Arts

Friday, November 11th, brought the CUDO Pro Show’s 2016 opening night reception to downtown Champaign. This year’s event was a special one, dedicated to the late Matthew Farrell.

This week, we are going talk about Say Uncle, an experimental residency and nomadic exhibition program.

Opening Thursday November 17th, Zina Saro-Wiwa: Did You Know We Taught Them How to Dance? explores the rich cultural, social, and economic facets of the Niger Delta. But what do we know about this exhibition and its featured artist? 

Conor McPherson’s adaptation of The Birds by Daphne du Maurier tries to rival that of Alfred Hitchcock’s famous 1963 movie starring Tippi Hedren. But is the play as frightening as the movie or original story?

For its 34th year, the Craft League of Urbana-Champaign brings the community together with local artists and crafters. The 34th Annual Art Fair promotes local artists and interests as well as sharing knowledge about various crafts and the fine arts.

The amount of sex and intrigue in the first opera at Krannert is nearly equal to a thrilling TV series, so Rebecca gets the dirt from visionary director Madeline Sayet about re-creating Poppea. 

Rebecca chats with the cast of The Birds, opening tomorrow at the Station theatre, and lets them assuage her fears. 

Preisdent of CUDO shows Smile Politely his WorkSpace. Check it out!

Meghan reviews The Minotaur at Krannert Center of Performing Arts, where the classical Greek myth gets a modern take.

Check out a Canadian ex-archaeologist, ex-touring musician, and current amateur comedian.

Shelly previews Lucky Plush's high-flying dance production about superheroes fighting for social justice. 

Jordan talks with program director Jason Pankoke about what people can expect if they attend the New Art Film Festival. Also, a few filmmakers talk about the challenges of getting their work accepted at a film festival.

The Minotaur brings the drama of Ariadne the princess of Crete, Theseus the Athenian hero, and the legendary half-man, half-bull creature in his labyrinth to the present day.

There were a lot of surprises but hardly any answers when Rebecca went to see Mr. Burns, a post-electric play.

Jeff Nelson previews the upcoming collaboration between two prestige groups of faculty performers. 

Strong, yet overlooked women, get to tell their stories during First Lady Suite.

Check out this local artist who explores themes of migration, diaspora, and cultural identity specifically referencing her upbringing as an Indian born American.

Four Dubliners, muddling through life’s hardships, briefly live under one delipidated roof and help each other to find some meaning and purpose in life. That is, until reality comes barreling down upon them.

After a nuclear fallout, it only makes sense to entertain one’s self with remembering quotes and episodes from The Simpsons.

Kelly looks to the story behind George Foster 1918-1999: A Retrospective, that was held at Gallery 217 last month.

Jordan previews First Lady Suite, the latest production at Parkland Theatre and interviews director Steven Fiol

Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea is a truth bomb that Rebecca found painful in the perfect way of theatre. 

For the Station Theatre's season opener, The Night Alive, Rebecca takes the chance to ask all the members of an atypical “living room drama” the question that she has wanted to shout from the audience for years. 

Check out this week's artist who specializes in printmaking and letterpress printing.

Illinois Theatre's season-opening play tackles big themes in a small space. 

Rebecca attempts to describe BEAR without spoiling it.

Jeff Nelson profiles the preeminent classical pianist of our age. 

On Saturday September 24th at Memphis on Main,the Book Fort pop up event New Poets + New Poems will be from 1:15pm to 1:45pm. Caro Macon, C. Russell Price, Kathleen Rooney, and others will perform their poems and other works for lucky listeners.

Four amazing authors will be rapid-fire-reading from noon to noon-thirty inside the Accord during the Book Fort on Saturday. 

What is Book Fort? Sadly, it is not a literal fort made of books. The event is an interactive and roving book fair of select independent presses and publishers.

SP Writers take a closer look at the DeathMatch participants, complete with color-commentary. 

No rumbling. No one is ready for that. 

Nathaniel takes a look at The Pygmalion Festival's Literary Death Match.

Maybe SP likes Matthew too much. Maybe we talk too often. Regardless, this conversation between Minicucci and Rebecca should provide new details about our old homeboy. 

Seth Fein of Smile Politely, Pygmalion Festival and Nicodemus Agency was quite enthusiastic about the chance to interview Neil Steinberg, Chicago columnist.

Shelly interviews writer Kim Chinquee about her upcoming appearance at this year's Pygmalion Lit Fest. 

Rebecca previews the next PK night, bringing you 20x20s from each of the five major Pyg groups: Food, Tech, Made, Lit, and Music.

Jordan interviews Tyehimba Jess about his upcoming appearance at The Pygmalion Festival as well as what he hopes those who attend his performance will gain from his work. 

Meet one of Champaign Urbana's largest paper crane paper crane maker. 

C-U has a ridiculous number of libraries, and Shelly learns about the most diverse and interactive one we've ever seen. Check out people at the Human Library event during Pygmalion LitFest. 

Jordan interviews author Jean Thompson about her upcoming appearance at The Pygmailon Festival and what influences her work.

Since 2008 the Urbana Public Arts Program and Commission have sought to engage everyone in the arts whether they be professional, amateur, emerging, or “non” artists. What better way to engage the community than by exhibiting some of the talented artists in our area?

Peter and the Starcatcher may not have you clapping to save Tinker Bell’s life, but it will have you laughing and smiling.

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts kicked off their new season Friday with an Opening Night party that will not soon be forgotten.

Fresh off the Opening Night Party, KCPA keeps the tempo tight by inviting the cutting-edge Canadian dance troupe to display its unique method on Tuesday night.

Mandy Danowitz and Maggie Kirby of Gallery 217 took us on a guided tour, complete with Q&A session. 

This year’s opening celebration brings the sounds and tastes of the world to CU-rbanites and Rebecca’s bringing you the scoop.

In an age when young adults are chastised for being young-er than adult-er, Peter Pan occurs more often in popular culture. The latest, Peter and the Starcatcher, is a musical produced by Twin City Squared, opening this week. 

On Friday August 26, the art exhibition Borderland Collective: Northern Triangle opened at the Krannert Art Museum. The exhibition provides plenty of material for a dialogue about the issues of migration and human rights, but navigating the renovation and exhibit itself may prove daunting for some.