Here are 3 things to do for the weekend of September 9 and 10, 2023, curated by WGLT's Lauren Warnecke. You can find more coverage on our Datebook - Arts & Music page or by subscribing to WGLT's Weekend Scoop email newsletter, which goes out every Friday.
Sunny Days: Stars from Sesame Street descend on Bloomington-Normal, with several chances throughout the weekend to hob-nob with Leslie Carrara-Rudolph (better known to some as Abby Cadabby) and Paul Rudolph, a B-N native whose vocal direction on Sesame Street won him three Emmy Awards. The main event is Friday with Carrara-Rudolph’s one-woman-plus-puppets grown-up cabaret, “What Just Happened?” at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. Through Sunday at various locations. Ticket prices vary (some events are free); details and registration at illinoisartstation.org.
Simon and ‘Simonesque’: Two local theatre companies continue joint forays in comedy. Bess Wohl’s “Grand Horizons,” on view at Heartland Theatre Company, has been called “Simonesque,” after playwright Neil Simon. You needn’t go far to find out for yourself if it’s an apt comparison: Simon’s 1988 farce “Rumors” has its final weekend at Community Players. “Grand Horizons” through Sept. 16 at Heartland Theatre; tickets $17 at heartlandtheatre.org. “Rumors” through Sept. 10; tickets $17 at communityplayers.org.
Further Jazz Fest redux: This year’s collection of top-shelf jazz and blues artists, many with ties to central Illinois, include an unconventional (and magical) pairing of baritone saxophonist Glenn Wilson and guitarist Rory Stuart and Latin jazz phenom Carlos Vega. For the dessert, flutist Oliver Nelson, Jr. leads an 8-piece band in music from his father’s venerable 1961 bebop album, “Blues and the Abstract Album.” 4-9 p.m. Saturday at Connie Link Amphitheatre; free. furtherjazz.org.
