Champaign, IL – The Champaign Park District has announced the first round of concerts, films, dance, spoken word, live theatre, comedy, and special events to take place in the centenary season of the Virginia Theatre, 203 West Park Avenue, Champaign, IL, 61820. See below for a calendar of events. Complete show details and pricing will be published in a 100th Anniversary brochure being posted online Friday, June 25, 2021. A special pre-sale for new subscribers will be offered July 6 through 8, 2021, at the box office or charge by phone at 217-356-9063. Individual tickets to many shows go on sale at 10:00 A.M., Friday, July 9, 2021. For more, visit www.thevirginia.org.
100 years and counting
On December 28, 1921, the Virginia Theatre opened to the public for the very first time to present, to a sold-out house, a popular touring Broadway comedy-mystery called The Bat. The following night, a (now classic) short silent film—Buster Keaton’s maritime misadventure The Boat—was screened for an appreciative audience, with these two inaugural events launching a 100-year tradition of family entertainment that continues to this day. Through the decades, the Virginia Theatre has been a vital community resource, a playhouse, a movie palace, a comedy club, a performing arts center, a concert hall, and a meeting place. Today, this fully-restored Spanish Renaissance-revival venue—listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and owned and operated by the Champaign Park District—is proudly celebrating a century of being your Virginia Theatre!
And the Virginia’s 100th anniversary season promises to be special in more ways than one. The Champaign Urbana Theatre Company will appear on stage in a first-time-ever concert retrospective of Broadway favorites at their show “All Together Now: A Global Event”. For the first time in 100 years, the Virginia will present the live stage play The Bat, directed by John Stuff and produced by Jeff Goldberg, featuring performers from around the community. Major concerts, touring comedians, incisive spoken word events, and, as always, family-friendly performances from the CU Ballet, CPD Youth Theater, Dance Arts, Art in Motion, Twist and Shout and so many others fill out our busiest schedule yet. We can’t wait to have you join us!
IMPORTANT DATES
June 14, 2021: 100th Anniversary season announcement
June 25, 2021: 100th Anniversary season brochure published online
July 6-8, 2021: “VT Series” season subscriber presale
July 9, 2021: Individual tickets to many shows on sale
VT Series subscriptions
Also returning for the Virginia’s 100th anniversary season is a flexible subscription package, with a specially-curated selection of events to choose from. Subscribers pick four or more “VT Series” shows and receive benefits like discounted tickets, first choice of premium seats, and first choice of seats to series events as they are added to the calendar throughout the year.
Phase 5, Illinois restored
Effective June 11, 2021, indoor venues throughout the state of Illinois are once again able to host large-scale events at full capacity.
Please note that under the State of Illinois’ Phase 5 public health guidelines, the Virginia Theatre will not be requiring proof of vaccination or socially-distancing seating at events.
Unvaccinated persons and children under the age of 12 should wear a face covering at all public indoor events.
If public health guidelines are revised, the Champaign Park District (which owns and operates the Virginia ) will make any changes necessary.
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2021-2022 100TH ANNIVERSAY SEASON CALENDAR OF EVENTS
NEWS-GAZETTE FILM SERIES
9/25/21: Buster Keaton’s Steamboat Bill JR (1928)
10/23/21: Manchurian Candidate (1962)
11/21/21: Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
12/4/21: It’s A Wonderful Life (1947)
1/22/22: All About Eve (1950)
2/19/22: It Happened One Night (1934)
3/19/22: READER’S CHOICE: Seven Year Itch (1955) or The Grapes of Wrath (1940) or Bonnie & Clyde (1967) or MASH (1970)
4/30/22: Duck Soup (1933)
5/21/22: Harold Lloyd’s Safety Last (1954)
6/25/22: High Noon (1952)
7/9/22: Top Hat (1935)
REWIND 92.5 MOVIE SERIES
9/30/21: Breakfast Club (1985)
10/21/21: Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
11/11/21: Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
12/5/21: The Princess Bride (1987)
1/13/22: [Mix 94.5 THROWBACK THURSDAYS] Clueless (1995)
1/20/22: Say Anything (1989)
2/2/22: Groundhog Day (1987)
3/21/22: BMM: Escape From New York (1981)
4/4/22: BMM: Face Off (1997)
5/23/22: BMM: Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)
6/30/22: Wayne’s World (1992)
7/14/22: Starship Troopers (1997)
GORDON LIGHTFOOT – The Legend in Concert (VT Series event)
MON, AUG 16, 2021
ROGER EBERT’S FILM FESTIVAL
WED, SEPT 8 THROUGH SAT, SEPT 11, 2021
VIRGINIA THEATRE 100TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON OPENING NIGHT EVENT (FREE)
SAT, SEPT 25, 2021
BOZ SCAGGS (VT Series event)
SAT, OCT 2, 2021
HISTORY AND THE VIRGINIA THEATRE: An onstage talk with TJ Blakeman & Perry Morris
THU, OCT 7, 2021
THE MOTH MAINSTAGE (VT Series event)
SAT, OCT 9, 2021
CHAMPAIGN PARK DISTRICT YOUTH THEATRE FALL PLAY I
THU, OCT 14 THROUGH SAT, OCT 16, 2021
JOHN CRIST
SUN, OCT 17, 2021
NATE BARGATZE
THU, NOV 4, 2021
AN EVENING WITH RENEE ELISE GOLDSBERRY (VT Series event)
SAT, NOV 6, 2021
CUTC presents ALL TOGETHER NOW: A GLOBAL EVENT (VT Series event)
FRI, NOV 12, 2021
GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA (VT Series event)
SAT, NOV 13, 2021
CHAMPAIGN PARK DISTRICT YOUTH THEATRE FALL PLAY II
THU, NOV 18 THROUGH SAT, NOV 20, 2021
THE ULTIMATE ELVIS TRIBUTE ARTISTS: SHAWN KLUSH & CODY RAY SLAUGHTER (VT Series event)
with special guests Jake Rowley, The Nashville Dreams, and The Fabulous Ambassadors
SAT, NOV 27, 2021
DAVID SEDARIS (VT Series event)
THU, DEC 9, 2021
HOLIDAY IN WHOVILLE
SUN, DEC 12, 2021
THE BAT (VT Series event)
TUE, DEC 28 THROUGH THU, DEC 30, 2021
Champaign West Rotary presents
CU’S GOT TALENT!
SAT, FEB 5, 2022
THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID (VT Series event)
SAT, FEB 26, 2022
CHAMPAIGN PARK DISTRICT YOUTH THEATRE WINTER PLAY
THU, MAR 3 THROUGH SAT, MAR 5, 2022
New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players’
THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (VT Series event)
WED, MAR 9, 2022
SUN RA ARKESTRA
Presented by The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory
FRI, MAR 25, 2022
CHAMPAIGN PARK DISTRICT DANCE ARTS SPRING PERFORMANCE
FRI, APRIL 1, AND SAT, APRIL 2, 2022
The Champaign Urbana Ballet presents
COPPELIA (VT Series event)
FRI, MAY 6, 2022 and SAT, MAY 7, 2022
CHAMPAIGN PARK DISTRICT YOUTH THEATRE SPRING PLAY
THU, MAY 12 THROUGH SAT, MAY 14, 2022
Harold Lloyd’s Safety Last (1923)
STEVEN BALL, Wurlitzer Pipe Organ (VT Series event)
SAT, MAY 21, 2022
Douglas Taurel’s
THE AMERICAN SOLDIER: 1774-2015 (VT Series event)
FREE to vets & active duty service members
SAT, MAY 28, 2022
TWIST AND SHOUT, DANCE AND CHEER ANNUAL DANCE RECITAL
SAT, JUNE 2, 2022
ART IN MOTION ANNUAL DANCE SHOWCASE
THU, JUNE 9 THROUGH SAT, JUNE 11, 2022
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VENUE INFORMATION
CHAMPAIGN PARK DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Craig W. Hays – Vice President
Kevin J. Miller – President
Barbara J. Kuhl – Commissioner
Timothy P. McMahon – Commissioner
Jane L. Solon – Commissioner
OFFICERS OF THE BOARD
Joe DeLuce – Executive Director
Guy C. Hall – Attorney
Jarrod Scheunemann – Assistant to Executive Director
Brenda Timmons – Treasurer
VIRGINIA THEATRE STAFF
Steven Bentz, Director
Jenny Carpenter, Box Office Manager
Mitch Marlow, Sales & Public Relations Manager
Stephen White, Technical Manager
BOX OFFICE
203 West Park Ave, Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: 217-356-9063
Hours: Mon-Fri, 10am-5:30pm, plus 2 hours before each event
ACCESSIBILITY
Transfer seats are offered on both levels at the Virginia Theatre along with wheelchair-accessible seating located on platforms at the back of our Main Floor and in the front row of Main Floor Section 5. Up to 18 wheelchairs may be accommodated at a given event, with one additional companion seat available per wheelchair.
Tickets for accessible and companion seating can be purchased online, at the box office, or by calling 217-356-9063.
The theatre also features a wheelchair lift for guests accessing the stage from the auditorium, an elevator allowing access from the stage to the downstairs dressing rooms, and an elevator allowing access to the building’s upstairs Mezzanine Lobby and restrooms.*
*Please note that the Virginia’s mezzanine and upper balcony seating are still accessible only via stairs.
HEARING ASSIST DEVICES
Assisted listening devices are available upon request at the Virginia Theatre box office. A variety of styles—including earpiece buds, headsets, and “induction” neck loops—can be used to enhance a guest’s enjoyment of films, spoken word events, and most live performances at the Virginia. Devices may be obtained at the box office at no cost before the show. A credit card, driver’s license, or other form of ID is required. For more information about assisted listening devices, accessible seating, or any other accommodation at the Virginia Theatre, please call 217-356-9063.
PARKING
Parking is available in metered spaces on the streets surrounding the Virginia Theatre and in the Hill Street Parking Deck one block north of the theatre on Randolph St. (123 West Hill). After 6pm, the lots at both Busey Bank (to the east of the theatre) and Hickory Point Bank (just north of the theatre) are available for free event parking.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO PURCHASE TICKETS: Drop by the Virginia Theatre Box Office, call 217-356-9063, or visit us online at www.thevirginia.org.
