Spring is here... what's happening in Greater Peoria? Sample the area's rich and diverse arts scene by attending one of these events in March and April!
COMEDY
Thru 4/30. The Jukebox Comedy Club features local, regional and nationally known comedians most nights of the week.
4/25. Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood bring the “world’s funniest improv show” to the Peoria Civic Center at 8pm.
DANCE
3/6, 3/20, 4/3, 4/17. The Contemporary Art Center hosts Salsa at the CAC on the first and third Fridays of the month from 8:30pm to 12:30am.
3/14. A performance of Middle Eastern dances featuring Thais Banu, Park Troupe Mirage and Peoria Park District dance students will be held in the Bonnie W. Noble Center Auditorium at 7pm.
4/10. The Peoria Park District presents the Dancing With Our Stars 2015 Spring Dance Recital at Peoria Players Theatre at 6:30pm.
EXHIBITS
Thru 5/25. Stuff! The Art of Collecting will be on display at the Peoria Riverfront Museum during museum hours.
3/2 – 12/31. The Diocesan Museum, located in the Spalding Pastoral Center, will feature an exhibit on the Legendary Priest-Heroes of the Peoria Diocese during regular hours. The adjacent Fulton J. Sheen Museum offers a permanent exhibit on the life and legacy of the famous archbishop.
3/6 – 4/30. The Jefferson Street Studio & Gallery in Morton will feature the photography of Craig Stocks, with an opening reception at 5pm on 3/6.
3/6, 4/3. Various art galleries and studios open their doors from 5 to 9pm for First Fridays.
3/7 – 4/17. The Bradley International Print and Drawing Exhibition will be on display at the Peoria Art Guild, Heuser Art Center at Bradley University, Prairie Center of the Arts and The Contemporary Art Center of Peoria.
3/13 – 4/5. Luthy Botanical Garden’s Lilies and The Lorax Show will be on display during regular conservatory hours.
3/18. A Realism/Still Life Watercolor exhibit by Peggy Zalucha will be on display in Gallery 336B on ICC’s East Peoria campus.
3/18. Les Barta’s Desert Photomontage exhibit will be on display in the ICC Performing Arts Center.
3/20 – 4/1. The Mid-Illini High School Exhibition will be on display at the Prairie Center of the Arts, with a reception at 6pm on 3/25.
4/1 – 4/30. The works of students from Quest Academy, St. Mark’s and Montessori Children’s House of Peoria will be on display at the Prairie Center of the Arts during gallery hours.
4/22 – 5/8. The 47th annual ICC Student Juried Art Exhibit will be on display in the ICC Performing Arts Center Art Gallery, with a reception at noon and awards ceremony at 1:30pm on 4/22.
4/22. The 47th annual ICC Faculty Art Exhibit opens at 9:30am in Gallery 336B, with a reception at noon.
4/25 – 5/27. The works of Mitra Saboury and Leah Schreiber Johnson will be on display at the Peoria Art Guild.
FESTIVALS
3/26 – 3/27. Poet Allison Joseph and author Kathleen Rooney, featured writers at the Eureka College Writers Festival, will read from their works at 7:30pm in the Melick Library.
4/18. The 11th annual Earth Day Festival featuring live music, local food, demonstrations and kids’ activities will take place at Forest Park Nature Center from 11am to 4pm.
4/20 – 5/22. The 30th annual Gerald M. Brookhart Arts in Education Spring Celebration features hundreds of local students performing every weekday at the Peoria County Courthouse Plaza from 11:30am to 1pm.
LECTURES
3/12. The Fine Arts Society of Peoria presents From Kandinsky to Abramovic: The Evolution of the Spiritual in Modern Art, a lecture by Rebecca Herz, at Anshai Emeth at 9:30am.
3/12. Second Language Literacy and the Curious Case of Brazilian Portuguese, a lecture by education professor Duce McCune, takes place at 7:30pm in the Cerf Center at Eureka College.
4/9. The Fine Arts Society of Peoria presents Shakespeare in Opera, a lecture by Stanley Ransom, at Anshai Emeth at 9:30am.
MUSIC
Thru 4/24. Live at the Five Spot takes place every Friday at the Contemporary Art Center from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Upcoming shows include the Brazilionaires (samba/pop, 3/6), Turas (Irish/folk, 3/13), Steve “The Harp” Blues Band (blues, 3/20), John Miller & the Romaniacs (gypsy jazz, 3/27), Dexter O’Neal & Funk Yard (r&b/jazz, 4/3), Galactic Cowboy Orchestra (jazz/rock/bluegrass fusion, 4/10), Jared Bartman (folk/pop, 4/17) and Lizzie Neal Band (blues, 4/24).
Thru 4/25. Rhythm Kitchen Music Café features live music on Friday and Saturday nights from 8:30 to 11:30pm.
3/1. The Bradley Symphony Orchestra presents its music scholarship concert series in the Dingledine Music Center at 3pm.
3/3. The Heart of Illinois Wind Quintet will perform a free concert at 7:30pm in McCallister Hall at Eureka College.
3/5. The ICC Concert Choir performs in A Broadway Revue at 7:30pm in the ICC Performing Arts Center.
3/5 – 3/8. Shorty’s Strickly Bluegrass Festival & Thursday Night Gospel Show will take place at Stoney Creek Inn in East Peoria.
3/7. Taking Back Sunday performs live at the Limelight EventPlex with The Menzingers and letlive at 7pm.
3/8. Young Guns of Blues, featuring Samantha Fish with Mike Zitto, Matthew Curry and Jimmy Nick, will be at the Limelight Eventplex for a 4:15 show.
3/8, 3/22, 4/12, 4/26. The Old Time Folk and Country Jam invites all ages to Forest Park Nature Center from 3:30 to 5pm for a jam session.
3/10. The Bradley Symphonic Band performs in the Dingeldine Music Cener at 7:30pm.
3/13. Get the Led Out: “The American Led Zeppelin” comes to the Peoria Civic Center Theater for an 8pm show.
3/14. The Songs from the Woods Concert Series at Forest Park Nature Center will feature the folk, swing and jazz of Dan Zahn and Kate Moretti at 7pm.
3/14. The Peoria Symphony Orchestra presents Visions of Vienna featuring the works of Antonio Salieri, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig Van Beethoven at 8pm at Grace Presbyterian Church.
3/15. The Prairie Wind Ensemble performs at 2:30pm in the ICC Performing Arts Center.
3/15. The Central Illinois Jazz Society House Band will perform at 6pm, followed by David Hoffman and Friends at 7:15pm in the Starting Gate Banquet Room at Landmark Recreation Center.
3/15. The Peoria Public Library North Branch hosts “Music in the McKenzie,” featuring the old-time mountain songs of Dana & Susan Robinson from 2 to 4pm.
3/17. The Illinois Central Jazz Train performs at 7:30pm in the ICC Performing Arts Center.
3/19. The Australian Bee Gees Show brings its tribute to the disco legends to the Peoria Civic Center Theater for a 7pm show.
3/20. Philip Bauer performs his tribute to the “Man in Black” at The Legend of Johnny Cash at 7:30pm in the ICC Performing Arts Center.
3/21. The Heartland Festival Orchestra presents Make it Mozart with bassoon soloist Michael Dicker at Five Points Washington at 7:30 pm.
3/21, 4/11. Listen to Native American flute music or try playing one during the River Spirit Flute Circle at Forest Park Nature Center from 1 to 2 pm.
3/22. The Peoria Pops Orchestra presents Themes from Broadway at 4pm at Five Points Washington.
3/26. Nonpoint, 36 Crazyfists and Scare Don’t Fear will perform at 7pm at the Limelight Eventplex.
3/24. The ICC Chamber Singers will perform in the Lecture/Recital Hall at Illinois Central College at 7:30pm.
3/27. Country star Jason Aldean brings his Burn It Down tour to the Peoria Civic Center with special guests Cole Swindell, Tyler Farr and Dee Jay Silver.
3/27, 3/28, 4/24. The Howlin’ on Water dueling piano show performs at 8pm in the Broadway Lounge at the Waterhouse, with pre-show dinners at 6:30pm.
3/28. The Piano Trio performs in the Dingeldine Music Center at Bradley University at 7:30pm.
3/28. Rock band Otherwise takes the stage at 8pm at the Limelight Eventplex.
3/28. The Peoria Civic Center welcomes Bill Gaither and the Gaither Vocal Band at 6pm.
3/29. The Winter Jam tour featuring rockers Skillet, Jeremy Camp, Francesca Battistelli, Building 429 and other guests comes to the Peoria Civic Center at 6pm.
3/29. The Bradley Chorale Spring Concert begins at 3pm in the Dingeldine Music Center at Bradley University.
3/31. The Sing-Off Live! tour brings fan favorites from the a cappella TV show to the Peoria Civic Center at 7:30pm.
4/7. The Arianna String Quartet performs at 7:30pm in the Dingeldine Music Center at Bradley University.
4/11. The Songs from the Woods Concert Series at Forest Park Nature Center will feature author, artist and storyteller Chris Kastle at 7pm.
4/12. The Eureka College Chorale and Chamber Singers present their free spring concert at 4pm in the Cerf Center.
4/12. The Peoria Public Library North Branch hosts “Music in the McKenzie” featuring the Roundstone Buskers from 2 to 4pm.
4/14. The Bradley Percussion Ensemble performs at 7:30pm in the Dingeldine Music Center at Bradley University.
4/18. The Heartland Festival Orchestra presents Wicked Divas, featuring two of Broadway’s original Wicked “witches,” Alli Mauzey and Nicole Parker, for a 7:30pm show at Five Points Washington.
4/18. The Bradley Saxophone Quintet performs at 7:30pm in the Dingeldine Music Center at Bradley University.
4/19. The Illinois Central Jazz Train House Band will perform at 6pm, followed by Derel and Ellen Monteith at 7:15pm in the Starting Gate Banquet Room at Landmark Recreation Center.
4/19. The Peoria Symphony Orchestra presents Matinee at the Movies with emcees Dan Diorio and Greg Batton at 3pm in the Peoria Civic Center Theater.
4/19. Lost and Found, featuring Michael Bridges and George Baum, bring their Farewell Tour to Trinity Lutheran Church at 6:30pm.
4/21. The Hard Bop Jazz Band performs at 7:30pm in the Lecture Recital Hall at Illinois Central College.
4/22. The Peoria Lunaire New Music Ensemble performs at 7:30pm in the Dingeldine Music Center at Bradley University.
4/24. The ICC Chamber Singers will join a larger choir with a full orchestra for The Peacemakers at 7pm at First United Methodist Church.
4/24. The John Davis Choral Festival begins at 10am in the Dingeldine Music Center at Bradley University.
4/26. The Bradley Symphonic Winds and Band perform at 3pm in the Dingeldine Music Center at Bradley University.
4/26. The Bradley Guitar Ensemble will perform at 7:30pm in the Dingeldine Music Center.
4/27. The Illinois Central College Concert Choir performs at 7:30pm in the Lecture/Recital Hall on ICC’s East Peoria campus.
4/28. Primus & The Chocolate Factory with The Fungi Ensemble will take the stage at the Peoria Civic Center Theater at 8pm.
4/30. The Bradley Chorale and Chamber Singers will perform at Westminster Presbyterian Church at 7:30pm.
SHOWS & Special Events
3/4, 4/1. Magician Mitch Williams performs at Tyroni’s Italian Café in Bartonville from 5 to 7:30pm on 3/4 and 5:30 to 8pm on 4/1.
3/5, 4/2. Whisper & Shout, an open mic for sharing poetry, takes place at the Contemporary Art Center at 8pm.
3/7. The Birding Tour of the Illinois River takes place from 7am to 4pm, making stops along the Illinois River after leaving Forest Park Nature Center.
3/14. Sculpture Walk Peoria’s 2015 Sculpture Reveal Party will take place from 5:30 to 8pm at the Waterhouse.
3/26. EP!C will host Bon Appetit 2015, featuring celebrity chef Luca Manfe at Embassy Suites beginning at 6pm.
3/27. The Central Illinois Youth Symphony holds its Vino in Vienna fundraiser from 6 to 9pm at Life Together Center.
3/29. The Tri-County Urban League’s 15th annual Black and White Gala, with special guest Eddie Levert, takes place at Embassy Suites beginning at 6pm.
4/11. The Prairie Storytellers Guild presents the 18th annual Liars’ Contest at 7pm at the Life Together Center.
4/16. ICC presents Jim Maloof’s Legacy of Love for the Arts in Central Illinois at 6:30pm at Northwoods Community Church, with a wide variety of performances.
4/20. The Sun Foundation presents the Clean Water Celebration from 9am to 2pm at the Peoria Civic Center.
4/23. Shine Bright Like a Diamond, the Easter Seals Auxiliary’s 60th-anniversary fashion show, takes place in the Par-A-Dice Ballroom.
4/26. The Peoria Historical Society celebrates Peoria’s 180th anniversary with a special You Were There program featuring moderator Tom McIntyre from 1 to 4:30pm at the Peoria Civic Center.
THEATER
3/1. The ICC Theatre Program presents Elephant’s Graveyard in the ICC Performing Arts Center at 2:30pm.
3/5. 50 Shades! The Musical Parody, a spoof of the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, comes to the Peoria Civic Center Theater at 7pm.
3/5 – 4/19. Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre presents Maid to Order, with evening performances at 8pm and Sunday brunch performances at 1:30pm.
3/6 – 3/7. Peoria Cabaret Theatre presents the Pulitzer Prize-winning show Love Letters, starring Greg Batton and Yvonne Greer.
3/9. Meet the directors and learn more about the 2015 Summer Season at Corn Stock Theatre’s Get Acquainted Night beginning at 7pm.
3/13 – 3/15, 3/19 – 3/22. Peoria Players Theatre presents The Pirates of Penzance, with Sunday matinees at 2pm and other shows at 7:30pm.
3/20 – 3/21, 3/26 – 3/29. Corn Stock Theatre presents The Lieutenant of Inishmore.
3/21. The gospel stage play, I’m Not What I Did, comes to the Peoria Civic Center Theater at 7pm.
4/7 – 4/8. Peter and the Starcatcher, the award-winning prequel to Peter Pan, takes place at 7:30pm in the Peoria Civic Center Theater.
4/14 – 4/18. Eureka College presents the regional premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning August: Osage County at 7:30pm in Pritchard Theatre.
4/16 – 4/19. Corn Stock for Kids presents A Little Princess, based on the classic novel.
4/10 – 4/19. The ICC Theatre Program presents All in the Timing in the ICC Performing Arts Center at 7:30pm, with 2pm Sunday matinee.
4/23. The Church Basement Ladies perform The Last Potluck Supper at Five Points Washington, with shows at 2 and 7pm.
4/23 – 6/7. Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre presents the 40th anniversary of Smoke on the Mountain with evening performances at 8pm and Sunday brunch performances at 1:30pm.
4/24 – 4/26, 4/29 – 5/2. Eastlight Theatre presents Jesus Christ Superstar with shows at 7:30pm and a 2pm matinee on 4/26.
WORKSHOPS
3/14. The Peoria Camera Club presents The Art & Craft of Photography, a seminar by premier photographer Bill Forney, from 9am to 4pm in the ICC Performing Arts Center.
4/4. The Nature Photography Workshop with Justin Dwyer runs from 9am to 3pm at Forest Park Nature Center.
4/11 – 4/12. The Peoria Handweavers Guild presents “Extreme Warp Makeover,” a workshop featuring instructor Robyn Spady, at the AmericInn in Peoria. a&s
For More Information
Art Garage—art-garage-studio.com, 231-2511
The Atelier—1000 SW Adams, Peoria, 303-6885
Bradley University/Dingeldine Music Center—677-2595
Bradley University Galleries—art.bradley.edu/bug, 677-3707
Central Illinois Jazz Society—peoriajazz.com, 692-5330
Central Illinois Youth Symphony—ciys.org, 370-6424
Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre—barn2.com, 965-2545
Contemporary Art Center—peoriacac.org, 674-6822
Corn Stock Theatre—cornstocktheatre.com, 676-2196
Easter Seals Auxiliary—kidstherapyprogress.com, 691-2775
Eastlight Theatre—eastlighttheatre.com, 699-7469
Ear in the Envelope—820adams@gmail.com, 550-3518
EP!C—epicpeoria.org, 691-3800
Eureka College—eureka.edu, 467-6363
Fine Arts Society of Peoria—fineartssociety.net, 693-7600
First Fridays—peoriafirstfriday.com, ciaopeoria.com
Five Points Washington—fivepointswashington.org, 444-8222
Forest Park Nature Center—peoriaparks.org, 686-3360
Heartland Festival Orchestra—heartlandfestivalorchestra.org, 339-3943
The Hive—thehive305.com, 360-4880
Howlin’ On Water—howlinonwater.com
Illinois Central College/Arts at ICC—artsaticc.com, 694-5136
Jefferson Street Studio & Gallery—rosehubbard.com, 696-9015
Jukebox Comedy Club—jukeboxcomedy.com, 673-5853
Limelight EventPlex—limelighteventplex.com, 693-1234
Luthy Botanical Garden—peoriaparks.org, 681-3506
Mitch Williams Magic—mitchwilliamsmagic.com
Murray Center for the Arts—artistsatmurraycenter.blogspot.com
Peoria Art Guild—peoriaartguild.org, 637-2787
Peoria Cabaret Theatre—peoriacabarettheatre.com, 494-9100
Peoria Camera Club—peoriacameraclub.com
Peoria Civic Center—peoriaciviccenter.com, (800) 745-3000
Peoria Handweavers Guild—peoriaweavers.com, 274-6150
Peoria Historical Society—peoriahistoricalsociety.org, 674-1921
Peoria Park District—peoriaparks.org, 682-1200
Peoria Players Theatre—peoriaplayers.org, 688-4473
Peoria Public Library—peoriapubliclibrary.org, 497-2000
Peoria Riverfront Museum—peoriariverfrontmuseum.org, 686-7000
Peoria Symphony Orchestra—peoriasymphony.org, 671-1096
Prairie Center of the Arts—prairiecenterofthearts.org, 657-6767
Peoria Prairie Storyteller Guild—prairietellers.us, 692-2915
Rhythm Kitchen Music Café—rhythmkitchenmusiccafe.biz, 676-9668
Sculpture Walk Peoria—artspartners.net/sculpture-walk-peoria
Shorty’s Bluegrass Festival—shortysbluegrass@comcast.net, 671-0175
Spalding Pastoral Center—cdopmuseums.org, 671-1550
Spring Celebration—springcelebration.org, 253-2020
Studios On Sheridan—sunbeambuilding.com, 573-8404
Studio 825—studio-825.com, 453-8291
Sun Foundation—sunfoundation.org, 246-8403
Toraason Glass—facebook.com/ToraasonGlass
Tri-County Urban League—tcpul.com, 673-7474
Trinity Concert Series—trinityconcertseries.org, 676-4609
The Waterhouse—waterhousepeoria.com, 494-9100
Wheel Art Studios—bit.ly/wheelart, 306-1741
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