For those looking to get into the holiday spirit, several local groups offer unique ways to hear the sounds of the season, including Champaign-Urbana Theater Company’s (CUTC) Dickensian Carolers and Champaign-Urbana Baroque Artists’ Carolers. We provide. (Bach).
CUTC’s Jan Weber estimates that the Dickensian Carolers have been around since around 2015. As the name suggests, this group wears costumes from the Victorian era.
“The Dickensian theme came about because as a theater company we have costumes that add a unique quality to our performances,” Weber said.
According to CUTC’s recent newsletter, Dickensian Carolers has a repertoire of 20 “seasonal songs” for customers to choose from.
According to CUTC’s website, prices start at $60 for a 15-minute performance and $100 for a 30-minute set. This group is also available for longer sessions. For more information, contact Weber at bbshopbass46@gmail.com.
The group plans to perform until about a week before Christmas.
Although CUTC’s Dickensian carolers have been around for several years, BACH board member Jane Kuntz said BACH caroling is a relatively new phenomenon that began in the past few years “in a kind of improvised way.” He said it was a habit. This year, the group is trying to make it a more official tradition.
“Depending on the event, anywhere from four to 12 BACH singers will come and perform a variety of classy songs in harmony,” she said. “They will also be inviting the audience to sing along to their favorite Christmas favorites for some spirited fun. Anyone who invites us to sing will be rewarded with a BACH of any amount they see fit. Please donate to.
For more information, please contact info@baroqueartists.org.
Additionally, the University of Illinois’ annual Dial-a-Carol program, hosted by Snyder Hall since 1960, begins early Thursday morning.
Organizers say callers from around the world can dial 1-217-332-1882 24 hours a day to hear volunteers sing “almost any holiday or seasonal song a caller wants to hear.” .
This free service will be available from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, December 18th.
Sara McElwee, Snyder Hall’s director of residence, said the students are working hard to be successful again this year.
“Dial a Carol is in its 64th year and not much has changed!” she said. “We will be here 24 hours a day, seven days a week, singing for anyone who wants to listen!”
The carolers are student volunteers, but any community member is welcome to participate. More information, including links to volunteer, can be found at housing.illinois.edu/dial-a-carol.
Mr McElwee said night, late night and early morning slots are particularly difficult to fill, but are also “the most important because they are the times when most international calls are made”.
Snacks and meals will be provided to volunteers who register during this time.
“With everything going on in the world, I think ‘Dial a Carol’ provides a heartwarming opportunity to build relationships,” McElwee said. “So much of what we do now is digital and impersonal, and this tradition connects people in the flesh, even if it’s just a simple carol call. .24 days a day for 7 days. Being on time means anyone can make a call from anywhere and hear a song sung to them by a real human, many times a year. Many people come and we sing happily every time.
New bagel and coffee shop announces grand opening date
Good Judys Espresso & Bagel Bar has announced the grand opening of its first brick-and-mortar location on December 18th at 9am. The store is located at 2740 S. Philo Road, Suite D at The Pines in Urbana.
“We’ve put our heart and soul into creating a space where everyone can feel at home,” said co-owner Dakota Thomas Wilhelm. “This is more than just a cafe. It’s a celebration of good vibes, good bagels, and good company.”
In addition to bagels and coffee, they also offer sandwiches made to order.
Peers said customers should be careful on social media as there will be a soft opening before the main event.
Locally produced festival films are now available to stream
The new movie “Holiday Holdup,” shot entirely on location in Champaign County, is now available to stream on various platforms including TubiTV, RokuTV, PlutoTV, Amazon Prime, and Hoopla.
According to Nicely Entertainment, whose sub-label Darkly Entertainment is distributing the film, the film is about a desperate restaurant man who loses his job and becomes desperate when his boss cancels his holiday bonus and announces the restaurant’s sudden closure days before Christmas. It follows a group of employees.”
“With their dreams gone, they hatch a plan to rob a high-stakes Christmas Eve poker game to reclaim their future, even though no one else has the heist skills to do so.” ” said the distributor. “Featuring accidents, heart, and unexpected twists, this crime drama captures the spirit of resilience and redemption against the backdrop of the holidays.”
The film was written by Michael Moresi and Michelle B. McGraw and directed by Champaign’s Moresi, McGraw, Keiko Claudio, and Robert Stern.
It was produced by Sarah Sharp, Jen Shelby, Kevin McGrail, and Champaign co-producers Dustin Hawk, Sarah Casey, and Luke Boyce. Executive producers include Vanessa Shapiro and Scott Kirkpatrick of Nicely Entertainment.
The cast also includes Jeremy Holm, John Pircello, Agnes Albright and Emma Jo Boyden, as well as Champaign’s Aaron Munoz and Jill Greenlee.
Free parking available to downtown shoppers
From now through Dec. 31, the City of Champaign will offer up to two hours of free parking to downtown visitors using the parking lot at the corner of Hill and Randolph Streets.
“Proof of purchase is not required to be presented at the parking deck to receive this discount,” city officials said. “As always, parking in parking decks and metered spaces is free on city holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.”
