Out and About WCBU

On this week’s episode of Out and About, host Jenn Gordon talks with William Butler from the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria about their current exhibition "Home Sweet Home" by Iranian artist Shahrbanoo Hamzeh. Through melancholic but colorful paintings, Hamzeh explores what occurs behind closed doors and suggests that our bodies, domestic spaces and home countries function as three parallel homes on different levels. The exhibit is on display in the Preston Jackson Gallery at the Contemporary Art Center now thru February 19. For more information visit Contemporary Art Center of Peoria.

On this week’s episode of Out and About, host Jenn Gordon talks with George Stelluto about the Peoria Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming concert “John Williams Strikes Back.” The concert takes place on Sunday, Jan. 16, at 3 p.m. at the Peoria Civic Center Theatre and will feature iconic selections from John Williams’ expansive cannon of cinematic scores including Jaws, Star Wars, Superman, Jurassic Park, and more.For tickets and more information, visit Peoria Symphony Orchestra.

On this week’s episode of Out and About, Kerri Rae Ryan and Taylor Porter join host Jenn Gordon to talk about Corn Stock Theatre’s production of "These Shining Lives."In this drama centering around Catherine Donahue and her three coworkers, the new financial independence of women working in the post-war 1920s is both liberating and exciting. The women earn a comfortable living, painting watch faces using a radium compound that glows in the dark. This new vision of freedom is shattered when one by one the women begin to fall ill to mysterious ailments. They discover the source of their sickness is the radioactive paint used for the watches, and decide to seek retribution in the form of a class-action lawsuit against their employer, Radium Dial Company. Though the women are doomed to die, their struggle to fix what is broken demonstrates the power of the female spirit, despite the curbing of women’s newly won social freedoms during the Great Depression. Corn Stock Theatre's production of "These Shining Lives" opens Jan. 14 at the Theatre Center at Upper Bradley Park and runs for two weekends.For tickets and more information visit Corn Stock Theatre.

On this week’s episode of Out and About, Jenn Gordon talks with Bill Conger and physician and pianist Dr. Tony Karam about the special upcoming concert and exhibition "From Peoria to Lebanon."One year ago, a massive warehouse explosion rocked Beirut, Lebanon, killing hundreds of people and displacing 300,000. Among the most prominent local populations of central Illinois are thousands of Americans whose family members immigrated from Lebanon.On this anniversary, the Peoria Riverfront Museum presents an unprecedented contemporary art exhibition featuring donated art from artists of Lebanon and a piano concert in partnership with the Scottish Rite Theatre. The concert features Karam, a renowned Lebanese physician and classical pianist. The concert will take place Sunday, Dec. 19, at 2:30 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Theatre. For tickets and more information visit From Peoria to Lebanon Concert.

On this week’s episode of Out and About, Dr. Joseph Henry joins Jenn Gordon to talk about "An American Family Christmas."The annual holiday concert is known for featuring a variety of musical selections that appeal to all ages. This year’s music includes contemporary arrangements of favorite hymns such as O Come All Ye Faithful, O Holy Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem and Silent Night, and secular favorites like It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.The concert takes place at Five Points Washington from Dec. 17–19.For tickets and more information visit Peoria Area Civic Chorale.

On this week’s episode of Out and About, Jenn Gordon talks with Wendy Thomasson, Executive Director of the Peoria Ballet, about the return of The Nutcracker to the Peoria Civic Center. This family holiday tradition features 100 dancers joined by professional guest artists dancing the roles of Drosselmeyer, Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier, plus live music by Heartland Festival Orchestra. Three performances will be offered December 11 -12 with tickets starting at $10. For tickets and information visit The Peoria Ballet.