Craig McFarland

A preview of Copper Coin Ballet Company's performance of Sleeping Beauty at the Legacy Theatre. Anna Liberman, Cambrie Easley, and Ronda Brinkman tell us more.

Jacob Dinardo speaks about his recent opening of Arrowroot Coffee Co. in downtown Springfield. His journey as a coffee roaster from the farmer's market to his first brick and mortar business.

Laura Mitchelle returns to to discuss the 2026 f the Illinois History Day contest. This program allows students, 11-18, to interact with history in various formats - April 27 and May 4, 2026.

Tyler Caraballo-Pisani and Jim Leach stop by to preview The Addams Family. The production will take place at the Hoogland Center for Arts, February 6-8 and 13-15. Tickets are available at HCFTA.org.

This week on Beyond the Mouse, Brett, Craig, and Vanessa dive into the major leadership news coming out of The Walt Disney Company. Disney has officially named Josh D’Amaro as its next CEO, succeeding longtime leader Bob Iger in March — a monumental shift for the company and its fans alike. Alongside D’Amaro’s promotion, Dana Walden steps into the newly created role of President and Chief Creative Officer, bringing her storytelling expertise to the forefront of Disney’s creative strategy. The crew breaks down what this leadership change means for Disney’s parks, content, and future direction, shares their well-wishes for D’Amaro as he takes the reins, and reflects on the legacy Bob Iger leaves behind after decades of shaping the Disney we know today. It’s an episode full of insight, perspective, and what this turning point could mean for the House of Mouse moving forward.

This week on Beyond the Mouse, Craig is joined by Greg from the wildly popular YouTube channel How to Drink for a spirited conversation that blends cocktails, creativity, and Disney fandom. Greg shares the story behind his channel and his journey into the world of mixology, then reveals how his love for Disney first took root. From there, the episode takes a deep dive into tiki culture—its history, its influences, and how it all comes together at Trader Sam’s. The episode wraps up with a tasty discussion of some standout drinks you can find at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. Grab a mug and settle in—this one’s got layers.

Vondra Social House is one of the newest businesses to open its doors in downtown Springfield. Owners Sierra and Eric Ferrell stop by to discuss their new restaurant.

This week on Peanut Butter & Biscuits, Craig and Jeremy dive headfirst into Shrinking Season 3, Episode 1: “My Bad.”It’s a full spoiler breakdown of the season premiere — from character arcs and emotional beats to the moments that made us laugh, cringe, and immediately want the next episode.Spoiler warning! Make sure you’ve watched the Season 3 premiere before hitting play.*Explicit Content*

Hoogland Ed Achievers (H.S.) presents The Phantom of the Opera.Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score includes Think of Me, Angel of Music, Music of the Night, All I Ask of You, Masquerade, and the title song.

This week on Beyond the Mouse podcast, Craig and Vanessa are joined by Tim O'Day, whose enthusiasm and knowledge of Disney history fills any Disney parks fan with complete joy. They talk about his favorite memories working in public relations, D23 conventions, and he shares a teaser of what to expect at the Festival of the Arts 2026!