Arts
Arts in the Park to be held Saturday, May 14
May 10th
The annual St. Peter School Arts in the Park will take place Saturday, May 14, at Quincy’s Madison Park, 24th and Maine. The family festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the evening event, Arts in the Park Under the Stars, will be from 6:30 to 11 p.m.
Arts in the Park will feature many delicious food items sure to please all ages. Food, such as hot dogs, brats, hamburgers, BBQ ribs, BBQ chicken, steak sandwiches, spinach/feta chicken burgers and various side dishes will be provided by the Butcher Block. Gengenbacher Shaved Ice, cotton candy, nachos, pretzels with cheese and popcorn will also be available.
There will be tons of activities for all ages. The student-sponsored art booths will feature hands-on art activities created and prepared by students in grades three through eight. There will various “Artist in Action” stations with artists demonstrating and discussing a variety of art forms. Guests can also view almost 500 amazing pieces of art submitted by St. Peter students in the gym foyer.
The Main Stage will have various entertainers including Mike Anderson, mountain dulcimer/storyteller from Jacksonville, Illinois, and Fonziba Koster, African drumming. The audience will experience the fun and exhilaration of playing genuine West African rhythms on authentic jembe hand drums and bass drums.
Arts in the Park Under the Stars is an adult gathering. Mystic Voyage Motown Band out of St. Louis will perform and they are always a crowd-pleaser. The Butcher Block will provide food as mentioned above. Beer and wine will be sold and as the evening rolls on, snacks such as popcorn and nachos will keep you going. A sweet station will be set up by Underbrink’s Bakery for everyone to enjoy.
Entrance tickets for the evening event will be available for $10 in the school office, after St. Peter Masses the weekend of May 7, from committee members or at the door the night of the event. You must be 21 to enter. Food and beverages will be sold separately; no outside food or beverages will be allowed. Bring your own lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy delicious food, listen to great music and socialize with friends.
New this year, “The Art of Family Cooking” cookbooks will be sold. The cookbooks are compiled with family favorite recipes from parishioners and parents. You can purchase the cookbooks for $15 at both events, in the school office or by contacting Elizabeth Brown at 228-0403 or by e-mail at elizabethbrown12@gmail.com.
A silent auction will be available for bidding at both events and closes at 10 p.m. The auction includes classroom made art and descriptions are available for viewing on the school’s website at www.stpeterschool.com.
The money made from this event is the primary funding source for St. Peter fine arts programming. The students have received monthly art instruction from an artist-in-residence, instruments and Smart Board for the music department, Zumba instruction, Quincy Museum presentations, QCT performances and classroom experiences and art supplies.
Thanks to the community for its generous support of the St. Peter fine arts program. Thanks also goes to the many local businesses that sponsor this event as well as the Quincy Society of Fine Arts for an Art$ Dollar$ grant.
Committee chairs for this event are Brown and Jamie Connell. Committee members include Jeanne Anderson, Valerie Greving, Christie Jones, Tracy Keck, Krisha Ley, Theresa Quintero, Tricia Schlipman and Susie Stammerjohn.
For more information, call 223-1120 or go to www.stpeterschool.com.
QCT to present “Frank, Liza & Sammy”
Feb 5th
The Quincy Community Theatre will present “Frank, Liza & Sammy” Friday and Saturday, Feb. 11 and 12, at 7:30 p.m.
Frank, Liza & Sammy is a 90-minute show that combines great singing, entertaining choreography, dancing, humor and witty dialogue and features more than 30 memorable songs. Be mesmerized by the experience of seeing talented performers paying tribute to these legends and performing “My Way,” “Cabaret” and “Mr. Bojangles” with good old fashioned warmth and sincerity.
Ticket prices range from $20-$35 and are on sale now online at www.1qct.org and in the box office located inside the Oakley-Lindsay Center. Box office hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For additional information call 222-3209.
QHS students to perform “The Crucible”
Feb 2nd
Quincy High School cast.
The students of Quincy High School will tackle the intense themes of compassion versus forgiveness, intolerance and hysteria as they produce the 2010 winter play “The Crucible.” Performance dates are Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 10-12, at 7:30 p.m. in the QHS theatre, 3322 Maine Street.
This Arthur Miller classic gives a dramatization of the Salem Witch Trials. Many allegations of witchcraft are driven by the affair between farmer, husband and father John Proctor (Lee Smith) and the minister’s (Derek Bissell) niece Abigail Williams (Prudence Bickhaus).
The teenage Abby and her young friends (Jordon Lefever, Sarah Droge, Kallie Tenney and Nicole Esselman) charge several of the citizens of Salem in order to protect each other from the sins of dancing with slave Tituba (Jasmine Thompson).
The educated Reverend Hale (Patrick Regner) travels to the village in hopes to cure those infected by the Devil’s temptations, which includes the indicted Elizabeth Proctor (Sydney Stice). Court officials (Jason Epley and Keaton Kruser) begin the trial process to determine who is truthful: the girls or the citizens of Salem.
Tickets may be purchased at the door. For more information call the QHS music office at 224-3774.
Meghan Buckley/Tom Burnett
QCT presents “Cinderella”
Jan 26th
Quincy Community Student Theatre will present “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” Thursday through Sunday, February 3-6. Evening shows are at 7:30 p.m. with the Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.
Members of the cast include Mia Bergstom as Cinderella, Sierra Schnack as the Stepmother, Mackenzie Johnson as Joy, Claire Hopson as Portia, Kaitlyn VanderMaiden as the Godmother, Kelsey Deters as the Queen, Dylan Bainter as the King, Jacob Rokusek as the Prince, Andrew Cliatt as the Herald, Wes Friday as the Chef, Jay Stalder as the Steward, Christian DuPont as the Coachman and Dayton Job as the Footman.
Ensemble members are Megan Adams, Sarah Anderson, Kara Bainter, Eddie Binosi, Katherine Bohorquez, Renee Cafun, Carley Chinnis, Eanna DeGuzman, Emma Figge, Camber Flick, Sara Gomez, Alice Gorman, Allison Helton, Devin Hermsmeier, Morgan Hill, Mallory Johnson, Anna Moore, Joseph Musholt, Dani Nutt, Shelby Rees, Anna Rothe, Jack Staff, Meg Stalder, Breanne Tenhouse, Lauren Tweedell, Taylor Tweedell, LeAnna Wilson and Friday.
Tickets are $12 and on sale online at www.1qct.org and in the box office located inside the Oakley-Lindsay Center. Box office hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information call 222-3209.
Come and enjoy this age-old story of Cinderella, the Prince, the ugly stepsisters and a godmother.
NELSON: Quincy Art Center to open exhibit
Dec 29th
Artwork by Harold Gregor, Sarah Smelser and Peggy Wyman will be on exhibit at the Quincy Art Center beginning Jan. 14 through March 31. An opening reception is planned for Friday, Jan. 14, from 7-9 p.m. In addition, a “Meet the Artist” fundraising dinner is planned for Saturday, Jan. 29, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Art Center.
The Katherine Gardner Stevenson Gallery will feature the paintings and watercolors of Gregor from Bloomington, Illinois. He currently holds the title of Distinguished Professor of Art, Emeritus and Adjunct at Illinois State University. He has a doctorate from Ohio State University, a master of science from Michigan State University and a bachelor of arts from Wayne State University.
He has exhibited nationally and has accepted commissions for the State of Illinois Appellate Court Building, the Federal Reserve Bank and the McCormick Convention Center in Chicago as well as the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington and the Illinois State Library in Springfield. His Illinois Landscape #120 hangs in the Oval Office private dining room at the White House at President Obama’s request.
The Elizabeth M. Sinnock Gallery will provide the setting for a whimsical juxtaposition of prints by Smelser and sculpture by Wyman.
Smelser of Bloomington has a bachelor or arts from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a master of arts and master of fine arts from the University of Iowa. She has shown in one and two person exhibits for over a decade as well as holding residencies and workshops nationally and in Bilbao, Spain, and Kasterlee, Belgium. Her work can be seen at the Dolby Chadwick Gallery in San Francisco and at the Kathryn Merkel Fine Art Gallery in New York City.
Wyman, a native of Idaho, graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in mathematics. A career in computers followed by a dream of writing historical novels introduced her to research into fiber sculpture and basketry. Moving to Southern California, she continued her experiments with pine needles and thread, exhibiting in local galleries.
In 2004, she and her husband moved to the Missouri Ozarks where they started a cattle ranch. This move allowed Wyman to move to a higher level and jury into national exhibitions. She is currently associated with Best of Missouri Hands, Springfield Visual Arts Alliance and Dorland Mountain Arts Colony. Her many awards include first place in sculpture, Strasburg, Pennsylvania; first place in fiber, Estes Park, Colorado; and the Alfred Bernard Award for best use of a medium, Mid-Atlantic Art Exhibition, Norfolk, Virginia.
The exhibitions and opening reception are open to the public. There is no charge for Quincy Art Center members to enjoy the reception or view the exhibits. There is a $3 admission charge for adults and $1 for seniors, students and children.
Julie Nelson
WINKELMANN: Free tours will be held of the John Wood Mansion
Dec 22nd
The Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County, 425 S. 12th, celebrates its 30th Christmas Candlelight Tours with Vignettes of Christmas Past.
Decorations will sparkle in gold and silver and candles will provide period atmosphere. Musicians Eric Steitz and Tony Blackford will provide music on the hammered dulcimer and flute.
This year’s theme will provide in one vignette, a glimpse of the Wood family and friends at a holiday dinner, and in another vignette, a look at the household staff as they prepare and serve the Governor and his guests. Visitors will gather in small groups at the Visitor’s Center and be escorted to the Mansion to eavesdrop on the family conversations, remaining at each venue for approximately five-minute intervals. This is a new opportunity for visitors to see the vignette format and experience first person interpretation in the Governor John Wood Mansion.
Free public and member tours will be offered Dec. 26 and 27 and will take place from 5-7 p.m. each night.
Quincy’s History Shop will also be open each tour night from 5-7 p.m. and offers a wide selection of gifts to please friends and family at Christmas and beyond. For further information, call 222-1835 or visit the website at www.adamscohistory.org.
Judith Winkelmann
Muddy River Opera Company to perform comedy
Dec 21st
The Muddy River Opera Company will make a 180 degree turn from its recent production of Madama Butterfly, a drama, with the production of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera, The Pirates of Penzance. Performances are Friday, January 14, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Januaruy 16, at 2 p.m.
Furman
Avril Marie Bernzen, artistic director and board president of the Muddy River Opera Company, states that all ages will enjoy this opera with its cast of pirates, young girls who are wards of the Major General, and a love affair between Frederic and Mabel, the daughter of the Major General.
Sir Arthur Sullivan is known as one of the greatest operetta composers. His works with Gilbert are “notable for their sparkling melodies, their subtle and often brilliant orchestration, their clever touches of musical satire and their superb use of patter.”
Sir William Schwenk Gilbert was the librettist as well as the producer for the Gilbert and Sullivan collaboration. “His texts for Sullivan are parodies of all the institutions and ideals which the British hold most sacred, and are marked by his especial brand of topsy-turvy humor, pithy dialogue and a brilliant versification (especially in the patter songs).
The opera will be held in the Quincy Community Theatre, 300 Civic Center Plaza. A buffet will be served following the Friday night performance in the lobby. The general public may purchase tickets that evening in the lobby for $5 per person.
The cast is diversified in that Denise Knowlton of Chicago, singing the role of Ruth; Todd van Felker of Chicago, singing the role of the Pirate King; David Dillard of Carbondale, singing the role of Sergeant Police and Elise LaBarge of St. Louis, all performed their roles in a recent production of The Pirates of Penzance at the Union Avenue Opera in St. Louis.
The role of Frederic will be sung by Ric Fuhrman of Cincinnati; Gregory Lewis of Seattle and Galesburg, Illinois, will sing the role of Samuel. Both Lewis and LaBarge have appeared in several MROC operas in past years.
The opera company is giving local professionals the opportunity to sing in this production believing that we have extremely talented singers and they should be given the chance to perform major roles in an opera. Lacey Phillips of Quincy will sing the leading female role of Mable. This will be her MROC debut. Kevin Jobe, also of Quincy, will sing the role of the Major General. Kevin has appeared in supporting roles and the chorus in previous MROC productions.
A chorus of eight young women and eight pirates will round out the cast. Some of the chorus members chosen at this time are Alaina Donley, Emily Goodwin, Elizabeth Zaerr, Emily LeBarge, Allen Means, LaRon Grant, Bill Winn and Brooklyn Miller.
A 20-piece orchestra will play for the production with Scott Schoonover of St. Louis as conductor and music director.
Members of the orchestra include Brian Gehrich, Kamen Petkov, Vicki Daggett, Jane Polett, Megan Lareau, Pat Kuhn, Joan Mast, Kae Blecha, Megan Boccardi, Doug Reeve, Renae Inghram, Mariann Peters, Jean Murray, Cathy Flick, Sara North, Keith Wiemelt, Chris Wilheit and Rebecca Gray.
Bernzen is the artistic director, Paul Denckla is the set and lighting designer and the costume designer is Teresa Doggett Costumes of St. Louis. Drew Quintero is the stage manager, Means is the chorus master, Robert March is the chorus rehearsal accompanist, Amanda Veile is in charge of props, Andrea McCready and Gary Blickhan are in charge of programs and Tom Fentem and Carol Mathieson are taking care of intermission.
Tickets will go on sale Monday, December 13. Adult tickets are $22 and includes the QCT service fee. Tickets for students in grade seven through college are $10 and children in grades one through six are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.
Information regarding the opera may be obtained by calling 222-2856 or 222-3313.
Quincy Art Center to hold Beaux Arts Ball
Dec 17th
2009 Beaux Arts Ball.
The Quincy Art Center’s annual Beaux Arts Ball will take place on Sunday, Dec. 19, from 7-11 p.m. at the Oakley-Lindsay Center. This is the 80 year for this special event.
For the second year, the Beaux Arts Ball Commission will recognize not only the fundraising abilities of the queen candidates, but the volunteer efforts as well. The Beaux Arts Ball Young Woman of Achievement Award will be presented during the Beaux Arts Ball coronation and will be awarded to the young woman who has taken the additional initiative to volunteer at the Quincy Art Center.
The Beaux Arts Ball is a fundraiser for exhibition and education programs at the Quincy Art Center. Tickets are $15 in advance and may be purchased from any queen candidate. Tickets will be $20 at the door the night of the event. Students under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult and student IDs will be required.
Candidates include Maria Gillian Bergstrom, daughter of Peter and Carolyn Bergstrom; Megan Nichole Beth, daughter of Tim and Tanya Beth; Cassandra Grace Codd, daughter of Jim Codd and Cathy Codd; Samantha Marie Conover, daughter of Eric and Michelle Conover; Clara Elizabeth Ehrhart, daughter of Richard and Laura Ehrhart; Amanda Marie Gabel, daughter of Keith and Susan Gabel; Alexis Joyce Haistings, daughter of Don and Joyce Haistings; Samantha Kay Halfpap, daughter of Kent and Sharon Halfpap; and Maureen Katherine McIntee Hermens, daughter of Rae McIntee.
Additional candidates are Alexandra Whitmore Humes, daughter of Christopher Humes and Tim and Teresa Siemer; Morgan Rose McPherson, daughter of Jeffrey and Kathy McPherson; Haley Elizabeth Meyer, daughter of Eric and Sara Meyer; Madison Elizabeth Miles, daughter of Steven and Lori Miles; Jane Kelly Morrison, daughter of Ben and Evelyn Morrison; Rachel Marie Aurora Nason, daughter of Robert and Alberta Nason; Katelyn Leigh Parrish, daughter of Randy and Kim Parrish; Stephanie Lynne Wiewel, daughter of Mark and Karen Wiewel; Raiven Danielle Willing, daughter of Tim and Jennifer Willing; and Stephanie Marie Zanger, daughter of Steven and Susan Zanger.
For more information, call Amy Herkert, publicity chair, at 224-4102.
BERGHOFER: The Three Irish Tenors
Dec 3rd
The Three Irish Tenors
The magnificent show Christmas from Dublin starring The Three Irish Tenors will take place Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m. in the Morrison Theater of Quincy Junior High School, 100 S. 14th.
From a land rich with the wit, charm, music and dance that continues to enchant audiences worldwide comes its finest tradition, the Irish tenor. Whether it’s the haunting beauty of Danny Boy, the warm sentiment of Galway Bay or the sweet simplicity of the lullaby Too-ra-loo-ra — not to speak of the wealth of Christmas music they sing — the great tenors of Ireland have the ability to reach into hearts and move audiences like no others can.
Christmas from Dublin features the three Irish tenors Claran Nagle from Riverdance, Kenneth O’Regan from Riverdance and Des Willoughby, prize-winning graduate of the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Their resumes resound with stage, operatic, radio and TV performances. Joining The Three Irish Tenors will be a merry ensemble of musicians as well as special guest Jacquline Whelan, one of Ireland’s most recognized and loved sopranos who has appeared at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and Boston Symphony Hall.
From their first performance in 2000, this talented and exciting trio has brought their light-filled show to packed houses throughout Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Audiences at these sold-out performances are captivated by their golden voices and infectious Irish charm.
This is a Christmas show that is considered “marvelous” by critics; they call it sparkling, polished and utterly moving, a grand Christmas gift to audiences.
The three tenors met over a few pints of Guinness in McSorley’s Pub in Dublin to talk about forming the group The Three Irish Tenors. They brought with them a wealth of diverse talents, energy, optimism and a sense of humor. Their aim was to sing songs and arias that would appeal to all generations, that could cross cultural and national boundaries and which would be of superb quality. Together with their musical director, David Wray, The Three Irish Tenors have created a program of their favorite songs and arias, not only from Ireland but also from a truly international repertoire.
A polished professional program, from the deep heart of Ireland, Christmas from Dublin will bring back the glorious spirit of Christmas. Children who love the lights and the magic and the music are admitted free. Tickets for adults are $22 in advance and $25 at the door and may be purchased at Hy-Vee on Broadway and Harrison, Brown Drug, Quincy Steamboat, Great Debate Books and The Mustard Seed in Quincy and Java Jive in Hannibal. Great River Aviation is a major sponsor of this concert.
For more information, call 224-5499 or go to www.quincycivicmusic.org.
Elizabeth Berghofer
JULIE NELSON: Artoberfest to take over Quincy Art Center
Oct 12th
Quincy Art Center
The public is invited to enjoy the Quincy Art Center’s Artoberfest fundraiser as part of the community-wide Fall Colorfest Celebration.
The festival includes children’s artivities, exhibitions, entertainment on the Park District Showmobile, food and refreshments, the Vietnam Sign-in Wall and Bowl-Appetit, and more than 500 one-of-a-kind ceramic bowls hand-crafted and painted by over 200 local artists and members of the community.
The event will be held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday on the lawn at 1515 Jersey and will feature a Beer Tasting Event with beer, food and soda sales; live acoustic music from Deadly Weapon; the opening reception for three exhibits; and the Bowl-Appetit auction, raffle and sale. Proceeds will benefit the Art Center’s children’s programs.
On Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. the exhibits will continue, there will be food and soda sales, Bowl-Appetit sales, children’s artivities, artist demonstrations and live entertainment.
The Vietnam Sign-in Wall provided by the All Wars Museum will be available only during the Artoberfest celebration for Vietnam veterans to sign in where they were posted and to visit with other veterans on hand.
The exhibit Vietnam Then and Now: Photographs by Nik Wheeler features 30 large-scale photographs of Vietnam taken during the war and up through the present day. The photographs were taken by British artist Wheeler who was a combat photographer for United Press International for two and a half years during the Vietnam War. He later returned four times to photograph Vietnam’s people and beauty. Wheeler, a highly regarded photographer, has worked for the magazines National Geographic, Time, Newsweek, International Wildlife and Travel and Leisure. This is the first time these images have been shown as a group. The exhibition has been underwritten by Linda Johnson, M.D.
There is a complementary exhibit entitled Vietnam Memories: All Wars Museum. This exhibit includes artifacts such as uniforms, medals, ribbons, flags and photographs taken “in country” primarily by residents of the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy. These items have been loaned to the Quincy Art Center for this exhibit and are part of the All Wars Museum collection.
A third exhibit features recent work by three photographers. The exhibit is entitled Three Photographers Preserve Quincy: Stephen Cullo, Jewel Gwaltney and Bruce Morton. This exhibit has been sponsored by Terrell and Vicki Dempsey, the Dr. Joe and Denette Kuhlman Family and Meg Nagel, in honor of her late husband Walter.
The photographers use photographic images as their way of preserving the beauty and uniqueness of Quincy for the viewer. Cullo captures very unusual ways of looking at our city, the bridges and surrounding countryside. Gwaltney explores Woodland Cemetery from a distance and in a more intimate way. Morton portrays buildings, homes and warehouses as though they were portraits.
Talks connected with two of the exhibits will be featured every Thursday at 7 p.m. They include October 21, a talk by Gwaltney about her exploration of Woodland Cemetery; October 28, a Power Point presentation Vietnam Now with Dr. Leonard Biallas; November 4, a talk by Morton about his work; and a presentation by Cullo on his photographs on November 11.
Gallery hours are noon-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There is no charge for QAC members for the opening receptions or to view the exhibit. There is a $3 admission charge for nonmember adults and $1 for seniors, students and children.
Funding has also been provided in part by the Illinois Arts Council, by a grant from the Marion Gardner Jackson Trust Arts Fund and by the business and individual members of the Quincy Art Center. For additional information call 223-5900 or e-mail jnelson@quincyartcenter.org.
Julie Nelson, Quincy Art Center
