Updated Sunday, February 05, 2012
by Lee Wenger
 
 
IN MEMORIUM:  JANE ISING, 02/02/1902 - 02/02/2012
                             PHIL WEINBERG, 1925 - 02/03/12
                             HAROLD RATCLIFF, 05/02/21 - 02/01/12 
           
Through Wednesday, 02/29
The Peoria Public Library Main Branch, 107 NE Monroe in downtown Peoria, presents a Black History Month Art Exhibit in the Gallery.  Hours are Mondays through Saturdays, 9am to 6pm.  The exhibit is free.
 
Through Sunday, 02/26
Conklin's Barn II Dinner Theatre in Goodfield presents the classic Neil Simon comedy, "Come Blow Your Horn". Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8pm with dinner starting at 6, and Sundays at 1:30pm with dinner starting at noon.  There will also be a special Valentine's Day performance.  For reservations and information, call (309) 965-2545 or visit www.barn2.com 
 
Through Sunday, 02/12
Peoria Players Theatre, 4300 N. University at Lake Street, presents "Titanic: The Musical" directed by Steve Bortolotti. Performances are February 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 and 11 at 7:30 pm, and February 5 and 12 at 2:00. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for patrons 18 and under, with a special rate of $12 for all ages for the Wednesday, February 8 performance. Don't miss this exciting Peoria premiere! For tickets and information, call 688-4473.
 
Sunday, 02/05
The Forest Park Nature Center, 5809 N. Forest Park Drive in Peoria Heights, invites you to its Annual Book Sale with Reduced Price Day Sunday from 1-5.  For more information, call (309) 686-3360.
 
Sunday, 02/05
Dr. Bruce Polay, conductor of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony, performs as a pianist at 3pm in the News Room Bistro, 101 W. Main Street in Toulon.  Admission is $5 for adults and free for students.
 
Sunday, 02/05
Bradley University presents a faculty oboe recital with Dr. Alison Robuck at 3pm in the Dingeldine Music Center, 1417 W. Barker Avenue in Peoria.  Admission is free.  For more information, call (309) 677-2595. 
 
Sunday, 02/05
The Peoria Prairie Tellers offer "Winter Tales" at 7pm in The Riverplex, 600 NE Water Street on the Peoria riverfront.  Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door.  For tickets and information, call (309) 682-2915 or (309) 692-0993.
 
Tuesday, 02/07
The Peoria Symphony Orchestra Chamber Players go on the road again to present "African-American Classical Music: Free Men and Free Minds" at 7:30pm in the Eureka College Cerf Center.  Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students.  For tickets and information, call (309) 467-6301.
 
Thursday, 02/09
The Fine Arts Society of Peoria welcomes Dr. Elizabeth McKinsey speaking on "Niagra Falls: Icon of the Sublime" at 10am at Lakeview Museum, 1125 W. Lake Street in Peoria.  Coffee is served at 9:25.  Admission is $10 for adults, $2 for students and free to Fine Arts Society members.
 
Thursday, 02/09
Bradley University's 2012 Bunn Lecturer in Photography, Paul Shambroom, will speak at 5pm in the Horowitz Auditorium of the Global Communications Center on the campus in Peoria.  A reception will follow from  6:00-7:30pm in the Heuser Art Gallery.  Call (309) 677-3655.
 
 Paul Shambroom is a photographer who explores American power and culture. For over twenty years he has documented subjects ranging from industrial and office environments, the U.S. nuclear arsenal, small town council meetings, and post-9/11 "Homeland Security" preparations. His most recent project is "Shrines: Public Weapons in America". Paul's work is in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Walker Art Center, and many others. His photographs were included in the 1997 Whitney Biennial and he has had solo exhibitions at many institutions including the Walker Art Center, the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago, and galleries in NY, Chicago, San Francisco and London. His work has been published in three monographs: “Paul Shambroom: Picturing Power” (2008), “Meetings” (2004), and “Face to Face with the Bomb: Nuclear Reality After the Cold War” (2003). Paul has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Creative Capital Foundation, and the Bush Foundation, among others. He was born in Teaneck, NJ and lives in Minneapolis. Paul is currently on the faculty of the Department of Art, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
 
Friday, 02/10
Reel to Real: Focus on Film presents the romantic comedy "Same Time, Next Year" starring Ellen Burstyn and Alan Alda, at 7pm in the Arbor Auditorium of ICC North, 5407 N. University in Peoria.  Admission is $6 for adults and $5 for students
 
Friday, 02/10
Forest Park Nature Center, 5809 N. Forest Park Drive in Peoria Heights, presents Central Illinois based Touring Singer/Songwriter Barry Cloyd and Celtricity for their "Songs from The Woods" Concert Series on Friday, Feb 10th.  This is a CD release party for Barry's new all-original CD "Spirit Dance".  "Spirit Dance" is Barry's 9th CD and he is very pleased to return to Forest Park with his Celtricity band-mates TJ Jones, Tony Crowe and Bruce Bergethon for this special show.  Time is 7:00 PM and the ticket price is $6.00 for members and $7.00 for non-members.  Please call for reservations as seating is limited. For more information call Forest Park Nature Center at (309) 686-3360.
 
Sunday, 02/12
The Bradley Music Scholarship Concert Series presents the return of "Broadway Lights and Opera Stars", directed by Dr. Kerry Walters, at 3pm in the Dingeldine Music Center, 1417 W. Barker Avenue in Peoria.  Performers will include Bradley faculty, alumni and students.  Admission is $5 for adults and free for students, with all proceeds supporting music scholarships at Bradley.  Tickets will be available at the door.  For more information, call (309) 677-2595.
 
Sunday, 02/12
Volunteer Michael Rucker will give a presentation of Edgar Allen Poe works at 4pm in the Wyckoff Room of the Collum-Davis Library on the Bradley University campus in Peoria.  Admission is free.  For more information, call (309) 677-2850. 
 
Monday, 02/13
The Morton Fine Arts Concert Series presents The Cat's Pajamas from Branson, Missouri, at 7pm in the Bertha Frank Performing Arts Center, 350 N. Illinois Avenue in Morton next to the high school.  For tickets and information, visit  www.mortonfinearts.org
 
Tuesday, 02/14
Bring your Valentine to a "Valentine's Dinner, Dance and Theatre" at the Cornerstone Building, 321 NE Madison Avenue in Peoria, starting with cocktails at 5:30pm followed by dinner at 6:30 and dancing at 8:30.  The event is a fundraiser for a pair of new organizations located in the building:  The Cornerstone Academy for Performing Arts and the Underground Arts Society (see the story in the Journal Star Arts Section, Sunday, January 29).  Reservations are $100 per couple, and tables of 8 can be reserved for $400.  Sponsorship levels are also available.  Black tie optional.
The evening includes a four-course dinner, live performances, a champagne toast and roses delivered to your table.  Fine artists will show and sell their work, and a photographer will be available for portraits of the evening.  For reservations and information, call Karen Cassidy at (309) 620-3164 or email cornerstoneacademy@hotmail.com
 
Tuesday, 02/14
The Peoria Symphony Orchestra, conducted by George Stelluto, offers its next "PSO Presents!" concert with guest pianist Richard Kogan and soprano Linden Christ performing "The Romantic Gershwins" at 8pm in the Peoria Civic Center Theatre.  For tickets and information, call (309) 671-1096 for visit  www.peoriasymphony.org
 
Thursday, 02/16
The Bradley University Chorale presents its Spring Talent Show at 7:30pm in the Dingeldine Music Center, 1417 W. Barker Avenue in Peoria, just south of the campus.  Chorale members perform solo and small-group acts showcasing talents aside from choral music.  All proceeds support the Bradley Chorale European Tour in 2013.  Tickets are $5, available at the door or from any Chorale member.  Call 677-2595 for more information.
 
Friday, 02/17 through Saturday, 02/25
Corn Stock Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning dark comedy “God of Carnage”, directed by Paul Gordon, at the Winter Playhouse in upper Bradley Park in Peoria with curtain times at 7:30pm and a Sunday matinee the 19th at 2:30. For tickets and information, call Corn Stock at (309) 676-2196.
A playground altercation between 11-year-old boys brings together two sets of parents in Brooklyn -- one set more working class, the other decidedly snooty -- to try and resolve the matter. At first diplomacy reigns, but as the meeting progresses and the booze flows, tensions emerge and the gloves come off, leaving the couples with more than just their principles in tatters. Written by Yasmina Reza and translated into English by Christopher Hampton, the play was a success in London and on Broadway. It won the Tony Award for Best Play in 2009.
 
Saturday, 02/18
The Central Illinois Youth Symphony joins the Peoria Symphony Orchestra in its "Classics 4" Concert at 8pm in the Peoria Civic Center Theatre.  The program will include music of Brahms and Mahler and feature guest artist Jeffrey Holbrook, a central Illinois native now principal trumpet with the Seoul Philharmonic.  For tickets and information, call (309) 671-1096 for visit  www.peoriasymphony.org
 
Friday, 03/02
The Central Illinois Artists Organization (CIAO) continues its First Fridays Studio Tours from 5-9pm.  Free.  For a complete list of the participants and a map of locations, visit www.ciaopeoria.com
 
Friday, 03/02
The Trinity Concert Series 10th Anniversary Season continues with The Bradley Chorale at 7:30pm.  (FREE) Dr. John Jost, conductor. The Bradley Chorale from Bradley University just a few blocks from Trinity has performed across the United States and Europe winning national and international recognition. In 2004 they sang at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC and toured Denmark and Sweden. In 2007, the Chorale toured Italy. In 2010 they returned to Denmark. They will perform selections from their 2012 tour concert.  Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 135 NE Randolph Avenue, Peoria, IL 61606.  Call (309) 676-4609 or visit  www.trinityconcertseries.org
 
Wednesday, 03/07
The Central Illinois Jazz Orchestra, a 17-piece big band led by Dr. Todd Kelly of Bradley University, performs at the Fieldhouse in Campustown, at Main and University in Peoria, from 7-9pm.  There is no cover charge.
  
Saturday, 03/10
Renowned local musicians Paul Adams and Dave Hoffman offer “A World of Dreams and Jazz” on a variety of string and brass instruments at 7pm. Both men compose and perform music in the areas of Meditation/Healing, Jazz, Ambient, New Age and World Fusion. Both believe that music is a powerful art form that has the power to transform. The location is the Universalist Unitarian Church, 3000 W. Richwoods Blvd. in Peoria. An offering will be received and a reception will follow the concert. For more information, phone (309) 688-5608.
 
Saturday, 03/17
The Peoria Camera Club will be hosting photographer and Photoshop guru Ben Willmore in this annual seminar. The event runs from 9am to 4pm at the ICC Performing Arts Center in East Peoria.  Admission is $75 through March 10, $85 thereafter.  Full details and ticket ordering information can be found at http://pccseminar.eventbrite.com/
Enjoy a full day of photographic training and inspiration with Ben Willmore, one of America’s favorite photography and photo-processing instructors.  Ben will share his techniques for capturing great photos and processing them into masterpieces that say WOW!  Learn to make better captures - starting with equipment choices and camera settings.  Ben will share his techniques for quickly evaluating shooting locations and creating compositions that are dynamic and interesting.  He will demonstrate how to think about post-processing techniques in the field to capture the most ideal images for later digital enhancement.  Then, Ben will demonstrate his favorite post-processing techniques for enhancing and fine-tuning images on the computer.  Learn how to use digital processing tools to create images with more visual impact so you can develop your own style and take your creativity to the next level. Don't miss the chance to learn how to take better images and transform them into finished photographic art.
  
Friday, 03/23
The Trinity Concert Series 10th Anniversary Season continues with Harp and Flute by Candlelight at 7:30.  (FREE) Featuring Linda Warren, harp, and Kyle Dzapo, flute, and friends.  For Trinity’s popular annual candlelight concert, Linda Warren returns to Peoria to join Kyle Dzapo and other Peoria musicians to present a concert featuring the most ancient of instruments: the harp and flute. In this concert, every piece will feature either a flute or harp or both with various combinations of instruments. Accompanying instruments will include a string quartet and a harpsichord among others. The featured work will be the Introduction and Allegro by Maurice Ravel.  Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 135 NE Randolph Avenue, Peoria, IL 61606.  Call (309) 676-4609 or visit  www.trinityconcertseries.org
 
Sunday, 04/15
"Titanic: In Memoriam". On April 15, the centenary of the Titanic’s sinking, the St. Martin Chamber Players with special guest Gina Wright, soprano, will reach back in time to evoke the musical atmosphere of that voyage in 1912. The program will include selections from the playlist of the Titanic “band” and will be given at 3pm at the Universalist Unitarian Church, 3000 W. Richwoods Blvd, Peoria. The concert is free and open to the public. An offering will be accepted and a reception will follow the concert. For more information, phone (309) 682-8977.
 
Trinity Concert Series 2011-12 Tenth Anniversary Season
All concerts are free and open to the public (free-will offerings will be received).
Remaining Events: 
 
The  St. Matthew Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach - Friday, April 6 - NOON (FREE) Peoria Bach Festival 2010 Choir and Orchestra, Martin Dicke and John Jost, directors As a part of our Good Friday observances, we will once again show the video made of the Peoria Bach Festival 2010 performance of the St. Matthew Passion. During his time, Bach’s passion settings were liturgical works that were performed on Good Friday as a part of the Good Friday observances in Leipzig. The video will begin at 12:00 noon and conclude at 3:15 p.m. or shortly thereafter. There will be a short break between Parts I and II.
 
The Genius of Beethoven - Wednesday, April 18 - 7:30 p.m. (FREE) Peoria Symphony Chamber Players In anticipation of its performance of Ludwig van Beethoven’s magnum opus the Missa Solemnis on Saturday, April 21 by the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, the Peoria Symphony Chamber Players present a sampling of Beethoven’s chamber music. Works presented will be the Sonata No. 3 for Cello and Piano in A Major, Opus 69, the Trio in D Major, Opus 70, No. 1 “Ghost,” and the Piano Sonata in D minor, Opus 31, No. 2 “Tempest.” Enter the creative world of one of history’s greatest composers.
 
The Quartet New Generation - Friday, April 27 - 7:30 p.m. (FREE) Susanne Frölich, Andrea Guttmann, Hannah Pape, and Heide Schwarz, recorders The Quartet New Generation is an extraordinary recorder quartet from Germany that has attracted broad and enthusiastic audiences throughout Europe, North and South America, Japan, Southeast Asia, and the United States. Hailed as “Four Recorder Virtuosos” by the New York Times and “mind-blowing” by the Los Angeles Times, the Quartet New Generation mesmerizes its audiences through innovative programming that juxtaposes contemporary and early music. Performing on upwards of 30 different recorders of varying shapes and sizes during the course of a typical performance, the Quartet transports the listener into new sonic worlds. Working closely together with current-day composers, these four female musicians draw hitherto undreamed-of sonorities from their recorders. You have never heard the recorder played this way before, so be prepared to experience some acoustical surprises. For more information, please visit www.quartetnewgeneration.de.
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
135 NE Randolph Avenue
Peoria, IL 61606
309-676-4609
www.trinityconcertseries.org
 
Corn Stock Theatre Summer Season 2012 
Hello, Dolly!  (musical)  June 1 - June 9
The Importance of Being Ernest  (comedy)  June 22 - June 30
Hairspray  (musical)  July 13 - July 21
Private Lives  (comedy)  August 3 - August 11
Hair  (musical)  August 24 - September 1
 
For Season Tickets and information, call (309) 677-2196