Arts Alerts: Memorable murals, Nutcracker Ballet, Blues, ICC Philarmonic and A Christmas Carol Radio Play

A mural of Jim and Marian Jordan (‘Fibber McGee & Molly’) are on display on the Main Street side of the Peoria Public Library.

ART

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Peoria Riverfront Museum recently unveiled “The Amethyst,” one of the world’s tallest geodes, now on display as part of its permanent collection.

A mural Betty Friedan is on display on the Main Street side of the Peoria Public Library.

Big Picture Peoria has eight “augmented-reality-enabled” murals of renowned native Peorians on the Main Street side of the Peoria Public Library’s downtown location. Shown are Dr. Romeo B. Garrett, Betty Friedan, and Jim and Marian Jordan (“Fibber McGee & Molly”). The displays “marry art, history and technology,” said library executive director Randall Yelverton.

A mural of Dr. Romeo B. Garrett is on display on the Main Street side of the Peoria Public Library.

CINEMA

Oscar-winning filmmaker Damien Chazelle (“La La Land”) tackles Hollywood’s early days in “Babylon,” opening Dec. 25 and featuring a stellar cast including Spike Jonze, Tobey Maguire, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Jean Smart and Olivia Wilde.

DANCE

Peoria Ballet’s “Nutcracker,” based
on Tchaikovsky’s classic, is scheduled for
Dec. 10-11 at the Peoria Civic Center Theater

MUSIC

St. Louis-based blues guitarist Joe Metzka on Dec. 23 will appear at the Contemporary Arts Center, accompanied by a few local musicians — with copies of his Christmas album.
The Illinois Central College Philharmonic Chorale continues its 97-year singing tradition by presenting Bringing Christmas Joy — A Concert for the Holidays at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11 in the ICC Performing Arts Center in East Peoria. The concert, directed by Amy Shumaker Smith, will include holiday classics, both secular and religious, along with new songs to get you in the holiday spirit.
Tickets are $10 and are available from chorale members, from the ICC ticket booth, at the door the day of the concert and online at: https://ICC.edu/arts/

STREAMING

Now showing: The 22-minute documentary from the Heart of Illinois Sierra Club, “Dangerous Neighbors” — about the long struggle to close the coal-burning Edwards Power Plan on the Illinois River involving a coalition of environmental groups — is now available to stream on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtQHKsgIut8

THEATER

Bradley University Theatre will once more present its fun take on the Dickens’ holiday classic: “A Christmas Carol Radio Play” at the Hartmann Center Dec. 1-4.
Eastlight Theater’s popular holiday musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is set to return for its 30th production Dec. 2-4 and Dec. 7-11.

• ABC-TV will present the special “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration” at 7 p.m. Dec. 15, featuring H.E.R. as Belle, Josh Groban as the Beast, plus Martin Short (Lumiere), David Alan Grier (Cogsworth) and Shania Twain (Mrs. Potts).