TICKETS ON SALE MARCH 5 & AVAILABLE BY CALLING KNOX COLLEGE AT 309-341-7265 OR EMAILING ROOTABAGA@KNOX.EDU. 

CASH AND CHECK ONLY (NO CREDIT OR DEBIT CARDS)

(Please note:  Tickets are not available at the Orpheum Theatre box office.)

Read Matt Wilson's story!

I was born in the prairie town of Knoxville, Illinois September 27th 1964. I was lucky to have cool parents who encouraged me in my creative pursuits where it was music, theater, writing or weird art. I became interested in playing the drums in the third grade after seeing Buddy Rich on the Lucy Show.  He was judging a local drum contest featuring Ricky Jr. a fine drummer. Inspired, I pooled together some capital and purchased some Ludwig 9a sticks at the local Byerly Music store. With sticks in hand I began exploring a wide range of suitable cookware and five gallon buckets as sound sources. Soon my parents made in investment in a used of brand snare drum drum and cymbal. My middle brother played the saxophone and we immersed in the local PTA and 4H concert circuit at a very young age. It was quite a duo, Mark with his Beuscher tenor and me with my minimalist set up of orange sparkle snare drum and 10” sheet metal cymbal.  We had a book that explored all of the hits of the 60’s and 70’s. (We were serious Herb Alpert afficiandos). We even had some cool schtick: I guess times have not really changed.

I played in all of the groups in school and finally learned how to read music.I had a cool high school band director who started hiring me to play drums in his weekend dance band. I t was fun and I made some cash which was nice for an eighth grader. Soon I was playing in local groups of all kinds. A big band, very creative rock band called Common Denominator, country bands, Dixieland bands anything I could play. I was also extremely fortunate to study with a great local drummer who taught me music not just how to play fast. He was very inspirational and was very helpful in my pre paring for college.

I went to college at Wichita State University and there was exposed to one of the most influential mentors of my career, Dr. JC Combs. He is not only a fantastic percussionist but he possesses one of the most creatively fertile imaginations on the planet. We played percussion works featuring a wide array of strange components. Pinball machines, cloggers, bowlers and professional wrestlers all were standard fare. He also instilled in me a true entrepreneurial spirit. Combs always knew how to market and get folks to the concerts that were always sold out no matter how bizarre. My colleagues were equally insane and it was a inspirational environment to spend my college years.

Wichita also had a lot of great opportunities to work so I kept quite a busy schedule between working and school. Sleeping in one of the huge lecture classes was common.

I am grateful for all of the experience I gained from years in Wichita.

I am also grateful for Wichita for it is where I met my wife Felicia who was a hot shot violin major from Tulsa, Oklahoma. We met our freshman year in school and married in August of 1987. The fall of 1987 we loaded up the Ryder truck, 1984 Chevy Citation in tow and moved to Boston where she got her masters from New England Conservatory.

Boston was hopping and I took full advantage to see and play with everyone I could. I had the wonderful opportunity to play, tour and record with some great bands and musicians including the Either/Orchestra, Charlie Kohlhase Quintet,Bevan Manson, John Medeski, Dominique Eade and countless others. It was a great place to be and the many of my Boston colleagues have gone on to be some of the most influential musicians of their generation.

Two words began to echo in my brain “New York”. I knew it was time and with encouragement from folks like Cecil McBee and Andrew Cyrille we decided to head south to the Big Apple. I loved the energy of the scene immediately and began playing with some amazing musicians.

The most intimate Knox Galesburg Symphony event of the year!  Join Maestro Bruce Polay ON STAGE at the Orpheum Theatre! 

The Knox Galesburg Symphony and West Music present,
"Bruce and Old Friends"

Sit on the Orpheum Theatre stage as Dr. Polay shares entertaining tidbits and performs works by "old friends" including, Bach, Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Liszt and te world-premiere of Polay's "Four Score."

Advance tickets are $7.00 and available only by calling the Knox Galesburg Symphony office at 309-341-7268.

Tickets are available at the door for $10.  Children 12 and under are free.

Concert Steinway piano provided by West Music.  Unwritten by Carl Sandburg College.

 

Arthur Miller's Tony Award-winning play, The Crucible, was written in 1953.  It is a dramatization of the Salem Witchcraft trials that took place in Province of Massachusetts Bay during 1692 and 1693.  Miller wrote the play as a response to McCarthyism, when the US government blacklisted accused communists.

Prairie Players Civic Theatre tackles this important piece of American theater in a compelling new production!

Tickets start at just $12 for adults.  Students are $9.

Arthur Miller's Tony Award-winning play, The Crucible, was written in 1953.  It is a dramatization of the Salem Witchcraft trials that took place in Province of Massachusetts Bay during 1692 and 1693.  Miller wrote the play as a response to McCarthyism, when the US government blacklisted accused communists.

Prairie Players Civic Theatre tackles this important piece of American theater in a compelling new production!

Tickets start at just $12 for adults.  Students are $9.

Don't miss this full musical version of the Wizard of Oz!  The international flying company of Foy Inventorprizes provides visual effects you won't believe.

Get the family together for this memorable production for all ages! 

Adult tickets are $12.00 and Student Tickets (ages 0 - 18) are $9.00 each on the Main Floor and $8.00 in the Balcony. 

Mezzanine Tickets are $15.00 ALL AGES.

For more information, contact the Orpheum Theatre box office at 309-342-2299 or visit us at the box office 250 East Main Street Suite 110 in Galesburg, Illinois.
 

AEROGRAPHICS PROVIDED BY FLYING BY FOY.  Flying effects are sponsored by Kleine Equipment, Alexis Fire Equipment, Cottage Hospital, Galesburg Orthopedic, Mr. Keith & Dr. Bonnie Williams, Dick Blick, F&M Bank, Galesburg Wellness Center, GCR Tire Center, Kelly's Medical Equipment, Liqui-Green, Dr. Kandy Sayrs and Preservation Financial Management.

AFTER APRIL 16 AT 4:00 PM - TICKETS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE ON-LINE.  YOU MAY PURCHASE TICKETS AT THE DOOR, NIGHT OF SHOW ONLY.   

PROGRAM:

Assad   Brazillian Fanfare*
Saint-Saens    Piano Concert No. 4 in C minor, Opus 44
Higdon   Blue Cathedral
Ginastera    Danzas Estancia

*  KGS International Call for Scores

 The first 2010 Red Carpet Series installment!

"The Spencers are masters of magic," - Jim Steinmeyer - award-winning Broadway consultant, former magic creator and consultant to Doug Henning and David Copperfield.  "They've combined their illusions with stagecraft to create a unique and professional evening of theatre."

As "The Spencers," Kevin and Cindy head one of the largest touring illusion companies in teh U.S. and they are among the most respected performers in the industry.  Their act, entitled The Spencers:  Theatre of Illusion has been applauded by audiences from Key West to Taipei and from Mexico City to Australia.

Don't miss this high-tech stage show complete with dazzling special effects, cutting-edge illusions and even some knee-slapping comedy!

Sponsored by Carl Sandburg College

Accommodations provided by Holiday Inn Express 
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/hotel/gbgil?&stopredirect=true

The Orpheum Theatre's Lights! Camera! Learn! education program offers "From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenweiler" for students in 4th and 5th Grades.  Two performances are offered at 10 am and 1 pm.  Performances last approximately 1 hour. 

THIS PROGRAM IS FREE TO ALL PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND HOME SCHOOLS.  PLEASE CALL CHERYL JAMES, BOX OFFICE ASSISTANT AT 309-342-2299 FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SEATING, AVALABILITY AND SHOW CONTENT.

The Orpheum Theatre's Lights! Camera! Learn! education program is generously underwritten through grants from the BNSF Railway Foundation, Galesburg CUSD #205 and the Illinois Arts Council.

The Orpheum Theatre's Lights! Camera! Learn! education program offers "From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenweiler" or 4th and 5th Grades.  Two performances are offered at 10 am and 1 pm.  Performances last approximately 1 hour. 

THIS PROGRAM IS FREE TO ALL PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND HOME SCHOOLS.  PLEASE CALL CHERYL JAMES, BOX OFFICE ASSISTANT AT 309-342-2299 FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SEATING, AVALABILITY AND SHOW CONTENT.

The Orpheum Theatre's Lights! Camera! Learn! education program is generously underwritten through grants from the BNSF Railway Foundation, Galesburg CUSD #205 and the Illinois Arts Council.

The Orpheum Theatre's Lights! Camera! Learn! education program in partnership with Prairie Players Civic Theatre offers "The Crucible" for middle- and high-school aged students. 

THIS PROGRAM IS FREE TO ALL PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND HOME SCHOOLS.  PLEASE CALL CHERYL JAMES, BOX OFFICE ASSISTANT AT 309-342-2299 FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SEATING, AVALABILITY AND SHOW CONTENT.

This installment of Orpheum Theatre's Lights! Camera! Learn! education program is generously underwritten through grants from the BNSF Railway Foundation, Illinois Arts Council and the Galesburg Community Foundation.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE BELOW.  TICKETS WILL BE REFUNDED OR PATRONS MAY DONATE THE VALUE OF THEIR TICKET PURCHASE TO THE ORPHEUM THEATRE FOR A CHARITABLE DONATION. 

April 7, 2010

 

Contact:           Kate Francis, President

                        The Orpheum Theatre

                        309-342-2299  

 

ORPHEUM THEATRE CANCELS APRIL 9 SWEENEY TODD FUNDRAISER

 

Galesburg, IL. The Orpheum Theatre cites fiscal responsibility as the primary reason for canceling the April 9 production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street performed by Monmouth College. The production was intended to be a fundraiser for the theater's capital campaign to replace antiquated heating and cooling systems.

 

"Unfortunately, lackluster response to this fundraising event makes it fiscally imprudent for us to go on with the show," said Orpheum president Kate Francis. "There are still expenses associated with fundraising events and if it looks like we might barely break even or potentially even lose money, then it's not in the best financial interest of the theater to move forward."

 

Francis said that as of close of business Wednesday, April 7 only 46 tickets had been sold. The Orpheum Theatre seats 950.

 

"We're deeply disappointed to have to cancel and grateful to Monmouth College's Theater Department for their willingness and generosity to perform for the benefit of the Orpheum," concluded Francis. "But when the event is intended to raise money for the theater and it actually could wind up costing more money than we make well, in that case, going 'on with the show' doesn't really make sound financial sense."

 

Francis said those who purchased tickets in advance would receive a refund or could designate their ticket purchase as a charitable donation to the theater. Francis said each ticket buyer would be called and offered that choice.

 

During the month of April, Innkeeper's Coffee Shop will donate 10% of sales of Innkeeper's Blend coffee beans to the Orpheum Theatre!

GET YOUR CAFFEINE ON and stop by Innkeeper's Coffee Shop at 80 North Seminary Street in Galesburg, Il 61401.

Visit the Innkeeper's website for more information about their delicious food, fresh roasted coffee, gourmet chocolates and unique gifts: 

www.innkeepers-coffee.com