Datebook

"The Two Gentlemen of Verona" is taking the stage at Illinois Shakespeare Festival, bringing a dog along to help tell the timeless story of betrayal, friendship and forgiveness.

At first, concerns rolled in from all sides of the political spectrum about the politics of patriotism. The collection of pieces by local artists respond to a series of questions about revolutionary moments, how migration and settlement impact the natural world and what it means to be an American.

Pontiac's Diaz Sign Art created a custom mural for Sprague's Super Service commemorating significant landmarks in the Town of Normal: the Normal Theater and Steak and Shake. It will be officially unveiled Friday, ahead of a 1950s-themed celebration as part of the Cruisin' through the Century Route 66 Centennial.

Wheelz brings skating back to the area for the first time in three years, with an inaugural all-day event Sunday in Bloomington. After Skate N Place closed in 2023, the closest permanent rink is nearly an hour away.

“The fans stay excited, we stay excited and we keep making records," Phil Lewis from L.A. Guns told WGLT. They play alongside Cinderella's Tom Keifer on May 28 at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

Ellie Wertz of Honey DEW Acres suggested her 5-acre farm just outside Bloomington-Normal as a spot for Nomad Theatre Company's roaming productions. Co-founder Connie Blick describes it as "kismet."

Bloomington-Normal native Jennifer Rusk is known around town for her dazzling vocals. As the century-old Community Players Theatre performs the Twin Cities' first-ever "Dreamgirls," she's giving others the spotlight.

An experimental music ensemble made up of high schoolers from Normal has dropped a new LP and is preparing for a concert at the McLean County Museum of History.

As Route 66 turns 100, a new book is expanding the story of the Mother Road by focusing on people often left out of its history. The author will visit Bloomington-Normal on May 2.

The orchestra's dual presence in Bloomington-Normal and Springfield, plus the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road in 2026, present a perfect opportunity to debut Michelle Isaac's 'Reverie on the Mother Road.'