2026 is a year of change for the Community Players. The century-old amateur theater company is temporarily closing its doors this week for a long-anticipated renovation. The theater is getting new seats and a more accessible floor plan for audiences, but the players aren’t going to stop doing theater in the meantime. Waiting in the Wings, a new play by New York-based playwright Tony Manzo, opens next week at Illinois Art Station in Normal, the first of three satellite locations hosting Community Players this spring.

2026 is a year of change for the Community Players. The century-old amateur theater company is temporarily closing its doors this week for a long-anticipated renovation.&nbsp;The theater is getting new seats and a more accessible floor plan for audiences, but the players aren&rsquo;t going to stop doing theater in the meantime.&nbsp;Waiting in the Wings, a new play by New York-based playwright Tony Manzo, opens next week at Illinois Art Station in Normal, the first of three satellite locations hosting Community Players this spring.

Sound Ideas is WGLT's signature local news series. Every weekday, WGLT reporters go beyond soundbites for deeper conversations with newsmakers, musicians, artists, and anyone with a story to share. New episodes air throughout the day on WGLT.

Sound Ideas is WGLT's signature local news series. Every weekday, WGLT reporters go beyond soundbites for deeper conversations with newsmakers, musicians, artists, and anyone with a story to share. New episodes air throughout the day on WGLT.

WGLT's Sound Ideas

WGLT's Sound Ideas is our flagship news program. Every weekday, WGLT reporters go beyond soundbites for deeper conversations with newsmakers, musicians, artists, and anyone with a story to share. This 30-minute newsmagazine is produced Monday through Friday. You can also subscribe to the Sound Ideas - Full Episodes podcast.

WGLT's Sound Ideas is our flagship news program. Every weekday, WGLT reporters go beyond soundbites for deeper conversations with newsmakers, musicians, artists, and anyone with a story to share. This 30-minute newsmagazine is produced Monday through Friday. You can also subscribe to the Sound Ideas - Full Episodes podcast.

Community Players' 'Waiting in the Wings' is a belly laugh about family—and a ghost—in a new venue

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/090e86c6-4ab6-4873-b560-afff01256522/clips/2d7379f1-dbf4-474c-b503-b3cd0165fefd/transcript

Illinois State University's Queer Coalition kicks off a month-long film series this week at the Normal Theater. Fired Up: The American AIDS Crisis on Film captures the early days of the AIDS crisis, with community leaders and scholars introducing each film—those who lived through and cared for others during the height of the epidemic.

 

Illinois State University's Queer Coalition kicks off a month-long film series this week at the Normal Theater. Fired Up: The American AIDS Crisis on Film captures the early days of the AIDS crisis, with community leaders and scholars introducing each film&mdash;those who lived through and cared for others during the height of the epidemic.
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Film series memorializing the AIDS epidemic provides 'chilling parallels' to today

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/090e86c6-4ab6-4873-b560-afff01256522/clips/5c93decf-ebdb-43a1-b178-b3ec0170b820/transcript

A cancer survivor from Springfield is urging Black women in Illinois to share their experiences with health care. Erica Austin earned her Ph.D. from Illinois State University and works in the medical field. She is the Illinois ambassador for "VOICES of Black Women," a nationwide research study aimed at closing health gaps among Black women, including disproportional cancer mortality rates.

A cancer survivor from Springfield is urging Black women in Illinois to share their experiences with health care.&nbsp;Erica Austin earned her Ph.D. from Illinois State University and works in the medical field. She is the Illinois ambassador for "VOICES of Black Women," a nationwide research study aimed at closing health gaps among Black women, including disproportional cancer mortality rates.

American Cancer Society study aimed at equity gaps urges Black women to share their experiences with health care

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/090e86c6-4ab6-4873-b560-afff01256522/clips/3a7f2c57-a965-4fa4-9843-b3ec0170b820/transcript

Many major medical and health care organizations have decided to ignore new guidance from the federal government related to the childhood vaccination schedule. President Donald Trump and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently reduced the number of immunizations routinely recommended for all children from 17 to 11. Last September, Republican U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood voiced concerns about some of the statements coming out of Kennedy's department. But LaHood is refusing to break entirely with the Trump administration on the vaccine question — while acknowledging he now has more than just concerns.

Many major medical and health care organizations have decided to ignore new guidance from the federal government related to the childhood vaccination schedule.&nbsp;President Donald Trump and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently reduced the number of immunizations routinely recommended for all children from 17 to 11.&nbsp;Last September, Republican U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood voiced concerns about some of the statements coming out of Kennedy's department. But LaHood is refusing to break entirely with the Trump administration on the vaccine question &mdash; while acknowledging he now has more than just concerns.

Despite concerns, LaHood doesn't break with administration over vaccinations

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/090e86c6-4ab6-4873-b560-afff01256522/clips/7b9ed5d2-8457-48ee-ba07-b3ec0170b823/transcript

Community Players' 'Waiting in the Wings' is a belly laugh about family—and a ghost—in a new venue

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