Craig McFarland

The Muni has announced their season for this upcoming summer. The season will open with Mamma Mia, followed by All Shook Up, The Prince of Egypt and Disney's Frozen. In a first for the Muni, the season will also include a junior show aimed at allowing more children to shine on the stage. The Lion King Jr. will officially close the Muni season as a fifth show in mid-August.

The Muni has announced their season for this upcoming summer. The season will open with Mamma Mia, followed by All Shook Up, The Prince of Egypt and Disney's Frozen. In a first for the Muni, the season will also include a junior show aimed at allowing more children to shine on the stage. The Lion King Jr. will officially close the Muni season as a fifth show in mid-August.

Local author Luke McQuillan sits down with Community Voices to discuss his recent novel, "Love in the Light." This is Luke's first published novel. In addition to writing the book, Luke has also created an entire musical for the reader to enjoy as they move through each chapter.

Professor Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson, director, along with cast and stage crew join Craig McFarland to preview this theatre performance of the tragic Matthew Shepard incident at the University of Wyoming.

Kim Villanueva joins Community Voices to discuss her long history of feminist activism with the National Organization for Women. She also speaks about the ways that her experiences in Springfield helped prepare her to lead a national organization. Kim also discusses why it matters and how you should get involved in causes and organizations you believe in.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Ryan Held announced his retirement from professional swimming in August. The Springfield native earned both of his gold medals as part of the U.S. Men's 4×100 Freestyle Relay teams in 2016 and 2024.Held joins Community Voices to reflect on his swimming career, share his ongoing ties to his hometown of Springfield, and talk about the importance of supporting young athletes. He also discusses his career transition to a role at Goldman Sachs, and how swimming will continue to play a role in his life beyond competition.

Nathan Peak, chef at The Foundry Kitchen inside of Anvil and Forge Brewing and Distilling, talks to Community Voices about his passion for making memorable food. He discusses what brought about his passion for cooking, and how his creativity has evolved over his years in the kitchen. Nathan also speaks about what is next on his culinary journey.

Shawn McKinney, owner of Terror on the Square in Petersburg, returns to Community Voices to discuss his inspiration behind the frightful attraction. Craig and Shawn discuss the types of thrills and scares Shawn most likes to draw as inspiration. They also discuss what guests can expect when they venture out to Petersburg Friday and Saturday nights throughout October.

Springfield native and jazz artist will perform at the Hoogland Center for the Arts on December 22. This will be her first concert in Springfield since her rise through the jazz world. Craig had a chance to catch up with Stella to ask about her new album "It's Magic." They also discuss what it means for her to return to her hometown and perform on the Hoogland stage, as well as some her favorite international touring spots.It's Magic is available now through Decca Records.

Craig had the incredible opportunity to sit down with director/podcaster Kevin Smith while he was in Chicago last week. Long time listeners to The Front Row Network know Kevin's impact on inspiring the creation of the network 10 years ago. The two chat about Kevin's impact on his fans, and his perspective on his career and future.*This Episode Contains Explicit Content