COMEDY
Thru 4/30. The Jukebox Comedy Club features local, regional and nationally known comedians, open Wednesdays through Saturdays.
3/18. Jerry Seinfeld brings his stand-up routine to the Peoria Civic Center Theater at 7pm and again at 9:30pm.
4/17. Brian Regan will perform in the Peoria Civic Center Theater at 7pm.
4/20 – 4/24. Jay Goldberg Events & Entertainment presents Remembering Red – A Tribute to Red Skelton at the Apollo Theatre with shows at 7pm.
4/25. Red Green’s I’m Not Old, I’m Ripe show comes to the Peoria Civic Center Theater at 7pm.
DANCE
3/4, 3/18, 4/1, 4/15. The Contemporary Art Center hosts Salsa at the CAC on the first and third Fridays of the month from 8:30pm to 12am.
4/20. Shen Yun brings 5,000 years of Chinese music and dance to the Peoria Civic Center at 7:30pm.
4/30. The Peoria Ballet will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a gala event featuring dancers and directors past and present at the Peoria Civic Center.
EXHIBITS
Ongoing. Sculpture Walk Peoria features 15 large-scale sculptures along Washington Street from Liberty to State Street in Peoria.
Ongoing. The Diocesan Museum in the Spalding Pastoral Center features exhibits on the history of the Peoria Diocese, while the adjacent Fulton J. Sheen Museum offers a permanent exhibit on the life of the famous archbishop.
Thru 3/11. The works of Michael Hopkins utilizing X-ray images will be on display in the ICC Performing Arts Center Gallery, and the paintings of P.J. Mills will be on display in ICC’s Gallery 336B.
Thru 3/20. Come to the Cross, an exhibit of crosses from the congregation, will be on display at the Foster Gallery for Christianity and Fine Arts.
Thru 3/25. Bradley University Galleries presents 5th Central Time Ceramics in the Heuser Art Gallery and Hartmann Center Gallery.
Thru 3/31. Stitched for Pleasure and Purpose, featuring quilts by Midwestern women in the 19th and 20th centuries, is on display at the Peoria Riverfront Museum.
Thru 3/31. The works of painter Marina Wirtz and sculpture/ceramic work by Therese O’Halloran will be on display at the Vernissage exhibit at the Time Gallery in East Peoria.
Thru 4/15. You just have to show up, featuring the works of Josh Cox, Susan Czechowski, Rebecca Draland-Doyle, Dawn Gettler, Chrissy LaMaster, Chloe McEldowney, Sarah Nesbit, Joe Richey, Mark Richey and Joan Smit will be on display at the Prairie Center of the Arts.
Thru 5/30. The Peoria Riverfront Museum will host American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition in the International Feature Gallery.
3/4, 4/1. Numerous art galleries and artist studios open their doors from 5 to 9pm for First Fridays.
3/18 – 3/27. The Spring Floral Show at Luthy Botanical Garden is on display from 10am to 5pm.
3/20. Chicago artist Steve Juras will be featured at Project 1612 from 3 to 5pm.
3/27 – 5/15. Spirit Made Visible, The Journey of Four Artists featuring Elizabeth Davis, Doreen Graber, Jeanette Kosier and Carol Quell, will be on display at the Foster Gallery for Christianity and Fine Arts.
4/4 – 5/3. Bradley University Galleries presents Bunn Lectureship in Photography with Lori Nix in the Heuser Art Gallery, with a lecture on 4/7 at 5pm followed by a reception at 6pm.
LECTURES & PRESENTATIONS
3/3. The Peoria Whiskey Capital of the World Dinner & Lecture kicks off at 5:30pm at the Peoria Riverfront Museum.
3/10. The Fine Arts Society of Peoria presents Roughing It: Francoise Henry’s Journals from Inishkea Island, a guest lecture by Dr. Janet T. Marquardt, research associate at Smith College, at 10am at the Peoria Riverfront Museum.
3/12. Speakeasy Saturdays: Brewing Beer in the River City, Talk & Taste, featuring Todd Hayes of Peoria Brewing Co. and home brewer Brian Buss, takes place at the Peoria Riverfront Museum from 2 to 5pm.
3/19. The Pekin Public Library will host Taste of China, an interactive program on Chinese culture presented by Professor Feng of the University of Illinois, at 2pm.
4/2. Speakeasy Saturdays: The Rise of Craft Beer, featuring Stan Hieronymus, Steve King and Matt Rixner, takes place at the Peoria Riverfront Museum from 2 to 4pm.
4/14. The Fine Arts Society of Peoria presents At the Intersection of Civic Pride and Private Passion: Building an American Art Museum by Tim Schiffer, executive director of the Figge Art Museum, at 10am at the Peoria Riverfront Museum.
4/17. The Peoria Riverfront Museum presents Voting and Vodka: The Relationship Between Prohibition and Women’s Suffrage by Andrew Civettini of Knox College at 2pm.
MUSIC
Thru 4/29. Live at the Five Spot takes place on Fridays at the Contemporary Art Center from 5:30 to 7:30pm.
Thru 4/30. Rhythm Kitchen Music Cafe features live music on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 to 11pm.
3/3 – 3/6. The 11th annual Shorty’s Strickly Bluegrass Festival features a variety of bluegrass and gospel acts at Stoney Creek Inn in East Peoria.
3/4. Guest artists John Thorne, flute, and Kay Kim, piano, perform at the Dingeldine Music Center at Bradley University at 7:30pm.
3/4. Get the Led Out, “The American Led Zeppelin,” will perform in the Peoria Civic Center Theater at 8pm.
3/6. The Bradley Symphony Orchestra Concerto Aria Winners Concert takes place at 3pm in the Dingeldine Music Center at Bradley University.
3/8. The Bradley Symphonic Band performs at 7:30pm in the Dingeldine Music Center at Bradley University.
3/11. Diplomatic Relations presents Dirty Rotten Revenge, Terribly Happy and Jared Grabb Among Thieves at Rail II at 7pm.
3/12. Diplomatic Relations presents Drained, Cold Grip, Atrocities, The Death In Me and Coutoux at Rail II at 7pm.
3/12. The Irish music sensation Celtic Woman performs in the Peoria Civic Center Theater at 7:30pm.
3/12. The Peoria Symphony Orchestra presents Mozart Madness – Cosi fan tutte at Grace Presbyterian Church at 8pm.
3/13. Peoria’s Goodnight Gracie will perform at 2pm at the Peoria Public Library North Branch.
3/18, 3/19, 4/16. The Howlin’ on Water dueling piano show performs at 8pm at the Waterhouse, with pre-show dinner buffets at 6:30pm.
3/19. The King of Diamonds, a tribute to Neil Diamond and Elvis Presley, takes place in the ICC Performing Arts Center at 7:30pm.
3/19. Heartland Festival Orchestra presents Suite Journey – from Bach to Jazz with the Seigfried Trio at 7:30pm at Five Points Washington.
3/20. Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage brings five decades of Star Trek to the Peoria Civic Center Theater at 7:30pm.
3/20. For King and Country and Matthew West headline Christian music’s biggest annual tour, the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular, at the Peoria Civic Center.
3/20. The Central Illinois Jazz Society presents the CIJS House Band at 6pm, followed by the Heartland Jazz Orchestra at 7:15pm, at Landmark Recreation Center.
3/21. The Bretts bring their family variety show to the Bertha Frank Performing Arts Center at 7pm, part of the Morton Fine Arts Association Concert Series.
3/24. Pop superstar Barry Manilow brings his One Last Time! tour to the Peoria Civic Center Arena at 7:30pm.
3/25. Diplomatic Relations presents Take Care, Unamused Dave and Endless Compromise at Rail II at 7pm.
3/31. The Bradley Honor Choir will perform at 7:30pm in Bradley University’s Dingeldine Music Center.
4/1. Diplomatic Relations presents The Receiver, Shannon Moore Shepherd and Moody Womb at Peoria Pizza Works at 8pm.
4/3. Diplomatic Relations presents Super 88, Wood Chickens and Up & At ‘Em at Peoria Pizza Works at 7pm.
4/3. The Bradley Chorale Spring Concert takes place at 3pm in Bradley University’s Dingeldine Music Center.
4/4. Peoria Lunaire performs in Bradley University’s Dingeldine Music Center at 7:30pm.
4/7. The Limelight EventPlex presents Between the Buried and Me with August Burns Red, The Faceless and Good Tiger at 6:30pm.
4/8. Bradley University will host an Opera Workshop at 7:30pm in the Dingeldine Music Center.
4/8. The Limelight EventPlex will host Blues for a Cause 2016 with Selwyn Birchwood and Toronzo Cannon at 7pm.
4/9. A Trumpet Day Concert will be held at Dingeldine Music Center at Bradley University at 7:30pm.
4/10. The Central Illinois Youth Symphony presents the CIYS Small Ensembles Concert at the Life Together Center at 2pm.
4/12. The Bradley Percussion Ensemble will perform at 7:30pm in the Dingeldine Music Center.
4/14 – 4/15. Diplomatic Relations presents Mates Fest to benefit the Peoria Regional Chapter Autism Society of America at Peoria Pizza Works.
4/16. Diplomatic Relations presents Mates Fest to benefit the Peoria Regional Chapter Autism Society of America at Rail II.
4/16. The Peoria Symphony Orchestra presents American Classics, a jazz-inspired show featuring pianist Tenku Irfan, in the Peoria Civic Center Theater at 8pm.
4/17. The Central Illinois Jazz Society presents the Dunlap High School Jazz Ensemble at 6pm, followed by the Western Illinois University Jazz Studio Orchestra at 7:15pm, at Landmark Recreation Center.
4/17. The Bradley Community Chorus will perform at 3pm in the Dingeldine Music Center.
4/17. The Central Illinois Youth Symphony Concert Orchestra, Prep Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble concert takes place at 2pm, followed by the Youth Symphony Concert featuring Grace Yoon on violin at 4pm, at Metamora Township High School.
4/17. The Bradley Saxophone Quartet/Quintet will perform at 7:30pm in the Dingeldine Music Center.
4/21. Diplomatic Relations presents the Bare Bones Songwriter Series with Nick Lee and Kat Wudtke at Midnight Espresso at 7pm.
4/23. Heartland Festival Orchestra presents Country Legends featuring vocalists Rachel Potter and Patrick Thomas at Five Points Washington at 7:30pm.
4/24. Country/folk trio The Sweet Potatoes will perform at 2pm at the Peoria Public Library North Branch.
4/24. The Bradley Symphonic Winds and Symphonic Band perform at 3pm in the Dingeldine Music Center.
4/24. The Bradley Collegium Musicum performs in the Dingeldine Music Center at 7:30pm.
4/26. The Bradley Honor Band performs in the Dingeldine Music Center at 7:30pm.
4/28. The Bradley Chorale and Chamber Singers perform in the Dingeldine Music Center at 7:30pm.
4/29. The Bradley Jazz Ensembles perform in the Dingeldine Music Center at 7:30pm.
4/29. Country star Scotty McCreery performs at 6pm at the Peoria Civic Center with special guests RaeLynn and Aileeah Colgan for the 2016 American Red Cross Heartland Heroes Event.
4/30. The Bradley Symphony Orchestra performs in the Dingeldine Music Center at 7:30pm.
POETRY & STORYTELLING
3/3, 4/7. Whisper & Shout, an open mic for poetry, takes place at the Contemporary Art Center from 8 to 10pm.
3/24, 4/28. The Speakeasy Art Center in Pekin hosts the Speakeasy Poetry Open Mic at 7:30pm.
4/9. The 19th annual Liars’ Contest, sponsored by the Prairie Storytellers Guild, takes place at the Life Together Center at 7pm.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Thru 5/27. The Gerald M. Brookhart Arts in Education Spring Celebration features student performances, exhibits and demonstrations at the Peoria Courthouse Plaza weekdays from 11am to 1:30pm.
3/18 – 3/19. Mackinaw Valley Vineyard will host “When Irish Spies are Dying,” a murder mystery dinner, at 6:30pm on Friday and 6:15pm on Saturday.
3/19, 3/26. The Spirit of Peoria will host a murder mystery dinner cruise from 6 to 9pm.
3/26, 4/9, 4/30. The Peoria Riverfront Museum will host the Roll Out the Barrel Bus Tour, a tour of Peoria’s whiskey days with Peoria Historical Society guide John Leyland, at 1:30pm.
4/8. The WTVP Auction Preview runs from 6 to 8pm at the WTVP Studio.
4/15. Mackinaw Valley Vineyard will host “Cheese Murder in Paradise,” a murder mystery dinner, at 6:30pm.
4/16. The Fondulac District Library presents Star Wars Day, a day of intergalactic fun for all ages.
4/17 – 4/18. The Sun Foundation will host the Clean Water Celebration, with opening ceremonies on 4/17 at 4pm at the Gateway Building, dinner and lecture at the GAR Hall at 5:30pm, and sessions on 4/18 at the Peoria Civic Center.
4/18. Illinois Central College presents Jim Maloof’s Legacy of Love for the Arts in Central Illinois, a fundraiser for St. Jude featuring the ICC Readers’ Theatre cast and other local performers, at the ICC Performing Arts Center in East Peoria at 6:30pm.
4/30. The Central Illinois Youth Symphony hosts a Mock Audition Day Workshop at 2pm at the Life Together Center.
THEATER
Thru 3/6. The ICC Theatre Program presents The Dead Guy on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:30pm.
3/1 – 3/2. Bullets Over Broadway, the new musical comedy by Woody Allen, comes to the Peoria Civic Center Theater.
3/3 – 3/6. Bradley University Theatre presents The Seagull by Anton Chekhov, directed by Susan Felder, in the Hartmann Center for the Performing Arts.
3/4 – 3/5, 3/10 – 3/13. Corn Stock Theatre presents Bug, directed by Trevor Neff, at 7:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, with a 2pm matinee on Sunday.
3/11 – 3/13, 3/17 – 3/20. The Peoria Players Theatre presents To Kill a Mockingbird, directed by Laura G. Garfinkel, at 7:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, with a 2pm matinee on Sundays.
3/30. Peppa Pig’s Big Splash brings the Nick Jr. TV series to life in the Peoria Civic Center Theater at 6pm.
4/1 – 4/3. The Conklin Players will perform Greater Tuna at Five Points Washington at 7pm on Friday and Saturday, with a 2pm matinee on Sunday. Five Points will host a pre-show dinner buffet on 4/1 and 4/2 at 5pm.
4/7 – 4/10. Corn Stock for Kids presents Charlotte’s Web at 7:30pm.
4/12 – 4/13. The Ameren Illinois Broadway Theater Series presents Annie at the Peoria Civic Center at 7:30pm.
4/22 – 4/23, 4/30, 5/1. Many Lights Theatre presents Waiting for Godot, directed by Susie Mathews, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Canton at 7pm, with a 2pm matinee on Sunday. a&s
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Art Garage—art-garage-studio.com, 231-2511
ArtsPartners of Central Illinois—artspartners.net, 676-2787
Arts in Education Spring Celebration—springcelebration.org
Atelier 5835—5835 N. Galena Road, Ste. 105, Peoria, 383-3341
Bradley University/Dingeldine Music Center—677-2595
Bradley University Galleries—art.bradley.edu/bug, 677-2989
Bradley University Theatre—slane.bradley.edu/theatre-arts, 677-2650
Central Illinois Jazz Society—cijs.org, 692-5330
Central Illinois Youth Symphony—ciys.org, 370-6424
CIAO/Central Illinois Artists Organization—ciaopeoria.com
Contemporary Art Center—peoriacac.org, 674-6822
Corn Stock Theatre—cornstocktheatre.com, 676-2196
Diplomatic Relations—facebook.com/diplomaticrelationsil
Ear in the Envelope—820 SW Adams, Peoria, 550-3518
Fine Arts Society of Peoria—fineartssociety.net, 693-7600
First Fridays—peoriafirstfriday.com, ciaopeoria.com
Five Points Washington—fivepointswashington.org, 444-8222
Fondulac District Library—fondulaclibrary.org, 699-3917
Foster Gallery for Christianity and the Fine Arts—fumcpeoria.org, 673-3641
GAR Hall—cilfpeoria.org, 672-1800
Goddess Boheme—goddessboheme.com, 363-9449
Heartland Festival Orchestra—heartlandfestivalorchestra.org, 339-3943
The Hive—thehive305.com, 360-4880
Howlin’ on Water—howlinonwater.com, 494-9100
Illinois Central College/Arts at ICC—artsaticc.com, 694-5136
Jay Goldberg Events & Entertainment—jaytv.com, 839-1220
Jefferson Street Studio & Gallery—rosehubbard.com, 696-9015
Jukebox Comedy Club—jukeboxcomedy.com, 673-5853
Limelight EventPlex—limelighteventplex.com, 693-1234
Luthy Botanical Garden—peoriaparks.org/luthy-botanical-garden, 686-3362
Mackinaw Valley Vineyard—mackinawvalleyvineyard.com, 359-9463
Many Lights Theatre—manylights.net, 338-3286
Morton Fine Arts Association—mortonfinearts.org, 266-5135
Pekin Public Library—pekinpubliclibrary.org, 347-7111
Peoria Ballet—peoriaballet.org, 690-7990
Peoria Civic Center—peoriaciviccenter.com, (800) 745-3000
Peoria Park District—peoriaparks.org, 681-2861
Peoria Players Theatre—peoriaplayers.org, 688-4473
Peoria Public Library—peoriapubliclibrary.org, 497-2141
Peoria Riverfront Museum—peoriariverfrontmuseum.org, 686-7000
Peoria Symphony Orchestra—peoriasymphony.org, 671-1096
Prairie Center of the Arts—prairiecenterofthearts.org, 657-6767
Prairie Storytellers Guild—prairietellers.us, 682-2915
Project 1612—project16twelve.wix.com/project1612, 798-0375
Rhythm Kitchen Music Café—rhythmkitchenmusiccafe.biz, 676-9668
Sculpture Walk Peoria—sculpturewalkpeoria.org
Shorty’s Strickly Bluegrass Festival—shortysbluegrass.weebly.com, 671-0175
Spalding Pastoral Center—cdopmuseums.org, 671-1550
Speakeasy Art Center—speakeasyartcenter.com, 267-2058
Spirit of Peoria—spiritofpeoria.com, 637-8000
Studio 825—studio-825.com, 453-8291
Sunbeam Building/Studios On Sheridan—sunbeambuilding.com, 573-8404
Sun Foundation—sunfoundation.org, 246-8403
Time Gallery—201 Clock Tower Drive, East Peoria, 467-2331
Toraason Glass—facebook.com/ToraasonGlass
Wheel Art Studios—bit.ly/wheelart, 306-1741
WTVP—wtvp.org, 677-4747
