Illinois Theatre premieres a modern take on ‘Peter Pan’
URBANA — The University of Illinois’s Krannert Center for the Performing Arts is showing “The Neverland” through Saturday. It’s an adaptation of the original “Peter Pan” play that’s more inclusive to minority groups. Although there are some changes from the original version of “Peter Pan,” “The Neverland” includes some of the original characters, such as […]
Illinois Public Media staff read proclamation of WILL-AM’s 100 years on-air
On April 6, 1922, four members of the University of Illinois’s electrical engineering laboratory put WILL-AM on the air. What would follow is a century of service to bring news, music, sports, education, and entertainment to Illinois via AM radio, then FM radio, then television, and later the internet. On April 6, 2022, the staff […]
WILL At 100: From its first broadcast on April 6 1922, WILL evolves from high-tech novelty to pioneer broadcaster.
URBANA – One hundred years ago, on the evening of Thursday, April 6, 1922, the University of Illinois’ radio station went on the air for its first broadcast at 833 kilohertz (the station moved to 1100 kHz in 1924). WRM, the service that would become WILL Radio, was cutting-edge technology in 1922. Americans were still […]
Lyric Theatre Brings ‘Marriage of Figaro’ to the Krannert Center stage
URBANA — Lyric Theatre @ Illinois brings Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” to the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana for three shows, starting Tuesday at 7:30pm. Lyric Theatre co-director Nathan Gunn is the stage director for this production, with Andrew Megill as conductor. Illinois Newsroom’s Brian Moline spoke with three actors performing […]
Assyrian Caucus looks to address challenges facing the community
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers have formed the Illinois Assyrian Caucus in an effort to help them understand and learn about challenges facing the Assyrian community and how to address them. Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, announced the formation of the caucus at a news conference in early March. The caucus has 18 founding members from the Senate and […]
List of 2022 Oscar winners
LOS ANGELES — After a movie year often light on crowds, the Academy Awards named an unabashed crowd-pleaser, the deaf family drama “CODA,” best picture Sunday, handing Hollywood’s top award to a streaming service for the first time. Sian Heder’s “CODA,” which first premiered at a virtual Sundance Film Festival in winter 2021, started out […]
For the first time in its history, architecture’s top award goes to a Black architect
Diébédo Francis Kéré appears on a Zoom screen in a loose white Oxford shirt and an enormous, slightly flabbergasted smile. “Can you imagine?” the newest Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate exclaims. “I was born in Burkina Faso, in this little village where there was no school. And my father wanted me to learn how to read […]
Demi Lovato completes Illinois State Fair Grandstand lineup
SPRINGFIELD — Grammy Award-nominated singer Demi Lovato is the latest act to join this summer’s Illinois State Fair Grandstand lineup. Lovato, who is also an actor, best-selling author and LGBTQ activist, takes the stage Aug. 13 with hits including “Sorry Not Sorry,” “Sober,” “Skyscraper” and “OK Not to be OK.” Grandstand tickets went on sale […]
WILL At 100: Remembering Focus 580, WILL-AM’s long-running local call-in show
URBANA – WILL turns 100 years old in 2022. And throughout the year, we are presenting stories about the history of this station. This story looks back on a locally produced talk show that was a mainstay of the AM 580 schedule for more than thirty years. At a time when national daytime programming was […]
Annual film festival attempts to lighten stigma of insects
URBANA – The 39th Insect Fear Film Festival at the University of Illinois continues to try to change people’s perspectives on insects. The online festival will include insect films, a virtual petting zoo, and much more. One graduate student has volunteered to be stung live while explaining his reaction in real-time. Entomology Graduate Student Association […]
Illinois Theatre adapts ‘The Whistleblower’ to fit COVID protocols and modern life
URBANA — Illinois Theatre’s production of “The Whistleblower” opens Friday night at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana. It’s an adaptation of the Henrik Ibsen play “Enemy of the People,” originally written in the 1880s. Illinois Newsroom’s Brian Moline spoke with the show’s director, Genesee Spridco. Listen to this interview here. She says […]
WILL At 100: Langston Hughes poetry reading, recorded by WILL Radio
URBANA – WILL-AM Radio turns 100-years-old in April 2022. Throughout the year, we’re bringing you stories about the history of this station. Much of that history can be found in the recordings it made and archived over the years. One recording dates back to March, 1957, when Langston Hughes (1901-1967), one of the 20th century’s […]
An upcoming Illinois museum exhibit will create nostalgia for a particular group of people
SPRINGFIELD — One generation is dubbed the last of the analog age. An Illinois museum is highlighting this group with its first generational type show. “Growing up Generation X” is coming to Illinois State Museum this fall. Erika Holst is the curator of history at the museum. She said Generations Xers are overshadowed by Baby […]
WILL At 100: Looking Back On A Century Of Broadcasting
URBANA – 2022 marks the 100-year anniversary of WILL-AM, the oldest component of Illinois Public Media. The University of Illinois launched the station at a time when the idea of using radio to reach a mass audience was new and cutting edge. There was no FM radio or TV, no internet or social media. The […]
Parts of Cakokia Mounds to close for $5M improvement project
COLLINSVILLE — Portions of the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in southern Illinois will close March 1 as work begins on a $5 million improvement project. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says the work is expected to take about one year. It will include replacing the roof, lighting and fire suppression and security systems […]