FAIRS & FESTIVALS
St. Pat’s Blarney Blast Mar 14, 10:30am-6pm, Before or after the noon parade, join Bennigan’s and Celtic Mist for their first annual street party in a covered, heated tent. Henhouse Prowlers and Exorna featured. St. Andrew’s bagpipers and dancers. Seventh and Adams. For info, call 331-5199 or 708- 878-8917 or go to ithappensatthehilton.com. AUDITIONS
Illinois Talent Competition Statewide talent search open to men and women of all ages and talents including individual and group acts for two-night competition at the Hoogland Center for the Arts on May 23-24. Prizes. For more info, call 815-207-3759 or go to www.missillinois.org/talent.htm.
THEATER & COMEDY
The Odd Couple, Female Version Mar 13, 14, 20, 21, 8pm, Mar 22, 2pm, Directed by Kelly Bassett, a mismatched pair try to cope with their living arrangement without drving each other crazy. $13 adult, $12 senior and children. Springfield Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St. For info, call 523-2787.
Come to the Cabaret Musical Mar 28, Includes 25 songs from 17 Broadway musicals. Fundraiser for Basket of Hope. Free admission, donations accepted during evening. Theatre 3, Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St.
Comedian Jimmy Wiggins Mar 13, 8pm and Mar 14, 7:15pm and 9:30pm, Wiggins, aka, The Last Hippie in America, headlines. $12.50 cash or $13 credit card. Mason City Limits Comedy Club, 114 E. Chestnut St. For info, call 482-5233 or go to www.mclimits.com. Mason City.
Hairspray Mar 16, 7:30pm, Musical comedy. UIS Sangamon Auditorium. For info or tickets, call 206-6160, 800- 207-6960 or go to www.SangamonAuditorium.org.
Reduced Shakespeare Company Mar 13, 8pm, “The Complete History of America- Abridged.” UIS Sangamon Auditorium. For info or tickets 206-6160.
MUSIC: GENERAL EVENTS
Swing into Spring Mar 20, 7-10pm, Springfield High School Jazz Bands present Big Band music for dancing and listening. Swing dance lessons, 7pm. $6 adults, $4 students. SHS Commons, entrance is behind SHS, off S. Parker St, between Washington and Monroe. For info, call 787-2906.
Acoustic Lunch Mon-Fri, 12-1pm, Hear the sounds of local musicians Jaigh Lowder, Kathyrn Raistrick, Bill Laymon, Ben Bedford, Dennis Darling and Lucas Westcott (Dennis and Lucas alternate Fri) Trout Lily Cafe, 218 S. Sixth St. For info, call 391-0101.
Arianna String Quartet Mar 24, Arianna String Quartet performs. $15. Illinois College Rammelkamp Chapel, 1101 College Avenue. For more info, call 245-3248 or go to www.ic.edu/fas. Jacksonville.
Candy Coburn Live Mar 13, 7:30pm, National performing artist brings her show to town with Zac Brown Band and Gloriana. $15-$25. Prairie Capital Convention Center. For info, call 788-8800.
Emerald Underground Mar 22, 4pm, Celtic band plays modern fusion of jigs, reels, ballads and rock-based tunes. LLCC Trutter Center. Free.For info, call 786-2219.
Everyone’s Drumming Class Mar 23-Apr 6, 6-8pm, Beginning hand drum class. Learn the basic techniques of the djembe, conga and ashiko style drums. $60 four weeks. LLCC. For info, call 971- 2645 or go to www.rhythmspirit.com.
Justin Townes Earle Mar 14, 8pm, WUIS Bedrock 66 Live Series. Jason Ringenberg is opening act, cash bar. $20. $15 presale by Mar 13 at 5pm. Hoogland Center for the Arts Club Room. To purchase tickets, call 523-2787 or go to www.scfta.org.
Land of Lincoln Barbershop Chorus Every Tues, 7:30-10pm, Barbershop Chorus invites men who like 4-part harmony to join. Rehearsals open to public and free. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St. For info, call 737- 3359 or go to www.landoflincolnbarbershop.com.
Lenten Brown Bag Concert Mar 18, 12:15-12:45pm, Bach cantata, Ich habe genug (I have enough). Carla DeLay, Soprano. Nichol DelGiorno, Organ. Kamen Petkov, Violin. Karl Scroggin, Viola da Gamba. Free. $5 drinks available. First Presbyterian Church, 321 S. Seventh St. More info, call 528-4311 or go to www.lincolnschurch.org/concerts.htm.
Pete Sander Every Sat, 9am-12pm, Pete Sander plays at Cafe Moxo, 411 E. Adams. For info, call 788-8084.
Peter Mayer Group Concert Mar 15, 7pm, Former lead guitarist with Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reef Band. $12.50 adults, $7 children. Grace Lutheran Church, 714 E. Capitol. For info, call 522-7331.
Sound Celebration Chorus Every Mon, 7-10pm, For women who like to sing. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St. For info, call 523-4363 or go to www.soundcelebration.org.
St. Patrick’s Coffehouse Concert Mar 13, 7pm, The Fleming Academy of Performing Arts hosts its annual concert. Trinity Lutheran School Parish Hall. Parking and entrance are on the south side of the school, 515 S. MacArthur. $5, age 3 and up. For info, call 787- 6556.
Teen Scene Second Fri monthly, 7-11pm, Teens can hang out and play games, sing to karaoke, listen to music, eat food and have fun. $2. Holy Ground, 304 W. Allen. For more info, call 306-2592 or go to www.cggm.org.
Tom Irwin and Ben Bedford Mar 21, 7:30pm, Folk musicians perform their own best songs in Prairie Grapevine Folklore Society concert. Donations $10 adults, $9 seniors, $8 members, $5 students 6-18. $25 family. Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Church, 745 Woodside Road.
DANCE
Big Band Dance Mar 21, 7pm, Refreshments, music by Judy Kaye and Friends. $5. Yatesville School (just West of Prentice) For info, call 652-3499.
Fourth Annual Bellydance Student Showcase Mar 20, 7-9pm, Features students of all levels plus guests from the Springfield bellydance community. Free. Karida’s School of Orientale Dance, 1432 E. Sangamon Ave. For more info, call 241-8370 or go to www.karidazahava.com.
Green View Seminars Mar 21, 10am-12pm, Three seminars available on orchids. Free. To register, call 787-4700 or go to www.greenview.com.
Ladies Only Hafla Mar 15, 4-9pm, Bellydance/Bollywood party for all women, dancers or not, to unwind in a unique way. Shimmy lessons and great music. $3. The Red School Mall, 1275 Wabash. www.BellyDanceSpringfield.com
Polka Dance Mar 15, 2-5:30pm, Alley Kats play. $9, $8 Illinois Chapter Polks Lovers Klub members. For more info, call 726-0181.
Round and Square Dance Mar 14, 6-9pm, Prairie Grass Pickers playing, Jim Davis, caller. Pork chop dinner 4:30-7pm. Elkhart Old Grade School. For info, call 652-3499.
Senior Swing Mar 22, 6pm, Judy Kaye and Friends. Jacksonville Amvets. For more info, call 652-3499.
Springfield Ballet Company’s Swan Lake Mar 21-22, 2pm, Swan Lake involves a beautiful princess, a passionate prince and a really major obstacle to their happiness. $15-$25. UIS Sangamon Auditorium. For more info call 206- 6160 or go to www.sangamonauditorium.org. ART & GALLERIES
A Room with Many Views Mar 6-Apr 24, 10am-5pm Tues- Fri,10am-3pm Sat, Exhibit featuring members Debbie Megginson and Inga Schweska, opens with an artist reception Mar 7, 5:30- 7:30pm. Prairie Art Alliance, 420 S. 6th St. For info, call 544-2787.
From Humble Beginnings Lincoln Exhibit Through Jan 10, 2010, Explores the Illinois Lincoln knew through the eyes of the people who lived in the Prairie Capital. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St. For more info, call 753-4900.
Art and Dine with Leif Larson Mar 19, 5:30-8:30pm, Dinner with a gallery talk between courses. $30. Lonzerotti’s Italia Restaurant,
