Open Mic - Compassion May 16, 6-8pm, Bring poems, stories, essays on theme of “compassion.” Springfield Poets and Writers hosts in collaboration with Praireland Compassion Network and Building Common Ground. Food for purchase. 725-9058. Robbie’s, 4 S. Old State Capitol Plaza, 217-528-1901.
Theater & Comedy Comedian Donnie Baker May 18-19, 8pm Fri, 7:15 & 9:30pm Sat, Weekly Bob and Tom show guest. $20. Mason City Limits Comedy Club, 114 E. Chestnut, Mason City, 482- 5233.
Comedian Mike Toomey May 11-12, 8pm Fri, 7:30pm Sat, “One of the funniest and most talented performers to ever work in Chicago.” - The Chicago Tribune, Mason City Limits Comedy Club, 114 E. Chestnut, Mason City, 482- 5233.
Comedian Open Mic May 16, 7pm, Register by 6:30 p.m. Free to public. The Doghouse, 2937 W. White Oaks Drive, 698-0918.
In the Heights May 15, 7:30pm, 2008 Tony Award-winning Best Musical is moving, funny and uplifting about hard-working immigrants seeking a better life. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 217-206- 6160, 800-207-6960.
MDA Comedy Show May 19, 8pm, Jacksonville Fire Fighters L-637 host four Chicago comedians. $10. The Flying Pig, 39 S. Central Park Plaza, Jacksonville.
Oddballs, Idiots, Nincompoops & Scallywags: The Unofficial History of Jacksonville
May 11-13, 7pm Fri, 7pm Sat, 3pm Sun, Ken Bradbury’s newest play presented by Lincoln Land Traveling Theatre. May 11, Centenary Methodist Church, May 12 Faith Lutheran, May 13 Grace Methodist. Freewill donations. Jacksonville.
Riverfest Comedy Contest May 11, 8pm, Eight up-andcoming comedians with Jesse Tuttle and Saad Ahmed. Celebrity judges. $7.50. Riverton KC Hall, 401 S. Fourth St, Riverton.
Suzanne Westenhoefer May 18, 8-10pm, Comedian presented by Springfield Pride with The Phoenix Center. $30, $25 in advance. VIP tickets, 528-5253. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 1-800-838-3006.
Music: General Events
Angel Brown - Mother’s Day
Brunch May 13, 11am-2pm, Lime Street Cafe, 951 S. Durkin Dr, 217- 793-1905.
Bossa Azul May 12, 19, 11:30am-12:30pm, Playing every Saturday. Golden Frog Cafe, 3 N Old Capitol Plaza, 299-6576.
Capital City Men’s Chorus May 20, 5pm, Musical revue, Old Time Rock & Roll. $10. tccmc.org. 622-9917. Laurel United Methodist Church, 631 South Grand Ave W.
Mother’s Day Concert May 13, 2pm, Heritage String Quartet (Kamen Petkov, Jean Tweet, Karen Frost, Susan Phillips). Classical and South American sounds. $5. 525- 1866. Laurel United Methodist Church, 631 South Grand Ave W.
Prairie Grapevine Folklore Society May 15, 7:30pm, Celtic band, The Emerald Underground. $10- $5. 454-0178. Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Rd, 217-585-9550.
Dance All About Dance w/DJ Marilyn Ferry May 10, 17, 7-10pm, Every Thursday open dancing. (Line dance lessons, 7-8 p.m.), The Doghouse, 2937 W. White Oaks Drive, 836-1438.
Dances May 11-12, 7pm Fri-Sat, Open Country Dancing (Fri.), Groove WCS Dance (Sat.). All dancers welcome. 428-1560. Prairie Land Dance Club, 650 Matilda St, Illiopolis.
In the Mood Swing-Era Dance May 11, 8-11pm, Nine-member band, Three Tenors. (Dinner available for purchase 5-7:30 p.m.) $10. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road, 217-546- 9515.
Two Step West Coast Swing w/ DJ Marilyn Ferry May 14, 7-9pm, Mondays, Line and Swing Dancing with lessons. Parquet Room, RTUC.
Millikin University, 1184 W. Main St, Decatur, 836-1438.
Art & Architecture Amateur Photograph Display
May 10-20, 12-4pm Mon-Fri, 12-5pm Sat-Sun, Through May 20, see winners in this annual competition of photos of the park. Washington Park Botanical Garden, 1740 W. Fayette Ave.
Around Each Corner - Expressions in Color May 10-11, 15-18, 10am-2pm Tue-Fri, On display Apr. 3-May 18, vivid watercolor paintings by Illinois artist, Bret Steinhaus. Robert Morris Gallery, 607 E. Adams, 522-8977.
Art 21 Happy Hour May 11, 7pm, Prior to Canvas and Cocktails, preview PBS Art21. Free. (Also, May 25.), Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St, 217-523-2631.
Artist in Residence May 10-11, 10am-4pm Tue-Sat, Through May 11, exhibit of winning poetry, prose, and artwork from SIU School of Medicine SCOPE literary magazine. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St.
Cosmos May 10-12, 10am-5pm Tue-Fri, 10am-3pm Sun, April 6-May 12, George King, pastel; Michelle Smith, drawing. H.D. Smith Gallery, 420 S. Sixth St, 544-
2787.
Exhibit May 10-12, 14-19, 21-23, 4:30-6:30pm, Through June 2, Liturgical and Sacred Art Juried Exhibit. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St.
Gallery Hours May 10-13, 15-20, 22-23, 4- 6pm Tue-Sat, 1-3pm Sun, Through May 27, Students of the Strawn Show. David Strawn Art Gallery, 331 W. College Ave, Jacksonville, 243-9390.
Luminous Ground: Artists with Histories May 20-23, 8:30am-5pm Mon- Sat, 12-5pm Sun, May 20-Jan. 6, 2013, exhibit by older Illinois artists. Cited in top ten shows of the year by New City and Time- Out Chicago. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St.
Old Capitol Art Fair May 19-20, 10am-5pm Sat, 10am-4pm Sun, One of the most popular, juried art fairs in the country. Original art, entertainment, food and more.
socaf.org. Downtown Springfield.
Sangamon Watercolor Society Reception
May 19, 5:30-7:30pm, Dessert reception and exhibit. Free and open to public. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-523-2787.
The Good Earth May 18-19, 22-23, 10am-5pm Tue-Fri, 10am-3pm Sat, May 18-June 23, Hazen Folse, painting,pastel; Martha Kichinko, mixed media. Reception May 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m. H.D. Smith Gallery, 420 S. Sixth St, 544- 2787.
Third Thursday Art Show May 17, 5pm-1am, Regional art and Delilah DeWylde and the Lost Boys at 10 p.m. Brewhaus, 617 E. Washington St, 217-525- 6399.
UIS Senior Art Exhibition May 10, 11am-6pm, Mon-Thu, Through May 11, “Epilog.” UIS Visual Arts Gallery, HSB 201, One University Plaza, 206-6506.
Youth Art Exhibit May 10-11, 14-18, 8am-4:30pm Mon-Fri, Ninety-two pieces by Sangamon County elementary, middle and high school students. SIU School of Medicine, 801 N. Rutledge.
Film & Television Connections LGBT Film Series/Love Free or Die May 17, 7:30pm, Documentary about man whose two defining passions are in direct conflict: his love for God and for his partner Mark. $10. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 217- 801-1202.
Fagbug May 20, 3:30pm, Victim of hate crime and her vandalized, graffitied VW Beetle take 58-day trip around US and Canada. $10. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 217-801-1202.
Fish Out of Water May 20, 1:30pm, Genrebending documentary that uses animation and academic interviews to dissect seven Bible verses used to condemn homosexuality and justify marriage discrimination. $10. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 217- 801-1202.
Springfield/Central Illinois Film Commission Meeting May 17, 7-9pm, 6pm dinner, Third Thursday of each month. Free, but food purchase requested. 816-2117. Lake Pointe Grill, 1386 Toronto Rd.