July means a few different things: It’s the first full month of summer, the weather is securely holding week-long ninety degree streaks, and, despite those enrolled in summer terms, school and homework are of no immediate distraction. To appeal to, fight against, and embrace all the wonderful characteristics of July we have provided a few of our favorite arts happenings to put on your calendars. Some will bring you protection from the sun and others will take advantage of the natural stage light.
Fab Lab Teen Workshop | Champaign Public Library
July 2nd and 3rd
This teen workshop provides an opportunity to meet and make things with experts from the C-U Community Fab Lab. The workshop is free, but registration is required. (AB)
Champaign Public Library
200 W Green Street
Champaign
Robeson Pavilion Room A & B
July 2nd and 3rd, 1-3 p.m.
Double Double | Carle Park
July 5th
Don’t miss the Theatre for Young Audiences performance in the park — written by Nancy Steele Brokaw and directed by Enrico Spada. “Double Double” imagines a world where witches, kings, walls, Abraham Lincoln, and William Shakespeare come together, and, perhaps, teach a lesson or two about how to rise past the expected and push the possible. This fast-paced production is touring central Illinois and — thanks to the Urbana Public Arts Program and the Illinois Shakespeare Festival — everyone from everywhere is welcome to come to Carle Park, Thursday, July 5th, to see it for free. Make sure to bring a blanket, pack a picnic, and enjoy the show with family, friends, or solo on an early lunch break! (AB) Photo from Facebook.
Carle Park
400 W Indiana Ave
Urbana
10 to 11 a.m.
Stars of Tomorrow Presents: 13, The Musical | SoDo Theatre
July 6th – 15th
This month, the Twin City Theatre Company is putting on a new production — 13, The Musical — in conjunction with Stars of Tomorrow. The show tells the coming of age story of Evan Goldman, who makes the move from New York City to small town Indiana, where he learns a lot about high school, people, and himself. Jason Robert Brown, the Tony Award-winning composer, wrote the lively rock score to put you in the mood to discover “cool” where it is least expected. Find tickets and show times here. (AB) Photo by Dylan Tiger, courtesy of Twin City Theatre Company.
SoDo Theatre
111 S. Walnut Street
Champaign
July 6th to 7th, 12th to 14th, 7 p.m.
July 8th and 15th, 2 p.m.
Watercolor Resist Paintings | The Urbana Free Library
July 15th
The Urbana Free Library and Urbana Public Arts Program are sponsoring a workshop as part of The Young Artist’s Studio series with local artist Kamila Glowacki, on Sunday, July 15th, at 3 p.m. Children, ages 5 and up, are invited to use oil pastels and watercolors to create resist artworks. The workshop is free, and all supplies will be provided. (AB) Photo from Facebook.
Urbana Free Library
210 W Green St
Urbana
3 to 3:45 p.m.
Jean Rene Balekita & Papel Picado Workshop | Art at the Market
July 14th
From 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 14th, you can explore the decorative craft of papel picado, a Mexican folk art, guided by members of staff at La Casa Cultural Latina and the Centre of Latin and Caribbean Studies.
On this particular Saturday, at the Urbana Square Market, corner of Illinois and Vine Streets, the catch word will be “life.” A flavor of African music with the infusion of Mexican folk art will liven the scene. Jean Rene Balekita and Bomoyi, an ensemble with an extensive repertoire of African Congolese rumba, African hymns, gospel and jazz. Note: Bomoyi in Lingala means life. (SM) Photo from Facebook.
Urbana’s Market at the Square
Corner of Illinois and Vine
Urbana
8 a.m. to noon
Smart Kids 2018 | The Art Theatre
July 7th – August 5th
Don’t miss out on the 2018 Children’s International Film Series at The Art Theatre. Beginning the first weekend in July, with Hayao Miyazaki’s “Kiki’s Delivery Service”, this year’s line-up is sure to appeal to your whole family. The festival runs for five consecutive weeks and features a new film, from a different country, every weekend. Also, catch a new short film from the CU Film Society’s Pens to Lens program before each week’s feature. Find the full line up here. (AB) Photo from Facebook.
The Art Theatre
126 W Church St.
Champaign
Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m.
This article was written by Angela Baldus and Sejake Matsela.
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All event information is accurate to the best of our abilities, but sometimes we make mistakes and sometimes event information, times, prices, etc., change after we look them up. Whenever possible, we’ve provided a link to the original event page; you should always double-check the source before you make any firm plans. Thanks for your understanding.