Cue THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015 SECTION C Audra McDonald Saturday, October 17th, 8:00 pm TICKETS START AT $40 309.671.1096 peoriasymphony.org PE-4493521_V2 Josh Blue opens up about cerebral palsy, ‘Last Comic Standing’ BY THOMAS BRUCH OF THE JOURNAL STAR PEORIA — One of the best stand-up comedians in the business, Josh Blue, will be performing at the Jukebox Comedy Club this weekend. Blue, 36, won Season Four of “Last Comic Standing” in 2006 and has since been a staple on the stand-up comedy circuit. Though he has earned many plaudits and has been featured frequently in stand-up specials, he might be best known for having cerebral palsy — something he pokes fun at in a self-deprecating manner in his performances. Yet he also talks about it to highlight what you can accomplish while living with the disorder. Blue will appear at the Jukebox at 8 p.m. Thursday, and at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets cost $20 except for the Thursday show and the late Friday show, which are $15. Tickets can be purchased at the comedy club or online at www.jukeboxcomedy.com. The Journal Star talked to Blue recently about his career, “Last Comic Standing” and another one of his successful endeavors. Q: In retrospect, what’s your opinion on “Last Comic Standing” for younger comedians or comedi- ans who haven’t gotten a shot yet? A: I have mixed feelings about it. Obviously it really helped me blow into the scene. But it’s still a dumb reality show. Any chance a comic can get to get on TV is huge, so it’s defi nitely Please see BLUE, Page C2 BY THOMAS BRUCH OF THE JOURNAL STAR he magician insists that no spe- MAGICIAN cifi c moment precipitated his career in magic and illusions, but he tells a tale that pretty AND ‘AMERICA’S much suffi ces as one. When Dan Sperry was very young — maybe four or fi ve GOT TALENT’ years old, he estimates — his Comedian Josh Blue will appear at the Jukebox grandparents took him to a Da- Comedy Club at 8 p.m. Thursday, and at 8 p.m. and vid Copperfi eld show. The fi rst trick was “The Death Saw,” a 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets cost $20 CONTESTANT big spinning saw blade that except for the Thursday show and the late Friday Copperfi eld must elude before show, which are $15. it cuts him in half. The real premise was far more DAN SPERRY TO harrowing. Instead, the saw “malfunctions” and the blade drops too early, cutting Copperfi eld in half without warning. The young Sperry couldn’t comprehend the PERFORM WITH theatrical illusion and thought he had just seen SEE CALENDAR ON PAGE C6 Copperfi eld die. That was the end of the show for Sperry and his grandparents. They exited the THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND ‘THE ILLUSIONISTS’ theater with a mortifi ed Sperry in tow. As a mode of therapy, Sperry was later given a magic kit from a toy store, something simple 5The Peoria Riverfront Museum, 222 SW Washington like a ball disappearing in a cup and then reap- St., is hosting Wine & Art Night from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 17 AT CIVIC CENTER pearing. It was meant to assuage Sperry’s fears, 1 featuring painting with Kayla Phillips. Cost is $33 for non- to show it wasn’t sinister. “This is normal,” he remembers being told. members. To register call Taylor Stef at 863-3034. Ages 21 A few decades later, Sperry has established and over only. If you go a living as a touring magician. He will appear The Haunted Infi rmary at the Bartonville Insane ! What: The Illusionists alongside a troupe of magicians at the Peoria 2 Asylum, 4500 Enterprise Drive, Bartonville, is open every — Live From Broadway Civic Center Theater for two nights next week in Friday and Saturday night in October from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. “The Illusionists” as part of the Illinois Ameren ! When: 7:30 p.m. Event is sponsored by Limestone JFL and Insane Women Broadway Series. Productions. Admission is $15 per person. Tickets available Wednesday, Oct. 21; 7:30 For years, his magic act mirrored the tame at http://hauntedinfi rmary.org/ or at the gate on haunt p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22. parlor tricks of the toy magic kit from his youth. ! Where: Peoria Civic He landed a job performing at children’s birthday nights until midnight (cash only). Center Theater. parties as a teenager and continued that for a Central Illinois Jazz Society House Band performs at 6 ! Cost: Tickets cost $40, long time. Though he couldn’t frighten them, he 3 p.m. and The Brazilionaires begin at 7:15 p.m. Oct. 18 $57 or $70. To purchase carefully cultivated a role he would later inhabit at the Starting Gate Banquet Room in Landmark Recreation tickets, visit the box offi ce, on stage. Center. Admission: $5/members; $7/nonmembers; free/ ticketmaster.com, all Tick- “There was a Gene Wilder, Willy Wonka antago- students. Call 692-5330 or visit www.cijs.org. nistic element to what I was doing,” Sperry said. etmaster locations or call “I Feel a Song Coming On!,” Pride of Peoria Barbershop (800) 745-3000. Please see ILLUSIONISTS, Page C2 4 Chorus 73rd annual concert will be at 2 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Northminster Presbyterian Church, 10720 N. Knoxville, Peoria. $10/advance; $12/at the door. Call 231-2471. Salsa at CAC: Dance lessons and open dancing will be PHOTO OF DAN SPERRY COURTESY OF “THE ILLUSIONISTS” 5 from 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Oct. 16 at the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria, 305 SW Water St. Admission: $4/CAC members; $7/nonmembers. Call 674-6822. Fall Dinner Specials $19.95 DOWNTOWN Your Choice of: 110 SW. Jefferson Peoria, IL 61602 • Fresh Salmon with Grand Marnier Orange Sauce LiveLi MusicM i Wednesdays - Ed & Judy Howardwa • Fresh Scallops A La Danielle RESERVATIONS Thursdays - Gene Farris RECOMMENDED • 5oz. Filet Mignon with 2 Broiled OR Cajun Prawns Fridays - Ben & Kate (309) 673-5300 PE-4516512 All Dinner Specials Include: House Salad and Baked Potato Saturdays - 3 ½ Men C2 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015 CUE JOURNAL STAR, PEORIA, ILL. HALLOWEEN FRIGHTS Judge’s Chamber is a hidden AND THRILLS AWAIT lunch spot in Downtown BY STEVE TARTER IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS OF THE JOURNAL STAR PEORIA — Downtown Peoria is not without its dining options. You know Central Illinois offers Halloween attractions for all ages about the food carts, impending food trucks and, of course, a number of and levels of fear. Here is a listing of some of the events. long-standing restaurants. But sometimes we forget — or at least I forget — that bars serve food, ! Spider Hill Haunted Attractions, includes a Halloween Costume too. That leads us to the Judge’s Creations workshop for kids ages hosted by Three Sisters Park, ev- Chamber, 514 Main St., right across ery Friday and Saturday evening 8-12 at 10 a.m. Oct. 17. Cost is the street from the Pere Marquette/ in October from 7 to 11 p.m. $10 per child, $8 per member. Marriott hotel complex. (Closed Halloween night). Fea- On Oct. 10, the park will be trans- The trail for a Downtown lunch tures a Haunted House, Haunted formed into a haunted forest. led me there after learning that Walking Trail and Paintball Zom- There is no additional charge to Ulrich’s Rebellion Room, just down bie Shoot, where participants get participate in this event. Admis- the street, now serves lunch only on to shoot zombies in the woods. sion to the PlayHouse is $8 for Thursdays and Fridays. There will also be vendors, food, ages 1-65, $7 for ages older than “There’s just not enough business roaming actors, a bonfi re and 65 and active military personnel, Downtown to serve every day,” an Quick Guide Ulrich’s employee said. other entertainment. and free for infants under 1. The ! The Haunted Infirmary at the But the Judge’s Chamber, right museum is free for members; alongside Hoops, was open this Mon- Judge’s Chamber Bartonville Insane Asylum, 4500 membership begins at $85 per day afternoon, so we headed in. 514 Main St., Peoria Enterprise Drive, Bartonville, is family. For more information, visit The atmosphere during the day at (309) 674-5005 open every Friday and Saturday www.peoriaplayhouse.org or call the Chamber is pretty much like it is night in October from 7 p.m. to 323-6900. at night: it’s dark. It was also pretty Hours: 7 a.m. to 4 a.m., Monday to Friday; 6 a.m. to 4 a.m., Saturday and Sunday. 1 a.m. Event is sponsored by ! Peoria Zoo will present its new quiet. There were two customers at Ratings: ★★★★ is highest Limestone JFL and Insane Women Pumpkin Bash from 11 a.m. to the bar, plus the bartender, and that Food ★★★ Productions. Admission is $15 2 p.m. Oct. 24. Event includes was it. Atmosphere ★★ per person. Tickets available at a mini trick-or-treat trail, games, A battery of video poker machines Service ★★★★ http://hauntedinfi rmary.org/ or sat idle while TVs showered sports crafts, and spooky decorations. Prices: Appetizers, $4.75; hamburgers, $5 to $5.50; fi sh sandwich, $5; chicken strips, $6; at the gate on haunt nights until news down on us as we scanned the This event is open to the public pork tenderloin, $6.50; grilled cheese, $4.