Taylor Hicks ~~ Soul in the Heartland!

In 1998, “Grease” played the Sangamon Auditorium in Springfield, Illinois.

The Sangamon welcomes a former Teen Angel this week as Taylor Hicks wields a different harp and plays the spectacular venue on the campus of the University of Illinois at Springfield, Tuesday, August 10, at 8:00 p.m.

The 2000-seat theatre, named after the Sangamon River which winds through Central Illinois for 250 miles, is home to a rich show business history since opening in the early Eighties.

“Sangamon Auditorium opened its doors on February 21, 1981, and has since presented more than 2000 events. The Auditorium’s inaugural event was Hal Holbrook performing his one-man show, “Mark Twain Tonight”! As recently as the 2002-2003 Season, Holbrook’s performance of this historical piece continues to pack the Auditorium to capacity.”

In its almost 30-year history, the Sangamon has presented a plethora of entertainment from Broadway productions to pop sensations. Buddy Guy appears there October 10, 2010.

In a telephone interview from his tour bus last week, Taylor talked about his success with Brian Mackey of the State Journal-Register in Springfield:

“I never take it for granted, because I know what it’s like to struggle,” Hicks said. “You have to stay out there and work it.”

Taylor is staying out there on a 20-city national tour, bringing his high-energy live concert to the Land of Lincoln before heading north again for a show at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis Wednesday night and at The Annex in Madison, WI on Thursday night.

A few miles from Springfield in Peoria, I stood in line with my best friend, Janice, to see Elvis Presley in his first movie, “Love Me Tender,” at the Rialto Theatre. I saw my first live drama, “The Sea Gull,” at a summer theatre production in a local park. My first musical show was Mario Lanza in the movie, “The Student Prince.”

I’m a long way from the Sangamon now, but a little piece of my heart is there as someone dear to my heart plays the Sangamon Auditorium tomorrow night.

There’s a saying: “Will it play in Peoria?”

Springfield is only a few miles away. “Will it play in Springfield?”

I’ve been there, and, yes, Taylor Hicks and the boys from Alabama “WILL PLAY” in Springfield!!!

Rock the Heartland!


http://www.uis.edu/sangamonauditorium/index.htm

~~

Taylor Hicks National Tour ~ 2010

Catch it while you can!

August 11~Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis, MN, 7:00 p.m.
http://sa1.seatadvisor.com/sabo/servlets/TicketRequest;jsessionid=59317AAC37B38F17484A60BB66CE233D?eventId=302125&presenter=DAKOTA&venue=&event=

August 12~The Annex, Madison, WI 8:00 p.m.
http://www.intheannex.com/shows/

August 14~Knuckleheads Saloon, Kansas City, MO , 8:00 p.m.
https://www.etix.com/ticket/servlet/onlineSale?action=selectPerformance&displayType=list&cobrand=knuckleheadskc&performance_id=1288100

August 19~Mesa Theatre, Grand Junction, CO 8:00 p.m.
http://www.mesatheater.com/events.php?ID=532

August 21~Aquarius Pavilion, Laughlin, NV, 8:00 p.m.
http://www.theaquarius.com/ENTERTAINMENT_TaylorHicks.asp

August 22~Anthology Supper Club, San Diego, CA,
http://www.anthologysd.com/index.html

August 24~Downtown Brewing Company, San Luis Obispo, CA 7:00
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=2639105&REFERRAL_ID=tmfeed&crosssite=TM_US:1092763:337533

August 25~The Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko, San Francisco, CA, 7:30 p.m.
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=2489715&REFERRAL_ID=tmfeed&crosssite=TM_US:1092763:341720

August 26~Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino, Coarsegold, CA
http://www.chukchansigold.com/PromotionsEvents/Concerts/

August 28~ Armed Forces Appreciation Day, American Idols for our American Heroes, “Bull Rigdon” Fairgrounds, Fort Walton, FL
Contact information: 850-244-8191.

September 15~Infinity Music Hall, Norfolk, CT, 8:00 p.m. Rescheduled from Sep. 25th
http://www.infinityhall.com/events/taylor-hicks

September 18~Paramount Theatre, Rutland, VT, 8:00 p.m. http://www.paramountvt.org/shows_details.php?show_id=80


September 26~SOS Children’s Villages Concert w/Matt Cusson, Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA, 8:00 p.m.
http://www.kimmelcenter.org/events/index.php?id=3814

October 9 – 10 ~Epcot Center “Eat to the Beat Concert Series, Orlando, FL, 5:15, 6:30, 7:45 p.m.
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/04/eat-to-the-beat-concert-series-lineup-at-epcot-international-food-wine-festival/