is seeing 'Harvey' opens five-day run Wednesday at Parkland Theatre

CHAMPAIGN – Parkland College theater students will present the classic American comedy "Harvey" by Mary Chase. The show will open Wednesday.

"Harvey" is the Pulitzer Prize-winning story of Elwood P. Dowd, a good-natured, mild-mannered eccentric (famously portrayed by James Stewart in the 1950 film adaptation) who is known in all of the cafeterias and saloons in his small town.

Summer Studio Theatre tickets go on sale Friday

URBANA – The Summer Studio Theatre Company will return to Krannert Center's Studio Theatre for its 18th season with three productions, each with a two-person cast.

The professional, repertory company under the direction of Tom Mitchell, interim head of the University of Illinois Department of Theatre, will present

'Guys and Dolls' to open Little Theatre season

SULLIVAN – Broadlands native Doug Wilson, star of TLC's "Moving Up," "Trading Spaces" and "America's Ugliest," will star as Sky Masterson in "Guys and Dolls," which will open the 51st summer season at the Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan.

"Guys and Dolls" will be presented June 11-22.

Country Theatre Workshop raises curtain on remodeled theater

CISSNA PARK – Country Theatre Workshop of Cissna Park will celebrate the completion of its building renovation project with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the theater.

The theater closed in September and over the winter, enclosed its original building in a new one, enlarged the lobby, remodeled the auditorium and built ramps to the new seating levels to provide greater accessibility to people with handicaps. The stage also was enlarged.

Monday, April 28, 2008

'Romance & Cigarettes' wins praise for filming outside box

CHAMPAIGN – Introducing the movie "Romance & Cigarettes" on Sunday at Roger Ebert's Film Festival, Time magazine movie critic Richard Corliss said moviemaking is in a "very timid period."

"Do you know how many movies try to do something different? How many moviemakers in a decade even try it? Four?" he asked.

'Housekeeping' star recalls script as best she ever saw

CHAMPAIGN – After first reading Scottish director Bill Forsyth's script for "Housekeeping," actress Christine Lahti decided it was the best screenplay ever sent to her.

She was being considered for the lead of Sylvie – another actress who had been in the running was Diane Keaton. Lahti said she was told she might get the part if she and Forsyth got along.

Ebertfest: That's a wrap

CHAMPAIGN – The 10th annual Roger Ebert's Film Festival at the Virginia Theatre ended on an emotional but upbeat note, with Chaz Ebert bidding farewell and blowing kisses to the audience as her absent husband listened in over her speakerphone.

"You know I miss Roger," she said as she walked back and forth on the stage, addressing the balcony and main floor. "I want to go back to Roger and tell him about the festival. I'm taking the images back of you so I can share them with Roger in Chicago."

Actress takes aim at doctorate

URBANA – Amy Stoch's excellent adventure has included a hit TV show, cult movies and motherhood. Now she's about to add "Ph.D." to the list.

The actress, who has appeared in "Dallas," "Days of Our Lives" and "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure," is a doctoral candidate in the theater department at the University of Illinois.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Academy Award winning director, UI grad returns to town

CHAMPAIGN – Director Ang Lee returned triumphant to his alma mater on Saturday, receiving a standing ovation at Roger Ebert's Film Festival after he first walked on stage, along with a surprise serenade of "Illinois Loyalty"" by the a cappella group The Other Guys.

Lee smiled, nodded and clapped. He thanked Chaz Ebert, who had introduced him as a leading filmmaker who apparently had come out of nowhere, and the audience.

"I'm so proud to be a Fighting Illini," said the 1980 graduate of the UI Department of Theatre and one of the world's leading filmmakers.

Director, distributor 'bask' in warm Virginia Theatre reception

When film consultant Hannah Fisher saw Israeli writer-director Eran Kolirin's directorial debut, "The Band's Visit," at the Cannes Film Festival, she "flat fell in love with it."

The first film showing Jews and Arabs relating together as human beings, it's filled with "much tenderness and humanity," she said Saturday at Roger Ebert's Film Festival, after "The Band's Visit" was shown.

They don't make 'em like that any more

James Bond, not the actor but one of the projectionists for Roger Ebert's Film Festival at the Virginia Theater, said working in film has become a luxury for most filmmakers.

"It's almost to the point now where there's not even a choice," Bond said Thursday between films. "People have to work in the digital domain, at least the young, independent market."

Biopic rooted in writer-director's notion of suicidal glory

CHAMPAIGN – Like many young men, Paul Schrader once was enamored of the notion of suicidal glory.

"As a young man, I totally bought into it," the director and screenwriter said early Saturday morning at Roger Ebert's Film Festival after his biopic, "Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters," was screened.

Irish-American piper to perform at UI

URBANA – One of the most respected performers on the Irish bagpipe, Kieran O'Hare, will perform at 8 p.m. May 15 at the Channing-Murray Foundation on the University of Illinois campus.

O'Hare not only plays the uilleann pipes, but also concert flute and tin whistle. Born into an Irish-American family, O'Hare started playing at home while in his teens. He moved in 1991 to Dublin, Ireland, where he received a degree in modern history from Trinity College. He now lives in Chicago with his wife, fiddler Liz Knowles.

The Chorale to present young artists scholarship concert

CHAMPAIGN – The Chorale presents "Encore," its free young artists scholarship concert, at 4 p.m. May 4 at First United Methodist Church, 210 W. Church St., C.

Donations are encouraged and go to The Chorale's scholarship fund. The three winners of the 2008 scholarship are Emelinda Escobar and Jennifer Roloff, both of Urbana, and Derek Maninfior of Mattoon. Escobar, a violinist, is the daughter of Urias and Margaret Escobar; Roloff, an oboe player, is the daughter of Jeff and Susan Roloff; and Maninfior, a pianist, is the son of Mark and Susan Maninfior.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Moving film took writer-director home – and audience with him

CHAMPAIGN – Chaz Ebert said Friday at Roger Ebert's Film Festival at the Virginia Theatre that she had promised earlier in the week not to cry over her husband's absence from the event.

"It's allowed to cry over the movies," she said after Jeff Nichols's "Shotgun Stories" was screened.

Actor says 'Canvas' first step to taking apart social stigma of mental illness

CHAMPAIGN – Joey Pantoliano said Thursday night at the Virginia Theatre that he always wanted to be an actor, someone whom people would recognize on the streets.

It happened beyond his expectations. He has appeared in more than 100 films, among them "The Matrix," "Memento" and Steven Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun," and has won numerous awards, including an Emmy in 2003 for his supporting role in the HBO hit series, "The Sopranos."

Farmer's doc reaps event's first standing ovation

CHAMPAIGN – The first standing ovation of the 10th annual Roger Ebert's Film Festival greeted the close-to-home documentary, "The Real Dirt on Farmer John," on Friday evening.

The seventh film of the 13-film festival is about Farmer John Peterson, a quirky farmer who turned his longtime family farm in northern Illinois into a hippie/artist commune before losing it.

Urbana High teens not shaken up by ceiling mishap

URBANA – For students performing in the Urbana High School musical, "All Shook Up," the show must go on – even if their performance space is shut down.

Sometime before school Friday, part of the ceiling fell in the high school auditorium, where the students planned to open their show next Thursday.

Frederick Douglass actor sets area stops

CHAMPAIGN – Actor Fred Morsell will visit Champaign libraries on Sunday and Monday to portray 19th-century abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

Morsell will recreate some of the escaped slave's most famous speeches and highlight the history and life lessons they contain.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Writer-director dedicates screening of 'Delirious' to absent film critic

CHAMPAIGN – The "disastrous distribution history" of his film "Delirious," which opened the second day of Roger Ebert's Film Festival on Thursday, left writer-director Tom DiCillo "dumbfounded, lost and bewildered."

So much so that he e-mailed five questions to Ebert, whom he had never met. The critic replied to every single one.

Celebration fest offers full musical bill this weekend

CHARLESTON – Eastern Illinois University's annual Celebration: A Festival of the Arts runs today, Saturday and Sunday on the EIU campus, presenting a variety of music and art.

The headline act will be Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, who will perform at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The bluegrass pioneer and Grammy Award-winner has performed and recorded professionally for more than 60 years. His music was featured in the Coen brothers' film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

Woody Guthrie's granddaughter to perform

URBANA – The Urbana Free Library will present live music by Woody Guthrie's granddaughter, Sarah Lee Guthrie, and her husband, Johnny Irion, at 7 p.m. Monday at the library.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Concert to pair Symphonic Band I, Wind Symphony

URBANA – The University of Illinois Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band I will share a concert starting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Foellinger Great Hall at Krannert Center.

The Wind Symphony, directed by James F. Keene, will perform Symphonic Dances from "West Side Story" by Leonard Bernstein; Concerto in F by George Gershwin, with pianist Gloria Yen; "Savannah River Holiday" by Ron Nelson; and "Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral" by Richard Wagner.

Red Mask Players looking for directors

DANVILLE – The Red Mask Players, a Danville community theater group, is looking for directors for its 2008-09 season.

Applications, including additional details on director responsibilities, are available at www.redmaskplayers.com.

Couple's love of film led them to romance

CHAMPAIGN – In movie parlance, Chuck and Eileen Kuenneth of Chicago "met cute" in one of Roger Ebert's continuing-education film classes at the University of Chicago back in the 1980s.

Now they're married and in their third year of attending Roger Ebert's Film Festival at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign.

British actors feel right at home at C-U fest

British actor Timothy Spall finds the Illini Union intriguing. That's where he and his wife, Shane, and other guests of Roger Ebert's Film Festival are staying.

"My wife and I, we both feel about 195 because the average age around there is 19," he said. "We feel like we're from 'Jurassic Park.'"

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Fourth Street Gallery is drawing artistic-minded to Covington

The first thing someone might notice when approaching the Fourth Street Gallery on the Square in Covington, Ind., is that it is part of a growing group of destination shops.

The gallery has only been open a couple of months, but there was a fairly steady ringing of "chimes" as various people entered to bring in art, take a look around or visit with co-owner Deb Duncan and artist-in-residence Cheryl Harris.

Masters of Percussion star says he's just 'great student' of drumming, nothing more

URBANA – As a tabla player, Zakir Hussain is considered a phenomenon, a national treasure of India.

As one of the architects of the "world-music" movement, he has collaborated with many of the world's great artists, among them Mickey Hart, John McLaughlin and George Harrison.

To see, or not to see

URBANA – Relaxing on the patio outside the University of Illinois president's home Wednesday evening, British actor Timothy Spall was pondering whether he would sit through the four-hour movie "Hamlet."

The versatile Spall plays Rosencrantz in the film, which opened the 10th annual Roger Ebert's Film Festival at the Virginia Theatre shortly after the reception at the UI president's home.

"We're both seriously jet-lagged," Spall said of himself and his wife, Shane. "It's a toss-up."

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Ebertfest's star will be absent tonight

CHAMPAIGN – The 10th annual Roger Ebert's Film Festival opens this evening at the Virginia Theatre without the main man.

In his blog today, the Chicago Sun-Times movie reviewer and Urbana native wrote: "After consulting with my doctors, I have decided it may not be prudent to try to make the journey today with a fractured hip."

Monday, April 21, 2008

Jordin Sparks concert at Assembly Hall canceled

CHAMPAIGN – The Jordin Sparks concert at the University of Illinois Assembly Hall, scheduled for Friday, has been canceled. An Assembly Hall press release said the former American Idol winner can't perform due to an "acute vocal cord hemorrhage condition."

"Sparks has been ordered to strict vocal rest and will not be able to perform anywhere until her condition improves," the release said.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

'Housekeeping' Forsyth proud of picture – but done directing

CHAMPAIGN – Bill Forsyth's name in the '80s was synonymous with Scottish cinema, but he hasn't directed a movie since his last, "Gregory's Two Girls," released in 1999.

"I just didn't enjoy it very much," he said via an international phone call to his home near Glasgow. "I was never comfortable making movies, I must say. I didn't know the rules. I didn't know what was expected of me.

10-year-old puts his art where his heart is: Helping others

CHAMPAIGN – At age 10, Ben Carlton already has an altruistic streak.

"He's long on empathy," said his mother, Tiffany Carlton.

Among random acts of kindness he performs is helping younger kids go down sliding boards at parks.

Radio personality to emcee Amasong concert

BLOOMINGTON – WGN Radio personality Kathy O'Malley will emcee a concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Westbrook Auditorium in Presser Hall at Illinois Wesleyan University featuring Amasong, Champaign-Urbana's premier lesbian/feminist chorus, and the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus.

O'Malley, of "The Kathy