On Thursday October 26th, the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts’ production of Jonathan Larson’s Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical drama Rent (1996) opened at the Virginia Theatre. Rent famously re-creates the Parisian bohemians of …
Posts by Kathleen McGowan:
Strings and strife: Jupiter Quartet tackles socio-political themes in stunning fall concert
Upheaval – Program Title ( KCPA Marquee Series) The Jupiter String Quartet, longtime artists-in-residence, and faculty at the UIUC School of Music, gave a fall concert on Tuesday, October 3rd. They titled their program “Upheaval,” …
Riffing through gender barriers with Rose Marshack’s Play Like a Man
“How did an unknown indie-rock band from Champaign, IL, get its first show in New York City and at a bar co-owned by Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones? I attribute it to the kindness …
Kankakee native to bring queer southern rock to PYGMALION
Returning to Champaign-Urbana for PYGMALION is Thelma and the Sleaze — an all-woman, queer, independent southern rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. The group is the work of founder, lead vocalist, and guitar player Lauren “LG” …
The melodic philosophy of Sharon Isbin comes to life at ELLNORA
One of the many artists appearing at the Krannert Center’s ELLNORA | The Guitar Festival is Sharon Isbin, a guitarist who has won multiple Grammy awards and was recognized by Musical America as their 2020 …
Champaign-Urbana’s Girls Rock! Fest: Power chords and empowerment
On July 29th the Champaign-Urbana chapter of the Girls Rock! Camp Alliance (GRCA) held its camp showcase and festival fund-raiser at the Rose Bowl Tavern in Urbana. Four bands made up of campers played in …
Twin City Theater Company brings a student-written mystery to Parkland College Theater
The Curious Case of Covingston Manor is a manor house mystery with all of the classic tropes and accoutrements: an old mansion with a vaguely aristocratic name, a wealthy (and possibly stingy) elder relative whose …
Passing through town: Right Here Music brings artists to Champaign-Urbana
It’s rare to find an organization with the vision to support local music that also first considers what the local scene actually needs (instead of just what they want to do). Right Here Music (RHM), …
UI Black Chorus sings its annual Moms Day concert
On April 15th, the University of Illinois Black Chorus gave its annual Moms Day concert at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. This concert has been a tradition since the group’s founding in 1968, when …
City of Angels opens at the Virginia Theatre
On April 13th City of Angels (music by Cy Coleman / lyrics by David Zippel / book by Larry Gelbart) opened at The Virginia Theatre. The Lyric Theatre’s production is a collaboration between the Virginia …