EPC Announces 2016-17 Season

The Effingham Performance Center has announced its 2016 – 2017 Heartland Dental Season presented in the Midland States Bank Auditorium. The season will feature familiar artists like Ray Stevens, Sandi Patty, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Vicki Lawrence. For the first time, the season will include favorites such as Vince Gill, Art Garfunkel, Tony Orlando and Vince Neil plus many more.

Through Sunday, September 25, a special opportunity to Build Your Own Season is offered, allowing patrons to become Season Ticket Holders by selecting three or more shows. Contact the EPC Box Office at 217-540-2788 for more information.

The season kicked off with a sold-out Casting Crowns performance and will be followed by performances by the Happy Together Tour sponsored by Patton Printing and Graphics on August 3 at 7:30p.m. and Ted Nugent on August 4 at 7:30p.m sponsored by Thursday Thunder. On Saturday, August 13, Branson’s #1 entertainer Shoji Tabuchi is coming to the EPC for two shows at 2 and 7p.m. The EPC will welcome back Bill Engvall for two performances at 6 and 9p.m. on Friday, September 30. Most recently, Bill was a contestant on season 17 of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, and as a fan favorite, he made it to the finals. Bill joined Jeff Foxworthy, Ron White and Larry the Cable Guy in the enormously successful Blue Collar Comedy concert films. This performance is sponsored by Three Chicks & a Stage. The EPC will then welcome back Ray Stevens on Friday, October 28th, at 7p.m. sponsored by Riviera Records and Video Production. On October 29 at 10p.m. celebrate Halloween at the EPC with the film screening of the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, sponsored by Scrubby’s Pub.

On Thursday, November 3 at 7p.m. Sidewalk Prophets brings their Prodigal Tour to the EPC sponsored by Dr. Ruben Boyajian and Family. Then get ready to “Come On Down!” as the EPC welcomes back The Price Is Right Live! on Saturday, November 5 at 8p.m. sponsored by McDonald’s. On Saturday, November 12 at 3p.m. the EPC welcomes “Dan St. Paul’s What’s Funny After 50?”. Bob & Tom comedian Dan St. Paul has been chronicling his life on stage for 30 years. After turning fifty, he discovered his body changing, his memory faulty, and dealing with a teenager more challenging. Instead of moaning about it, Dan developed it into a show that leaves baby boomers and more rolling in the aisles. For the first time in Effingham, country star Vince Gill will perform on Thursday, November 17 at 8p.m. sponsored by Patterson Products.

Holiday shows begin on Saturday, November 19 at 2 and 7pm, as the Ozark Jubilee presents the Branson Classic Country Christmas with an all-star cast of Branson’s top entertainers including funniest comedian and world class fiddler Doofus Doolittle, sponsored by HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital. A Church Basement Ladies Christmas-Away in the Basement comes to the EPC on Thursday, December 8 with performances at 2 and 7:30p.m. On Saturday, December 10 at 7p.m. Sandi Patty will bring her Christmas Blessings Tour to the Effingham Performance Center during her “Forever Grateful: The Farewell Tour.” This New Year’s Eve the EPC welcomes The Lionel Richie Experience featuring David Graham starting at 7p.m.

This winter, coming to Effingham for the first time, the EPC presents Art Garfunkel: In Close-Up sponsored by New Health Chiropractic on Saturday, January 21 at 7p.m. On Saturday, January 28 at 7p.m. the EPC welcomes the musical Pump Boys and Dinettes. Coming to the EPC on Thursday February 2 at 7p.m. Vicki Lawrence and Mama-A Two Woman Show sponsored by Riviera Records and Video Production. On Saturday, February 11 at 7p.m. The Bellamy Brothers are coming to the EPC sponsored by Riviera Records and Video Production. On Sunday, February 12 at 4p.m. The United States Air Force Band of Mid-America will present the Freedom Winds sponsored by New Health Chiropractic. This is a free concert, but you must have a ticket and seating is limited. Larry Gatlin and the Blackwood Quartet are coming to the EPC on Saturday, February 18 at 7p.m. On Friday, February 24 at 7:30p.m. Drumline Live! is coming to the EPC. A rock night of Dokken with special guest Jack Russell’s Great White is coming to the EPC Saturday February 25 at 8p.m.

Enjoy some great family entertainment at the EPC. On Saturday, October 29 at 2p.m. Johnny Peers & the Muttville Comix is coming to the EPC sponsored by McDonald’s. Johnny leads over a dozen rescue dogs through challenging and hilarious tricks as Johnny plays the straight man role. Dogs like Daphne, the world’s only skateboarding Basset Hound; Squeaky, the ladder climbing Fox Terrier and Mr. Pepe, who only responds to commands in Spanish. It is a show for the whole family and the dog lover in all of us. Get ready for the ultimate playdate - 65 million years in the making - as Erth’s DINOSAUR ZOO LIVE leads you on a tour of pre-historic Australia. On Thursday, January 26 at 6:30p.m. sponsored by Andes Health Mart, meet and interact with an eye-popping collection of life-like dinosaurs puppets presented in an entertaining and educational live theatrical performance created by Erth Visual & Physical of Sydney, Australia.

This spring, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is coming to the EPC during their 50th anniversary together on Saturday, March 11 at 7p.m. sponsored by Pepsi. On March 17 at 8:00p.m. Switchback comes to the EPC sponsored by New Health Chiropractic. Brian FitzGerald and Martin McCormack of the duo Switchback have been playing their brand of eclectic Celtic and Americana music at sold-out concert halls, performing arts centers and festivals around the world for over twenty years. On Saturday, March 25 at 7p.m. the EPC presents Tony Orlando: In Concert sponsored by Dr. Ruben Boyajian and Family.

Disenchanted comes to the EPC Thursday, April 6 at 7:30p.m. Forget the princesses you think you know – the original storybook heroines have come back to life to set the record straight. After multiple sold-out runs nationwide, these royal renegades tossed off their tiaras to bring their hilariously subversive, not-for-the-kiddies musical to you – and what you thought about princesses will never be the same! Sweet Dreams & Honky Tonks is a new revue that presents the best loved hits of Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, and Johnny Cash along with stories of their colorful lives and amazing careers and is coming to the EPC Friday, April 28 at 7p.m. Charles Ross will stun and amaze you with his fun, energetic and extremely entertaining performance of One Man Star Wars Trilogy on Thursday, May 4 at 7:30p.m. The result of Charles Ross’ ‘misspent’ youth is the creation of his hilarious One Man Star Wars Trilogy show, where Ross single-handedly plays all the characters with spot-on voice impressions, sings the music, flies the ships, fights the battles and condenses the plots of the three films into one hilarious production. The Greatest Pirate Story Never Told is Off Broadway’s improvised, interactive, musical pirate adventure filled with boatloads of laugh-out-loud moments for both kids and grown-ups. Two performances on Saturday, May 6 with a family show at 2p.m. and an adult show at 8p.m. Close to You: The Music of the Carpenters comes to the EPC Friday, May 12 at 7p.m. On Saturday, May 20 at 8p.m. Vince Neil, the legendary voice of Mötley Crüe comes to the EPC, sponsored by Miller Lite.

Local favorites coming to the EPC this season include Arsenic and Old Lace produced by Three Chicks & a Stage, The Matt Poss Band, Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus and the Bells of Charlemont produced by Three Chicks & a Stage, and Scott Wattles and the Blue Suede Crew’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Christmas Show. Information on local shows, and all shows in the 2016-2017 Heartland Dental season can be found at TheEPC.org.

Effingham Performance Center is operated by Arts Connection of Central Illinois, a not for profit organization, that has been established for the citizens of Effingham County and beyond to showcase arts and entertainment, to encourage interaction with and appreciation of live performance, to endorse the educational process and to enhance the quality of life and cultural vitality of the region. Conveniently located at the cross-section of Interstates 57 and 70, Exit 160, Effingham Performance Center presents events that appeal to all genres and generations. More information about the Center and Arts Connection of Central Illinois may be found at www.theEPC.org or by phone at (217) 540-2788.