Beatrice Bonner

The Legacy Theatre’s production of Grease runs June 27–29, July 9–13, July 16–20, and July 23–27. The musical, with music, lyrics, and book by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, follows the summer romance of Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski as they unexpectedly reunite at Rydell High. Alongside their friends, they navigate teenage love, peer pressure, and identity in 1950s America. The story takes place at the fictional Rydell High School in northwest Chicago. Director Scott Richardson and Colum Goebelbecker, who portrays Kenickie, spoke with Community Voices about the show’s iconic characters, timeless music, and how the production addresses some of the criticism the musical has faced in modern times. Find tickets and details here.

Betsy Dollar, Executive Director of the Springfield Art Association, and local artist Jeff Williams spoke to Community Voices to about a new mural project at Jaycee Park, funded through a Healing Illinois grant.

Melody Hulett, a former warden with the Illinois Department of Corrections, is now the co-founder and CEO of Pure Haven Family Resource Center, alongside her husband, Porter Hulett. Together, they provide Christian counseling, extensive programming, and workshops for at-risk individuals.

The Springfield Muni’s production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame runs June 20–22 and June 25–28. The musical features music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. It is adapted from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 1996 film, which was itself based on Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel. The story follows Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer of Notre Dame, as he struggles for acceptance and love while protecting the kind-hearted Romani woman Esmeralda from the cruelty of Judge Claude Frollo. Director Kevin Kulavic and Liyah Orielle, who plays Esmeralda, spoke to Community Voices about why the show was chosen, its characters, and the relatable themes it explores. Find tickets and details here.

Curtis Sanders is a children’s book author and the new Financial Literacy Program Coordinator at the UIS Career Center. He spoke with Community Voices about his passion for teaching financial literacy and how he’s helping students at UIS navigate budgeting, debt, and saving. Curtis also writes children’s books based on his family. His latest, Spring City Stories: Oliver’s Emotional Odyssey, helps kids understand and express their feelings through colorful illustrations and storytelling.

Mark Reinhart is an author, musician, and film historian from Columbus, Ohio. He spoke with Community Voices about his lifelong interest in Abraham Lincoln and how Lincoln has been portrayed in over 250 film and television productions.

Nate Widelitz is a singer, conductor, and educator. He is also the Founding Director of the Five Cities Baroque Foundation & Festival. He spoke with Community Voices about his music career, passion for teaching, and shares the story behind the foundation, which brings access to high-quality Baroque music to Central Illinois. Nate also previews what audiences can expect from the upcoming concerts, including featured pieces and performances. Learn more about the festival, including dates and locations here.

Mark Sorensen has lived in Decatur, Illinois, since 1969 and has spent his career preserving history and promoting the arts. He continues this work today as the Macon County Historian. He also serves as president of the Symphony Orchestra Guild of Decatur, which supports music education through scholarships, youth orchestras, and an instrument lending library. Sorensen spoke to Community Voices about his work in archives, local history, and the mission of the Symphony Orchestra Guild of Decatur. Learn more about the Guild here.

Reisch Brewing Co. was a brewery established in Springfield, Illinois, by Franz Sales Reisch in 1849 after immigrating from Germany. The business closed permanently in 1966. In 2018, a group of breweriana collectors and beer can enthusiasts founded Reisch Charities. In 2019, the group revived the Reisch Gold Top Beer brand using the original recipe brewed by George Reisch. Today, all proceeds from beer sales go to Springfield charities. Roy Mayfield and Vince Salvo, board members of Reisch Charities, spoke to Community Voices about the history and legacy of the Reisch family, the process of bringing the brand back, and the importance of preserving local history. Find out more about Reisch Charities here.

During the April 2025 Lunch and Learn Series, Dr. Janet L. Gooch, Chancellor of the University of Illinois Springfield, delivered a presentation on speech-language pathology. Her talk covered the components of language, cleft lip and palate, and phonological language disorders.