Davis, Greg Harris and Carol Posegate taking part. Rich Bradley will narrate the event. Call 217-558-8934 for info and tickets or online at www.presidentlincoln.org.
Rich McCoy is directing the first show of Springfield Theatre Centre’s 64th season at the Hoogland Center, the musical 1776, running Oct. 14-16 and 21-23. STC is also producing a youth theater version of the classic The Pirates of Penzance, running Nov. 4-6 and 11-13. Call 523-2787 for ticket info, or online at www.springfieldtheatrecentre.com.
Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson, theater director at UIS, directs the comedy I Hate Hamlet in the Studio Theatre, running Oct. 28-30 and Nov. 3-5. The comedy about an actor playing Hamlet confronted by the ghost of John Barrymore (who was famous for playing the role) should be a fun night out. Auditions take place Aug. 28-29. For info and tickets call the box office at 206- 6160 (or online at www.uis.edu/theatre).
The Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan is presenting the Broadway musical version of the movie The Full Monty Oct. 21-30. Call 217-728-7375 (or online at www.thelittletheatre.org). Jacksonville Theatre Guild has a Halloween show titled Drac’s Back, running at the Sophie Leschin Theatre in Jacksonville Community Park Oct. 27-30. Call 245-1402 for tickets (online at www.jaxtg.com).
Millikin University theater department in Decatur has two interesting productions planned: Sam Shepard’s epic play A Lie of the Mind runs Oct. 5-9 and the Marvin Hamlisch/Craig Carnelia musical Sweet Smell of Success, with book by John Guare, plays Nov. 11-13. Call the box office for tickets and information: 217-424-6318.
The Vachel Lindsay House in downtown Springfield will host screenings of David Cain’s film The Yellow Wallpaper Sat., Oct. 8, at 5 and 7 p.m. The film features Aasne Vigesaa in the one-woman play she has performed many times at the house this past year. On Oct. 14 Classically Scared returns for a third year, featuring readings from classic horror and mystery literature; and Job Conger presents “Vachel Lindsay and Johnny Appleseed in Story and Song” at 2 p.m. Oct. 22. For information, call 217- 524-0901 or online at www.oldstatecapitol.org/vachel.html.
Finally, congratulations to local actor and Rochester High School graduate Michael Presney, who has just been hired as an understudy for the Carl Perkins role in the national tour of the musical Million Dollar Quartet. This is a great career start for Mike!
Phil Funkenbusch is a local theater practitioner, currently in Colquitt, Ga., directing Swamp Gravy: Solid Ground at the Cotton Hall Theater, running through October.
