Our Family's Violin Story

The Illinois State Museum is hosting the opening event of the Springfield Violins of Hope initiative, a lecture/recital with an intimate local connection. UIS Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology Yona Stamatis and her sister Katrin Stamatis share the story of their family violin of hope in a lecture/recital punctuated by performances of relevant repertoire by a string trio featuring Katrin Stamatis, violin; Lisa Nelson, viola; Jacobsen Woollen, cello.

Violins of Hope - Rare Violin Exhibit

The UIS Music Program is collaborating with the Jewish Federation of Springfield to host the Violins of Hope exhibit featuring 12 violins that survived the Holocaust. The violins have been lovingly restored and have traveled the world to give voice to the victims and reinforce messages of hope, harmony, and survival.

Six of these violins will be on display at the Illinois State Museum Violins of Hope Exhibit, Sept. 7-13.

Chicago

After 25 years, Chicago is still the one musical with everything that makes Broadway shimmy-shake: a universal tale of fame, fortune, and all that jazz, with one show stopping song after another and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen. No wonder Chicago has been honored with 6 Tony Awards®, 2 Olivier Awards, a Grammy®, and thousands of standing ovations. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary — you’ve got to come see why the name on everyone’s lips is still…Chicago.

Come From Away

Broadway’s Come From Away is a Best Musical winner all across North America!

This New York Times Critics’ Pick takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships.

On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan

HER VOICE. HIS VISION. THEIR STORY.

On Your Feet! is the inspiring true story about heart, heritage and two people who believed in their talent—and each other—to become an international sensation: Gloria and Emilio Estefan. Now their story is an all-new exhilarating original musical winning the hearts of critics and audiences alike, with the Chicago Tribune declaring “IT’S A HIT!” and The New York Times cheering, “The very air in the room seems to vibrate in this undeniably crowd-pleasing musical!”

Experience Joyful Music with Dan & Claudia Zanes – A Sensory-Friendly Event

*SENSORY-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE*

Intended for an inclusive audience of all ages with sensory or other needs.

Grammy Award winner Dan Zanes and Haitian-American jazz vocalist Claudia Zanes perform a mix of old and new songs from near and far in a style that’s been called “All-Ages Social Music.” In other words, when they perform it’s a party! The audience is invited to dance and sing along in what might be called a casual – and subversively educational – festive atmosphere. The music is homespun, joyful, sophisticated, and artful.

Jesus Christ Superstar

Celebrating its 50th Anniversary, a new mesmerizing production of the iconic musical phenomenon returns to the stage. Originally staged by London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and helmed by the acclaimed director Timothy Sheader(Crazy for YouInto the Woods) and cutting-edge choreographer Drew McOnie(King KongStrictly Ballroom), this production won the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival garnering unprecedented reviews and accolades.

Dean Z – The Ultimate Elvis

For nearly two decades, Dean Z has performed thousands of shows for millions of people around the globe, being named by Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE) as the world’s greatest Elvis tribute artists in 2013. Dean was officially awarded EPE’s “Ultimate” title, and starred in their international touring production Elvis Lives (with over 500,000 tickets sold).

Mean Girls

Direct from Broadway, Mean Girls is the hilarious hit musical from an award-winning creative team, including book writer Tina Fey (“30 Rock”), composer Jeff Richmond (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde) and original director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon).