Pantagraph.com Weather forecast, local radar and more
Monday, January 8, 2007 11:14 AM CST
Comments Comments (1) | E-mail this page E-mail this page | Print this page Print this page | Enlarge type Enlarge type | Reduce type Reduce type | Search archives Search archives | RSS RSS feeds | Add to My Yahoo! Add to My Yahoo!
A year for new sights
GO! doles out its annual array of entertainment and arts awards to a roster of deserving recipients
By Dan Craft
dcraft@pantagraph.com
Advertisement

Another year, another 365 days of arts and entertainment events wending their way through Pantagraphland.

In 2006, they wended their way in greater numbers than ever, thanks largely to the unveilings of two major performance venues, both situated in downtown Bloomington

First to arrive was the U.S. Cellular Coliseum, whose concert history officially began April 13 with the well-attended John Mellencamp show.

Five months later, on Sept. 16, the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts revealed itself via a grand opening gala, with Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra on the stage.

There's been no turning back since.

And who'd want to, right?

To help you recall both the bright lights and the dim bulbs of '06, we've assembled the following roster of awards, all of them with direct links to happenings on the Central Illinois arts and entertainment scene over the past 12 months.

The envelopes, please.

The Big Red Patriot Act Live! Award

To the national touring company of "Clifford the Big Red Dog Live!," who let us interview the show's only human star to promote its January appearance at Illinois State University. One stipulation, though: We were told we couldn't publish her real name or her actual age for reasons, we presume, of national security. Instead, the actress was instructed to identity herself only in character, as "Emily Elizabeth Howard." After a little polite, but firm, arm-twisting, we wrangled a real first name out of her. It's Christina. There. We said it. (Pardon us while we lam it to the border.)

The Now THIS Is Interactive Theater Award

To the national touring company of "Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding," which exchanged vows during a stopover at ISU in January. As part of its interactive mission, the play allowed the audience to become a part of the ceremony and, best of all, the ensuing wild wedding party, whose participants included the stripper brought by the groom's husband. Va-va-va-voom, baby.

The Cleanliness Is Next to Giddiest Award

To veteran blues great Delbert McClinton, who prefaced his February gig at Bloomington's New Lafayette Club by recalling the events leading up to his Grammy Award win just 48 hours earlier: "I was standing in the shower when my wife came in and said, 'Guess what? You've been nominated for two Grammys.' And I said, 'For what?' She told me and I just laughed out loud."

The Velveeta (or Do You Prefer Cheez Whiz?) Award

To Melinda Stolp, one of the stars of "MTV Real World Austin," who turned up at Bloomington's The Loft in February with fellow star and main squeeze Danny Jamieson. Describing their romance, which blossomed on the show, Melinda waxed lyrical: "It may sound cheesy, but the best thing to come out of the experience was my future partner and soul mate." Even though, she added, "I went into the show still dating a boyfriend I'd had for three years." (Provolone, anyone?)

The Twisted Cirque Sister Award

To Krin Maren Haglund, one of the stars of Canada's tres-hip Cirque Eloize, which took over Urbana's Krannert Center in March. Haglund's favorite moment in the entire performance? "The really fun moment when I stuff a contortionist into a suitcase. Now that one really shocks the audience."

The We Love the Smell of Napalm (or Whatever) in the Morning Award

To country singer Chris Cagle, who advanced his March show at Bloomington's Last Lap by mixing and matching his favorite music to his favorite occasions: "When I clean house, it's classic rock ... when I cook, it's jazzy Rat Pack stuff like Dean Martin ... in the barn, it's Hank Snow. It really sets the mood, you know, the smell of horse manure ..."

The Saints and/or Sinners -- You Decide -- Award

To veteran blues singer Bobby Rush, the devoutly born-again Christian who played Bloomington's New Lafayette Club in March. Devout or no, he assured us he'd be brandishing his signature five-feet-wide pair of pink panties while asking the audience "Has anyone seen my woman?" He also promised us "a couple of ladies shakin' their butts up there."

Say amen, somebody?

The Gillette Twin Blade Poster Boy, er, Girl Award

To Lincoln native J.P. Dougherty, who switched genders nightly to play Baltimore hausfrau Edna Turnblad in the national tour of the musical "Hairspray." Prior to its week-long April stand in Peoria, J.P. advised us of some of the rigors, and razors, needed to make the cosmetic move from guy to gal: "I have to shave my arms and my chest and my back every night because even though I'm bald, I'm hirsute."

The Go Ahead, Stick It In Your Ear Award

To George Eisenhart, producer and emcee for Bloomington-Normal's first-ever monster truck show, the Monster Truck Nationals, which crashed into the U.S. Cellular Coliseum in May. Because of the ramped-up noise pollution that accompanies any indoor monster truck attack, Eisenhart advised attendees to visit the vendor out front, hawking audio reduction devices for $1 a pop. Huh? "Ear plugs -- the squishy kind you put in your ear." Huh?

The Great Expectorations Award

To alt-country singer Jack Ingram, who opened for Sheryl Crow's June concert at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Assessing the state of country music, he opined, "Man, as far as I'm concerned, I'm never going to make a song that sounds like (Kenny Chesney's) 'She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy.' If I did, I'd spit on it."

The Sub-Zero Winter of Our Discontent Award

To blues legend Johnny Winter, who headlined this summer's Nothin' But the Blues Festival at the Bloomington Sale Barn. Prior to attempting to set up an interview with the reclusive star, his fellow band member and front-runner Paul Nelson issued this caveat: "If you try to interview him, let me just say this: It'll be the hardest work you've ever done. He's an interviewer's worst nightmare. But you're welcome to try." (We did, it was.)

The Sub-Zero Winter of Their Discontent Award

To Robbie Takac, co-founder of veteran rockers the Goo Goo Dolls, who headed up an Illinois State Fair Grandstand show in August. Recalling unusual concert venues the band had played over the years, Takac recalled, "We were put on an iceberg once ... and there was one in a hockey rink."

The It's a Barbie/Pirandello World Award

To McLean County native Michael Cooper, senior producer of the national touring show, "Barbie Live in Fairytopia," which played the Peoria Civic Center in July. Despite outward appearances of being just another show geared toward tween girls, Cooper described it as "Pirandellian," referencing the famed Italian playwright Luigi Pirandello, whose work operated on multiple levels of reality and illusion. Leading lady Erin Elizabeth Coors, who played Barbie in the show, put it more succinctly: "Parents won't feel like going and banging their heads against the wall."

The You'll Never Eat Lunch in Nashville Again Award

To comedian Kathleen Madigan, headliner for the "Friends of the Bob & Tom Comedy Show Tour" that played the Peoria Civic Center in August. Recalling her work as a contributor to a cable countdown show called "The 50 Worst Country Music Videos of All Time," she opined, "Aren't all country music videos the worst?"

The Space is the Final Frontier Award

It's a tie.

First, to happily married rockers Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, who hit the U.S. Cellular Coliseum with their best shot in August. Describing their working relationship in a GO! interview, Benatar put it this way: "I can't really specifically define who does what. He's supposed to be out there in the universe and I'm on the ground making those human beings understand what he's talking about."

Second, to Oscar/Tony/Grammy-winning entertainer Joel Grey, who appeared in an October concert at ISU with fellow veteran award-winner Marvin Hamlisch. Discussing his thespian persona, he said, "You know, I'm the master of characters from another world. I have a lot of other-worldliness in me."

The You Said It, We Didn't, Award

To "American Idol" runner-up Bo Bice, who played a September gig at Bloomington's Last Lap. Reminiscing about his reaching the finals part of the competition, Bice recalled, "I said to mom, this is like a bad joke that's gotten way out of hand."

The Burning, Nay, Blazing Bridges Award

To comedian-actress Kathy Griffin, who told GO! in an interview prior to her November performance at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, "The more I've been around famous people, the more the masks have come off. And the more I've gotten to see just how full of (expletive deleted) they are."

The It's Gooood to Be Jim Award

To easy-listening pianist Jim Brickman, who performed a Christmas show in December at ISU. During a GO! interview, he recalled the time a pregnant woman he'd never met approached him with the news, "I just wanted to introduce you to my child," followed by the pronouncement, "Because you were there at the conception." (The reference was to Brickman's music, but still ... what a smoothie!)



...and a year for new sounds



By Dan Craft | dcraft@pantagraph.com

And, now, a sampling of some of the memorable, and sometimes curious, things entertainers said during their interviews with GO! during the past year:

It IS the size that counts, but is that necessarily practical?: "When I got Clifford, he was the smallest one of the litter and every night I'd go to bed and wake up the next day, and he'd grown bigger and bigger. Now he's 14 feet tall and as big as a house." -- Emily Elizabeth Howard, heroine of "Clifford the Big Red Dog Live," which wagged its tail at ISU in January.

Tennis, anyone? Boomerang, maybe?: "I'm real big on saying things the way they are. But I'm also comfortable getting it right back." --Mike Kroeger, of rock super-group Nickelback, 'fessing up in a GO! interview prior to Peoria Civic Center show in February.

Sons and mothers (and sisters): "I use a lot of mom because she does have a distinct kind of voice. And my sister sometimes shows up, too." -- Lincoln native J.P. Dougherty, describing the role models for his performance as a Baltimore housewife in the national tour of "Hairspray."

Equal time: "Oh, don't be ridiculous, J.P. I don't sound like that!" -- J.P.'s mom (see above).Let us give thanks: "I was thrilled to be done in by a lesbian!" -- Comedian Kathy Griffin, who performed at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts in November, on her first death scene in her first movie role (1991's "The Unborn").

Bor-ing: "To me, it's just not interesting being a celebrity." -- Country megastar Martina McBride, prior to her May concert at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington.

Of the people, for the people, by the people: "I don't like government. I have a basic anarchist philosophy that says you should vote for yourself and become your government." -- Veteran folksinger/hobo/anarchist Charlie King, prior to his April concert at the McLean County Museum of History."

But didn't Will really drive a Hyundai?: "There's an old saying that when you get to the fifth act of Shakespeare, it's like trying to put a very large Buick in a small garage." -- Grant Goodman, star of last summer's Illinois Shakespeare Festival production of "The Comedy of Errors," which came complete with a big Buick/little garage fifth act.

Cuckoo for Koko stuff: "Seventy? Seventy? I don't know where you got that information, cause I'm 77! And I feel just like a mockingbird!" -- Chicago blues queen Koko Taylor, headliner act for this year's Nothin' But the Blues Festival in July, dispelling rumors of her reduced age.

And you thought it was just a place to get plastered: "We were a center for human services, too." -- Mike Svob, former bartender and manager at downtown Bloomington's fabled Red Lion Inn, which, today houses the Center for Human Services.

Love is definitely a battlefield: "He's nuts. And I'm a very intense person with maniacal tendencies." -- Rocker Pat Benatar, profiling both herself and hubby Neil Giraldo, prior to their U.S. Cellular Coliseum concert.

Take a look
Country star Martina McBride
The Goo Goo Dolls
Kathy Griffin
Video stories
Most commented stories
Community calendar
Browse online archives
Recent issues:
Reader comments on this story - 1 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Musical Moment wrote on Jan 8, 2007 8:00 PM:

" One of the musical highlights of 2006 in B-N: hearing Yang Ying of the Beijing National Orchestra play a traditional 2-stringed bowed instrument (the ER-HU) alongside Aaron Neville singing "Ain't No Sunshine." It was culture across the board, and lovely to hear. "
Add your own comments

Please read the rules before posting comments.

You must be logged in to leave comments.
If you don't have a member ID, please register.

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Lee Enterprises Customer Service | 301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907, Bloomington, IL 61701-2907 | Ph. 309-829-9000 | 800-747-7323
Copyright © 2008, Pantagraph Publishing Co. and Lee Enterprises. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy