BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE (BIG: THEATER/AUDITORIUM)

Sangamon Auditorium Located on the campus of the University of Illinois Springfield in the Public Affairs Center (PAC) building, the Sangamon Auditorium opened on Feb. 21, 1981. Since that first showing of Hal Holbrook’s Mark Twain Tonight, the venue continues to be a central Illinois treasure for live entertainment. Our readers handily voted the 2,018-seat theater space as the best live music big venue, noting the range of acts through various styles and genres. Known for national touring music acts and theater productions, the space is also home to the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and the Springfield Ballet Company. Supporting around 120 shows annually including high school graduations, kids shows, comedy performances and whatever takes the stage to make the theater work, director Bob Vaughn and staff keeps the shows coming that entertain central Illinois. Other venues receiving hefty vote counts were The Muni, Illinois State Fair and PCCC. Runner-up: Hoogland Center for the Arts