Arts

Mathew speaks to director Saskia Bakker about the Station Theatre's next summer offering, opening July 5th.

Debra visits the Urbana Dance Company studio space and chats with founder Kate Insolia about its bold mission, innovative programming, and the powerful language of dance. 

KT reviews Twin City Theatre Company's Stars of Tomorrow production Emma! A Pop Musical currently playing at the SoDo Theatre in downtown Champaign.

Debra chats with Chandler Dalton, director of Emma: A Pop Musical, which opens this Friday at the SoDO Theatre. 

Debra shares what she learned from Don Lake's artist talk, given in support of his watercolor retrospective, currently showing at the Giertz Gallery at Parkland College. 

Micah explores Brian O’Neill’s photographs of CU's changing urban landscape in preview of the Elective Reportage exhibit opening at Analog on July 5th.  

Debra sits down with local illustrator Matt Wiley to talk about his exciting new web comic and what it takes to build an entire digital universe from scratch. 

Debra shares her recent DIY art crawl through three local exhibits.

Debra previews the retrospective of Don Lake's watercolor paintings opening this week at Parkland College's Giertz Gallery.

Katie attends the Celebration Company at the Station Theatre's production of Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare on the eve of the Tonys and reflects on her experience.

Jarrod speaks with director Whitney Havice about Champaign-Urbana Theater Company's 14th Annual Kathy Murphy Student Production, Beauty and the Beast. 

Debra introduces you to Urbana's inaugural poet laureate, Will Reger. 

Katie discusses Shakespeare and more with the Station Theatre's The Taming of The Shrew director Laura Alcantara as well as actors Mindy Smith and Mathew Green.

In preview of Saturday's Lawn d'Arts multi-artist pop-up, Debra chats with ceramic artist Cory McCrory.

Debra takes you through the recent spring reading by The Glass Room Poets and dives deep into the work and minds of several of its members. 

Debra shares her list of don't-miss arts event for the month.

Debra visits wood cut illustrator Lydia Puddicombe to talk about process, life as a full-time artist, and, of course, ghosts. 

Cope walks you through the Savoy, the Funky Butt, and the Chicago Triple (and more) in her preview of Monday blues dance nights at Guido's, starting June 3rd. 

Debra chats with Centennial AP Studio Arts students in preview of their art exhibit, “AP Studio Arts Is All That” which opens Friday at 5 p.m. at Art Coop in Urbana.  

Debra chats with Rachel Lauren Storm, Urbana Public Arts Program arts and culture coordinator about the City of Urbana Poet Laureate program, which will reveal its winner in the coming weeks. 

In preview of their spring reading at Analog, Debra chats with members of the Glass Room Poets.

Inspired by Queering UP the Arts, the recent exhibition at the University Y, Debra talks with participating artists and explores the important, yet often controversial role of queer art spaces.

Debra takes a tour of artist Lisa Kesler's Tolono studio and talks about Kesler's upcoming printmaking workshops, the satisfaction of her tactile methods, and, of course, the famous Vandercook Press. 

Debra previews the annual Parkland College Graphic Design Student Show, opening this Wednesday at Parkland's Giertz Gallery.

Debra lists her picks for this month's don't-miss art events. 

Tianyuan explores the 2019 Illinois Art+Design BFA exhibition. 

Debra reviews the 12th Annual Illinois Art + Design Re-fashioned Fashion Show, held Saturday evening at Temple Hoyne Buell Hall.

Debra reviews the CU Ballet's long-awaited production of Swan Lake, which took place Friday and Saturday at the Virginia Theatre. 

Debra previews CU Ballet's Swan Lake, opening this weekend at the Virginia Theatre.

Debra previews Re-Fashioned, the student-designed recycled fashion show, which takes place this Saturday night at Temple Hoyne Buell Hall. 

Mathew reviews Twin City Theatre Company's current production.

Mathew reviews last weekend's musical comedy from Lyric Theatre @ Illinois.

Katie reflects on her experience seeing the Station Theatre's production of Stupid F*#cking Bird by Aaron Posner, directed by Kay Holley.

Debra reviews the Jupiter String Quartet's April 23rd performance at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, which included the prairie premiere of Kati Agócs “Imprimatur.”

Debra reviews the latest 40 North art exhibit, “Those Who Teach, Can,” which will be up at the 40 Point One | art space through May 28th

Tianyuan reviews the 2019 University of Illinois Masters of Fine Arts Exhibition, which will be up at Krannert Art Museum through April 25th. 

Katie chats with Kay Holley, the director of the upcoming production of Stupid F*#king Bird at the historic Station Theatre.

Mathew speaks with director Dustin Yocum and actor Kimmy Schofield about their latest collaboration.

The Smile Politely editors share their 2019 Ebertfest experiences. 

Debra previews Kinky Boots, coming to the State Farm Center this Sunday night, chats with Chris Kane, dance captain/assisant to the choreographer, and together they'll convince you that this production is the best reason to go see a musical. 

Debra previews the Come Home to Krannert Center: 50th Anniversary Weekend and dives deep into a discussion of KCPA's unique success story with director Mike Ross. 

Debra previews this Saturday's Small Press Fest! and talks with festival co-organizer Sarah Christensen. 

Debra previews Ebertfest, which kicks off its 21st year this Wednesday. 

Jarrod reviews the final production of Parkland College Theatre's 2018-2019 season, Young Frankenstein

Debra lists her picks for must-see arts events this month. 

Debra talks with some of this year's Boneyard Arts Festival artists and offers some tips for navigating 110+ venues and hundreds of local artists. 

Debra reviews Because I Am Your Queen, Illinois Theatre's premiere production of Mina Samuels new play, which runs through April 7th at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

Debra previews the 2019 8 to Create live art show, coming to the Link Gallery at the Art + Design Building this Saturday.