Another academic year has come to a close, but the College of Fine Arts is gearing up for the summer season with returning favorites such as Concerts on the Quad, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, and Midwest Institute of Opera.
University Galleries
The inaugural Central Illinois High School Art Exhibition presents 152 works by students from nine Central Illinois high schools from June 1 through July 29.
Concerts on the Quad
Beginning July 2 and taking place every Monday at 7 p.m. during the month of July, this summer will include the return of the Ashley Lewis Band, Creole Stomp, and Switchback, with newcomers The BraziLionaires and Tom Studebaker, who will lead the annual tradition of Singing Under the Stars.
The Concert on the Quad series is free and open to the public.
Illinois Shakespeare Festival
If you have not yet purchased your season tickets, now is the perfect time to do so. The Illinois Shakespeare Festival runs July 5 through August 11. Surpassing the total number of season tickets sold all of last year, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival has just released additional prime seating for all three plays.
This year’s season includes The Merry Wives of Windsor, Henry V, and Shakespeare in Love.
Also returning to the Festival this year are the Improvised Shakespeare Company (for 3 performances only) and MooNie the Magnif’cent (2 performances, one day only).
Shakespeare in the Land of Lincoln
In celebration of our state’s bicentennial, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival presents, in partnership with Bloomington-Normal’s Lincoln’s Festival on Route 66 and Looking for Lincoln, Inc., a ground-breaking symposium that explores the ties between these two legendary figures.
All activities are free! For a complete schedule of events, visit the Illinois Shakespeare Festival website.
ISU Alumni and Friends Night at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival
Illinois State University alumni, family, and friends are invited to the annual alumni evening at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival.
This year, the Alumni and Friends Night will be held on the campus of Illinois State University, with the dinner on the Illinois State Quad and the performance in the air-conditioned Center for the Performing Arts.
Saturday, July 21
- 5:30 p.m., social hour
- 6:30 p.m., buffet dinner
- 7 p.m., short program with President Larry Dietz, College of Fine Arts Dean Jean Miller, Shakespeare Artistic Director John Stark, Alumni Engagement Executive Director Kris Harding, and Associate Professor of English Literature Tara Lyons
- 8 p.m., Shakespeare in Love
Performance ticket and dinner pricing for individual tickets
- Platinum: $43
- Gold: $28
- Dinner tickets: $22
Register online or call Alumni Relations at (309) 438-2586. Performance tickets can be purchased through Tuesday, July 17.
Season Subscribers should contact the box office at (309) 438-2535 to reserve their seats for this event. Dinner tickets can be purchased separately through Wednesday, July 18 by contacting Alumni Relations at (309) 438-2586.
Midwest Institute of Opera
The 2018 summer season includes performances of Offenbach’s Les Contes D’Hoffmannn (sung in French, with English supertitles) and Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance (sung in English, with English supertitles).
Performances will take place on the Illinois State University campus in the Center for the Performing Arts, Concert Hall.
Tickets are $18 for adults; $16 for seniors, students, and military personnel; and $8 for children under 10 years of age. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or by check at the door.
You can enjoy the stunning voices of the MIO performers and the artwork of the University Galleries together during three special recitals on July 27, 28, and August 1 at 12:30 p.m. These lunchtime recitals will feature opera, art song, and classical Broadway. The recitals are free and open to the public!
