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Www .Thevirginia.Org 2014 - 2015 INAUGURAL PERFORMING ARTS SEASON ENJOY Dear Friends, Your beautiful Virginia Theatre has been through quite a transformation, and we are thrilled to present her now as she was when she was first built: full of beauty, hope, and promise. We couldn’t be more excited for the future of our historic theatre as we move into our first-ever planned season with a hand-picked line-up of crowd favorites, compelling new acts, and wonderful local flavor. As we enter this new phase of the Virginia’s journey, we would like to thank you, our sup- porters, for your excitement and dedication over the past fourteen years. We invite you to join us for music, movies, comedy, theatre, sing-alongs, holiday fun, and more. Your Virginia Theatre is a wonderful place to explore, enjoy, and be delighted all year long. You’ll be treated to Grammy-Award winning singers like Lyle Lovett and His Large Band alongside hometown favorites like the Tons O’ Fun Band; national comedians like Bill Cosby, Mike Birbiglia and Second City; and, of course, local artistry courtesy of The Chorale, The Champaign-Urbana Ballet and Champaign Park District Dance Arts and Youth Theatre, Art in Motion, and so many others. Along with live acts, the Virginia is also proud to present movies on our new digital projector while continuing the use of our historic 35mm projectors. Film series such as our Best of Summer Blockbusters, the News-Gazette Film Series, and the 17th Annual Roger Ebert’s Film Festival are an essential part of our upcoming season. So bring your friends, your family, and your imagination and enjoy all we have to offer at your Virginia Theatre! Yours, Joseph Petry, President CHAMPAIGN PARK DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Joseph DeLuce, Executive Director CHAMPAIGN PARK DISTRICT Steven Bentz, Director VIRGINIA THEATRE Enjoy the 2014-2015 Season. The Champaign Park District is proud to announce its The Virginia Theatre is an inaugural 2014-2015 season of concerts, performing arts, film and special events to take place at the Virginia Theatre. historic live performance space and movie palace located in Located at 203 West Park Avenue in Champaign, your Champaign-Urbana that has Virginia Theatre’s exciting new season includes Bill Cosby, been providing entertainment Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, Straight No Chaser, The Sec- ond City, Mike Birbiglia, Five Nights of Hitch, as well as the to the community since its 17th Annual Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, the News-Gazette opening in 1921. Film Series and much more. For the first time since taking ownership of the facility in 2000, the Champaign Park District will also offer a Series Subscription option available to Virginia patrons. Your Virginia Series Subscriptions will be avail- able starting at 10:00 A.M., Friday, July 18, 2014 and will provide subscribers discounts on select tickets, first pick of seating, and, for patrons who subscribe to all 6 Your Virginia concert events, free News- Gazette and Reel Deal movies all year long! Individual tickets for many shows in the 2014-2015 season go on sale at 10:00 A.M., Friday, August 8, 2014. For other on-sale dates, see individual event listings. Complete details are available on the theatre website at www.thevirginia.org, by phone at 217-356-9063, or by visiting the Virginia Theatre Box Office, 10:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M., Monday through Friday. All events are presented by the Champaign Park District except where noted. Programs and artists are subject to change. www.thevirginia.org 2014 2015 SEASON SCHEDULE Enjoy the Atmosphere. SERIES SUBSCRIPTIONS AvAILABLE FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2014 Individual Tickets for many shows on sale starting Friday, August 8, 2014 Order online, by phone, through the box office, or by filling out the order form at the end of this brochure. Enjoy the Year. REEL DEALS Tuesday through Thursday, all year long (selected weeks) — 7:00 P.M. Tickets: $4 On-Sale as films are released As always at the Virginia, see today’s blockbuster films at yesterday’s prices. From The Lego Movie to Lincoln, Reel Deals are a great way to catch the best recent releases on the Virginia’s 52 foot-wide screen, in state-of-the-art 4K high-definition digital projection with surround sound. For upcoming titles and dates, watch www.thevirginia.org or call 217-356-9063. TOUR THE VIRGINIA THEATRE Every Wednesday, all year long — 10:00 A.M. Walk through this historic 1921 facility as you learn the history of how the Virginia was first conceived and built, its colorful past, legendary performers, and recent rescue from the wrecking ball. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Virginia is now fully restored to its original glory, but with modern amenities. All levels of the Virginia are accessible to patrons using wheel- chairs or other assistive devices. No reservations required for regularly scheduled Wednesday tours. To schedule a special tour for your group, business, school or organization, contact the Virginia Box Office at 217-356-9063. JULY ICE CREAM AND INDEPENDENCE - featuring The Canadian Brass Tickets: $40 / $19 / $15 / $12 / $8 On-Sale Now 3 Join us at the Virginia to celebrate Independence Day with the very best in American mu- 7pm sic performed by the Champaign-Urbana Civic Wind Band and featuring The Canadian Ice Cream Brass. We’ll be serving frozen yogurt courtesy of TCBY at 5:00 P.M. Social: 5pm “C-U at the Movies”—a life-size bronze sculpture in the likeness of the late film critic Roger Ebert—will be dedicated at a special ceremony to take place outside the Virginia at 5:30 P.M. And, don’t miss David Schroeder, Virginia Theatre house organist, performing on our historic, 750-pipe Wurlitzer before show time. Special thanks to WDWS, The News- Gazette, TCBY, and the University of Illinois Bands. NEWS-GAZETTE FILM SERIES - Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) Tickets: $6 (includes pre-show performance by David Schroeder, organist) 12 On-Sale Now 1pm & 7pm The ill-fated British tall ship Bounty leaves Portsmouth in 1787; its destination—to sail to Tahiti and load bread-fruit. And Captain Bligh will do anything to get there as fast as possible, using any means necessary to keep strict discipline. Starring Charles Laughton, Clark Gable and Franchot Tone. DISNEY’S PETER PAN JR. 17 Presented by Champaign Park District Youth Theatre THRU Tickets: $10 / $8 On-Sale Now 19 J.M. Barrie’s classic children’s tale springs to life in this charming musical adaptation. 7pm Each Day Wendy Darling loves to tell stories to her brothers, Michael and John. But when her fa- 10am Matinee ther announces she must move out of the nursery, Peter Pan comes to visit the children on Friday and whisks them away to Never Land, where their adventures introduce them to the 2pm Matinee Lost Boys, Mermaids, Indians and even the infamous pirate, Captain Hook! on Saturday FROZEN SING-A-LONG (2013) 24 Tickets: $5 On-Sale: July 3, 2014 — 10:00 A.M. THRU Come for a special screening of the sing-a-long version of one of the most popular 26 animated films of all time! Sing along to the words of the Academy Award-nominated 6pm Each Day film event of a generation, Disney’s Frozen. 1:30pm Matinee on A mountain climber and a young girl named Anna team up on an epic journey to find the Saturday legendary Snow Queen and end the eternal winter that has fallen over their kingdom. Based on the fairy tale ‘The Snow Queen’ written by Hans Christian Andersen. LIFE ITSELF (2014) 28 Tickets: $5 On-Sale: July 3, 2014 — 10:00 A.M. THRU Following its downstate Illinois premiere at the 2014 Ebertfest, Life Itself returns to the AUG 1 Virginia on July 28th. This moving documentary recounts the inspiring and entertaining 7pm Each Day life of world-renowned film critic and social commentator Roger Ebert—a story that is by turns personal, funny, painful, and transcendent. Based on his bestselling memoir of the same name, Life Itself explores the legacy of Ebert’s life, from his Pulitzer Prize- winning film criticism at the Chicago Sun-Times to becoming one of the most influential cultural voices in America. AUGUST BEST OF THE SUMMER BLOCKBUSTERS Tuesday through Thursday, Every week in August, 2014 — 7:00 P.M. Tickets: $4 On-Sale: July 18, 2014 — 10:00 A.M. The Virginia’s annual summer series of the biggest blockbuster movies of all time returns! Visit www.thevirginia.org for complete details, times and titles. NEWS-GAZETTE FILM SERIES - It Happened One Night (1934) Tickets: $6 (includes pre-show performance by David Schroeder, organist) 2 On-Sale Now 1pm & 7pm A spoiled heiress (Claudette Colbert) runs away from her family and is helped by a man (Clark Gable) who’s actually a reporter looking for a story. The film was the first to win all five major Academy Awards (Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Screenplay) www.thevirginia.org Champaign Urbana Film Society, with the Champaign Park District, presents: 2ND ANNUAL PENS TO LENS STUDENT SCREENWRITING COMPETITION 9 Tickets: $8 (Per Screening) / $12 (Festival Pass) / FREE for Youth 19 and under 2pm & 6pm On-Sale: July 18, 2014 — 10:00 A.M. A project of the Champaign Urbana Film Society, Champaign Movies Makers and Cham- paign Urbana Design Organization, Pens to Lens invites K-12 students in East Central Illinois to submit original screenplays, which are then made into short films and movie posters by the local art community.
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