A Great Day In Peoria

Happy MLK Day

2012-01-16T06:30:00.000-06:00

"Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true."

- Martin Luther King Jr.

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January Poetry Corner

2012-01-13T21:27:00.000-06:00

KABUL
- Saib-e-Tabrizi

Ah! How beautiful is Kabul encircled by her arid mountains
And Rose, of the trails of thorns she envies
Her gusts of powdered soil, slightly sting my eyes
But I love her, for knowing and loving are born of this same dust

My song exhalts her dazzling tulips
And at the beauty of her trees, I blush
How sparkling the water flows from Pul-I Bastaan!
May Allah protect such beauty from the evil eye of man!

Khizr chose the path to Kabul in order to reach Paradise
For her mountains brought him close to the delights of heaven
From the fort with sprawling walls, A Dragon of protection
Each stone is there more precious than the treasure of Shayagan

Every street of Kabul is enthralling to the eye
Through the bazaars, caravans of Egypt pass
One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs
And the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls

Her laughter of mornings has the gaiety of flowers
Her nights of darkness, the reflections of lustrous hair
Her melodious nightingales, with passion sing their songs
Ardent tunes, as leaves enflamed, cascading from their throats

And I, I sing in the gardens of Jahanara, of Sharbara
And even the trumpets of heaven envy their green pastures

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'Nuff Said

2012-01-02T06:53:00.000-06:00

December Poetry Corner

2011-12-29T08:06:00.000-06:00

I Remember When I Was Born
- Pearl Buck

I remember when I was born.

I do remember!

Through eternity I slept.
By its quiet waters swept,
In the silence safely kept.
All unknowing, night or day,
All unthinking, there I lay.
Suddenly, by life compelled,
I was free, no longer held,
Free to hear and feel and cry,
Free to live, or free to die;
Free to be that which am I.
I remember when I was born-
I do remember!

Eastlight Theatre - 2012 Season

2011-12-03T05:34:00.000-06:00

Children of Eden
March 23, 24, 28, 29, 30, 31 at 7:30pm
March 25 at 2:00pm

From Stephen Schwartz and John Caird comes a joyous and inspirational musical about parents, children and faith...not to mention centuries of unresolved family business! Freely based on the story of Genesis, CHILDREN OF EDEN is a frank, heartfelt, and often humorous examination of the age-old conflict between parents and children. Adam, Eve, Noah, and the “Father” who created them deal with the headstrong, cataclysmic actions of their respective children. The show ultimately delivers a bittersweet but inspiring message: “the hardest part of love...is letting go.” Rated PG

Oliver!
June 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30 at 7:30pm
June 24 at 2:00pm

Nothing works on the stage like a well-crafted tale, and OLIVER! is just such a show. Based on the Dickens novel, it will be engaging with its pathos and drama, while delighting everyone with its outstanding musical numbers. Food, Glorious Food, I'd Do Anything, Where is Love?, Consider Yourself, As Long As He Needs Me, Who Will Buy and Reviewing the Situation are musical theatre classics. Dickens' characters are brought to life-perhaps larger than life-with all their facets glowing in this production.Rated PG

Legally Blond the Musical
~ Regional Premier ~
August 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11 at 7:30pm
August 5 at 2:00pm

Sorority star Elle Woods doesn't take “no” for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone “serious”, Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style. Rated PG

YOUTHLIGHT 10TH YEAR CELEBRATION: Les Misérables
September 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15 at 7:30pm
September 9 at 2:00pm

This epic story recounts the struggle against adversity in 19th century France. Imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread, petty thief Jean Valjean is released from his 19-year term and not only becomes an honest man, but the mayor of a prosperous town and a loving adoptive father - violating his parole in the process. The relentless Inspector Javert, who makes a decent life for Valjean impossible, consequently pursues him. Only years later, after Valjean proves his mettle during a bloody student uprising and saves the life of a young man hopelessly in love with Valjean’s adopted daughter, does the ex-convict finally feel fully redeemed.Rated PG

The ALL NEW Joseph 2012!
November 30, December 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 at 7:30pm
December 2 & 9 at 2:00pm

The ALL NEW Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat returns for it's 22nd year on Eastlight's stage! This Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical tells the story of Joseph and his eleven brothers. It was created as a soft rock fantasy that is fit for the entire family. Thousands of people have enjoyed the magic that is Joseph, so be sure to join us for this Central Illinois holiday favorite! Rated Family Friendly

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Giving Thanks - 2011

2011-11-23T22:08:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving is absolutely the best holiday on the calendar.

No church-going obligations (or guilt for not going!).
No stress and rush with shopping for gifts or addressing cards.
No flags to hoist or parades to attend.

Nope, Thanksgiving is only about eating and visiting with loved ones. And these just happen to be two of my very favorite things in the whole world.

My mother was the glue that held our family together. When she passed at a much too early age, my brothers and sisters and I divided up the holidays with a promise to never drift apart. I was fortunate to claim Thanksgiving as my holiday to host. Although most of my family live 90 miles south, this is the one day of the year when most of them drive up to spend the day at my house.

It promises to be a day of good food and good times...a little reminiscing, a little looking forward, a little laughing, and maybe even a tear or two.

Like most of you, my family and loved ones are at the very top of my things-to-be-thankful-for list.

Here's wishing everyone a great day with family and friends!

Don't forget to stop and consider ALL the things you have to be thankful for.

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November Poetry Corner

2011-11-13T20:33:00.003-06:00

The Wanderer
by W.H. Auden

Doom is dark and deeper than any sea-dingle.
Upon what man it fall
In spring, day-wishing flowers appearing,
Avalanche sliding, white snow from rock-face,
That he should leave his house,
No cloud-soft hand can hold him, restraint by women;
But ever that man goes
Through place-keepers, through forest trees,
A stranger to strangers over undried sea,
Houses for fishes, suffocating water,
Or lonely on fell as chat,
By pot-holed becks
A bird stone-haunting, an unquiet bird.
There head falls forward, fatigued at evening,
And dreams of home,
Waving from window, spread of welcome,
Kissing of wife under single sheet;
But waking sees
Bird-flocks nameless to him, through doorway voices
Of new men making another love.

Save him from hostile capture,
From sudden tiger's leap at corner;
Protect his house,
His anxious house where days are counted
From thunderbolt protect,
From gradual ruin spreading like a stain;
Converting number from vague to certain,
Bring joy, bring day of his returning,
Lucky with day approaching, with leaning dawn.

(1930)

- Theater Review - Annie

2011-11-13T06:48:00.002-06:00

Peoria Players continues their 2011-2012 season with the perennial favorite, "Annie".

While this show is done a bit too frequently by amateur groups, it nevertheless has great value in that it offers a lot of young people what may well be their first theater experience.
That experience may be onstage or as an audience member.

The Peoria Players' production that opened on Friday is a wildly uneven presentation.

Maddy Hoskins is positively charming in the title role. She has the voice, the moves, and the stage presence to make it work.

All of the other orphans are delightful as well. Their singing, dancing, and acting are right on target.
"Its A Hard-knock Life" is one of the highlights of the show.

Another highlight was Bryan Blanks' performance as Rooster. I have seen Mr. Blanks in this role before (I believe at Eastlight) and he honed it even better here for a truly professional quality performance.

Dave Schick was excellent as Daddy Warbucks, and Anne Gonzalez' Grace Farrell was equally good.

While Cheryl Dawn Koenig was good as Miss Hannigan, her performance was marred by a bad microphone - a constant problem at this theater.

While the choreography was good in the orphan numbers and in "Easy Street", it was virtually non-existent in some of the other numbers.
"Hooverville" was particularly awful with the actors flailing aimlessly about the stage.

But the fatal flaw for this production was the orchestration.

Now in my last Peoria Players review, when I criticized the direction, I received the most hate mail ever for a review.
So get your poison pens ready....

Here goes:

A musical requires good music, and this was the absolute worst orchestration I have ever heard in a production above high school level.

Perhaps there were grade school kids down in the pit, I don't know. It certainly sounded like children learning to play without a conductor present.

Or perhaps the conductor was Harold Hill, relying on his "think system".

Indeed, the orchestra threw a couple numbers into chaos when the singers did not know what to do with sudden unpredictable changes in tempo.

If Players cannot secure a better orchestra or musical director than this, then please, please consider professionally recorded music for your next musical!

Anyway, go see this show for the orphans.

They sing loud enough to drown out the orchestra.

"Annie" runs through November 20th at the theater in Lakeview Park.

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- Theater Review - Almost, Maine

2011-11-13T05:21:00.001-06:00

Bradley University Theatre opened their second show of the 2011-2012 season on Thursday evening.

"Almost, Maine" is an absolutely delightful little romantic comedy.

It consists of a series of ten vignettes that all take place at the same time on the same day in the fictional town of Almost, Maine.

Six actors play a total of nineteen different roles.

The six actors are Ross Cochran, Ashley Bendien, John Carroll, Chloe Dzielak, Jake Hayes, and Krystal Uhl.

The common themes that tie the pieces together are falling in love (and out) and the Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis.
Perhaps the latter - a beautiful, rare, and natural phenomenon - is symbolic for the former.

The show opens and closes with a sweet bit about life on this globe, and and how when we think we are close to someone, that perhaps we couldn't be further apart.
And it takes a bit of effort indeed to get truly close to someone.

Another story involves a pair of drinking-buddy best friends who find themselves falling in love - literally!

There also is a young woman who journeys northward to view the Northern lights bearing her recently broken heart - literally!

Another tale concerns a young woman who seeks to get back all the love she has given her lover of eleven years - literally!

While a couple of the stories are poignant/sad, the majority are funny and clever romps. They seem pleasantly simple on the surface, and yet are layered with symbolism and deeper meaning.

All the young actors do a wonderful job with this show.

It was particularly enjoyable to see Ross Cochran, who has been drawn to darker roles in past productions, deliver some fun and funny performances here.

Chloe Dzielak, who was so wonderful as Mother in the season opener, "Ragtime", returns here with some equally superior performances.

"Almost, Maine" is pure enchantment.

Go see this show, and I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

It runs through November 20th at Hartmann Center on the BU campus.

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'Nuff Said

2011-10-28T16:51:00.000-05:00

- Theater Review - Wicked

2011-10-23T13:31:00.001-05:00

I have procrastinated in putting up a review of "Wicked", now playing at the Peoria Civic Center Theater, because...well, what more can be said?

Oh, alright, here goes:

"Wicked" is without a doubt, the theater event of the season here in Peoria.
With so many performances, this is a show that will attract many theater people, as well as folks who will see only this one show this year.

This is one of those shows that truly does have something for everyone.

The book is a clever reassignment of relationships for iconic characters whom everyone knows. These relationships are revealed in a believable behind-the-scenes retelling of the Oz story.

In addition, the show has a wonderful score of memorable songs with beautiful lyrics.
Foremost amongst these are "For Good", with words that can be used to describe all those people who "come into our lives for a reason"; "Defying Gravity", an uplifting (pun intended!) declaration of self-realization and the power of confidence; "Dancing Through Life", a song that may well describe the "unexamined life" led by far too many today; and "Wonderful", a song that says much about our lives in modern day America.

In addition to the music, the dancing, and the fine voices of all the principals, this show delivers what has become a major draw in American Musical Theater - sheer Spectacle!

The staging and special effects are guaranteed to wow all attendees!
From the Witch's defying of gravity, to Glinda's bubble, to flying monkeys, to rain in the woods, this production is a wonder of modern stage technology.

As I said, this is the major Theater Event of the year here in Peoria...
Don't be the only one to miss it!

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October Poetry Corner

2011-10-19T04:27:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to poet Tomas Transtromer for winning the 2011 Nobel Prize for Literature.

Further In

On the main road into the city
when the sun is low.
The traffic thickens, crawls.
It is a sluggish dragon glittering.
I am one of the dragon’s scales.
Suddenly the red sun is
right in the middle of the windscreen
streaming in.
I am transparent
and writing becomes visible
inside me
words in invisible ink
which appear
when the paper is held to the fire!
I know I must get far away
straight through the city and then
further until it is time to go out
and walk far in the forest.
Walk in the footprints of the badger.
It gets dark, difficult to see.
In there on the moss lie stones.
One of the stones is precious.
It can change everything
it can make the darkness shine.
It is a switch for the whole country.
Everything depends on it.
Look at it, touch it…

- Theater Review - Over the River and Through the Woods

2011-10-14T18:40:00.000-05:00

Peoria Players Theater opened their most recent offering last Friday night."Over the River and Through the Woods" is a small intimate comedy with a cast of six.

It is the story of a young second generation Italian-American and his relationship with his four grandparents.

Nick Cristano (Jarod Hazzard) is a successful young businessman who dutifully visits his grandparents in Hoboken every Sunday for dinner.

His maternal grandparents Frank (Mark Atkisson) and Aida (Judy Tilley) host dinner and his paternal grandparents Nunzio (Mike Dentino) and Emma (Maureen O'Haenny) live nearby and always attend.

As the play begins, Nick has arrived for a rare mid-week visit to share some unwelcome news with his grandparents.

Facing the crisis of turning 30, Nick has decided to take a job promotion that will send him a continent away from his family (his parents have retired to Florida).

The grandparents begin plotting a scheme to keep their grandson near. It involves fixing him up with Caitlin (Kerri Rae Hinman) a relative of Grandma Emma's canasta friend.

What ensues is a series of funny and tender events before Nick makes his final decision on whether to stay or go.

All the actors do a fine job with this piece. Ms. O'Haenney does steal the show somewhat, but I cannot decide if it is due to her great timing and stage persona or simply that her character has some of the best lines.

In any event. what's not to like about six charming people in a light and endearing comedy?

The show runs through October 16th at the theater in Lakeview Park.

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Jazz On A Sunday Afternoon

2011-10-03T20:48:00.002-05:00

Please join us for a relaxing afternoon of COOL music in a cabaret setting.

Featuring vocalist Stephanie Aaron with Larry Harms & Company.

Sunday, November 6

1:00 - 4:30 p.m.

G.A.R. Hall, 416 Hamilton

Complementary soups and desserts.

Art, Antiques, & Collectibles in a Silent Auction.

$25 per person; tables of 4, 6, and 8 may be reserved.

For reservations please call:

309-636-7022 or 309-674-6864

A fundraiser by Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation to preserve the GAR Hall and to promote community wide historic preservation.

Yet Another Blow To Peoria's History

2011-09-26T11:34:00.001-05:00

Reprinted with his permission is the following letter to the PJStar editor from Daniel Callahan. Dan is a longtime resident of the Moss-Bradley neighborhood and lives directly next door to Westminister House.

The dogwood leaves are loosening themselves and drifting earthward here on Malvern Lane.The gentle descent into autumn has begun.

The mood is somber, as is the news about the regal presence of this street - Westminster House at 1508 Moss. That Prairie Style/"Early Modern Rectalinear" home has graced the neighborhood for over a century. After a four-year effort by Westminster Presbyterian Church, three trials and an about-face by the Peoria City Council on its historic preservation ordinance, it looks like Westminster House will be demolished. On Sept. 8, a local circuit judge ruled that Westminster Church is exempted from historic protection and has the right to tear the house down.

We who live nearby and countless other visitors to the neighborhood expected this house to survive. Built in 1901 by William Reeves, architect of Peoria's City Hall, this residence was sturdily constructed of the finest materials. These included red slate (no longer mined,) Roman brick (which accentuates its smooth planar surfaces), beveled glass, copper, limestone and fine woods. In this era, we've come to realize the ecological cost of abandoning such precious elements. Its materials alone would have merited adaptive re-use. This house also carries an incredible cultural pedigree as the private home of a master designer. It could have endured another century as both a testament of good design and superior construction.

Sadly, its church owners could not or would not see this. I have never witnessed such fervor, such determination to throw out something of great value. In a neighborhood experiencing a renaissance, where there has been so much renewed energy and reinvestment, it makes no sense to work so hard to destroy a place that could have been a lovely, inviting home. Or used for any number of institutional or community functions. Neither ethically nor economically is demolition justified. Even more ironic and disingenuous are the claims of "religious mission" that require it to be destroyed.

And yet, we must prepare ourselves to say goodbye to this grand sentinel of the bluff. I encourage readers to make a last visit before it's too late, while keeping in mind the confluence of events that have precluded its future, the failure to appreciate what an incredible architectural heritage we've inherited, the politics that have diminished the role of historic preservation locally, and the waste of resources and energy it will take to replace them.

Let us hope that we will renew our commitment to prevent future losses like this. A first step would be for the City Council to review the hastily approved revisions of Feb. 8. Those changes to the historic preservation ordinance have made it far too easy for a jewel like Westminster House to be discarded.

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- Theater Review - Ragtime

2011-09-24T18:36:00.002-05:00

Bradley University Theater opened their 2011-2012 season on Friday with "Ragtime, The Musical".

The musical is based on the E. L. Doctorow novel of the same name. With an epic storyline and a cast of dozens, the show is a huge undertaking for any amateur theater group.

I am pleased to say Director Steve Snyder and his large cast deliver one of the finest productions recently seen on the Hartmann stage.

"Ragtime" is a snapshot of America during the first decade of the twentieth century. The show explores issues of racism, Labor strife, immigration and assimilation, as well as personal human relationships.

It intertwines the stories of three different groups - a wealthy WASP family, a group of European immigrants, and a group of African Americans seeking the American dream in an often hostile environment.

The cast of characters includes actual historical figures such as Booker T. Washington, Emma Goldman, and Harry Houdini.

Th show opens with a huge bang. The lavish title song introduces the entire company in a wonderful and catchy number. Featuring thirty-some actors in a perfectly synchronized performance, this opening number alone is well worth the price of admission.

...and it sets the tone for the two and half hours of excellent theater to follow.

While there is a range of vocal talent, each role is, without exception, well acted here.

With such a large number of great performances it is difficult to acknowledge just a few, but some of the top performances are as follows.

Chloe Dzielak stands out as Mother, the upper class matriarch who chooses a different course of compassion than her conservative husband. Ms. Dzielak has a beautiful voice and her acting is simply perfect. Her rendition of "Back to Before" is a knockout!

Morgan Green and Cecil Blutcher are excellent as the star-crossed lovers Sarah and Coalhouse. Their chemistry makes their performances even better.

Dakota Kuhlman is great as Tateh, the Latvian Jewish immigrant who captures the American dream for himself and his daughter.

Sarah Tilford is excellent and brings Emma Goldman to life. As Booker T. Washington, Julian Stroop shows serious maturity as an actor.

The set is simple yet functional and perfectly suited to the production. Costuming is some of the best and most elaborate that I have seen at Bradley.

The orchestra, directed and conducted by Julie A. Clemons, is wonderful.

My one and only issue with the production is that the orchestra did overwhelm some of the vocal performances. None of the actors wore microphones, and a couple of the singers did not project over the music.
...a minor complaint for an excellent production.

If this opening offering is any indication, I cannot wait for the rest of the Bradley University Theatre's season!

"Ragtime" runs through October 2nd at the Hartmann Center for the Performing Arts on the Bradley campus.
For tickets, contact the Box Office in the Hartmann Center at 677-2650.

You should not miss this show!

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September Poetry Corner

2011-09-18T19:51:00.004-05:00

The Mourning Bride (excerpt)
- William Congreve

Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast,
To soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak.
I've read, that things inanimate have mov'd,
And, as with living Souls, have been inform'd,
By Magick Numbers and persuasive Sound.
What then am I? Am I more senseless grown
Than Trees, or Flint? O force of constant Woe!
'Tis not in Harmony to calm my Griefs.
Anselmo sleeps, and is at Peace; last Night
The silent Tomb receiv'd the good Old King;
He and his Sorrows now are safely lodg'd
Within its cold, but hospitable Bosom.
Why am not I at Peace?

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- Theater Review - Oklahoma!

2011-09-10T01:07:00.006-05:00

"Oklahoma!" is a true American classic. It quite literally changed the face of musical theater at its debut in 1943. The very first collaboration by Rodgers and Hammerstein, the play opened to rave reviews, a record run, and even a Pulitzer.

It offers one of the most beautiful scores ever, and who can listen to a line like "The wind is so busy it don't miss a tree" and deny the genius of the lyricist?

After nearly 70 years, this still should be on anyone's list of the five greatest American musicals of all time.
Due to the show's appeal and popularity, it has been frequently staged at all levels.
Indeed, one of my own first theater experiences was when the drama club at my high school put on the play. I loved it at once and immediately rushed out to buy the soundtrack.

That vinyl soundtrack was long ago worn out and replaced by CD.
In the intervening years, I have watched the movie version literally dozens of times (really!) and I have seen the stage version several times.

So it was with high anticipation of revisiting a favorite classic that I attended Peoria Players Theater's Friday night opening of the show's debut on PPT's stage.

I hoped beyond hope that they would give this beloved show its due. Instead I was given a decent but uneven and deeply flawed production that was badly directed.

In a much earlier post, I shared my pet peeve of people talking through the overture. In a musical, the overture is PART OF THE PLAY! And for this play in particular, the overture was one of the things that made it ground-breaking in 1943. It is a beautiful and lush intro that goes well over five minutes.
Well in the Player's production, the (recorded) overture abruptly ended only a couple of minutes in; before the rude folks even ended their chattering.
There was no fade-out. The music just stopped and the curtain went up. This was a very inauspicious beginning to say the least.

The lead roles of Curly and Laurey were played by Jordan Lehman and Sarah Mayo. Mr. Lehman has a good voice and good acting abilities. I blame his rote delivery of "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" and "The Surrey With the Fringe on Top" on poor direction rather than any lack of talent on his part. He needed to love and respect the words he was singing.
Ms. Mayo has a beautiful voice and her performance rose above the lack of direction.

Of the entire production, the truly standout performances were Amanda Bishop as Ado Annie and Aaron Elwell as Will Parker. These actors gave superb performances, both separately and in duet.

Sally Hodge was great as Aunt Eller and Alex Larson was perfectly cast in the non-musical role of Ali Hakim.

While Derek Childs did a good job as Jud Fry, it was hard to take him seriously in some of the worst makeup I have ever seen.
Jud Fry is a volatile and cruel character, but he is not intended to be a Zombie as his makeup suggested.

One of the bright spots of this production was the "dream ballet"; it was well staged and well executed.

Some of the other dance numbers, however, were way too crowded and roughly done. I felt like I was watching an early dress rehearsal rather than opening night.

The last and perhaps greatest insult of the evening was the finale featuring a surrey with the fringe on the side.
Yes, the surrey actually had fringe sewn on the sides of the seats and no top at all!
Even that high school production back in the 70's managed to come up with an actual surrey WITH THE FRINGE ON THE TOP!

I hate to beat up on director Bryan Blanks too much (he was also responsible for the uber-turkey "Xanadu" that opened Eastlight's season), but any director who would open with half an overture and close with a surrey with the fringe on the side clearly has no respect for or understanding of his material.

"Oklahoma!" runs through September 18th at the theater in Lakeview Park.

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'Nuff Said

2011-09-05T08:13:00.000-05:00

ICC Performing Arts Center - 2011-2012 Season

2011-08-17T05:14:00.004-05:00

Illinois Central College Performing Arts Center has announced its 2011-12 Theatre Season:

"Lend Me a Tenor" (rated PG-13). Nominated for seven Tony Awards, this is a laugh-out-loud, perennial favorite of audiences around the country.
September 23, 24, 35, 30, October 1, 2, 2011.

"U.S. Drag" (rated R) by Gina Gionfriddo is a hilarious and witty, jet-black comedy centered around two recent college grads on the hunt for love, money, meaning, and a serial attacker (after all there is a reward).
November 11 - 20, 2011.

"The Haunting of Hill House" (rated PG-13). Adapted by F. Andrew Leslie from the 1959 novel by Shirley Jackson, it follows a small group of "psychically receptive" people who are brought together in a dark, gothic mansion.
February 24 - March 4, 2012

Lastly, ICC presents the wacky yet poignant comedy "Fuddy Meers" (rated R). Penned by David Lindsay-Abaire, it's the story of Claire, an amnesiac who awakens each morning not knowing who or where she is.
April 6 - 15, 2012

Season tickets cost $24 for adults and $16 for students and senior citizens. Tickets to individual shows cost $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens.

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August Poetry Corner

2011-08-14T19:18:00.001-05:00

The Library of Congress named Philip Levine, 83, as the new poet laureate of the United States on Aug 10, 2011.

The Pulitzer-winning writer's work has appeared in The Atlantic a number of times over the years, the first instance being the publication of his poem "Holy Day".

Holy Day
-Philip Levine,

Los Angeles hums
a little tune --
trucks down
the coast road
for Monday Market
packed with small faces
blinking in the dark.
My mother dreams
by the open window.
On the drainboard
the gray roast humps
untouched, the oven
bangs its iron jaws,
but it's over.
Before her on the table
set for so many
her glass of fire
goes out.
The childish photographs,
the letters and cards
scatter at last.
The dead burn alone
toward dawn.

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- Theater Review - Hairspray

2011-08-06T11:14:00.004-05:00

Eastlight Theatre closes out its regular season with the regional premiere of "Hairspray".

...and a fine finale it is!

"Hairspray" is a brilliant musical; a funny and surprisingly sweet valentine from the twisted mind of auteur John Waters.
The show takes place in 1962 Baltimore at the dawn of the 60's civil rights era.
Based on his 1988 movie of the same title that featured the inimitable Divine, this stage vehicle was created as a high-energy production with one memorable musical number after another.
The show debuted on Broadway in 2002 and won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Although it took nearly a decade for the musical to hit a Central Illinois local theater stage, the Eastlight production makes it well worth the wait.

First off, recognition must be given to Steve Cordle's direction and Mark Baugher's flawless choreography.

Dancing is, of course, at the very heart of this show and though some numbers felt at times to be confined by the size of the stage, Baugher coaxes every bit of energy and skill from the sizable cast.

With such a large cast it is impractical to recognize everyone, but a few standout performances must be acknowledged.

The two roles that I consider critical to the success of this show are "hair-hopper" activist Tracy Turnblad and her waiting-to-blossom mother Edna.

Katy Hawley's Tracy is right on the mark. She brings a great voice, great moves, and an incredible energy to the lead role. Her rendition of the wonderful opener, "Good Morning, Baltimore", kicks the show off with a bang!

Likewise, Eric Ewan is absolutely perfect as Edna Turnblad. As an homage to the late Divine, this role is always played by a man.
Here Mr. Ewan is more Divine than John Travolta could ever hope to be!
His duet with veteran actor Dan Challacombe, "You're Timeless To Me" is the true show-stopper it was intended to be.
It had been awhile since I have seen Challacombe onstage and his return as Wilbur Turnblad (particularly in this number) was a welcome sight.

Another veteran actor, Chip Joyce, can always be counted on to deliver a great performance, and his Corny Collins is no disappointment.

Kelsey Burd is simply delightful as "checkerboard chick" Penny Pingleton and Brandon Chandler shines as her love interest, Seaweed.

Amanda Skinner as Motormouth Maybelle has two very important numbers. Although I felt she held back a bit on "Big, Blonde, and Beautiful", she totally nailed the hauntingly beautiful "I know Where I've Been".
While this song is ostensibly about the struggles of the civil rights movement, it is universally applicable about overcoming life's obstacles by tapping one's personal inner strength.

Jeremy Kelly is great as heart-throb Link Larkin, He shines in "It Takes Two" and he achieves the needed chemistry in his duets with Tracy.

Ingrid Weiman and Jessi Palkovic turn in good performances as Velma and Amber Von Tussle respectively.

There are two actors in multiple roles that really impress.
Sally Lawrence-Knapp plays Prudy Pingleton, The Gym Teacher, and The Prison Matron.
Joel Shoemaker plays Mr. Pinky, Mr. Spritzer, and The Principal.
Both of these actors take these 'minor' roles and turn them into stand-out performances that are integral to the play. Kudos!

The opening night performance contained some of those sound issues that drive me crazy. Some of the important lyrics were lost through these microphone cut-outs.
There were also some problems with the revolving stage, that sent out the wrong sets for the scene and exposed the backs of previous set pieces.

Hopefully these were opening night glitches that will be corrected in the remaining performances.

"Hairspray" is one of my personal favorites and I was thrilled to see this excellent opening performance with a nearly full house.

There are plenty of chances remaining to see this great show (or see it again!)
Performances continue tonight, tomorrow, and August 10, 11, 12, & 13 at the East Peoria Community High School stage.

Call the box office at 699-SHOW for your tickets.
"Hairspray" should not be missed!

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July Poetry Corner

2011-07-18T15:39:00.001-05:00

Bavarian Gentians

- D. H. Lawrence

Not every man has gentians in his house

in soft September, at slow, sad Michaelmas.

Bavarian gentians, big and dark, only dark

darkening the daytime, torch-like, with the smoking blueness of Pluto's gloom,

ribbed and torch-like, with their blaze of darkness spread blue

down flattening into points, flattened under the sweep of white day

torch-flower of the blue-smoking darkness, Pluto's dark-blue daze,

black lamps from the halls of Dis, burning dark blue,

giving off darkness, blue darkness, as Demeter's pale lamps give off light,

lead me then, lead the way.

Reach me a gentian, give me a torch!

let me guide myself with the blue, forked torch of this flower

down the darker and darker stairs, where blue is darkened on blueness

even where Persephone goes, just now, from the frosted September

to the sightless realm where darkness is awake upon the dark

and Persephone herself is but a voice

or a darkness invisible enfolded in the deeper dark

of the arms Plutonic, and pierced with the passion of dense gloom,

among the splendor of torches of darkness, shedding darkness on

the lost bride and her groom.

D. H. Lawrence (1885-1930)

Published posthumously.

From 'Last Poems', 1932.

That Phone Call From Steve Pierz

2011-07-11T16:41:00.000-05:00

When I was a Historic Preservation Commissioner, I voted against allowing the Paulson-Pierzes to put vinyl siding on their High Street property in accordance with the Historic Preservation Ordinance at that time.

Both Pierz and his wife work at the same major employer as I do.
When I returned to my desk following that HPC meeting (the initial public hearing), I received a call from Pierz from his Mossville office. Our office phones have caller-ID, and I answered "Hello, Steve".

He began with these exact words (I wrote them down):

"You dirty scum-sucking dog."

He then chuckled and went on with a "just kidding" attitude, but it definitely was not funny to me.

I called HR after the call to ask if they kept a record of phone calls. They said they did not unless I wanted to file a harassment incident, which I declined to do at that time.

I knew the Paulson-Pierzes on a superficial social level. I had been to their house on a couple group occasions and they probably had been to mine.

However, I did not know them well enough to take such a comment as a joke.

And with his wife in a position of relative power at work (reporting directly to a vice-president) in my building, the threat and the implication were very clear to me.

Someone who would resort to threats and intimidation in an attempt to influence a case before a city commission is not someone I would trust to serve on ANY commission.

Mayor Ardis calls statements made by HP Commissioner Tim Herold "disturbing" in today's PJStar.

I wonder why Ardis does not consider Pierz's statements to me to be equally disturbing.

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Happy Birthday, America!

2011-07-04T07:12:00.000-05:00

America 
- Walt Whitman
 
Centre of equal daughters, equal sons, 
All, all alike endear'd, grown, ungrown, young or old,
Strong, ample, fair, enduring, capable, rich, 
Perennial with the Earth, with Freedom, Law and Love,
A grand, sane, towering, seated Mother,
Chair'd in the adamant of Time.
 
 
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Van Auken Crosses a Line

2011-06-27T20:34:00.001-05:00

uncouth (n-kth)

adj

lacking in good manners, refinement, or grace

Speaking on the racial rant by local blowhard and president of the Altamont Park Neighborhood Association Paul Wilkinson, this quote by Barbara Van Auken in the Peoria Journal Star is simply unbelievable:

"We have some very gullible new council members who were dumb enough to believe him," she said.

To publicly call Akeson and Weaver "gullible" and "dumb" for responding to ANY constituent is over the top, even for someone as uncouth as the 2nd district rep.

Doesn't the council have rules against that type of incivility between council members?

I speak for many in the 2nd district when I say we are sick and tired of BVA playing politics with everything and everyone (Her feud with Wilkinson is well known).

Our own little Empress Nero, she continues to fiddle while Peoria burns.

She further states in the PJStar article that the situation is a "national embarrassment".

Ms. Van Auken continues to be a LOCAL EMBARRASSMENT.

Barbara, you owe an apology not only to the council members you have defamed, but to your constituents as well.

Actually, the best apology of all would be your immediate resignation!

Pierz Appointment to HPC

2011-06-24T11:23:00.000-05:00

Reprinted with permission, a letter to Mayor and Council from CILF VP Margaret Cousin:

Dear Mayor Ardis and City Council Members,

Last summer I was appointed to the Library Board of Trustees. I didn't seek this appointment, but I was proud and pleased to accept it, understanding the privileged opportunity it afforded me to serve Peoria in a capacity where I could put my interest in education and literacy to good use. The past twelve months have given me a chance to see firsthand the way in which a group of dedicated and purposeful citizens from greatly varied backgrounds and life experience can work together successfully to meet defined, legitimate goals that further the community good. Lively but respectful debate has been our constant companion during our meetings and not all issues have been resolved with unanimous votes, but we have been strongly united always with an unwavering sense of purpose and a common cause - to meet our mandate to serve the library system's patrons and employees well. In so doing, we have also served our city well.

This is what lies at the heart of every City-appointed board and commission: the ability to properly carry out its mission statement and accomplish its specific function. The Historic Preservation Commission has its own particular set of objectives, distinctly different from that of the Peoria Public Library's board, yet its potential for optimal operation depends on the presence of exactly the same qualities in its members. Industry, integrity, respect for fellow commissioners' opinions, and a willingness to compromise are just a few, but there is also an overriding fundamental ingredient. Simply put, it is an understanding of and commitment to that board or commission's charter and a genuine desire to carry it out. This is absolutely crucial to creating a true sense of cohesion and motivation within the group. The Library Board of Trustees is lucky. We have this. The HPC deserves it, too.

It is not counterproductive to seat the HPC with commissioners who believe in historic preservation. On the contrary, it maximizes the commission's chances to successfully carry out its prescribed task, which is to make sound decisions based on the historic preservation ordinance as a recognized part of Peoria's governing law. A similar level of adherence among these seven folks to the intrinsic value of this responsibility creates the sort of unity of purpose which makes for measured, reasonable, and appropriate judgments. It does not mean all applications and recommendations are met with automatic, arbitrary, and zealous nods of approval. It does not mean there is never room for disagreement on the degree of applicability of the ordinance's rules. The commissioners are not robots who blindly and swiftly consider and then rubber stamp everything that comes before them with a mantra of "preservation for preservation's sake." They are volunteers who wish to serve Peoria by sharing their time, their knowledge, their focus, and their passion for the merits of our past.

How do I know? Because for two and a half years, I have sat in the audience month in and month out, first as a concerned citizen and then as a member of CILF. I have watched the commissioners work hard to make decisions that were fair, not frivolous, mindful of the needs of the owners before them and mindful, too, of their obligation to fulfill the role they were chosen for - to protect and preserve Peoria's historic resources. I have seen them thrilled to help a house get a facelift, a new roof, or an elegant wrought iron fence . I have also seen them struggle to accept compromise or defeat when a structure has fallen prey to the ravages of time, lack of interest, or just plain bad luck. It has been an honor to witness.

I urge you to respect the nature of the HPC when selecting nominees to fill its vacancies. Do not deliberately hobble it by filling positions with appointees who are not committed to historic preservation in an attempt to temper and perhaps weaken its choices. This is neither efficient nor logical. You would never consider endorsing a candidate for the Library Board of Trustees who flagrantly and publicly burned books just to create a balanced profile and test the resolve of others in the group. Where, then, is the wisdom of considering an individual for the Historic Preservation Commission who chose willingly to live in a historic district, dismissed its regulations, and sought a litigious solution for redress of his grievances when asked to comply with the very things his neighbors value and respect? This is the type of management decision at a council level whose lack of basic common sense we cannot afford. It demoralizes those who truly wish to make a difference through their participation on this particular commission, and it is a real disservice philosophically to all those people whose hours without pay make it possible for much of our city's work to get done. Strategically speaking, it just isn't smart.

Respectfully submitted,

Margaret E. Cousin
Vice-President, Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation

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Continued Assault on Historic Preservation

2011-06-23T21:41:00.000-05:00

Gosh, I guess it wasn't quite enough for Eric Turner and his City Council henchmen to destroy the Historic Preservation Ordinance by making owner's consent a requirement for landmarking.

I guess it wasn't quite enough for Barbara Van Auken and her City council henchmen to introduce "de-listing" a landmark, that led to the destruction of the Roanoke Apartments and now threatens scores of other structures.

Now comes Chuck Weaver and his City Council henchmen who want to appoint Steve Pierz to the Historic Preservation Commission.

You may recall that Mr. Pierz and his wife sued the city as well as the sitting Historic Preservation Commissioners in 2008, when the commission ruled against their request to vinyl side a historic house next to their own on High Street.

In the end, the city caved in, and the Pierz-Paulsens were allowed to destroy the character of the home with vinyl siding.

It sits in its present state as a testimony to their contempt for true preservation.

Mr. Weaver (and Mr. Ardis) now want to seat Mr. Pierz on a commission that should be promoting and working for Preservation, not subverting it.

And they want to seat him alongside several people that he previously sued and a few of whom have already expressed their outrage at the idea of his appointment.

During the campaign, Mr. Weaver danced around Historic Preservation issues saying he needed six months to consider all the issues.

Well, it didn't take nearly that much time for him to show his true colors.

I publicly call on Mr. Pierz to withdraw his name from consideration.
C'mon, Steve, do the right thing!

In the interest of full disclosure, I was one of those commissioners that the Pierz-Paulsens sued.
There is also a bit more to the story as well involving a phone call to my work phone from Mr. Pierz's work phone when their case was active.

...but I won't go into that right now.

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- Theater Review - Avenue Q

2011-06-18T12:00:00.006-05:00

Eastlight Theatre continues their twentieth season with the Friday night opening of the regional premier of "Avenue Q".

"Avenue Q" is a delightful play, smart and funny. It is a parody (extension?) of Sesame Street.
Unlike the Muppets, these puppets are definitely not for children.
Rather, they are for those adults who grew up with Sesame Street and now have grown-up issues to face.
And like the denizens of its PBS inspiration, these puppets also have life lessons to relay.

The cast consists of three human characters and a gaggle of hand puppets. All the actors/puppeteers are clearly visible as they speak and sing for their characters.

The play requires talents beyond the actors' usual abilities to sing and dance. Here, they also must move and manipulate the puppets in such a manner that the actors soon become lost in their fabric alter-egos.
It is definitely a challenge for an amateur group to do well.

Damon Hackett, making his directorial debut here, delivers the most professional and exciting production on the Eastlight stage since "Rent".

All the actors/puppeteers execute their roles flawlessly, even when there are two actors controlling one puppet. In this situation, they must move in tandem around the stage and still maintain the believability of the puppet character.

Aside from the technical aspects of the performance, there are some beautiful voices that deliver the clever lyrics just as they were intended.

Assembled here are some of our favorite actors as well as some exciting new faces.

Jarod Hazzard and Kates Sitton shine as the sweet young lovers, Princeton and Kate Monster.

Chip Joyce and Adam Sitton are wonderful as roommates Nicky and Rod (think Bert and Ernie with a gayER edge). Both of these actors are pillars of the local theater community and they deliver the performances here that we have come to expect.

The role of Brian, the wannabe comic, is perfectly suited to Derek Pitzer's considerable talents.
And he certainly delivers the goods, as does Phil Raso as the porn-obsessed Trekkie Monster. Mr. Raso nails Trekkie's voice perfectly.

Chris Black and Kyle King are audience favorites as the Bad Idea Bears.

Dominique Reid makes her Eastlight debut as Gary Coleman (yes, THAT Gary Coleman!). I have seen Ms. Reid in some relatively minor roles in Bradley Theater productions, but her first post-graduation performance here is so impressive that I sure hope to see her again soon on local stages.

Some other 'new faces' are Kristen Williams as Lucy The Slut and Carmen McCarthy as Brian's Asian wife Christmas Eve. Ms. Williams brings the required over-the-top sexuality to the role of Lucy.
Ms. McCarthy manages to make the role of Christmas Eve pivotal to the action of the entire play. Her performance is nothing short of amazing.

I have seen this show professionally, here and in London, and I would put this cast and this direction up against those any day.
Yes, it's that good.

My one and only disappointment with this production is the ill-advised decision to censor the "simulated puppet sex" scene. Is it really any more risque than left-in lyrics such as "she sucks like a hoover", etc.??
If you are going to do theater, please do it as written and respect the intelligence of your audience enough to allow them to decide their own level of tolerance and maturity!

Having said that, this play is still one that must not be missed.

Seeing this performance of "Avenue Q" so soon after Peoria Players' "Drowsy Chaperone" makes me grateful to live in a community with such quality theater options.

The show runs through June 25th at Byron Moore Auditorium in East Peoria High School. Reserve your tickets today by calling 699-SHOW.

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Tony Awards

2011-06-11T21:30:00.000-05:00

Sunday night!!

I predict a sweep for "The Book of Mormon" !

Tomorrow IS a Latter Day...

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Corn Stock Winter Playhouse - 2011-2012 Season

2011-06-10T22:06:00.000-05:00

Corn Stock Theater has announced its 2011-2012 winter season:

"The Vagina Monologues" - directed by Amy Wyckhoff - Oct 14-22, 2011

"Angels in America: Perestroika" - directed by Dani Keil - Nov 11-19, 2011

"Plaza Suite" - directed by Jen Whitmore, Alex Larson, & Howard Gorman - Dec 2-10, 2011

"God of Carnage" - directed by Paul Gordon - Feb 17-25, 2012

"Glengarry Glen Ross" - directed by Renee Boesch - Mar 16-24, 2012

In addition, a play reading workshop will be held in January (dates and details to be announced later.)

Season tickets are still a bargain at only $40 for the five show season. They can be purchased by mailing a check to:

Corn Stock Theater
1700 Park Road
Peoria, IL 61604

...or call the box office at 676-2196.

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Eastlight Theatre "20 for 20" Capital Campaign

2011-05-22T17:45:00.006-05:00

The following is from Eastlight Theatre's Executive Director:

Can you believe Eastlight Theatre is 20 years old? In celebration of our 20th Anniversary, we have a tremendous 2011 Season lined up for you that includes 3 Tony Award winning Best Musicals - "Avenue Q," "Hairspray," and "Phantom and the Opera," April's regional premiere "Xanadu" and the seasonal favorite "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."

Over the past 20 years, Eastlight Theatre has provided some of the Peoria area's best quality shows and we would like to continue to do just that for the next 20. To that extent, we have embarked on a capital campaign to raise $20,000 in honor of our 20th Anniversary and we are asking for your support. Would you consider making a tax deductible donation to our "20 for 20" Campaign? If every Eastlight Patron in your family would donate at least $20, we would easily reach our goal. Every dollar donated to Eastlight Theatre also benefits East Peoria Community High School, so your donation serves a dual purpose!

You will quickly see your donation be put to use for our 2011 Season, as our goals in raising money include:

New smart lights to enhance stage lighting.
Specialty needs for this season's shows such as puppets for "Avenue Q" and specialized set pieces such as a chandelier and a boat for "Phantom of the Opera."
Upgrading Byron Moore auditorium electrical wiring, benefiting both Eastlight and EPCHS
Many more items that enhance the quality of shows we perform for you at Eastlight Theatre.
If you are willing to participate, please fill out the 20 for 20 campaign form by clicking here. Your donation can be mailed to Eastlight Theatre, Attn: "20 for 20", PO Box 8055, East Peoria, IL 61611. As Eastlight Theatre is a Not-for-Profit organization, your employer may provide matching funds for your donation. Please contact the Eastlight Box Office if you need a Matching Funds Form. Thank you so much for your support!

We are also looking for Show Sponsors and video advertisers for our 2011 Season. Please contact Campaign Manager, Robin Hunt at 648-4383 or dnrhunt@aol.com if you or your business would be interested in more information about this opportunity.

With gratitude,
Steve Cordle
Executive Director

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May Poetry Corner

2011-05-15T16:27:00.002-05:00

My Thoughts
- Nikolai Stepanovich Gumilev

Why did you come, my thoughts, in instant,
Like thieves to rob my quiet habitation,
Like vultures, gloomy and malignant,
With thirst for dread retaliation.

My hopes are gone, and ran away my visions,
My eyes were opened by fierce agitation,
And, in the sacred books of new religions,
I read my words, my deals and plans for future actions.

For that, that I with looks so calm and quiet,
Watched them who sailed to victory and glory,
That with my lips I touched the lips in fire,
Which did not have the former sinning story,

That those hands of mine, my own fingers,
Didn’t know a plough, were so thin and pliant,
And that my songs, the rambling meistersingers,
Could only sing, while making a sad sound,

For all this now came repudiation.
Blind men will smash the gentle, deceptive temple,
And thoughts will come into my habitation,
And strangle me, like thieves – a shabby tramper.

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- Theater Review - The Drowsy Chaperone

2011-05-06T22:10:00.008-05:00

Peoria Players Theater closes out their regular 2010-2011 season with the regional premiere of "The Drowsy Chaperone".

This play within a play is one of my current favorites. It is a brilliant musical for people who love musicals.
The entire play takes place in the apartment of the nameless Man In Chair. This is a character with whom it is easy for me to identify, having spent many nights in my life remedying "the blues" by losing myself in a Broadway cast album.

I am fortunate to have seen this show professionally, once with Georgia Engel, who originated the role of Mrs. Tottendale on Broadway.

Having such a fondness for the show, I was somewhat nervous to see it undertaken by a local amateur group.

Well, I am pleased to say that not only does Peoria Players rise to the occasion, they knock this one completely out of the park!

Under Mike Ream's flawless direction, the cast delivers a wonderful and memorable evening that will take you back to the glorious days of the Busby Berkeley-style musicals.

As the curtain rises we meet Man In Chair, who is feeling somewhat blue and decides to spend the evening listening to one of his favorite cast albums, a 1920's musical called "The Drowsy Chaperone".

As he listens, the musical comes alive in his living room.
This play within the play is about a wedding hosted at the home of Mrs. Tottendale, a ditzy and eccentric woman with her servant Underling always in tow.
The bride is Broadway star, Janet Van De Graaf, who is at the peak of her career yet ready to give it all up to marry Robert Martin, the wealthy son of an oil baron.
Janet's producer is on hand to try to stop the wedding and keep his revenue-producing star.

The extensive cast also includes a pair of mobsters posing as pastry chefs, a shrill chorus girl who wants to replace Janet, best man George, Latin Lothario Adolfo, and of course the chaperone accompanying the bride.
The Chaperone loves her drink, even though it tends to make her "drowsy".

The plot soon becomes complicated and involved, moved along by some of the most clever and delightful songs you are likely to hear.

The cast here is uniformly good.

Nate Downs is quite simply perfect as Man In Chair.
Molly Smith wows as Janet. She sings, dances. juggles, does cartwheels, and generally "shows off" in this role. That signature number is worth the ticket price in itself.
Not to be out done, Jacob Hazzard as her groom, also sings, dances, and even roller skates blindfolded!
Barb Couri perfectly captures the essence of the title character. Her rendition of "As We Stumble Along" is wonderful.
Also delightful is Jim Willard as Underling. His deadpan performance is a comedic classic.
Steve Bartolotti wrings every bit of comedy out of his larger than life portrayal of Aldolpho. His performance is as good as I have seen in this role.
Katie McLuckie as Kitty and Matt Stubbs and Robert Pugh as the Tall Brothers are all great, as is Dave Montague as George.

Kudos to Mr.Reams and the entire cast for ending their season with such a bang.

I will go as far as to say that "The Drowsy Chaperone" is the best show that I have seen on the Players' stage in ...well, ever.

In the end, this show "does what a musical is supposed to do. It takes you to another world and it gives you a little tune to carry in your head when you're feeling blue..."

The show runs this weekend and next (through May 15th) at the theater in Lakeview Park.

DO NOT MISS THIS!

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Grand Tour 2011

2011-05-05T19:28:00.006-05:00

The Grand Tour 2011 will be held Sunday May 15th from noon til 5pm.
Featured homes are:

1723 West Moss - (Jan Krause)

301 NE Madison - (Peoria Women's Club)

802 N Sheridan #A-3 - (Paula Sepich and Richard Elam)

802 N Sheridan #A-1 - (Ron Homan)

201 West Columbia Terrace - (David Stotz, George Traylor)

802 West Moss - (Stacey Robertson, Tom Thurston)

1118 N Glenwood - (Sue Nowland)

Tickets: $12 in advance or $15 the day of the tour.
Tickets can be purchased at the following area locations: Sterling Flower Shoppe, Marilyn's Bow K, Floral Expressions, Geier Florist, The Olde Hair Shoppe, Rhythm Kitchen, Best Buds and Haddad's Restaurant at 319 Main St.

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Peoria Civic Center Theater - 2011-2012 Season

2011-04-29T19:17:00.001-05:00

The Peoria Civic Center has announced its 2011-2012 Broadway Theater Series Season.

Regular Season:

"Wicked" - Oct 12-30
"Young Frankenstein" - Nov 12
"Rock of Ages" - Jan 17-18
"South Pacific" - Feb 28-29
"Shrek the Musical" - Apr 24-25

Optional show:

"The Rat Pack is Back!" - May 2

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Bradley University Theatre - 2011-2012 Season

2011-04-29T18:52:00.001-05:00

Bradley University Theatre has announced its 2011-2012 season:

"Ragtime: The Musical" - book by Terrence McNally, lyrics by Lynn Ahern, music by Stephen Flaherty - Sept 22 - Oct 2

"Almost, Maine" - a romantic comedy by John Cariani - Nov 10 - Nov 20

"The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged)" - a hilarious farce by Jess Borgeson, Adam Long, and Daniel Singer - Feb 29 - Mar 4

"The Glass Menagerie" - an American classic by Tennessee Williams - Apr 19 - Apr 29

Season tickets are $45 for adults, $38 for seniors, $23 for students
and can be purchased through the Cultural Events Box Office at 309-677-2651

Additionally, Bradley Theatre will participate in a special event:

"Three University Shakespeare Festival"

.          "The Tempest" by Bradley University - Feb 24 at 8pm
.          "Measure for Measure" by Loyola University - Feb 25 at 8pm
.          "Henry VI" by Western Illinois University - Feb 26 at 2:30pm

Subscribers can attend the Shakespeare Festival for an additional cost:
$25 for adults, $20 for seniors, $15 for students

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- Theater Review - America Live!

2011-04-29T05:08:00.000-05:00

Bradley University Theatre closes their 2011 season with "America Live!"

The production is a unique and interesting multi-media event.
Rooted in America's current obsession with reality television, the show is audience-interactive and live-streamed on the internet during the entire production.

The premise is that we are on the set of a live TV show. Theater patrons may choose any level of involvement in the interactive aspect of the show.
They can opt to simply watch the show as passive viewers.
They can register their cell phones for voting.
Or they can choose to participate directly as members of the cast, members of security, part of the technical crew, or even the janitorial staff.

Indeed, it soon becomes unclear just who is an actor and who is not; what is scripted and what is ad lib.
And obviously that is the point here. Written and directed by Slane Scholar in Residence Jeff Wirth, this play intentionally blurs the lines between theater and reality, between stage and audience.

The result is an interesting theater experience that is definitely out of the norm. While I was expecting a more profound statement on voting and politics in America, I was not disappointed to receive instead a funny and high-energy comment on the "reality" of America and American television.

Some of the funniest bits are the pre-recorded television commercials.
One of the commercials includes a music video that is professional quality and simply delightful.

If you are looking for a show that is funny, smart, and truly innovative, then this is one you should not miss.

The show is produced in collaboration with Bradley University's Department of Interactive Media and runs through May 1st at the Hartmann Center for the Performing Arts.

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April Poetry Corner

2011-04-19T04:43:00.000-05:00

From Gitanjali
by Rabindranath Tagore

Threshold

I was not aware of the moment
when I first crossed the threshold of this life.
What was the power that made me open out into this vast mystery
like a bud in the forest at midnight!
When in the morning I looked upon the light
I felt in a moment that I was no stranger in this world,
that the inscrutable without name and form
had taken me in its arms in the form of my own mother.

Even so, in death the same unknown will appear as ever known to me.
And because I love this life,
I know I shall love death as well.
The child cries out
when from the right breast the mother takes it away,
in the very next moment to find in the left one its consolation.

Parting Words

When I go from hence
let this be my parting word,
that what I have seen is unsurpassable.
I have tasted of the hidden honey of this lotus
that expands on the ocean of light,
and thus am I blessed
---let this be my parting word.
In this playhouse of infinite forms
I have had my play
and here have I caught sight of him that is formless.
My whole body and my limbs
have thrilled with his touch who is beyond touch;
and if the end comes here, let it come
---let this be my parting word.

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Something Wicked This Way Comes

2011-04-17T07:11:00.000-05:00

The Peoria Civic Center Theater has announced that the 2011 touring company for "Wicked" will be making its only stop in Illinois at the PCC theater.

The show will run from October 12th through October 30th for an amazing total of 24 performances.

Ticket information will be announced at a later date.

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The Sky Is Falling At Bradley U !!

2011-04-15T18:07:00.000-05:00

Is anyone else getting weary of all the gnashing of teeth and pulling of hair over WCBU's format change?

It seems every other day brings a new whining letter to the editor or online posting over the public radio station's decision to change from a classical music/news format to all news/talk.

One well-known Patroness of the Arts was so upset, that in her rush to telephone in her outrage, she fell and broke her hip!

To those of you who simply cannot continue living without your daily dose of the 1750 hit parade, let me offer a suggestion.

Go immediately to Best Buy or K-Mart or any other venue selling recorded music.
I guarantee they will have a bin of 99¢ CDs of this genre.
They are cheap and prolific because....well, nobody wants 'em.

Use that $25 that you gave to WCBU last year (and assumed you were paying everyone's salary) and buy enough CDs to play all day.

As for me, I will continue to enjoy "Morning Edition" every day and "This American Life" when I can catch it.
And I just sent my increased check to help pay for them.

Oh, and in that little memo portion of the check, I wrote "In Honor Of Esther Cohen's Hip".

Please consider upping YOUR support to make up for the boycotters.

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- Theater Review - Xanadu

2011-04-09T08:39:00.000-05:00

Eastlight Theatre opened their 20th season on Friday night with the regional premiere of "Xanadu".

I have made the statement here before that I feel Eastlight sets the bar for local theater. Their productions have always been professional and well done, and I always anticipate their short season of three plays.

However, I am sad to say that all the gods on Olympus could not make this turkey sing.

There have been a lot of successful musicals made from films that were not necessarily successful. Examples of this include "Hairspray" (coming later in Eastlight's season), "The Producers", "Spamalot", etc.

The difference is that these films, while not blockbusters, were smart and funny gems that achieved some level of cult devotion.

"Xanadu", on the other hand, was a truly bad movie that is not much improved by its transfer to the stage.

Having said this, there were some excellent performances that might have saved this production, if not for technical issues.

First and foremost is Jeremy Kelly.
Mr. Kelly previously lit up the Eastlight stage with his wonderful performances in last season's "Altar Boyz" and "All Shook Up".
Here, as Sonny Malone, he does everything an actor can do for the role. His singing and dancing are truly excellent.

Ayana Pankey and Erin Miller shine as Melpomene and Calliope respectively. Ms. Miller in particular was an audience favorite as she captured all the comedic elements of her role.

Julie Boesch brings the required sweetness to her role as Kira/Clio. (and she is not too bad on roller skates!)

Carl Williams as Danny McGuire/Zeus has a fine voice, although his acting performance can only be described as wooden.

With an exception or two, the choreography was sub-standard, as is the direction.

Part of the problem, and this is particularly true of the closing title number, is that the performers require an energetic response from the audience.
Sadly, this was the sparsest crowd I have ever seen at Eastlight. The older crowd did not help the cast deliver the knockout finale that could have been achieved.

And now about those technical issues.

I have often criticized the poor sound quality at Peoria Players. This has never been a problem at Eastlight.

Until last night.

While the male lead came through loud and clear, the other players were at times unintelligible. The women particularly were muffled and unclear during the entire first act.

What happened, Eastlight?
Did you get a new sound system? If so, please try to get the old one back.
Did you get new mics? If so, please try to get the old ones back.
Did you get new sound technicians? If so, please try to get the old ones back.
Is this a classic case of fixing something that wasn't broken?

I can honestly say this is one of the very few times I have been disappointed with an Eastlight performance.
Let's hope that it can be chalked up to opening night jitters and technical snafus that will be improved for the rest of the run.

"Xanadu" continues April 9th, 10th, and the 13th through the 16th at East Peoria Community High School Auditorium. Tickets can be reserved through the box office at 699-SHOW.

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Civil War Ghosts & Legends

2011-04-07T17:30:00.000-05:00

Prairie Folklore Theatre is hosting a special performance of "Civil War Ghosts and Legends" to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first shots fired on Fort Sumter.

This is an original musical program featuring Barry Cloyd and Brian "Fox" Ellis.

True stories and legends are woven with traditional songs and poetry from this most un-Civil War.

Join us as we travel back in time to the bloody battlefields, prison camps and haunted graveyards of America’s deadliest conflict.

Horror stories by Ambrose Bierce and songs by Stephen Foster bring to life this chapter in history.

The show features storyteller and historian Brian “Fox” Ellis with folksinger, and songwriter, Barry Cloyd.
In the persona of Mathias Stritt, Fox puts the grand arc of the war into perspective.
Cloyd portrays Joseph Henry Munroe, the Drummer Boy of Shiloh who, later in life, taught music at Peoria High and shares his love for the songs of the era.

Together, these two old ghosts, Stritt and Munroe, weave true stories with original music; their first hand knowledge of the war with traditional folk tunes.

The single performance will be April 12th, at 7:00pm at the GAR Hall at the corner of Madison and Hamilton in Downtown Peoria.

Tickets are only $10 for adult s and $5 for children. Please call 309-689-8000 for reservations.

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City Council Endorsements

2011-04-01T17:41:00.000-05:00

As I have stated in a previous post, Historic Preservation has been politicized as never before by current representatives on the Peoria City Council. This has forced preservationists to step up to the political plate in the current election.

The vast majority of our city's structural treasures exist in the first three council districts, which encompass the oldest areas of the city.

I believe that the most committed citizen preservationists live in the second district, and traditionally the second district councilperson has been the leader in representing this ideal.

There has also been some history of preservation leadership in the third district seat (particularly under Bob Manning's tenure). A commitment to Historic Preservation by the first district representative has always been lacking, although, fortunately, there exists in the near north neighborhoods, a committed group of citizen activists .

In the second district, Barbara Van Auken has been largely responsible for the politicization of the issue and she long ago abandoned representation of her constituents on this issue. Her actions in destroying the Roanoke apartments led to the eventual evisceration of the Peoria's Historic Preservation ordinance.

Tim Riggenbach, in the third district exhibits little commitment to, or understanding of the broad advantages of Historic Preservation.

First district representative Clyde Gulley also shows little interest or respect of the city's rich history.

With this 'dereliction of duty' by the representatives in the first three council districts, leadership on preservation issues from the at-large councilmen has become increasingly important. Of the current five at-large reps, the first three districts can claim only one as an actual resident (Gary Sandberg in the second district).

The recent actions taken in regards the Historic Preservation Ordinance give great importance to this at-large election.

The good news is this: The slate of ten candidates vying for the five at-large seats is one of the best slates in recent memory. It seems that a lot of good people are stepping up to serve.

As a "capital HP" Historic Preservationist, I am comfortable in endorsing four of these people.

First and foremost is Gary Sandberg. While Gary can come across as combative and confrontational, he is and always has been a dependable friend of Historic Preservation. As an architect and historian, he realizes the true value in preserving the unique identity of the city through her important structures. In speaking with others, the most frequent criticism I hear is this: "I know what Gary is against, but what is he FOR?" Well, I can emphatically answer: He is FOR Historic Preservation!
Councilman Sandberg MUST be retained.

The other three (in no particular order) are as follows:

Beth Akeson is a self-defined preservationist. As an alumna of the Heart of Peoria Commission, she has developed a true understanding of what it takes to make heritage neighborhoods viable and desirable. Her commitment to Historic Preservation is unquestioned.

CJ Summers served alongside Beth on the Heart of Peoria Commission, and the experience also left him with the same respect for true New Urbanism. As a resident of the Uplands, he understands what it takes to build and maintain a neighborhood, and the role that Historic Preservation plays in that equation.

Chuck Grayeb has given his personal pledge to restoring the Historic Preservation Ordinance and to seeing that true preservationists are appointed to the HPC. While there are some within the preservationist community who question Chuck's true dedication to the issue, I remind them of his role in the preservation and restoration of Historic Springdale Cemetery. Also, of the ten candidates, he is the ONLY one who actually lives in an Historic District. His home on High Street is beautifully maintained and reflects his respect for its history. Additionally, he owns rental buildings on the northside that also are well maintained with respect to their period architecture.

Please consider lending your support and your votes to these candidates.

To have ALL FOUR of these sent to the council would be an Historic Preservationist's dream!

What then about the other six candidates?
Briefly, here is my evaluation:

Andre Williams comes across as a good and likable man. He is intelligent and well-spoken. I am not sure that he has a good understanding of preservation issues yet, but I would not at all be disappointed with his election. Regardless of the outcome of this election, I hope he will continue and expand his public service profile.

Chuck Weaver also is a likable man. However, his comment of taking six months to evaluate the Historic Preservation Ordinance is off-putting. How many buildings can be bulldozed in the time it takes him to DECIDE if he wants to support preservation or not. Also, I have never seen the labels "preservationist" and "developer" reside comfortably in the same body.

George Azouri is a nice kid. He is, to put it nicely as possible, simply out of his league. While I admire his desire to serve, he exhibits little understanding not only of preservation, but other major issues as well. The city is at too critical a juncture to entrust important decisions to one so green.

Ryan Spain has a record that speaks for itself. He has voted against designation of worthy and obviously historic buildings like the Spurck House (Family House) and the Duroc Building (Amvets). He also supported the destruction of the Roanoke Apartments. He has been no friend of Historic Preservation.

A not-so-nice-guy, Jim Stowell has exhibited a meanness in online posts and on the 150 BOE that is not needed at the horseshoe. He has supported ownership veto power for historic designation, and has no other qualities to recommend his election.

Last and certainly least is Eric Turner. His recent decimation of the ordinance was not only devastating to Historic Preservation, but a classic example of bad legislating. Writing an ordinance on the fly as he did is simply sloppy and opens a whole can of worms that is already bearing fruit in a lawsuit from Westminster Church. His bad decision will end up costing the city a bunch in litigation fees. Mr. Turner has a history of knee-jerk responses and flip-flopping, with little vision to larger issues. Enough is simply enough.
Councilman Turner MUST be defeated.

Whether or not you agree with these personal evaluations and recommendations, please do your civic duty and get out and vote on April 5th!
The future (and history!) of your city depends on it.

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Global Warming Solutions Group - City Council Candidate Survey Results

2011-03-30T16:50:00.002-05:00

What follows is a guest editorial from Kassy Killey of the Global Warming Solutions Group of Central Illinois.

Global Warming Solutions Group of Central Illinois is pleased to release the results of its environmentally-focused survey of the 2011 Peoria City Council At-Large candidates. Eight of the ten candidates responded to a five-question survey. Only Eric Turner and George Azouri did not. The candidates were polled for ideas on increasing recycling participation, views on the piggyback landfill expansion, beliefs about human-caused climate change, and approaches to making Peoria a more sustainable city. They were also given a chance to showcase how they are making their own lives more sustainable.

In April 2010 Peoria Disposal Company (PDC) became the city’s waste hauler, offering free curbside recycling with a once-a-month pickup. At that time, PDC told the Peoria Journal Star (5/25/2010) it was targeting 30% participation. Right now, around 15% of Peoria households are enrolled. When asked what should be done, all candidates expressed support for recycling. Many suggested education and incentives. Sandberg would increase recycling pickup frequency and pay for it by reducing yard waste pickups. Spain would fund increased recycling pickups by replacing Waste Management as the landfill operator, a move he believes would save the city $350,000 a year. Summers supports a “pay as you throw” model with free, more frequent recycling pickups. Akeson would study mandatory recycling programs in other cities and look at requiring landlords to provide recycling for all tenants.

Candidates were also questioned about the proposed piggyback expansion of the city/county municipal waste landfill. As background, when PDC won the landfill contract it proposed a 10 million ton standalone expansion. Now alternative designs under consideration include an 18 million ton expansion piggybacked on top of the existing landfill projected to create landfill capacity through 2070. Grayeb, Sandberg and Akeson share the environmental community’s concerns about the long-term integrity of a piggyback landfill. Sandberg also points out that creating excess capacity drives the wrong behavior—burying waste instead of reuse and recycling. Neither Stowell nor Summers believe Peoria should be taking waste from other communities. Weaver, Williams and Spain all see the need for further study.

When asked whether they believed “human activities are the most significant contributing factor to the very real threat of abrupt and disruptive climate change,” five candidates gave an unequivocal “yes.” Weaver and Williams did not fully commit to the belief, but emphasized that regardless of whether climate change is human-caused or not, we must act. Summers flatly answered “no,” but shared his belief that humans need to be better stewards of the environment.

Everyone recognizes that with the long-term fiscal outlook, there will be very limited local, state and federal funds for making Peoria more sustainable. Candidates were asked how Peoria could be more competitive for these scarce funds, what low- or no-cost initiatives could be pursued, and how to best utilize existing tools such as the energy efficiency revolving fund. Many candidates indicated the need for a shared vision and a local approach. Sandberg believes that government is not the solution, using the example of a decision to subsidize downtown parking rather than mass transit. Spain pointed to his track record of securing scarce funds for initiatives such as sustainable streetscapes, storm water management and alternative energy. Summers and Akeson, both vocal proponents of the Heart of Peoria plan to combat sprawl, see dense, walkable neighborhoods as a route to sustainability. Weaver suggests using “global conscience” to determine where sustainability funds are best spent, even if it is not Peoria.

All eight candidates have made laudable personal lifestyle changes. Seven of eight recycle. Grayeb and Spain drive hybrids. Williams and his wife share a car. Sandberg drives his 50 mpg motorcycle year round. Grayeb and Weaver have both made energy efficiency improvements in buildings they own. Sandberg keeps his carbon footprint small in a 1000 square foot home and uses his single-room air conditioner fewer than 10 nights a year. Summers comes from an older, walkable neighborhood. Akeson made the decision to send only one campaign mailing, keeping excess campaign literature out of the landfill.

Global Warming Solutions Group thanks the responding candidates for their thoughtful answers and looks forward to working with the new council to make Peoria a more sustainable community. The candidate survey was intended as a public education tool, not to endorse any particular candidate. To that end, we have attempted to create an unbiased summary and published the full set of candidate responses on our web site, www.gwsolutionsgroup.com. And, regardless of where you stand on environmental issues, Global Warming Solutions Group encourages you to get out and vote on April 5, 2011.

About our group:

The Global Warming Solutions advocates for practical local solutions to the problems posed by global warming. We are a coalition of individuals and organizations interested in a more sustainable Central Illinois. We began as an offshoot of the Heart of Illinois chapter of the Sierra Club in 2007. Anyone is welcome to get involved and help us promote energy conservation, recycling and exploration of alternative energy sources in our community.

Visit our web site at http://www.gwsolutionsgroup.com/ or join us on

Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/gwsolutionsgroup) or

Twitter (http://twitter.com/ciglobalwarming) for details.

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CILF Candidates Forum

2011-03-22T19:02:00.004-05:00

The Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation is pleased to offer this opportunity for the general public to hear and ask questions of the City Council candidates.

All 2011 council candidates have been invited to attend.

• Thursday, March 24, 2011
• 7:00 pm
• G.A.R. Hall, 416 Hamilton in downtown Peoria

Peoria At-Large City Council Candidates

• Beth Akeson
• George Azouri
• Chuck Grayeb
• Gary Sandberg
• Ryan Spain
• Jim Stowell
• C.J. Summers
• W. Eric Turner
• Chuck Weaver
• Andre Williams

Please pass the word to anyone who would like to attend.

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And The Oscar Goes To...

2011-03-22T18:38:00.001-05:00

Me!

Ok, there were 141 other people who also got all of the Oscar picks right in the Peoria Journal Star contest.

But my entry was drawn as the second place winner for Rave Theater.

I received my prize in the mail - THIRTY-SIX free movie passes!

Not bad for a guy who saw only four of the ten Best Picture nominees!

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March Poetry Corner

2011-03-13T06:49:00.000-05:00

What Is So Rare As A Day In June
- James Russell Lowell

And what is so rare as a day in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days;
Then Heaven tries earth if it be in tune,
And over it softly her warm ear lays;
Whether we look, or whether we listen,
We hear life murmur, or see it glisten;
Every clod feels a stir of might,
An instinct within it that reaches and towers,
And, groping blindly above it for light,
Climbs to a soul in grass and flowers;
The flush of life may well be seen
Thrilling back over hills and valleys;
The cowslip startles in meadows green,
The buttercup catches the sun in its chalice,
And there's never a leaf nor a blade too mean
To be some happy creature's palace;
The little bird sits at his door in the sun,
Atilt like a blossom among the leaves,
And lets his illumined being o'errun
With the deluge of summer it receives;
His mate feels the eggs beneath her wings,
And the heart in her dumb breast flutters and sings;
He sings to the wide world, and she to her nest,-
In the nice ear of Nature which song is the best?

Now is the high-tide of the year,
And whatever of life hath ebbed away
Comes flooding back with a ripply cheer,
Into every bare inlet and creek and bay;
Now the heart is so full that a drop overfills it,
We are happy now because God wills it;
No matter how barren the past may have been,
'Tis enough for us now that the leaves are green;
We sit in the warm shade and feel right well
How the sap creeps up and the blossoms swell;
We may shut our eyes but we cannot help knowing
That skies are clear and grass is growing;
The breeze comes whispering in our ear,
That dandelions are blossoming near,
That maize has sprouted, that streams are flowing,
That the river is bluer than the sky,
That the robin is plastering his house hard by;
And if the breeze kept the good news back,
For our couriers we should not lack;
We could guess it all by yon heifer's lowing,-
And hark! How clear bold chanticleer,
Warmed with the new wine of the year,
Tells all in his lusty crowing!

Joy comes, grief goes, we know not how;
Everything is happy now,
Everything is upward striving;
'Tis as easy now for the heart to be true
As for grass to be green or skies to be blue,-
'Tis for the natural way of living:
Who knows whither the clouds have fled?
In the unscarred heaven they leave not wake,
And the eyes forget the tears they have shed,
The heart forgets its sorrow and ache;
The soul partakes the season's youth,
And the sulphurous rifts of passion and woe
Lie deep 'neath a silence pure and smooth,
Like burnt-out craters healed with snow.

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- Theater Review - The Women

2011-03-12T16:24:00.001-06:00

Peoria Players Theater continued its 2010-2011 season with the Friday night opening of the Clare Boothe Luce classic comedy, "The Women".

A couple dozen great comedic performances in a good solid production can almost redeem a play that may well have outlived its shelf life.

Written in 1936 by writer, editor, and politician Luce, the play celebrates the bitchiness of socialite women who have their 'jungle red' claws sharpened in readiness to fight for their men.

The George Cukor movie version featured a slew of Hollywood stars including Norma Shearer, Rosalind Russell, and Joan Crawford, and became an enduring camp classic due to its plethora of one-line zingers.

This Peoria Players production is competently directed by Steve Bortolotti, and the all female cast of twenty-some women deliver those one-liners with relish.

Kerri Rae Hinman stars as the too-nice Mary Haines who must learn the art of sharpening her claws. And indeed she has no shortage of teachers.

Cheryl Dawn Koenig is wonderful as the deliciously duplicitous Sylvia Fowler.

Also noteworthy is Sally Hodge as the much-married Countess de Lage.

Susan Irwin has fun as the constantly pregnant Edith Potter.

Turning in equally good performances are Mary Lang as Lucy, Casey GoldmanDewitt as Peggy Day, and Rebecca Somogyi as Miriam Aarons.

In the end, this is a fun night of theater, with a heavy dose of laughter.
And yet there is a bit of discomfort in watching women who define themselves only in terms of their child-bearing abilities and in the stature of their husbands and boyfriends.
The never-seen but often-discussed men of the play are given a pass for their infidelities because... well, that's just how men are.

If you can get past this and put yourself in a 1930's frame of mind, then by all means go see this fun-filled show.

It runs through March 20th at Peoria Players.

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- Theater Review - Bus Stop

2011-02-27T21:30:00.000-06:00

On Saturday night, I joined a small group of people at the Peoria Civic Center for the Montana Repertory Theatre's presentation of "Bus Stop".

I say "small group" because it was one of the sparsest audiences I have seen at a Civic Center Theater production.
What a shame that so few people were on hand to enjoy this exciting event.

Peoria was given a rare treat in this visit from the prestigious Montana Rep and their excellent production of this William Inge classic.

While many people are familiar with the 1956 film version starring Marilyn Monroe and Don Murray, the stage version is much cleaner and succinct.

The entire play takes place in a diner west of Kansas City in March of 1955. The diner serves as a bus stop on bus routes to and from the American west. A snowstorm has closed the highway and stranded the bus and its passengers at the diner for most of a night.

The action explores the various relationships between the eight characters.
There is Bo, the immature, inexperienced cowboy who is taking cabaret singer Cherie (literally by force) to his ranch in Montana to be his wife.
There is the married owner of the diner, Grace, who is beginning a relationship with the bus driver Carl.
Another of the passengers is Professor Lyman, a drunken former teacher with a shady past involving underage girls. He begins a flirtation with the young, naive waitress Elma.
Virgil is an older cowboy and father figure to Bo. He is ultimately and literally left out in the cold at play's end.
Overseeing the group is Sheriff Will. His is the voice of morality, reason, and conscience.

All of the actors did a splendid job and the diner set was nothing short of perfect.

Thanks to the Montana Repertory Theatre for this wonderful production, and thanks to the Peoria Civic Center for taking a chance on a single night's engagement.

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- Theater Review - The Learned Ladies

2011-02-26T18:01:00.001-06:00

For the latest offering of the 2011 season, Bradley University Theater presents "The Learned Ladies".

Pulling off a Moliere comedy can be a tall order for a young troupe of actors. It is no easy feat to perform a 339 year old French farce, translated into English and delivered in rapid-fire rhyming verse.

And yet true to our expectations, the Bradley U students manage to make it work.

At the center of the story are two young lovers, Henriette and Clitandre. Their plans to marry are soon thwarted by Henriette's sister, Armande, her mother Philaminte, and her Aunt Belise.

These three women are the "learned ladies", who value art and culture above all else. They worship the hackneyed works of their protege, Trissotin.
Trissotin is a poet of dubious talent and an opportunist with his eyes on the family fortune when the Learned Ladies decide that he should be the chosen mate for Henriette.

Henriette's father, Chrysale, and her Uncle Ariste both wish for Henriette to follow her heart into a union with Clitandre. Chrysale, however, is a weak and hen-pecked man who allows his wife to run the family.

What follows is a series of outrageous and funny events that culminate in a surprise twist where all is resolved and made clear.

As Trissotin, BU veteran Andrew Kuhlman is in the type of role that he does well and that he obviously loves - one that is loud, over the top, and larger than life.

The Learned Ladies are played with zeal by Sarah Tilford, Janice Gerlach, and Chloe Dzielak. Their facial expressions and effusiveness are perfectly suited for farce.
Ms. Tilford's Belise is a particular delight. The older maiden aunt remains convinced in her mind that nearly every young man must be secretly in love with her.

Julian Stroup gets a lot of mileage out of his role as Chrysale, the meek husband who finally finds his way to head of his household. Ross Cochran also is good as his brother Ariste, who becomes the hero of the tale.

Laura Schermer and Brian Zinda are convincingly sweet as the young lovers.

The Bradley Theater group always excels at set construction and this is no exception. The Baroque French drawing room is impressive and functional to the execution of the play. Well done.

As I said, this is a difficult play that is well performed here by the Bradley troupe.
If one overlooks the underlying themes of anti-intellectualism and female subservience, the play can still be funny and enjoyable after nearly three and a half centuries.

It continues Saturday, February 26th through Sunday, March 6th at the Hartmann Center for the Performing Arts on the Bradley University campus.

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Peoria's Song

2011-02-26T07:23:00.009-06:00

What follows is a 'guest editorial' from Margaret Cousin, the current Vice-President of Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation.
It is the complete version of an edited op-ed piece published in the PJStar.

Peoria's Song

I talk a lot about buildings that sing. Their loveliness creates a special kind of music that stirs a powerful response in me. Most often it’s old buildings that do this. Perhaps this is because they have those special ingredients of historic importance and architectural uniqueness that evoke an awareness of and perspective on our past.

We all cherish family heirlooms and consider ourselves fortunate if they pass down to us. They are the remaining tangible evidence of people whose stories we know, who contributed to our own evolution of identity and character. Who among us would go into the attic of a beloved relative and throw treasures away without serious, measured regard for their intrinsic value and the consequences of their loss? Our city is no different. It is our larger family. It is our greater history. It has a legacy of its own.

During several glorious autumn weekends in 2009, I made the photo album and spreadsheet that identify some of the structures in Peoria with local designation potential. They represent a portion of our extant historic stock, an astounding percent having already been destroyed. As a CLG (Certified Local Government), Peoria is required to maintain an effective historic preservation program for the identification and protection of historic resources. Not only should such a survey have been done at some point in the last 20 years to fulfill our standing with the State of Illinois, but the survey process should be ongoing. This “list” wasn’t meant to target or threaten, although it was perceived as such and was, ironically enough, produced at the request of the City Council. It was meant to identify the most significant and meaningful of our structures. These examples, sprinkled throughout our core city and gracing our streetscapes, are the singular visual and cultural inheritance of our forefathers. They are the heirlooms in our attic.

The project stirred up such consternation that it helped trigger the events which resulted in the City Council’s February 8, 2011 vote to monumentally alter our historic preservation ordinance. The Council voluntarily relinquished its role in the necessary, active process of historic preservation, a process aimed at protecting our cultural heritage. Preservation accomplishes a very pertinent and vital goal, that of promoting tourism, assuring stable neighborhoods and enhanced property values via strong historic districts, and cultivating sustained economic activity in Peoria’s center. The decision to abdicate participation in anything other than mandatory owner consent landmark cases, which are by their nature benign rather than challenging, opened the door for demolition at will. Of any or all of our most noteworthy vintage elements, possibly too old-fashioned, too worn out, too costly to be viewed as viable by their present custodians. With such an ordinance in place, Easton Mansion would not have risen from its ashes like a phoenix under the loving care of Jane Converse, nor would the beautifully restored and successful adaptive reuse of the Musicians Hall, Busey Bank, grace Kumpf Boulevard.

By making no provision for any other entity to fill the footprints it has vacated, the Council also left a critical vacuum with no representative of the community’s interests able to act on behalf of those interests. Compounding this with the directive that put the “onus” for owner education on preservationists turned what had been a collaborative effort into a lonely endeavor moving forward. “Unpleasant burden” is the literal definition of that word, and it is discouraging to think of our designation efforts and achievements in those terms.

We will be as good as the best of our decisions or as mediocre as the worst. We will sink, or we will soar. Shall we be a city whose claim to fame is what we used to have? Sad, nostalgic mentions on one of the Peoria Historical Society’s delightful and educational trolley tours? I want my Peoria skyline to include inspiring profiles from the past as well as contemporary testaments to the future. I want my elected officials to aspire to take part in that process through a restored ordinance. Not just celebrating the landmark after someone else has persuaded and researched and presented it, but in concerted partnership to promote and preserve the surviving, remarkable historic resources we cannot afford to lose. Therein lies the true vision, the true victory. For the City Council, for preservationists, and for Peoria.

Margaret E. Cousin, Vice-President, Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation

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- Theater Review - Angels in America: Millennium Approaches

2011-02-19T17:32:00.002-06:00

The Corn Stock Winter Playhouse opened its latest presentation on Friday night:
"Angels in America: Millennium Approaches".

I must admit that when Corn Stock first announced their winter season, I was surprised and apprehensive to see this play in the line-up.
It is such an epic and complex piece that it is an ambitious undertaking for any amateur theater group and especially for the intimate confines of the Winter Playhouse's in-the-round venue.

The Corn Stock players not only rose to the challenge, they have presented here one of the finest collections of ensemble acting seen locally since Peoria Players' "Diary of Anne Frank".

This Pulitzer Prize winning first half of Tony Kushner's epic drama is set in Ronald Reagan's America of the mid eighties. It uses politics and the AIDS holocaust to explore issues of identity, inner struggle, morality, and spirituality.
Although the face of the AIDS epidemic has changed drastically in the last twenty-five years, this play remains extremely relevant in today's America of increased political divisiveness between the left and the right.

At the heart of the tale is Prior Walter, a young man recently diagnosed with AIDS and in a relationship with Louis Ironson, a young Jewish man confronting his own issues of commitment and loyalty.

Prior's life is paralleled with that of Joe Pitt, a young Mormon lawyer struggling with his sexual identity. His new young wife, Harper, lives in her own Valium fueled fantasy world.

Joe is being courted by Roy Cohn to come to Washington as a part of the Reagan Justice Department. The Cohn character (based on the real person) is a ruthless closeted man also recently diagnosed with AIDS. For Cohn the ultimate aphrodisiac truly is power and the wielding of it to control others.
He considers his life's greatest accomplishment to be securing the death penalty for Ethel Rosenberg, using his influence in an illicit manner to accomplish it.

The play calls for eight actors to play multiple roles, some intentionally cross-gendered. These eight actors, without exception, deliver superb performances.

Jacob Uhlman is perfectly cast as Prior Walter. His physical appearance coupled with his emotional delivery bring the character to life. He captures the correct mix of camp and pathos.

The character of Roy Cohn is one of the nastiest and most repulsive villains in modern drama. Clark Rians sinks his teeth into this role like a pit bull and shakes every bit of intensity and meanness out of it.

Landen Zumwalt is right on the money in his performance as the extremely conflicted Joe Pitt, walking the emotional tightrope between his Mormon upbringing and his inner desires.

Emily Crusen is excellent as the drug-addled Harper Pitt, She shines particularly brightly in the Antarctica fantasy scene.

Rebecca Frankel Clifton shows a terrific range in playing two male and two female characters. She is Hannah Pitt (Joes' mother), Henry, Rabbi Chemelwitz, and Ethel Rosenberg. She brings believability to each of these varied roles, all amazing performances.

Will Loftus personifies Jewish Guilt as Louis Ironson. His character is the link between the parallel narratives.
Last year, Mr. Loftus impressed with his comedic performance as William Barfee in EastLight's "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee". He shows us here that he does drama equally well.

Eric Gore (Belize, and Mr. Lies) and Chloe Whiting Stevens (Nurse Emily, Sister Chapter, Homeless Woman, and The Angel) round out this excellent cast with their own great individual performances.

Although the dragging in and out of large set pieces is a bit distracting, the play is for the most part well executed from a technical standpoint.
The story is enhanced through the projection of video images onto two large screens. The images contain snapshots of America during the 1980s.
In larger theatrical performances, the Angel makes her appearance in a most dramatic fashion, bursting through the wall or ceiling.
The Angel's appearance here is perfectly orchestrated in consideration of the smallness of the space.

In addition to stage management and technical staff, congratulations must be given to Director Dani Keil for this first rate production.

It was announced that the second half of the play, "Angels in America: Perestroika" will be performed in the Winter Playhouse's 2011-2012 season. I can only hope that the same director and cast will return for that effort.

This first half of the play runs a full three and a half hours, excluding two intermissions totalling twenty minutes. That may seem like a lengthy evening, but believe me, you will not want to see the end of a show this good.

Performances continue tonight, tomorrow, and through next Saturday. Tickets are only $10 for adults, $7 for students and may be purchased at the door or by calling the box office at 676-2196.

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February Poetry Corner

2011-02-13T19:50:00.000-06:00

When You Are Old
by William Butler Yeats

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim Soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

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Peoria Players 2011 - 2012 Season

2011-02-05T10:34:00.000-06:00

Peoria Players has announced its 2011 -2012 Season:

Musical To Be Announced - September 9-11, 14-18, 2011

Over The River And Through The Woods - October 7-9, 13-16, 2011

Annie - November 11-13, 16-20, 2011

Titanic the Musical - February 3-5, 8-12, 2012

Big River - March 16-18, 21-25, 2012

Chicago - May 4-6, 9-13, 2012

Season tickets - $75 - $80
Available at the theater box office in Lakeview Park or by calling 688-4473.

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- Theater Review - The Wizard of Oz

2011-02-05T09:58:00.001-06:00

Peoria Players continued their season with the Friday night opening of "The Wizard of Oz".

The show is an ambitious extravaganza that provides a delightful, if only slightly uneven, night of theater enjoyment.

This production closely follows the 1939 movie version of the Frank Baum classic, with a few notable exceptions. Most exciting of these is the inclusion of the lost Jitterbug number.
Oz fans are well acquainted with the story of this scene. Although it is referred to by the witch in the final movie, the scene was deleted and all film destroyed (however, many fans still fantasize about prints being discovered someday in a Hollywood vault!).
In this number, the Wicked Witch sets her Jitterbug upon the four travellers. The bite of the Jitterbug results in uncontrollable dancing, and the choreography in this number is absolutely wonderful.
The dancing in this one number is well worth the price of admission.

With a cast featuring literally dozens of actors, there are several standout performances.

Possessing a lovely voice and an impressive stage presence, Clare Zell is superb as Dorothy Gale.
Katie McLuckie's Glinda is right on the mark.
Barb Couri, Mary Sierra, and Carol Urish are delightful as the iconic apple trees.
Roger Roemer shines as the palace guard.
Bryan Blanks is great at the Tin Man, although with a bad mic, his performance was marred by Players' perennial sound problems.
Julie Boesch does a great turn as the Witch.
Charles Killen's Lion is appropriately endearing.
Rose Blume (great name!) and Andrew Harlan stand out among Munchkins as the Barrister and the Coroner respectively.

The very best performance of the night was turned in by Josh Hammond as the Scarecrow. He perfectly nailed the difficult dance moves that were epitomized by Ray Bolger in the film version. He captured his character perfectly, and with a great voice to boot, he stole the show.

One of the problem numbers was "Ding Dong The Witch is Dead". Although the Winkies did a fine job in their "March of the Winkies", this signature number appeared totally unrehearsed.

Another weak link in the show was the setting. The resolving center set was very impressive, but the Munchkin village was uninspired and a couple of the set pieces crossed from amateurish to downright cheesy.
An example is Professor Marvel's wagon and more importantly, Glinda's bubble.
The bubble appeared to be covered by something like screen wire that didn't quite come together in the middle. A simple illuminated sphere would have been much more effective.

On a more positive staging note, the use of video projection on the theater ceiling for the tornado and for the encounter with the Wizard was inspired and it added a high-tech update to this familiar story.

With a couple small glitches aside, this is a truly epic production, and one that your children and grandchildren will love.

And so will you.

Kudos to Mary Ellen Ulrich for her direction and to Aliesha Graves for her excellent choreography!

The show runs through next weekend at the theater in Lakeview Park.

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'Nuff Said

2011-02-02T04:30:00.000-06:00

The Latest Assault on Historic Preservation

2011-01-23T13:22:00.003-06:00

Just a few short weeks ago, the Peoria City Council gutted the Historic Preservation Ordinance by "de-listing" a designated landmark, the Roanoke Apartments.

The building's owner, Trinity Lutheran Church ,wasted no time in its demolition.
Now all that remains of that beautiful Prairie-style structure are photos and a flat plot of dirt where the building proudly stood for a century.

Now, adding insult to injury, the council continues their assault on the Historic Preservation Ordinance. This Tuesday, they will vote on increases in fees by amounts that have never before been seen.

Although they are arguing that the fee increases are needed to offset the cost of enforcement, they seem more designed to stifle preservation and make landmarking more difficult and less desirable for the owners of historic structures.

For many years, a Certificate of Appropriateness has cost the home-owner $25. This certificate is required for anyone who wants to perform an exterior update to an historic structure in accordance with the law.

Granted the $25 fee seems low, so what is a reasonable increase?
Perhaps a hike to $35 or $40?
Even a doubling of the fee to $50, while steep, could be argued as necessary.

But, no.

Henry Holling and his council henchmen have decided to raise the fee to $250.
That's right, a ten-fold increase.
That is a fee increase of ONE THOUSAND PERCENT!

When is the last time you have seen any governmental fee (at any level) increased by ONE THOUSAND PERCENT?

This means that any homeowner who wants to change the position of a downspout or add an attached flower box will need to pay $250 simply to ASK FOR PERMISSION.
(The request may well be denied with no refund or rebate of this fee).

Additionally, city staff is recommending the same ONE THOUSAND PERCENT increase in the fee for an individual landmark application. Currently, the fee is $50. Under the staff recommended changes, the fee would rise to $505 (the Historic Preservation Commission has recommended an increase to $105).

These fees seem less designed to increase revenue, but rather to discourage landmarking and preservation by owners. It discourages owners to landmark by having to pay $505 for consideration and knowing that any future external project is automatically increased by $250.
It also encourages current owners of historic homes to circumvent the law and perform updates without HPC approval.

It is hard to believe that this is even a serious consideration, and yet there it is in black and white on the council agenda.

CJ Summers, the premiere local blogger, and current candidate for City Council is usually quick to expose these types of outrages and foolishness from the city "leaders".

I had hoped that, as a former member of the Heart of Peoria Commission and a self-professed "new urbanist", he would emerge as a candidate that historic preservationists could rally behind.

However, his silence thus far on this issue has been deafening.

=UPDATE: CJ informs me that he was unaware this would be on Tuesday's agenda =

On Friday, I spoke to candidate Chuck Grayeb who was unaware of the issue, but promised to review it. He seemed genuinely shocked at the amount of the proposed increases.

The vote, however, is scheduled for this Tuesday, and I hope that the current council will at least have the decency to defer till a new council is seated.

I also have not found any public statement on this outrage from Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation or from Peoria Historical Society.
Where are the voices for preservation when needed?

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- Theater Review - Metropolis Has No Superman

2011-01-22T11:02:00.000-06:00

The Corn Stock Winter Playhouse continued its season with the presentation of two plays by playwrights "with local roots".

The first play is "Context", written and directed by Peorian Laura Swatner Johnson.
At just under ten minutes, this play was mercifully short. With no dialogue at all, it is a trite and forgettable narrative on communicating strictly through text message.

The evening's main event is "Metropolis Has No Superman" directed by Sean C. Howell and written by G. William Zorn. Mr. Zorn is a native Peorian, currently enrolled in the doctoral program at Western Michigan University.
Although this play was the winner of the Kennedy Center's 2009 Mark Twain Prize for Comedy Play writing, I would classify it as a drama with only a few comedic moments. Do not attend expecting a lot of belly laughs.

The play is set in Metropolis Illinois and centers on Chance Loring's estrangement from his family and in particular from his just deceased father. Many years ago, Chance fled the confines of small town Metropolis for the gay subculture in Chicago, where he makes his living drawing and publishing Queer-Boy Comics. Through his comics, Chance fictionalizes his family as well as his own life. The title character, Queer Boy, is based on Chance's boyfriend, Tracy. Another character, Jesus Girl is based on his sister Deedee. The comic book's villain is based on, you guessed it, Chance's father, Graham Loring.

After an absence of six years, Chance returns to Metropolis for his father's funeral. The elder Loring has committed suicide by driving his Chrysler full-speed into the statue of Superman that stands before the county courthouse.

This play is a solid work about family interaction and dysfunction by a talented aspiring playwright. It is filled with innuendo and symbolism, some of which is perhaps a bit too obvious.

It was exciting to watch the play WITH the playwright and to be able to speak with him after. I asked if his choice of a character name Tracy Betts was an homage to Chicago playwright Tracy Letts. He replied that perhaps he subconsciously hoped to tap the good fortune that Letts had encountered with his Pulitzer Prize winning play "August Osage County", a play that also examines similar themes of alcoholism and family dynamics.

This Corn Stock production is extremely well acted.
All of the women deliver excellent performances, Rebecca Frankel Clifton as Marion, the alcoholic matriarch of the Loring clan, Donna K. Eckhoff as the slow and somewhat butch sister Doris; and Karen Stecher is especially good as sister Deedee Betterman/Jesus Girl.

John Carroll does a great turn in the lead role of Chance. Fred Schoen is good as father Graham, and Jeff Craig is truly excellent in his portrayal of two totally different characters, Burt and Bill.
While Brian McKinley does a good job as Tracy/Queer Boy, he is perhaps a little too laid-back in the role. I would have liked to see him turn it up a notch. In my opinion, the character needed to be a bit more flamboyant.

It is truly commendable that Corn Stock, for the second year, is continuing to offer exposure to local playwrights.

Please make it a point to see this production at the Lab Theater in upper Bradley Park. Tickets are only $10 and can purchased through the box office (676-2196) or at the door. Performances continue tonight and tomorrow as well as next weekend (January 27 - 29).

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'Nuff Said

2011-01-22T07:41:00.002-06:00

January Poetry Corner

2011-01-16T08:40:00.000-06:00

A Poem for Sarah Baartman
By Diana Ferrus

“I’ve come to take you home –
home, remember the veld?
the lush green grass beneath the big oak trees
the air is cool there and the sun does not burn.
I have made your bed at the foot of the hill,
your blankets are covered in buchu and mint,
the proteas stand in yellow and white
and the water in the stream chuckle sing-songs
as it hobbles along over little stones.

I have come to wretch you away –
away from the poking eyes
of the man-made monster
who lives in the dark
with his clutches of imperialism
who dissects your body bit by bit
who likens your soul to that of Satan
and declares himself the ultimate god!

I have come to soothe your heavy heart
I offer my bosom to your weary soul
I will cover your face with the palms of my hands
I will run my lips over lines in your neck
I will feast my eyes on the beauty of you
and I will sing for you
for I have come to bring you peace.

I have come to take you home
where the ancient mountains shout your name.
I have made your bed at the foot of the hill,
your blankets are covered in buchu and mint,
the proteas stand in yellow and white –
I have come to take you home
where I will sing for you
for you have brought me peace.”

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Eastlight Theatre - 2011 Season

2011-01-12T18:01:00.002-06:00

Eastlight Theatre has announced its 2011 season.

XANADU - April 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16

AVENUE Q - June 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25

HAIRSPRAY - August 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13

JOSEPH 2011 - December 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

Season tickets are $70 and can be purchased by calling the box office at 699-SHOW
or online at http://www.eastlighttheatre.com/tickets.htm

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- Theater Review - Blue Man Group

2011-01-08T08:13:00.001-06:00

Peoria Civic Center Theater continued their 2010-2011 season with "Blue Man Group".
This offering presented a night of high-tech lighting, video, animation, and bone-jarring percussion.
The show included audience participation, slapstick humor, and giant balls and streamers shot into the crowd.

In my review of last season's "Cirque Dreams Illumination", I included this line:

"...this ain't really theater."

This statement is equally true here.

I understand the Peoria Civic Center's desire to expand their repertoire in an attempt to draw in more people, and evidently this is working well for them.
Friday night's opening performance enjoyed a packed house of enthusiastic people of all ages. The crowd loved this show.

However, the theater snob in me believes that shows like this and "Cirque" have no place in a Broadway Theater Series.

Perhaps next year the PCC Theater can introduce a separate "Las Vegas Theater Series".

"Blue Man Group" has its final performance tonight.

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Peoria Cabaret Theatre - 2011 Season

2010-12-30T11:22:00.002-06:00

Peoria Cabaret Theatre at The Waterhouse has announced their 2011 slate of shows.

"Fully Committed" - January 28 & 29

"I Love You Because (A Modern Day Musical Love Story)" - February 11, 12, 18, & 19

"Master Class" - March 4, 5, 11, & 12

"The Lebanese/Redneck Wedding" - April 1, 2, 8, & 9

A season show pass is $140 and includes dinner. tax, gratuity with all four shows.
It can be purchased by calling the box office at 494-9100 or at their website:

PeoriaCabaretTheatre.com.

The Peoria Cabaret Theatre is a membership based theatre company focused on presenting small cast plays, musicals, and interactive improv comedies in addition to cabaret shows with the Signature Cabaret Series and the Late Night Cabaret Series.

The theater is located in The Waterhouse at 619 SW Water Street, Suite B.

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December Poetry Corner

2010-12-26T08:10:00.000-06:00

THE THIEF
- Abraham Cowley

Thou robb'st my days of business and delights,
Of sleep thou robb'st my nights ;
Ah, lovely thief, what wilt thou do?
What? rob me of heaven too?
Even in my prayers thou hauntest me:
And I, with wild idolatry,
Begin to God, and end them all to thee.
Is it a sin to love, that it should thus
Like an ill conscience torture us?
Whate'er I do, where'er I go—
None guiltless e'er was haunted so!—
Still, still, methinks, thy face I view,
And still thy shape does me pursue,
As if, not you me, but I had murdered you.
From books I strive some remedy to take,
But thy name all the letters make;
Whate'er 'tis writ, I find thee there,
Like points and commas everywhere.
Me blessed for this let no man hold,
For I, as Midas did of old,
Perish by turning every thing to gold.
What do I seek, alas, or why do I
Attempt in vain from thee to fly?
For, making thee my deity,
I gave thee then ubiquity.
My pains resemble hell in this:
The divine presence there too is,
But to torment men, not to give them bliss.

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Happy Christmas!

2010-12-24T06:51:00.001-06:00

So this is Christmas
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong

And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
And what have we done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
War is over over
If you want it
War is over
Now...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb2YSAVHmIE&feature=player_embedded
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- Theater Review - White Christmas

2010-12-12T09:15:00.000-06:00

Peoria Players Theater got the holiday season off to a somewhat shaky start with their presentation of "White Christmas".

This Irving Berlin classic has given us many musical standards. In addition to the title song, there are classics such as "Happy Holiday", "Sisters", "I Love a Piano", "Blue Skies", and "How Deep is the Ocean".
It has come to epitomize the Christmas spirit.

Unfortunately, this production suffers through poor direction and most of all through bad orchestration.

I was very much looking forward to seeing Jimmy LaHood in the lead role, having last seen him in his excellent portrayal of Leo Bloom in Eastlight's "The Producers".
However, as Bob Wallace in this production, Mr. LaHood appeared nervous and unsure of himself.
Indeed, he allowed the poor performing orchestra to lead him into several false starts and off-key notes in his musical numbers. His acting also was lacking. In his misguided attempt to mimic Bing Crosby, he came across a bit more Jack Benny.

Aaron Elwell turned in a good performance as the smooth womanizer Phil Davis, particularly in his rendition of "I Love a Piano".

Janette Beardsley was well cast as Martha and she sang the role well.

The standout performance in the production was Erin Durbin's portrayal of Betty Haynes. Ms. Durbin has a great and powerful voice. She belted out her numbers over the orchestra's missteps.
Her rendition of "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me" was the best vocal performance of the show.

Kudos must be given to Danny Fisher's choreography. The dance numbers were exceptional, with the one exception of "Sisters". The Haynes sisters' rendition consisted of merely posing with ostrich fans. Choreography for this number should look like this.

A real irritation during opening night was the gentleman a few rows behind me who thought it was his job to lead the audience in applause. He clapped loudly at inappropriate times and when numbers were not finished (and again when they were!) and of course most people followed along. Perhaps he had a relative onstage, but that type of cheer leading in a production like this merely smacks of desperation born of pity.

The same was true of the undeserved standing ovation, when a few people guilted most others into standing. It seems particularly true to Peoria Players audiences that any performance deserves a standing ovation, no matter how mediocre.

Well, this patron stayed stubbornly in his seat. I will stand for excellence, and this simply was not it.

With so much good talent on stage, it is a shame that poor direction and a bad orchestra held back this holiday classic from delivering what it should.

The show runs through December 19th at the theater in Lakeview Park.

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Corn Stock Theater - 2011 Season

2010-12-07T19:29:00.000-06:00

Corn Stock Theater has announced its 2011 Summer Season:

"Cats" - Directed by Linda Grimson - June 3rd - June 11th

"Moonlight and Magnolias" - Directed by Clifford Clark - June 24th - July 2nd

"Footloose" - Directed byTravis Olson - July 15th - July 23rd

"Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash" - Directed by Laura Johnson - August 5th - August 13

"Arsenic and Old Lace" - Directed by Sean Howell - August 26th - September 3rd

Individual ticket prices: Musicals - $18, Non-Musicals - $12
Season Tickets: $66

More information and order tickets here.

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Arc Light Theater - 2011 Season

2010-12-07T18:38:00.001-06:00

Arc Light Theater has announced its 2011 season.

June 3 - "Community Variety Show"

June 23-25 - "Honeymoon at Graveside Manor"

July 22-23 - "Arc Light, Junior" (Youth Show)

July 22-24 - "Into the Woods"

Arc Light Productions operates in conjunction with the Illini Bluffs School District in Glasford.
Season tickets sales and more info coming soon to their website here.

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The Death of Historic Preservation in Peoria

2010-11-29T21:35:00.000-06:00

Historic Preservation in Peoria was officially euthanized last Tuesday when nine shortsighted politicians voted to "delist" a designated Historic Landmark.

Led by Second District councilwoman Barbara Van Auken, these so-called civic leaders gave the green light for the demolition of the Roanoke Apartments.

The Roanoke is a beautiful example of the Prairie School influences on early 20th century construction. With yesterday's buzzwords of "New Urbanism" all but forgotten by this current council, this building is a wonderful example of urbanism when it was truly new - luxury apartments convenient to the city center.

Portrayed by a Journal Star hack as "blighted", the building is in remarkably great condition, with its beautiful marble foyer, mission style woodwork and doors, and many original fixtures intact. Despite efforts by the building's owners at "demolition by neglect" (leaving windows open. etc.), the structure easily could have been restored to its original glory.

By "delisting" a Landmark, the council has, for all practical purposes, completely gutted the Historic Preservation Ordinance.
Since the adoption of the ordinance over thirty five years ago, it always has been assumed that Landmark status was forever.

If it can be undone by the whim of any future council, then what meaning does Landmark status have?

The answer now is "ABSOLUTELY NONE."

Ms. Van Auken, who was responsible for this atrocity, has evolved into the consummate politician. She long ago gave up any pretense of actually representing the wishes and values of her Second District constituents.
Instead, she has become a classic 'quid pro quo' politician.
She has managed to politicize the Historic Preservation process like no one else before her. Over the past few years she has packed the city's Historic Preservation Commission with her drinking buddies and toadies. Indeed, the current HPC president is her own campaign manager.
(And in this process, more historic structures have been lost under this commission than any other in recent memory!)

In her current crusade to repay political favors and campaign contributions (Brian Meginness, et al) by demolishing the Roanoke Apartments and gutting the ordinance in the process, Van Auken even made willing pawns of the Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation.
Along with her buddy, Henry Holling, she arranged "secret" meetings between the CILF leadership and Trinity so that she could go to her colleagues (and the PJStar) and say that all parties were involved in the "solution".
And thus another of Van Auken's casualties is the credibility of the CILF and its officers in particular.

The only surprise in this debacle was that the council vote was 9 to 1.
I thought that perhaps there might have been a couple others who would support principle over politics. But only Councilman Sandberg had the balls to stand up for Peoria's history and for the Historic Preservation Ordinance.

So where do the true preservationists go from here?

With the process now completely politicized, we have no choice but to join the political fray. Van Auken is clearly a politician for sale, and preservationists definitely were outbid on this one.

ALL the district council reps will need to be replaced in 2013, particularly those in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd where most of the city's historic properties are located.

The 4th district person lost his credibility when he tried to force a major city contract to his brother-in-law, and his action here seals that fate.

The mayor and the 5th district representative may well be in jail by then.

Of immediate concern, however, is the at-large contest coming up in the spring.
Cumulative voting makes it difficult to target any one incumbent, but at this point I am urging folks to vote for anyone BUT Turner and Spain.

As for the other candidates, I am one preservationist ready to put my money where my mouth is. Sandberg is a given, but who among the other candidates will commit to a firm preservationist agenda?
Summers? Akeson?

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Giving Thanks - 2010

2010-11-24T18:00:00.002-06:00

Thanksgiving is absolutely the best holiday on the calendar.

No church-going obligations (or guilt for not going!).
No stress and rush with shopping for gifts or addressing cards.
No flags to hoist or parades to attend.

Nope, Thanksgiving is only about eating and visiting with loved ones. And these just happen to be two of my very favorite things in the whole world.

My mother was the glue that held our family together. When she passed at a much too early age, my brothers and sisters and I divided up the holidays with a promise to never drift apart. I was fortunate to claim Thanksgiving as my holiday to host. Although most of my family live 90 miles south, this is the one day of the year when most of them drive up to spend the day at my house.

It promises to be a day of good food and good times...a little reminiscing, a little looking forward, a little laughing, and maybe even a tear or two.

Like most of you, my family and loved ones are at the very top of my things-to-be-thankful-for list.

I could write more, but there's a turkey in the oven, and a ham to glaze, and potatoes to be prepared, and vegetables to chop, and....

Here's wishing everyone a great day with family and friends!

Don't forget to stop and consider ALL the things you have to be thankful for.

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Great First Lines

2010-11-21T19:21:00.002-06:00

If a poll were taken for best first line of a novel, I am betting that Charles Dicken's "A Tale of Two Cities" would be the top vote getter. It is a pretty amazing sentence:

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."

My vote, however, goes to John Irving's "A Prayer For Owen Meany". This is one of my favorite books and it begins with this line:

“I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice – not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother’s death, but because he is the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany.”

Who can read that line and not want to read the rest of the book?

- Theater Review - Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead

2010-11-14T00:56:00.001-06:00

The Corn Stock Winter Playhouse continues its current season with "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead".

This play debuted at the 2004 New York Fringe Festival and was the hit of that year. It is not often performed since, so I was thrilled to find it in Corn Stock's line-up.

The hilarious premise of the play is based on the trials and tribulations of the Peanuts gang during their teenage years; although the names are (slightly) changed to protect the innocent (from lawsuits from the Charles Schulz estate?).
Charlie Brown is simply C.B., Linus is Van, etc.

It seems the gang has turned out a little differently than we might have imagined.

The play opens with Charlie and his sister at the funeral for Charlie's dog. Good ol' Snoopy contracted rabies and killed Woodstock before being "put down".
Sally is a Wiccan goth flake. Linus is a tweaked out pothead, who smoked his blanket long ago. Peppermint Patty and Marcie are loose party girls. Schroeder is perceived as gay and constantly bullied by Pig Pen who is now a germaphobe as well as a homophobe known as Matt. Lucy is incarcerated in a sanitarium after setting fire to the Little Red-Headed Girl's red hair.

As Charlie seeks spiritual answers in regards to Snoopy's death, he stumbles onto some unexpected answers to his own sexual identity.

I was pleased to find Jeremy Behrens in the lead role as Charlie Brown. Mr. Behrens has lit up the Hartmann Center stage over the last few years, most recently as the demented dentist in Bradley's production of "Little Shop of Horrors".
In this role he is given the chance to expand his dramatic chops and he indeed rises to the occasion.

Alex Larson as the stoner Van Pelt is the comedic favorite, garnering the biggest audience laughs. Megan Runyard and Bridgette Richard are equally funny in the roles of Marcie and Patty respectively. Ms. Runyard's facial expressions will make you smile before she speaks a line.

Melissa Grimson turns in a great performance as Charlie's sister Sally. This character has a bit more depth that some of the others, as Sally changes from flakiness to self-assured maturity. Her performance piece within the play emphasises this metamorphosis.

Michael David Luchies is convincingly mean as the villain of the piece. Landen Zumwalt is effective as a young gay man struggling with his sexuality and the pressures of being bullied. And as Schroeder ought to, he plays a mean piano.

While Heather Dyer is fine in her portrayal as Lucy, the character is somewhat problematic. She does not quite fit into or contribute to the underlying themes of the play....nothing against Ms. Dyer's performance, but perhaps a flaw in the play itself.

The truly wonderful thing about this play is how it so perfectly straddles the line between comedy and drama. There are plenty of funny situations full of laughter. At the same time, its themes of coming out and of gay bullying are seriously examined; and given current headlines, they are particularly timely.

The production is dedicated to The Trevor Project, a nationwide not-for-profit supporting acceptance of GLBTQ youth that aids in crisis and suicide prevention. Learn more about the organization here.

And please see this delightful play at the theater in upper Bradley Park now through November 20th.
Call the box office at 676-2196.

November Poetry Corner

2010-11-13T16:32:00.000-06:00

Death, Be Not Proud
- John Donne

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell;
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

- Theater Review - subUrbia

2010-11-13T08:15:00.000-06:00

Bradley University Theatre's second offering of their 2010 - 2011 season is Eric Bogosian's intense drama "subUrbia".

Set in the early 90's against a soundtrack of grunge rock, it is the stark tale of a group of disaffected youth in a dead-end suburban town, appropriately named Burnfield.

And believe me, by the end of this play all that remains is scorched earth.

This group of young losers spends most of their waking hours hanging out in the parking lot of the corner convenience store.

There is Sooze (Erin Kennedy), a wannabe performance artist who longs to move to New York in order to pursue a career. Her boyfriend Jeff (Kevin Logsdon), is an unmotivated slacker who is negatively influenced by his friendship with the mean and dark Tim, played excruciatingly well by Ross Cochran.
Other members of the idler gang are Buff (Brian Zinda), whose life is one constant party quest, and the emotionally fragile Bee Bee (Katy Robinson).

This night marks the return of Pony (Dakota Kuhlman), the one member of the group who was able to get out of Burnfield and make something of himself as a minor rock star. His lingering affection for Sooze brings him back to his former local haunt. He returns along with his sexy publicist Erica (Janice Gerlach) in a stretch limo, which serves here as a symbol of success, the trophy for finally "getting out".

The cast is rounded out by Raj Bond and Arianna Brown, who play the Pakistani brother and sister 'Norman' and Pakeeza, owners of the convenience store and the targets of Tim's racist aggression.
Mr. Bond turns in a perfect performance as the hard-working immigrant in search of the American dream.

The cast is made up of some newer faces and all the acting here is excellent, without exception. As is often the case, the stand out performances are those of the darkest characters.

Ms. Robinson is superb as the damaged, self-loathing Bee Bee, who is fresh out of rehab and destined for destruction.

Mr. Cochran is exceptional as the loathsome Tim. This character is a drunken, racist, self-destructive loser. After watching this performance, I felt like I should go home and shower. Mr. Bond plays the part with such dangerous precision, I can only imagine that he will require an extended beach vacation to get this guy out of his head.

Such performances as these must be partly attributed to the excellent direction of Steve Snyder.

Special mention must be made of the setting as well. The designers have constructed an entire 7-11 style store on the Hartmann Center stage, and the effect is simply incredible! Kudos to the set designers.

This play is rooted in such gritty reality as to make it difficult to watch in places. Some of the rants, heavy with the N-word, the C-word, and the F-word had the audience squirming in their seats. There were many in the already sparse audience who did not return for the second act.

Regardless, the performances and set make this show well worth a look.

It runs through November 21st. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling 677-2650.

Now THAT'S Historic Preservation!

2010-11-12T05:02:00.000-06:00

I recently returned from ten days in Greece. Most of that time was spent in Athens, with a one day tour of three of the nearest islands - Hydra, Poros, and Aegina.

Athens is a city overflowing with history. It is home to many museums and I do believe I visited them all. Chief among these is the brand new (2009) Acropolis Museum, situated a few blocks from my hotel at the foot of the Acropolis. This amazing building was built directly over active excavations of early Christian sites. The first level effectively uses glass floors so you can see directly down into these sites.

While in Athens, I saw pottery that was 8,000 years old. How incredible to look at these pots (intact and reconstructed) and think that they were molded by human hands, fired, and decorated with intricate designs for utilitarian and religious purposes a full 6,000 years before the birth of Christ!
I was struck by the similarity of the geometric designs of these vessels to those of Native American pottery. It seemed to underscore a common humanity that originated there in the cradle of Western Civilization.

I also visited buildings and structures that were a couple thousand years old. This made me think of the difficulty encountered by preservationists here in Peoria as we try to save structures that are only a hundred years old.
Thank goodness the Athenians had the forethought and respect for their culture to save these structures, that are visited by throngs of tourists daily.
I am not saying that people will travel from around the world to visit a restored Madison Theater, but what a shame that our city leaders have such limited vision that they are unwilling to fight for those symbols of Peoria's identity and rich cultural history.

Another of the museums in Athens is dedicated to the Battle of Marathon and the birth of democracy. As an American, it was humbling to stand in the land where democracy was "invented", and realize how different the world would be if that single battle had gone differently. If the Persians had been victorious, the entire Western world would be different and America as we know it would not exist.
It was a reminder not only of what we take so easily for granted, but of the fragility of all political and social structures.

It was a most exciting and expanding vacation. You can see my poor attempts at photography on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000416750539&v=photos

October Poetry Corner

2010-10-27T01:30:00.000-05:00

The Tiger
- William Blake

Tiger Tiger. burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye.
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat.
What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp.
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears
And watered heaven with their tears:
Did he smile His work to see?
Did he who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger Tiger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

- Theater Review - Spring Awakening

2010-10-17T20:30:00.000-05:00

Teen angst and raging hormones took center stage at the Peoria Civic Center Theater Saturday night, as "Spring Awakening" made its Peoria debut.

I first saw this play on Broadway in 2008 and I was blown away by its high-energy, in-your-face treatment of an age old theme.
That theme is the awakening of the adolescent body, and all the anxieties and insecurities that often follow.
These insecurities are compounded by adults who refuse to explain sexuality, or who treat sex as evil, dirty, and something to be ashamed of and suppressed.

The play takes place in 1890's Germany in a small provincial village. Melchior is an intelligent and free thinking young man at an all-male school.
He befriends and helps the nervous Moritz, who struggles with his studies and fears the failure that will disappoint his controlling father.
Melchior is seduced by the desires he experiences for the young and beautiful Wendla.
Wendla is an extremely sheltered girl who begs her mother tell her where babies come from. When her mother fails her, she seeks the experiences that she barely understands from Melchior.
The three are set on a path to tragedy, with only one whose spring awakening leads to "Purple Summer".

All of the adult roles are played by two actors (one male, one female). This is a very effective device, and the actors did a spectacular job.

This show features simulated intercourse, partial nudity, simulated masturbation, and songs with titles like "Totally Fucked" and "The Bitch of Living".

Needless to say, I wondered how this would play in conservative Peoria.

To my surprise, the audience responded in-kind to this high-energy musical. Indeed, the biggest and longest lasting ovation was for the song "Totally Fucked".

Do I have a distorted view of Peoria's provincialism? Perhaps.

The Civic Center was only willing to take a chance on a single performance, so I can't tell you to rush out and see the next performance here. (You can catch it at Sangamon Auditorium in Springfield on November 14th)

But I will say that if you missed this, you missed what may well turn out to be the theatrical event of the Peoria theater season.
Bravo!

- Theater Review - The Diary of Anne Frank

2010-10-09T09:31:00.003-05:00

Peoria Players continued their season with the Friday night opening of "The Diary of Anne Frank", just a few days after the 55th anniversary of the play's debut.

After more than half a century, this drama remains amazingly relevant and meaningful.

It is, of course, the true story of eight Jews hiding from the Nazis in cramped quarters above an office in Amsterdam. The intense 3 years is documented in her diary by the young girl, Anne Frank.

During the period of hiding, Anne achieves physical maturity as well as a maturity beyond her years in both character and spirit as she chronicles the human interactions around her.

This Peoria Players production, directed by Charles Killen, provides an absolutely wonderful evening of theater.

Usually in these reviews, I try to single out the performances that I consider to be particularly noteworthy.
It is simply impossible to do so in regards to this production.
There are ten actors on stage and each and every one delivers a performance that is very nearly perfect to the role.

Doug Orear as Otto Frank, is the patriarch of the entire group. He opens the show with an emotional portrayal of the father's post-war return to the Amsterdam apartment, where he discovers his daughter's diary.
Sally Hodge plays his dutiful wife Edith, who finally explodes from the pressures of their confinement.
Alexis Wraight plays their prim and perfect daughter Margot and Toni Franken shines as daughter and narrator, Anne.
Joining the Franks in hiding are the Van Daan family.
Curt and Anita Rowden are superb as the parents, as is Nathan Apodac as their son and Anne's romantic interest, Peter.
Doug Day is extraordinary as the surly dentist, Dr. Dussel, and Aaron Ruder and Lanie Vogel round out the cast as Mr. Kraler and Miss Gies, who risk their own lives by assisting in the hiding of the group.

Oh yes, there is an eleventh character. Xena Killen-Clardy doesn't miss a cue as Mouschi the cat. She plays the role with true star quality.

Speaking of star quality, the program states that Toni Franken has been acting since the age of six. With the stage presence that she brought to the title role in this production, we can only hope that she will continue her acting career for another sixty years.
I know that I will certainly anticipate her next appearance on a local stage!

On opening night, the house was somewhat light. I know it is a bit tougher to sell a drama in the age of musicals. But for those who want to see an entire ensemble of brilliant acting performances, this is the show for you.

The standing ovation was truly deserved.

"The Diary of Anne Frank" runs through this weekend at the theater in Lakeview Park and continues from October 14th through the 17th.

Just Imagine!

2010-10-09T00:07:00.001-05:00

John Lennon would have been 70 years old today.

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky

Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too

Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

- Theater Review - Annie

2010-10-08T23:51:00.000-05:00

The Caterpillar Chorus opened their 2010 Caterpillar Musical, "Annie" on Thursday night in the East Peoria High School Auditorium (Eastlight Theatre).

"Annie" is an American classic that is beloved by children and adults everywhere. I bet there are not too many people who cannot sing at least a line or two of "Tomorrow" or "It's a Hard-Knock Life".
Even though the play is so very familiar, this production still manages to make the musical fresh and fun.

With a policy of never turning down any employee who wants to participate, the annual Caterpillar Musical over the years has been hit or miss with a real stinker or two.

This show is definitely not one of those.

As a matter of fact this is one of their best productions in years!

Sally Baker does a swell job as the boozy and mean Miss Hannigan. While she held back a little on "Little Girls", when she teamed up with Jason Werner and Teresa Neptun (as Rooster and Lily), the trio really belted out "Easy Street".

John Marincic is a great Daddy Warbucks and his duet with Annie on "I Don't Need Anything But You" is a true highlight.

Nicole Barth is one of the oldest actresses that I have seen in the title role. It took me awhile to get used to an Annie that was as tall as Miss Hannigan, but Miss Barth has a lovely voice.
I will look forward to seeing her again in the near future in some adult roles.

There is, of course, the required group of orphans and the kids here really bring it home.
What's not to like about 20 little girls, each one as cute and talented as the next?

The Caterpillar Chorus has been presenting their annual musical for 69 years. At $8 a ticket, it is still one of the best live theater bargains around. For the price of a movie, you can afford to take the kids or grandkids to see this family favorite. I guarantee that they (and you) will love it. But hurry! It is a limited run only through this weekend (matinee and evening performances on Saturday and Sunday). Tickets are still available at 699-SHOW, at the Eastlight box office, or at the door.

- Theater Review - The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon

2010-10-02T07:47:00.000-05:00

Illinois Central College opened their 2010 - 2011 Season with "The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon", a messy and disjointed retelling of the Grimm fairytales.

One of my favorite shows is "Into the Woods", the Steven Sondheim classic that is a brilliant musical adaptation of classic fairytales. It is dark and funny with an amazing score. I was expecting something similar from this ICC opener.

I could not have been more disappointed.

The first act consisted of five uncredited actors running manically around the stage and through the audience while shrieking at the top of their lungs.

I say 'uncredited' because while the program lists cast biographies, it gives no hint of who is playing which characters.

Although seldom up to the level of Bradley Theater, Illinois Central College has, in the past, presented some great shows. "No Exit" and "The Underpants" come immediately to mind.

"The Brothers Grimm", however, takes the amateur in amateur theater to a new low. I have seen better productions than this at the grade school level.

Perhaps the show got better in the second act.

I couldn't bear to stick around and find out.

Corn Stock Winter Playhouse - 2010-2011 Season

2010-09-26T22:12:00.002-05:00

Cornstock Winter Playhouse has announced its 2010-2011 season:

"Sweeney Todd" directed by Nate Downs - Oct 22 - Oct 30

"Dog Sees God" directed by Nyk Sutter - Nov 12 - Nov 20

"A Christmas Carol: Reader's Theatre" directed by Roberta Koch - Dec 3 - Dec 11

"Playwright Festival" (Original Plays) produced by Sean Howell - Jan 21 - Jan 29

"Angels in America: Millenium Approaches" directed by Dani Keil - Feb 18 - Feb 26

"Five Women Wearing The Same Dress" - Directed by Paula Graves - Mar 18 - Mar 26

A great lineup with some ambitious undertakings (particularly "Sweeney Todd" and "Angels In America"!)

Season Tickets are only $50 and can be reserved by calling 676-2196.

- Theater Review - Little Shop of Horrors

2010-09-26T21:46:00.000-05:00

Bradley University Theatre opened their 2010-2011 season with Ashman & Menken's perennial off-Broadway favorite, "Little Shop of Horrors".

This charming musical is the tale of shy and backward Seymour Krelborn. Seymour works at Mr. Mushnik's flower shop on Skid Row and harbors an unrequited love for his coworker Audrey.
However, Audrey only has eyes for the cruel and abusive Orin Scrivello.
Orin is a sadistic dentist who selected his profession primarily for the opportunity to inflict pain upon his patients (...that and the nitrous oxide!).

Seymour's fortunes change, along with those of the failing flower shop after he develops a new species of plant. The sweet little plant, whom he christens Audrey II, thrives on human blood and she soon grows to be a real man eater.

The show features several familiar faces and a couple of fresh new ones.

Andrew Kuhlman, a fixture on the Hartmann stage for the last couple years, is cast as Mr. Mushnik. This is just the type of roll that Mr. Kuhlman relishes - loud and funny. His comedic timing only gets better and he does this roll true justice.

Racheal Waldron as Audrey and Ben Sellnow as Seymour do an equally fine job as the star-crossed lovers. Their voices blend well, especially on the song "Suddenly Seymour" which is the musical highlight of this production.

As good as all these performances are, the incomparable Jeremy Behrens steals the show as Orin, the S&M D.D.S. This is a great character that any good actor can sink his teeth into. (check out Jack Nicholson in the original movie!) Mr. Behrens, who has shone in several previous BU shows, has a ball as the laughing-gas huffing bad guy who is also happens to be very hilarious, and the audience has a ball right along with him.

Hope Grandon, Morgan Green, and Dominique Reed do a great job as the Greek Chorus straight out of Motown. These three do a wonderful musical narration of the story from start to finish.

You can't have a good "Little Shop" without a good Audrey II, and I couldn't wait to see what the Bradley prop folks came up with.
In the end, they went to Hollywood, and got an Audrey II from the company that makes the professional and touring company versions of the lovable people eating plant.

All in all, this opening production can be summed up in one single word:

WOW!

The joy of watching theater at Bradley is the vitality that these young actors always exhibit. This production definitely is no exception. The cast brought such an infectious energy to the stage that they had the audience continually laughing, applauding, and on their feet by the finale.

The play runs through October 3rd, and there is absolutely no reason for there to be an empty seat at any performance! Reserve yours by calling the Bradley University Theater box office at 677-2650.

.

- Theater Review - Frankenstein, A New Musical

2010-09-18T08:53:00.003-05:00

Peoria Players Theatre opened their 2010-2011 season with the regional premiere of "Frankenstein, A New Musical".

This was a play that I had never seen before. Having read some reviews with comparisons to "Les Miserables", I truly anticipated seeing this one.

While not quite the same caliber as "Les Mis", this musical nevertheless has an excellent score and book. It is a dramatic retelling of the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley classic in a lush operatic setting.

This Peoria Players production features a few excellent performances and a stunning set.

Roger Roemer is perfect as The Creature. With a powerful voice and a larger than life stage presence, he captures just the right combination of malevolence and pathos. If only he had better makeup to make him more 'horrible'!

Another standout performance was delivered by Julie Boesch as Dr. Frankenstein's love interest, Elizabeth.
Her powerful and operatic voice was perfectly suited to the role.

John Huerta, in the lead role of Victor Frankenstein, was somewhat disappointing. A good musical actor is a double threat; he must be able to act as well as sing. When not vocalizing, Mr. Huerta's acting was self-conscious and unconvincing.
While he has a pleasant enough voice, it lacked the forcefulness and power that was needed. However, he finally hit his stride toward the end of the play with the song "The Coming of The Dawn", which was beautifully done.

I admit I was greatly prejudiced when I saw that the director had cast not only his wife but his daughter as well in important roles.
Nepotism seldom makes good theater, and that was certainly true here. Both actors were merely adequate in their roles.

By far the biggest problem with this production was the uneven and faulty sound system. It reminded me that this was one of the reasons that I stopped going to Players years ago. I thought that they had since invested in upgrading the system, but apparently not (or perhaps they had untrained technicians at the helm?).

Some of the actors were muffled and lyrics indecipherable. Sound cut in and out as the actors turned their heads.
Then, directly before the beginning of the second act, the sound system emitted an ear-splitting screech that was actually painful. This was not the quick screech that startles (although there were also several of those during the production!). This was an awful grating noise that went on for a full couple minutes.

Had I not driven my companions to the theater, I would have left then and there!

Another technical problem with this production was the light aimed at the audience when the doors on stage were opened. I understand the effect that was desired, but was a 300 watt light really necessary? With my seats front and center, I could only see spots, and not the actors, for several minutes each time this door was opened.

With all the effort put forward in setting, staging, and performance, I do not understand why more attention was not paid to these technical distractions that ended up ruining the experience.

This play definitely had the potential to be a great one, and I will look forward to seeing it again in a professional venue, or in one with better sound technology and better direction.

- Theater Review - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

2010-09-11T23:57:00.008-05:00

Eastlight Theatre ends their shortened regular season with "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" playing this weekend and next.

Just as the title states, this is a musical comedy that takes place at a grade school county spelling bee. The play provides a fun opportunity for adult actors to play the roles of stereotypical children, with all their talents and foibles.

This ensemble cast, featuring a few fresh faces, dives right in.

Each child has his or her own method to ensure their spelling success. One contestant must spell the words out with his foot, another writes the word on her forearm, another speaks the word into her hand first in order to prevent a misspoken letter.

The bee is conducted and supervised by Miss Rona Peretti (Katie McLuckie), a former winner herself, and by Vice-Principal Douglas Panch (Mike Reams) who is returning following a five year absence due to an undefined "incident". The losing children are given a hug and a juice box by "comfort counselor" Mitch Mahoney (Anthony Hendricks) who serves in this role as a community service condition of his parole.

In the first act, it seems to be the boys who shine. "Magic Foot" sung by Will Loftus as William Barfee was excellent, as well as "I'm Not That Smart" by Kyle Motsinger as the home-schooled free spirit, Leaf Coneybear. When I have seen this play in the past, the Barfee character always seems to be the audience favorite. However, in this production, it is Mr. Motsinger who steals the show. His Coneybear is perfectly played and never for one second is he out of character.

The second act starts off with a bang when Chip (Jarod Hazard) sings "Chip's Lament". I was perplexed by the tepid audience response to this funny number. Perhaps too many were not comfortable with a song that is all about "my unfortunate erection"? In any case, this was an excellent performance by Mr. Hazard.

The rest of act two belongs to the girls.

Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre (Ingrid Weiman) is a young girl pressured to succeed through any means necessary by her two dads.
Marcy Park (Clarissa Childs) is the snooty parochial school girl whose deepest wish is to simply stop being perfect (and perhaps only Jesus can grant that wish!).
Lastly, there is Olive Ostrovsky (Bethany Freitag), a girl whose mother is on a self-absorbed quest for meaning in India and whose workaholic father seldom has time for her.

Although this is definitely a comedy, the show takes a decidedly serious turn in the lovely "I Love You Song" sung by Olive and her parents (Anthony Hendricks & Katie McLuckie in dual roles). This is an absolutely beautiful song that is all about the complex emotions between parents and child, between mom and dad, and the insecurities that can trouble these relationships. This trio certainly does justice to this wonderful number.

Mike Reams is well cast and turns in a good performance as the troubled vice-principal. The play also features a bit of fun audience participation, with some patrons selected to participate in the bee along with the 'children'.

With only three shows this year, Eastlight has left me longing for more.
Please see this one while you can, and let us hope that they return to a full season in 2011.

Thanks to ALL the talented folks at Eastlight for such a memorable season!

Happy Labor Day, America!

2010-09-06T07:50:00.000-05:00

I Hear America Singing
~ Walt Whitman

I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands,
The woodcutter's song, the ploughboy's on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown,
The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing,
Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,
The day what belongs to the day-at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.

~

I Have a Dream - 47th Anniversary

2010-08-28T13:46:00.000-05:00

"Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline." -- MLK

See the complete speech here.

Great Peorians - Dolores Klein

2010-08-21T15:28:00.007-05:00

Congratulations to local feminist and activist Dolores Klein on her recent inclusion in "The Book of Lives and Legacies" that is maintained by the National Women's Hall of Fame!

Ms. Klein has devoted her lifetime to working for gender equality and for the civil and human rights of the homeless, the young, the abused, the disenfranchised, and the entire spectrum of humanity.

Read all about Dolores at the NWHF site.

Bradley University Theatre - 2010-2011 Season

2010-08-11T18:22:00.004-05:00

Bradley University Theatre has announced its 2010-2011 season:

"Little Shop Of Horrors" book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken - Sept 23 - Oct 3

"subUrbia" by Eric Bogosian - Nov 11 - Nov 21

"New Faces" showcase of new theatre students - Dec 3 & 4 *

"The Learned Ladies" by Moliere - February 24 - Mar 6

"America Live" by George Brown, Jim Ferolo, & Jeff Worth - Apr 26 - May 1

Season tickets are $45 for adults, $38 for seniors, $23 for students
and can be purched through the Cultural Events Box Office at 309-677-2651

* not included in season subscription

ICC Performing Arts Center - 2010-2011 Season

2010-08-11T16:13:00.008-05:00

Illinois Central College Performing Arts Center has announced its 2010-2011 lineup:

"The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon" September 24, 25, 26 & October 1, 2, & 3

"Crimes Of The Heart" November 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, & 21

"Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll & Hyde Play" February 25, 26, 27 & March 4, 5, 6, & 7

"Recent Tragic Events" April 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, & 17

General Admission season tickets are only $24 ($16 student & senior) and can be purchased through the ICC box office at 309-694-5136.

- Theater Review - All Shook Up

2010-08-06T22:46:00.004-05:00

Eastlight Theater opened the second selection of their 2010 season, "All Shook Up" to a Friday night packed house.

And that house was left standing, clapping, and yelling for more.

With a subtitle that states "Inspired by and featuring the songs of Elvis Presley", this show hopes to do for Elvis what "Mama Mia - The Musical" did for Abba.

Well, "Mama Mia" it ain't. With a hokey and somewhat predictable storyline, this is the type of show that in less talented hands could stand to fail miserably.

But here at Eastlight under the expert direction of Mark Baugher, working (literally) with a stage full of talent, this show really delivers.
It offers what any good musical should; a rollicking night of great songs, exceptional voices, and good choreography.

Jeremy Kelly, who impressed in Eastlight's previous production of "Altar Boyz", is perfectly cast as Chad, The Roustabout. In addition to his superb voice and dance moves, Mr. Kelly exudes the comfortable and genuine sex appeal that the role demands.

Bree Carroll, as the female lead character, Natalie, also brings to the stage a truly beautiful voice. She seemed increasingly comfortable in the many aspects of her role; as grease monkey, as love-struck girl, and as one-of-the-guys Ed.

Carmen McCarthy shines as Sylvia, the hard-nosed bartender, as does Kelsey Burd as the cultured Miss Sandra.

In addition to the music and dance, the play offers a good bit of humor.
Much of this is courtesy of Stephen Peterson, who turns in a delightfully over-the-top performance as Dennis, the lovable nerd. (And he can sing and dance too!)

The rest of the ensemble cast are just that, a cohesive ensemble who perform well together and play off each other effectively.

Another aspect of theater production at which Eastlight always excels is in the area of lighting and sets. This performance is no exception.
With a few seamless moves we are taken from automotive garage to tavern to fairgrounds fun house to wedding chapel.
Kudos to the sets and staging crew!

As I have stated before, Eastlight continues to set the bar for local theater, and this is yet another production that you definitely should not miss.

Performances continue on August 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, and 14.

So see it soon!

...
before
Elvis
has
left
the
building.

Happy Birthday, America!

2010-07-04T10:26:00.004-05:00

"Let us, then, fellow citizens, unite with one heart and one mind. Let us restore to social intercourse that harmony and affection without which liberty and even life itself are but dreary things."

- Thomas Jefferson

Places That Matter in Peoria, Illinois

2010-06-22T17:10:00.008-05:00

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is the nation's premiere organization dedicated to the preservation of America's structural treasures.

Headquartered in Washington D.C., this group has been fighting for our country's significant homes and buildings since it was established by U.S. Congressional charter in 1949.

What an honor it is then, that the National Trust is currently featuring Peoria as part of its "This Place Matters" feature on the NTHP website.

The slide show of significant structures was provided by the Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation.

This national exposure for our local treasures is surely a good thing. Perhaps it will garner some tourism from history buffs who will want to come see our historic city in person.

After all, this slide show is only a fraction of what Peoria has to offer!

Visit the National Trust site here.

Where DID you get that belt?!

2010-06-18T16:17:00.001-05:00

Help Wanted

2010-06-03T20:15:00.004-05:00

When I started this blog last fall I had no idea where it would go. I thought it would simply be a collection of personal thoughts and opinions with a sprinkling of politics.

As I look back now I see that it has morphed into something quite different. The vast majority of the posts have been either theater reviews or theater/arts related.

That is why this blog garnered a bit more attention recently after the Peoria Journal Star made their unfortunate decision to suspend reviews of local theater.

If I can pick up some of that slack through this blog and help to promote these local venues, then I am more than happy to do so.

But the truth of the matter is this; I cannot do it complete justice alone.

Yes, I am a theater buff and I have for several years kept season tickets to Peoria Civic Center Theater's Broadway Series, Eastlight Theater, and Bradley University. This past season, I saw all but one of Corn Stock Lab Theater's offerings, and I recently purchased season tickets for Peoria Players 2010-2011 run.

Quite frankly, that is about as much theater as one person can comfortably fit into one's life.

So, I am asking for help from some of you other theater buffs out there!

If you have first weekend tickets to any of the local theater groups, please consider writing your own reviews on your personal blog (I will gladly post a link here) or email me the review to post on this site. I only ask that you use your real name or a consistent and recognizable screen name.
(Please, no one from the theater groups reviewing your own productions!)

Reviews don't have to be extensive or any special format. Just let us know what you thought was good and what was not so good.

I particularly welcome reviews of Corn Stock which I NEVER attend.
(I have an aversion to outdoor theater, but that is another post for another day!).

I also seldom get to ICC or to some of the smaller town venues in the area. But even if anyone wants to review a performance that I have reviewed...well, two opinions are better than one and I will post these as well.

So, if you are attending the Corn Stock season opener ("The King And I") this weekend , please email and let me know how it was.

Arc Light Theater - 2010 Season

2010-06-02T16:52:00.007-05:00

Arc Light Theater begins its 2010 season this Friday, June 4th with “Night at the Improv” (a sketch comedy show). The rest of the season is as follows:

“Nunsense” by Dan Goggin running June 24-25-26

“Edgar and Ellen: Bad Seeds” by Phillip Dawkins (a youth production for children seven to twelve) on July 22.

“M*A*S*H” by Tim Kelly, on July 22-23-24

Arc Light Productions operates in conjunction with the Illini Bluffs School District in Glasford.

Season tickets are a steal at only $20 and may be purchased here.

Playing Nice On The Net

2010-05-29T07:39:00.006-05:00

Interesting story from NPR on internet civility.

Peoria Players Theatre 2010 - 2011 Season

2010-05-16T08:05:00.005-05:00

Peoria Players has announced its 2010 - 2011 Season:

Frankenstein - A New Musical*
The Diary of Anne Frank
Irving Berlin's White Christmas*
The Wizard of Oz
The Women*
The Drowsy Chaperone*

*Regional Premier

This is an exciting season, with more than half of the offerings being presented locally for the first time.

The Drowsy Chaperone is one of my musical favorites, so I will especially look forward to this one!

Season tickets are on sale now for only $75.
Please do your part to support local theater!

Peoria Civic Center Theater 2010 - 2011 Season

2010-04-26T17:13:00.003-05:00

The Peoria Civic Center has announced its 2010-2011 Broadway Theater Series Season.

Regular Season:

Fiddler on the Roof
Legally Blonde
Blue Man Group
Grease
The Color Purple

Optional Additional Choices:

Spring Awakening
Bus Stop
Cirque du Soliel: Dralion

As I have stated here before, this last season was one of the worst series ever.

This new 2010-2011 season is one to be excited about!