Updated Wednesday, February 22, 2012
by Lee Wenger
 
WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY 1732
ASH WEDNESDAY -- FIRST DAY OF LENT 
 
IN MEMORIUM:  JANE ISING, 02/02/1902 - 02/02/2012
                             PHIL WEINBERG, 1925 - 02/02/12
                             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 
 
Wednesday, 02/22
The Peoria Symphony Orchestra "Bankers Hours" series welcomes Linden Christ and The Chicago Opera Playhouse, a group she founded, in a free performance of their original piece, "Cinderhood" at noon in the GAR Hall, 416 Hamilton Boulevard in downtown Peoria.  This short send-up of "Cinderella" and "Little Red Riding Hood", performed by two men and two women, is targeted at introducing children to musical theatre.  For more information, visit www.lindenchrist.com 
 
Thursday, 02/23
Bradley University Theatre presents "The Compleat Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged" at 8pm in the Hartmann Center Theatre on the campus in Peoria.  For tickets and information, call the Bradley Box Office at (309) 677-2650.
 
Friday, 02/24 and 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. 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.  Adult situations and language.
 
Friday, 02/24 through Sunday, 02/26
Bradley University Theatre presents a one-weekend-only production event:  "The 3U Shak3sfest" offers "The Tempest" done by Bradley Theatre Friday the 24th at 8pm; "Measure for Measure" done by Loyola Saturday the 25th at 8pm; and "Henry VI" done by Western Illinois University Sunday the 26th at 2:30pm.  Package tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $15 for students.  Call (309) 677-2650 for tickets and information. 
 
Friday, 02/24 through Sunday, 03/04
The Illinois Central College theatre program presents "The Haunting of Hill House" at the ICC Performing Arts Center in East Peoria.  Written by F. Andrew Leslie, this chilling drama is based on the original novel by Shirley Jackson that inspired the 1963 film "The Haunting" and was again adapted in 1999 for a re-make of the same title which starred Liam Neeson.
In this chilling and mystifying production directed by Alan Walker, Dr. John Montague, an investigator of supernatural phenomena, invites three people to spend a summer exploring the history of Hill House and trying to understand the strange forces that have made it uninhabitable for so many years. They are later joined by Dr. Montague’s wife and her assistant, whose own ideas of probing the supernatural seem to bring on a crisis for all concerned. This is not just a ghost story, but also a subtle tale of psychological horror.
The cast includes Sam Curry, Washington, who plays Dr. John Montague; Kristin Dancer, Washington; Lauren Bowling, Canton; Ethan Johnson, Edelstein; Dusty Bredeman, Chillicothe; Melanie Gritzmacher, Tremont; and Jacolby Alexander, Peoria.
Performances are at 7:30pm Fridays and Saturdays with matinees at 2:30pm Sundays.  Admission is $7 ($5 for students and seniors). The performance is rated PG-13 for scary situations.
For more information or to reserve tickets, call the ICC Performing Arts Center Box Office at (309) 694-5136.
 
Saturday, 02/25
The 60th Anniversary Season of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony continues with Maurice Cohn at 6:30pm in the Orpheum Theatre in Galeburg.  Dr. Bruce Polay conducts.  For tickets and information, call (309) 342-2299.
 
 
Saturday, 02/25
If you missed the Cole Porter Review at Corn Stock Theatre in Peoria last September, or you'd like to see it again and bring a friend, you can catch it at EP's Time-Out, 1011 E. Washington Street in East Peoria, located between I-74 and East Peoria High School.  The cast of 10 singers performs all or part of 39 Cole Porter tunes. 
 
The cast includes Deb Austin, Rachel Higgins, Kaitlin Adams-Wenger, Tamra Challacombe, Shirley Salazar, Bob Parkhurst, Bruce Colligan, Chris Adams-Wenger, Charlie Brown and Lee Wenger, with director Denise Adams at the piano.
 
The buffet dinner starts and 6pm with the show at 7:30.  Tickets for dinner and show are $20, and seats for the show only are available for $10.  For reservations and information, call EP's Time-Out at (309) 839-0630.
 
Tuesday, 02/28
The Heart of Illinois Wind Quintet will perform a free concert at 7:30pm in McCallister Hall in the Chapel at Eureka College.
 
The program will include “Flower Duet” from the 1883 French opera “Lakme” by Leo Delibes, “Wind Quintet No. 1” by Gordon Jacob, “Renaissance Suite” transcribed by Ronald Roseman from five Renaissance works and “Wind Quintet No. l, “ an 18th century work by Peter Muller.
 
The program also will feature “Three Trifles,” which includes a tango, pastorale and badinage, by Marvin Carlton. Carlton, who teaches music at Hamilton County Sr. High School in McLeansboro, is a friend and college roommate of Heart of Illinois Wind Quintet bassoonist Grant Gillett.
 
Other quintet members are Nancy Gillett, oboe; Sherril Diepenbrock, clarinet; Randi Lancaster, flute; and Phillip Lancaster, horn.
 
For more information, call Eureka College music professor Pam Bates at (309) 467-6398.
 
Wednesday, 02/29 through Sunday, 03/04
Bradley University Theatre presents "The Compleat Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" in the Hartmann Centre Theatre on the campus in Peoria at 8pm with a Sunday matinee at 2:30.  For tickets and information, call the Bradley Box Office at (309) 677-2650.
 
Thursday, 03/01
Join author and Bradley University English professor Mark Liebenow at a reading for his new book, "Mountains of Light: Seasons of Reflection in Yosemite" (University of Nebraska Press, March 2012) at Bradley at 7:30pm as part of the Visiting Writers Series. It will be in the Wyckoff Room in the Collum-Davis library. Admission is free. If you want to buy copies ahead of time, call or stop by I Know You Like a Book Bookstore in Peoria Heights (309) 685-2665).
 
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
 
Sunday, 03/04
The Peoria Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and the Iben Series present Organist and Hanna City native Jonathan Kroepel in recital at 3:30pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1420 W. Moss Avenue in Peoria.  Tickets are available at the door.  Admission is $10 Adult, $8 Seniors, children & students free with ID.  For more information, call Rev. Joe Dunlap at (309) 691-6424.
 
Tuesday, 03/06
The Peoria Symphony Chamber Players will perform “Ancient Voices: Korean Traditional Music and Literature” at 7:30pm in the Cerf Center at Eureka College. The concert is part of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra’s “Peoria: An International Community Celebration.” Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students. For more information, call 467-6301.
 
Tuesday, 03/06 through Thursday, 02/08
Bradley University Theatre presents "The Tempest" by Shakespeare at 8pm in the Hartmann Centre Theatre on the campus in Peoria.  Tickets are $16 for adults, $9 for seniors and $5 for students.  For tickets, call Bradley's Box Office at (309) 677-2650.
 
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.
 
Wednesday, 03/07
Peoria-based indie singer-songwriter Jared Bartman is giving a concert of original music at Dingeldine Music Center, 1417 W. Barker Avenue in Peoria at 7:30pm.  Bartman will be accompanied by a full band and a string quartet of Bradley University students called '20,000 Leagues Under The String Quartet'.  Michigan-based singer-songwriter Small Houses will open the show.  This free concert is sponsored by the Bradley University Activities Council, and is open to the public.  This concert is the kick-off performance for a tour that Jared Bartman and '20,000 Leagues Under The String Quartet' will take to New York in mid-March.
 
Friday, 03/09
The St. Patrick Society of Peoria presents a rollicking band direct from Ireland to kick off the week of St. Patrick’s Day. “Slide” will perform at the Gateway Building on the Peoria Riverfront at the foot of Hamilton Boulevard from 7-10pm with a concert for all Irish and Irish wannabees. The members of Slide are well known for their mastery of their instruments and have won numerous musical awards. They are stellar musicians and exude charm in both their manner and understated showmanship. Their music ranges from their own arrangements of traditional jigs and reels to original songs which range from soulful and sorrowful to contagiously energetic. Folk Roots Magazine proclaims,"There’s plenty of action and flamboyance in Slides’s music,” which merges “swagger with traditional expertise.” They are also favorites of the local Irish scene, having played during Erin Feis at least twice, and one other solo show like this one.  Admission is $20 in advance, $25 at the door. For tickets and information, call John Martin at (309) 692-8937, send checks to St. Patrick Society, PO Box 117, Peoria IL 61650, or email johnlmartin48@sbcglobal.net
  
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.
 
Sunday, 03/18
The Central Illinois Jazz Society presents David Hoffman and Friends at 7:15pm in the Starting Gate Banquet Room of the Landmark Recreation Center, 3225 N. Dries Lane in Peoria, with the CIJS House Band starting off at 6.  Admission is $5 for CIJS members, $7 for non-members.  For more information, call (309) 692-5330.
 
Monday, 03/19
The Peoria Symphony Chamber Players will perform  “Contemporary Latin American Music” at 7:30pm in the Cerf Center at Eureka College.  The program will include “Schoenberg no ha muerto” by Juan Ignacio Lopez Carbonero, “Rayuela Preludes” by Reinaldo Moya, “Cuaderno de Viaje” by Mario Lavista, “Assobio a Jato” by Heitor Villa-Lobos and  “Sonata for Flute and Piano” by Samuel Zyman. The concert is part of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra’s “Peoria: An International Community Celebration.” Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students.  For more information, call 467-6301. 
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
 
Saturday, 03/24
Native Peorian Elizabeth Heuermann, General/Artistic Director of the New York Lyric Opera along with their Board of Directors (Midwest Division) will be collaborating with Bradley University to bring the 2012 Vocal Competition Midwest Division auditions to Peoria, Illinois on March 24, 2012.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS (MIDWEST DIVISION)
Tracy Heuermann (former Director of Custom Builders, Inc.)
Teresa Ozuna (Director of Midstate College)
Sherry Seckler (Music Director of St. Mary’s Cathedral & Director of St. Martin Chamber Players)
Christine Thornton (Retiree from Caterpillar, Inc.)
JUDGES
Conductor Keith Chambers and Conductor Leesa Dahl will be flying to Peoria, Illinois from NYC to judge the Midwest Division.
COMPETITION DETAILS
The Midwest Division of the Competition will be held at Bradley University’s Dingledine Music Center (1417 W. Barker Ave.) on Saturday, March 24, 2012 from 10:00AM-3:00PM. Those chosen to be regional finalists for the Midwest division will then advance to the National Semi-Finals in New York City. Once in New York, they will compete in the National Semi-Final Round on April 12-13th. Ten finalists for both Division I and Division II will be chosen from the National Semi-Final Round to compete in the National Finals on April 14th at Symphony Space Theatre on Broadway in New York City. The Winners of the Finals will be announced at the end of the night on April 14th.
CASH PRIZE MONEY
Over $4,000.00 will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize winners of the 2012 Vocal Competition.
AGE LIMIT
The competition will have two divisions:
Division I: Ages 18-24 (3 arias)
Division II: Ages 25-32 (5 arias)
AUDITION REPERTOIRE
Applicants for Division I will compete with three contrasting arias in two different languages and Division II will compete with five arias in three different languages.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
The deadline to apply to the Midwest Division of the competition is March 7, 2012 in order to receive a guaranteed audition time. Walk-ins are welcome on the day of the Regional Competition, time permitting.
APPLICATION/GUIDELINES/ELIGIBILITY
All information for guidelines and eligibility as well as the application may be found at www.newyorklyricopera.org/auditions.
 
Friday, 04/06
The  St. Matthew Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach - 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.  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.
 
Sunday, 04/15
The Central Illinois Jazz Society presents the ICC Hard Bop Jazz Band at 7:15pm in the Starting Gate Banquet Room of the Landmark Recreation Center, 3225 N. Dries Lane in Peoria, with the CIJS House Band starting off at 6.  Admission is $5 for CIJS members, $7 for non-members.  For more information, call (309) 692-5330.
 
Sunday, 04/15
The Peoria Chapter of the American Guild of Organists presents a Pipe Organ and Orchestra Concert at 7pm at St. mary's Cathedral, 607 NE Madison Avenue in Peoria. The Bradley Symphony and Organist Joshua Hearn perform in works for pipe organ and orchestra.  The concert is open to public, with tickets available at the door priced at $10 Adult, $8 Seniors, children & students free with ID.  For more information, call the Rev. Joe Dunlap at (309) 691-6424.
 
Wednesday, 04/18
The Genius of Beethoven - 7:30pm. (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.  Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 135 NE Randolph Avenue, Peoria, IL 61606.  Call (309) 676-4609 or visit  www.trinityconcertseries.org

Thursday, 04/19
The Peoria Symphony Chamber Players will perform “The Genius of Beethoven” at 7:30pm in the Cerf Center at Eureka College.  Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students.  For more information, call 467-6301.
 
Friday, 04/27
The Quartet New Generation - 7:30pm. (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.  Call (309) 676-4609 or visit  www.trinityconcertseries.org
 
Sunday, 05/20
The Central Illinois Jazz Society presents Carl Anderson and his New orleans Jazz Band at 7:15pm in the Starting Gate Banquet Room of the Landmark Recreation Center, 3225 N. Dries Lane in Peoria, with the CIJS House Band starting off at 6.  Admission is $5 for CIJS members, $7 for non-members.  For more information, call (309) 692-5330.
 
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