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2015-2016 PERFORMING ARTS SEASON Dear Friend, Thank you for your lasting support for the Virginia Theatre! The past 12 months—the Virginia’s inaugural performing arts season—was filled with both new faces and old friends. We hope you were able to experience the extraordinary artistry of Straight No Chaser, or enjoy the brassy Americana of Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, or join in the communal laughter (and maybe a few tears) at a season-opening special screening of Downtown Abbey. In fact, laughter was the common denominator for our 2014-2015 season, with packed houses for comics like Kathy Griffin, Mike Birbiglia, The Second City, and David Sedaris. But, popular musical acts were an important part of that picture, too, with groups from the legendary Beach Boys and Foreigner to Alabama Shakes and The Canadian Brass filling the Virginia’s seats with appreciative audiences. Without your support—as patrons and subscribers, as donors, as friends—none of this would have been possible. Thank you! With the launch of our 2015-2016 season—the second planned performing arts series under the Champaign Park District’s management—we have an opportunity to reach out to both new friends and old with an increasingly diverse set of offerings. Our roster this season includes the runaway hit musical The Million Dollar Quartet, the sublime vocalists of Celtic Woman, Jim Brickman’s renowned holiday concert, the US Army Field Band and Chorus (in a free concert), national comedy sensations Paula Poundstone, Bill Maher, and Last Comic Standing, the CU Ballet’s gorgeously-realized classic Coppelia, guitar legend Tommy Emmanuel, and so much more. This is also a season that blends international touring attractions with hometown favorites like That’s What She Said, The Chorale: CU at the Virginia–Opening Night, the Tons O’ Fun Band 10th Annual Christmas Show, and, for the first time ever, a special collaboration between Champaign Central High School and Champaign Centennial High School Drama Departments to present the central Illinois premiere of the musical Disney’s The Little Mermaid. On screen, our selection of movies has exploded to include more than a dozen “mini-festivals” featuring revivals of fan favorites Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Sideways, The Graduate and countless others. The News-Gazette Film Series lineup is the strongest we’ve seen, and don’t forget the 18th Annual Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, coming April 13-17, 2016! There’s something for everyone this season, and we hope you’ll bring your friends, your family, and your imagination and enjoy all we have to offer at your Virginia Theatre! Park Board Commissioners Alvin S. Griggs Yours, Craig W. Hays Barbara J. Kuhl Timothy P. McMahon, President Timothy P. McMahon CHAMPAIGN PARK DISTRICT Jane L. Solon BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Officers of the Board Joe DeLuce, Executive Director Cindy Harvey, Secretary CHAMPAIGN PARK DISTRICT Guy C. Hall, Attorney Gary G. Wackerlin, Treasurer Steven Bentz, Director Joe DeLuce, Executive Director VIRGINIA THEATRE Get The Most From Your Virginia Theatre Experience – SUBSCRIBE TODAY! The Champaign Park District is proud to offer Virginia Theatre patrons a flexible Season Subscription option in 2015-2016, with thirteen selected events to choose from! Pick just four or more events from our VT Series (indicated within each listing in the following pages and also in the attached order form) and you’ll receive all the benefits of subscribing: • Ticket discounts • First choice of seats • Option to keep your same seats if you renew your subscription next year • Invitation to our spring Subscribers Party at the Virginia Theatre • First choice of seats to selected shows as they are added throughout the year • For patrons subscribing to six or more VT Series events, free News-Gazette and Reel Deal movies, all year long! Season Subscriptions are available starting Monday, July 13, 2015 – at 10am. Individual tickets for many shows go on sale Friday, August 21, 2015, at 10am. For other on-sale dates, see individual event listings. Complete details are available at thevirginia.org, by phone at 217-356- 9063, or by visiting the Virginia Theatre Box Office, 10am to 5:30pm, Monday through Friday. All events are presented by the Champaign Park District except where noted. Programs and artists are subject to change. IMPORTANT DATES: Monday, July 13, 10am Subscriptions on sale to ‘VT SERIES’ events Friday, August 21, 10am Individual tickets for many shows on sale thevirginia.org NEWS-GAZETTE FILM SERIES Join us one Saturday each month (1pm and 7pm) as we screen the most beloved classic films of all time. Virginia Theatre organist David Schroeder performs on the Virginia’s historic Wurlitzer Pipe Organ at most News- Gazette screenings, and film critic Chuck Koplinski leads discussions after all of our evening screenings. NEW this year: before each 7pm News-Gazette film, take a trip back in time with a short sing-a-long with David at the Wurlitzer and our historic glass slides as your guide! The Virginia Theatre houses one of the largest collections in the country of these unique glass slides, each set printed with the lyrics to a classic tune from days gone by. Warm up your pipes and bring the whole family! REEL DEAL FILM SERIES This year we’re mixing it up with a fresh selection of Reel Deals that celebrate films from the quirky to the profound. Virginia Theatre Reel Deals are always just $4 and range from retro classics to recent releases. A variety of series are listed throughout this brochure, including special salutes to Meryl Streep, Peter Sellers, Wes Anderson and more. Visit thevirginia.org for additional titles as they are added throughout the year. CU at the movies! VOLUNTEER AT THE HISTORIC VIRGINIA VIRGINIA THEATRE RENTALS THEATRE (ages 13+) The Virginia is available for rental by Join the volunteer family at the historic Virginia Theatre! individuals, organizations, schools, and Our volunteers are essential to the success of shows businesses for performances, concerts, ranging from Arsenic & Old Lace to Vince Gill. Your film screenings, meetings, receptions, assistance is always needed with ushering, ticket taking, conferences, parties, and other public and concessions, box office, merchandise sales, crowd private events. For details, please call 217- control, and more. Volunteer at the Virginia Theatre 356-9063, visit thevirginia.org, or email today and help our friendly and dedicated staff create [email protected]. a safe, enjoyable experience for patrons and enjoy live shows, concerts, and movies while you’re here! JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST Volunteer training sessions are held from 6-7:30pm at Be the first to know about upcoming the Virginia Theatre, 203 W. Park Ave., one Monday of events when you subscribe to our mailing each month. For dates and more information, visit list! Advance ticket sale and promotional thevirginia.org, call 217-356-9063, or email opportunities are just a few of the many [email protected]. perks. Sign up today by visiting thevirginia.org and clicking “ENEWS”. TOUR THE VIRGINIA THEATRE Each Wednesday, all year long - 10am Did you know that the Virginia Theatre is listed on the National Register of Historic Places? That its original 1921 Wurlitzer Pipe Organ has over 750 pipes? Or what (totally unexpected) features the painters uncovered during the recent renovation? Tour the Virginia and get behind-the-scenes at downstate Illinois’s premier – and freshly restored –1920s movie palace and live performance space. Regular one-hour tours are offered at the Virginia every Wednesday at 10am. To schedule a tour for yourself, a group, school, business or organization, call 217-356-9063, visit thevirginia.org, or email [email protected]. Donations to the Virginia Theatre Restoration Fund are encouraged. AUGUST Flight of The Butterflies (2014) 1 Tickets: $4 2pm On Sale Now Rated G (44 min) In August we’re all about butterflies! Join us for a special screening of the family-friendly Flight of the Butterflies, a scientific adventure story spanning thousands of miles and just as many generations. It tells the remarkable tale of the Monarch butterfly migration, the most incredible on Earth, and the determined scientist who spent 40 years trying to discover exactly Young screenwriters honored at the 2014 Pens to Lens Gala where butterflies go when they fly south for the winter. We’ll also show Plight of the Monarch (2013), a documentary made by Champaign 3rd Annual county natives Kirby and Cindy Pringle. The event PENS TO LENS includes talk-backs with the filmmakers and 15 Student Screenwriting monarch butterfly slides by David Hensleigh, kids’ Competition photo ops and more! 2pm & 6pm Tickets: $12 pass/$8 ticket Ages 18 & under FREE On Sale Now NEWS-GAZETTE FILM SERIES: Nashville (1975) A project of the Champaign-Urbana Film Society, Champaign Movie Makers and Champaign- 8 Tickets: $6 Urbana Design Organization. Pens to Lens invites 1pm & 7pm On Sale Now East Central Illinois K-12 students to write and Rated R (159 min) Extraordinary epic musical submit original screenplays which are then made drama and winner of numerous awards (and into short films by local filmmakers, while original selected for preservation in the United States movie posters are created by local designers National Film Registry), Nashville is generally At this special 3rd annual gala screening, the considered to be one of director Robert Altman’s whole community is invited to see the finished best films. The movie takes a compelling snapshot films, walk the red carpet, and celebrate student of people involved in the 1970s country music and writing – with awards presented! The 2pm gospel music businesses in Music City. screening features films written by K-8th grade students, and the 6pm screening features films written by 8th-12th grade students.