Krannert Center: On the Road in the USA

Very, very early one morning in May, the Raven cast was up before the sun, on the way to the airport. Our eventual destination: Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, home of the University of Illinois and the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. We had been invited to perform four shows over two days in one of the Center’s four main performance spaces – we were situated in the beautiful Colwell Playhouse Theatre, seating capacity of 674.

After arriving safely at the tiny airport, luggage, set, actors and all, we settled for the night. The following day we loaded in to the theatre, familiarizing ourselves with the venue and the wonderful technical and hospitality staff, and building lighting and sound cues for the following days’ performances.

And what performances they were! With elementary students bussed in from all the surrounding areas, we played to fantastic crowds for four shows straight. The Krannert Center had prepared each audience with study materials, and this showed in the questions the students asked in the Q&A sessions after the shows.

Lunchtime between performances was served at the Intermezzo, an organic café in the venue lobby, serving delicious treats with the warm sun streaming in the windows. We even squeezed in a tour of the Center itself, visiting the Foellinger Great Hall, which seats over 2000 and is used for orchestras and other concerts due to its amazing acoustics; the Studio Theatre, a small and flexible black box space; the outdoor amphitheatre, set into the structure of the Center itself; and the Tryon Festival Theatre, yet another beautiful, fully equipped theatre that seats nearly 1000 audience members. The LA-based band Ozomatli were performing their unique and very danceable blend of Latin, hip hop, salsa, jazz, funk and rock, to which the Krannert Center kindly gave us tickets.

The next morning we were up bright and early yet again, leaving the sunshine and warm hospitality of Champaign-Urbana in continuation of our adventures on the road. Thank you, Krannert Center – we hope to see you again soon!

s. Henderson
Production Tour Manager