A Half-century of Concerts at Illinois State University
Story by John Twork
Web design by Ella Jahraus
All photos in this story are from performances at Illinois State University.
From the “Prince of Darkness” to the “Queen of Soul,” dozens of music’s brightest stars have shined at Illinois State University over the past half-century.
Braden Auditorium (originally named Union Auditorium from 1973-81) has hosted over 300 concerts during its 50-year run as Illinois State’s intimate, 3,500-seat theatrical venue. Larger shows rocked Horton Field House beginning in 1964 until Redbird Arena (now CEFCU Arena) opened in 1989. And, before Illinois State’s modern venues, students danced to the likes of Count Basie at McCormick Gym.
Through more than five decades of concerts at Illinois State, generations of Redbirds share memories of belting out lyrics at live campus shows—from Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion” in 1975 to Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season” in 2023.
Here are our top 50 concerts of the past 50-plus years at Illinois State.
Fifty years after the curtain rose on Braden Auditorium (then Union Auditorium), it remains a coveted venue for touring artists and fans alike. Pop-infused folk singer-songwriter Noah Kahan sold out Braden for his performance at Illinois State during the 2023 spring semester. A few months later, the rising star played Chicago’s iconic Lollapalooza music festival ahead of a sold-out international tour.
A few alumni stars have appeared on Braden Auditorium’s stage years after they were regulars in Illinois State’s classrooms. Country singer-songwriter Suzy Bogguss ’79, a Grammy award-winning musician, performed at Braden in 1999 to raise funds for Illinois State’s yet-to-be-built Center for the Performing Arts. Comedian Craig Robinson ’94 played the keyboard alongside his band, The Nasty Delicious, at a 2014 Family Weekend musical-comedy show at Braden.
A few hours before opening for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 25-year-old Lenny Kravitz, bottom right, appeared at The Gallery in Downtown Normal where he was honored by Illinois State’s Black Writer’s Forum “for his outstanding work in the music industry,” according to a February 19, 1990, Vidette article. “What can I say? This is my very first award,” Kravitz proudly told the packed crowd. When asked by an audience member if he would play “Rosemary,” a song off his debut album, at that evening’s concert, he said it wasn’t on the setlist. “So, on the spur of a moment, Kravitz was handed a guitar by someone in the audience and showed the crowd real, honest music, the way it is supposed to be,” according to Vidette writer Kawone Harris ’93.
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Iggy Azalea
Braden, 10/18/14
Australian rapper Iggy Azalea rode a wave of newfound stardom into Braden Auditorium, with her song “Fancy” topping the Billboard Hot 100 list a few months before arriving in Normal. Along with her hit single, Azalea brought to Braden two dresses for the show that each needed to be shortened by an inch to better accommodate her onstage dance performance. Scrambling with the unexpected request, Braden manager Barb Dallinger, ’81, M.S. ’01, contacted Melissa Schrier ’86, a friend and sewing hobbyist. Schrier dropped what she was doing, picked up her sewing machine, and set up in Braden’s star dressing room. Just a couple hours ahead of showtime, Schrier finished the dresses, which Azalea wore for the evening’s sold-out concert. Before going on stage, Azalea signed Schrier’s sewing machine. “That was incredibly sweet of her,” Dallinger said.
Longtime Braden manager Barb Dallinger has read dozens of tour riders listing items that performers request—or demand—for their performances. Dallinger often parsed the lists by asking managers, “Is it a ‘must have,’ or a ‘want?’” One unnamed star requested a six-pack of white athletic socks and undershirts because she liked the feel of new socks after a show. Dallinger politely declined. Another asked for a specific brand of bottled water only available in Colorado. After arriving in her dressing room to find a case of Evian, Dallinger said the star threw each bottle into the hallway, yelling, “This is not the water I ordered!” Dallinger fondly remembers country band Lonestar’s request for “a meal like grandma would make on Sunday.” “The catering group knocked it out of the park,” Dallinger said. “They made fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, and pie. It was incredible!
In search of a quiet spot after soundcheck to write music with his acoustic guitar, country singer-songwriter Brad Paisley wandered up a spiral staircase connecting the stage level of Braden Auditorium to the upper level of the Bone Student Center. According to former Braden manager Barb Dallinger, Paisley ended up in the former Office of Alumni Engagement, where he was greeted by collective, surprised exclamations of “Brad Paisley?!” Staff set Paisley up with a private conference room where, for the next few hours—as Dallinger frantically searched for the missing country star—he strummed away, potentially working on his next hit single.
Founded by former Illinois State University students Greg Koos and Mike Metcalf ’71, the New Friends of Old Time Music was a student organization that put together a remarkable run of weekly music shows on campus from 1970-87. The free concerts featured “traditional American music,” according to Koos, including signature folk, bluegrass, and blues. New Friends performers included John Prine, Leon Redbone, Tom Waits, Steve Goodman, Bill Monroe, pictured, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and many others.
Classically trained soprano Julie Andrews, widely known for her lead roles in Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music, spent a few days in the fall of 1987 at Braden Auditorium rehearsing her first-ever concert tour directed by husband Blake Edwards, according to longtime Pantagraph arts and entertainment editor Dan Craft ’80. “They wanted to keep it under the radar, so they chose Braden and ISU,” Craft said. “That was a pretty big deal for Bloomington-Normal.” Andrews then opened the tour with two shows at Braden during Family Weekend.
For a half-century, artists preparing for a show at Braden Auditorium have been surrounded by the stars who shined onstage before them. Covering the cinder block walls, ceiling tiles, bathroom—even the clock—in the star dressing room, are signatures, messages, and artwork penned by past performers. From a flowingly scripted “Prince” (the “I” dotted by a heart) to a 4-foot-tall chili pepper drawn by none other than the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the dressing room is a living time capsule of Braden’s storied history
Normal Mayor Richard T. Godfrey proclaimed November 7, 1983, as “Genesis Day” in honor of the band’s decision to open its 12-week North American tour in Normal. Phil Collins, middle, and his fellow band members accepted a plaque marking the honor and held a press conference for local media.
If there ever was a band that could conquer the acoustic atrocities of Horton, it is Genesis. But that’s no surprise. -David Bill, Pantagraph
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Gloria Estefan/Miami Sound Machine
Redbird, 11/11/89
Less than 10 months after Redbird Arena’s inaugural concert (featuring glam metal band Ratt in January of 1989), Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine heated up Illinois State’s newest venue with their high-energy, Latin-influenced music during Parents’ Weekend. The Grammy-nominated group packed their 90-minute show with dance-worthy hits—opening with “Conga” and closing with an encore of “Get on Your Feet,” which was then No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. Vidette writer Susie Ginther ’90 noted the concert’s entertaining theatrics, including a “colorful light show,” plus “an astounding alto saxophone solo played by Mike Scaglione.”
Bloomington-Normal has long attracted top-tier touring musicians. This is due, in part, to the community’s location at the intersection of three interstates, inevitably placing it in the middle of cross-country tours. “Our marketing campaign (to tour promoters) for a while was, ‘No matter where you’re going, we’re on your way,’” said longtime Braden manager Barb Dallinger. The community, including its college students, also has a reputation of supporting live music, according to former Pantagraph arts and entertainment editor Dan Craft. “It’s a strong music town,” Craft said.
Soft rocker Barry Manilow performed four times at Illinois State, including a sold-out, two-night stand at Union Auditorium in 1976. “Although I felt more like an observer than a participant, it occurred to me that I was witnessing probably the greatest thing ever to occur in the Union Auditorium since its groundbreaking,” wrote Vidette reviewer Ralph Baum ’77. “(Manilow) gave to (the audience) what they wanted; and they gave to him right back.” Manilow’s performance included a medley of his famous commercial jingles, including “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.” Throughout Barb Dallinger’s tenure managing Braden, she said Manilow was the venue’s most-requested artist by community members.
A live recording from English rocker Peter Gabriel’s concert at Braden Auditorium was incorporated into the 1983 double album and long-play cassette, Plays Live, which featured 16 songs primarily recorded at four Midwest venues. It was subsequently rereleased in remastered CD and digital formats. The Vidette concert review, which praised Gabriel’s “well-refined form of art-rock,” noted that Gabriel told the audience, “Those of you who are observant may have noticed a very large truck outside. It is in the process of recording you at this very moment.”
As the lights died and the backing band entered in twos, the audience became excited. A sweet but raspy voice came from somewhere, ending the wait. With enough sequins and hair to kill Liberace once again, Dolly Parton entered the stage and blew away the audience. -Bruce Whitenack, The Vidette
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The Smashing Pumpkins
Redbird, 3/23/94; Braden, 10/4/07
Four years after playing at The Gallery, a college bar in Downtown Normal, Chicago-based alternative rockers The Smashing Pumpkins returned to Normal in 1994—with two platinum records under their collective belts—to open their spring tour at a sold-out Redbird Arena. Fans were treated to a high-energy concert featuring two encores. “Thanks to you 10 people who used to come see us at the Gallery,” lead singer Billy Corgan told the crowd between songs. The Smashing Pumpkins previously opened, along with Pearl Jam, for the Red Hot Chili Peppers at Braden Auditorium in 1991, and they returned to headline a Braden show in 2007.
The long list of concerts in Normal includes a handful of notoriously controversial performers, none more so than heavy metal rocker Marilyn Manson, who played Redbird Arena in 1997. “There was so much controversy,” said longtime Pantagraph arts and entertainment editor Dan Craft. “Church groups were protesting, and the anti-Marilyn Manson faction blew it up into a front-page news story.” Craft also recalls controversy surrounding rock band Jefferson Starship’s 1982 performance at Horton Field House. “A local minister had discovered what he believed to be a satanic message recorded backwards on a Jefferson Starship record,” Craft said. “Starship’s Paul Kantner went on WJBC radio’s afternoon show, Problems and Solutions, and had a live debate with the minister before that evening’s concert.” In both cases, the shows took place without any major incidents.
“I’m feeling pretty normal tonight,” Bruce Springsteen joked to a full-capacity crowd at Braden Auditorium Tuesday night (during his solo, acoustic Ghost of Tom Joad Tour). I’m in a normal place with a bunch of normal people,” said “The Boss.” “It feels good to be normal.” -Matt Miller, The Vidette
Blues legend B.B. King and his famous Gibson guitar, “Lucille,” played at Illinois State four times beginning in 1974 when King was 48 years old. He returned in 1992, 1995, and finally, in 2006 at age 81. Former Braden manager Barb Dallinger said King was among the friendliest artists to perform during her tenure. “He was just the sweetest man,” said Dallinger, right, with King. “I spent quite a bit of time with him on his bus, which was special.” While chatting, King expressed his interest in Braden’s graduate assistant and internship program. “The type of experiences our students were receiving were rare in the fine arts community,” Dallinger said. “He was quite impressed with not only the experiences they were getting, but also how well they were doing it.”
After singing 18 songs, the Beach Boys took a small intermission. Joyce Kay, an usher for the performance, found herself enjoying the show as she repeatedly got up to dance and sing along. “I think [the show] is fantastic,” said Kay. “It makes me feel young again. It makes me feel like I’m a student again at ISU.” – Becky Fletcher, The Vidette
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Grateful Dead
Horton, 4/24/78
Widely revered by “Deadheads” as one of the best shows from one of the band’s best tours, the Grateful Dead’s Horton Field House concert was immortalized in a limited edition, three-CD live album produced by Grateful Dead archivist David Lemieux in 2013. The show—part of the ISU Entertainment Committee’s Springfest—was recorded by Grateful Dead audio engineer Betty Cantor-Jackson. “It’s long been one of my favorite shows from a really, really good tour,” Lemieux said in a video introducing the live album. “What we have is this incredible show, start to finish.” Lemieux said he ranks the renditions of “Scarlet Begonias>Fire on the Mountain” and “The Music Never Stopped” at Horton among the band’s best versions ever.
Held from 1972 to 1977, the Rites of Spring—Illinois State’s version of Woodstock—were free, all-day events anchored by emerging musicians performing on a stage on the south end of the Quad. In its final year, the Rites drew nearly 20,000 students from across the country to see a lineup that included REO Speedwagon and the Charlie Daniels Band. Excessive drinking and the use of recreational drugs by many of the event’s attendees along with the festival’s cost to the University led, in part, to the Rites’ demise.
The “Rocket Man” helped launch a golden era of rock concerts at Horton Field House in the 1970s. Wearing a flashy suit, platform shoes, and rimmed glasses, 25-year-old Elton John electrified Horton. Students had camped on the Quad for two days to secure tickets. In his review of the Elton John show, Vidette feature editor Mike Waters ’73 said the audience was treated to a “masterpiece” of a concert. “Without letting up, he hit high point after high point, continually bringing the audience screaming to their feet,” wrote Waters.
For 50 years, Braden Auditorium’s towering walls have reverberated some of the finest voices in music—none more magnificent than Aretha Franklin’s. “Franklin proceeded to prove that she still reigned as the Queen of Soul while presenting her wide vocal range to the audience,” wrote the Vidette’s Carrie Browning ’96. “She asked the audience for a little help with the old favorite ‘Think.’ Franklin was surprised with the enormous response from the audience and moved onto ‘Respect.’ The entire audience stood up, rocked with the music, clapped their hands, and yelled out “R-E-S-P-E-C-T.’” Franklin later played a “slow but sweet” rendition of “You Send Me” on Braden’s grand piano before closing with “Spirit in the Dark,” leaving the audience “impressed with Franklin’s style and pizzaz,” according to Browning.
What memories do you have of concerts at Illinois State? Did we miss your favorite show? Share your stories and photos
Special thanks to Julie Neville, M.S. ’12, Illinois State University senior archives specialist, and Bill Kemp ’88, M.S. ’00, McLean County Museum of History librarian.
Cover by Half Hazard Press
Illinois State’s award-winning student television program is turning 50 years old in 2024 and celebrating with a TV-10 reunion weekend, April 12-13, 2024.
Alumni and friends are invited to honor the newest Broadcast Hall of Fame inductees, mingle with friends, and catch up with the latest happenings at TV-10. More details will be available in the coming months at isu10news.com.
Redbird Prime has been rebranded to encompass all alumni 60 years and older and will now be called Golden Redbirds.
The Golden Redbirds Alumni Network will offer exclusive professional, educational, and social events including its premiere event, the Half Century Club reunion. Members will also receive special communications and content. To learn more, visit Alumni.IllinoisState.edu/Golden-Redbirds.
The Illinois State University Alumni Association strives to provide lifelong learning and career development opportunities after graduation.
Illinois State Insights webinars encompass a variety of topics presented by award-winning authors, field professionals, and Illinois State faculty/staff all for free! Watch what piques your interest with at least two webinars posted per month. Topics in the past year have included personal brands, career changes, difficult conversations, connected families, leadership, creativity, communication styles, enneagram types, and the digital world. Each webinar has something for every Redbird.
World-renowned glass artist, sculptor, and designer Robert DuGrenier, M.F.A. ’79, joins Redbird Buzz to discuss how his ending up at Illinois State was one of the first steps to career success in the art world. DuGrenier, a 2018 Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame inductee, came to Illinois State as a graduate student, sight unseen, after being recruited while studying at the Hornsey College of Art in London.
DuGrenier’s works have included the creation of high-end installations for museums and architectural projects, glass chandeliers and pieces for private residences and hotels, and even the 1/12th scale model of the flame for the Statue of Liberty, from which the French artisans sculpted the new flame.
Tune in to this episode to hear how DuGrenier’s work has helped to advance the science of hermit crabs, about his impact on Nickelodeon and the Kids’ Choice Awards, and how he’s revitalizing his small Vermont hometown through farmers markets and community pizza nights.
Check out the roundup below featuring some of the best social media posts and photos shared by Illinois State alumni, students, faculty, staff, and community members during #RedbirdHomecoming week. Visit the Illinois State University Flickr to see more photos.
Reggie Redbird and Big Red Marching Machine at Homecoming Kickoff.
Big Red Marching Machine marches down College Ave. for the Homecoming Parade on Saturday.
Illinois State students participate at Redbird Rumble during Homecoming week at Hancock Stadium.
The Illinois State University community came together to celebrate Homecoming at the Homecoming Parade.
Redbird alumni came together for the Black Colleagues Association’s Sneaker Ball on Homecoming Saturday at the Bone Student Center inside the Brown Ballroom.
Interim President Aondover Tarhule and Dr. Roos Tarhule at the Homecoming Parade.
Interim President Aondover Tarhule and Town of Normal Mayor Chris Koos at the Tree Lighting Ceremony held at Uptown Circle.
Participants came together for the Hybrid Town and Gown 5K/1-Mile Fun Run/Walk for Homecoming.
Happy Homecoming @IllinoisStateU!! One of my most favorite traditions, the tree lighting!! Uptown is decked out and ready for all the festivities. Go Redbirds!❤️💯💃🏼‼️🎁🎈🎉🥰💥📍🚨🔴 pic.twitter.com/FjOHy5x9p8
— Illinois State University Homecoming (@ISU_Homecoming) October 15, 2023
Retired elementary school principal Tony Coglianese ’80 became a suddenly and strangely popular guy last July. Former classmates, colleagues, and friends he hadn’t heard from in years kept his phone buzzing. They all asked the same question.
Is that you on the shirt?!
A T-shirt celebrating “100 years of the Redbird” sold at a university online storefront—alongside other vintage apparel—features an illustration of a 1970s-era Redbird mascot spreading its wings. Poking out beneath the feathers are two unmistakably skinny legs and a pair of Converse-clad feet.
Tony Coglianese ’80 kept a framed photo of himself as the Redbird mascot on his desk for years. An illustrated version of the photo appears on a T-shirt celebrating “100 years of Redbirds.”
“They all said it was me. I didn’t believe them,” Coglianese said. “But someone sent me a picture of the T-shirt. They said, ‘Compare this to the photo from your office. It’s you!’”
The image on the front of the T-shirt was indeed an illustration of the framed photo that sat on Coglianese’s desk for years. Portraying Illinois State’s famous Redbird mascot remains one of his strongest connections to Illinois State University. Seeing himself featured on the shirt stirred memories of his time “in the suit,” as did a panel Q&A with 10 of Reggie’s former “helpers” published in the summer edition of State magazine.
Since the story was published, several of Reggie’s former “helpers” reached out to share their memories. Coglianese was one of them. His Redbird role began with a Vidette article about a graduating student mascot. It spurred a conversation between him and friends at a campus dining hall. “I said, ‘Hey boys, they’re looking for a new mascot. You may be having dinner with the next Redbird,” Coglianese recalled.
That moment led to two years in the suit and countless encounters and experiences that have stuck with him—from sinking a halfcourt shot to being lowered from the Horton Field House rafters by “three or four burly football players” to being pictured on a T-shirt more than 40 years later.
“It was my privilege to wear the suit,” Coglianese said.
Here are a few other stories from inside the suit:
So, you want to donate your head?!
Bob Matusiak ’79 does. His vintage mascot head, that is.
Bob Matusiak ’79 shows off a new Redbird mascot suit in a photo that ran in the Vidette in August 1978.
Matusiak holds the unique distinction of wearing both the costume made of feathers and a more modern fabric suit. When the feather suit was retired and about to be thrown out, he kept a souvenir.
“I had the old uniform when they brought out the new one,” Matusiak recalled. “I asked what they were going to do with the old one, and they said ‘nothing,’ so I kept the head.”
The new suit, which Matusiak modeled in a story in the Vidette in the fall of 1978, was a dramatic improvement. He no longer needed to spend an hour after each performance using glue and staples to reattach feathers.
But there was one downside to the new suit. “It was a whole lot hotter,” Matusiak said. “I remember that first football game was 85 or 90 degrees, and I think I probably sweated off about 10 pounds.”
Matusiak remains nostalgic about the old suit with feathers, though—enough so that he kept possession of the most recognizable part of it for the past 45 years. It’s resided in a cardboard box in the crawlspace of his Oak Lawn home most recently. After reading the article in State magazine, he decided he would donate it to the University Archives. He plans to drive it down in a couple weeks, and to explore campus to see what’s changed and what’s remained the same.
“Hey, is Avanti’s still open?” Matusiak asked at the end of his interview for this story. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a Gondola.”
He was also Reggie READbird
Reggie Redbird is a good role model for his many fans. He can often be seen showcasing his athletic talents and having fun, but he also knows when it’s time to hit the books. If you visited Milner Library at the turn of the century, you may remember the iconic series of “READ” posters distributed by the American Library Association featuring celebrities ranging from Oprah Winfrey to David Bowie to Yoda.
And maybe you saw the one featuring Reggie?
“I was in the costume for that, and they gave me a copy that still hangs in my classroom every year,” said Derek Swierczek ’01, now a high school math teacher in Wheeling. “It always makes for interesting questions and stories with my classes.”
Derek Swierczek ’01 proudly displays a poster of himself, wearing the Reggie Redbird costume, in his classroom.
Swierczek wore the suit all four years he was on campus. He recalled the joy of bringing smiles to children’s faces and admitted to smiling inside the suit himself, even when no one could see it. He enjoyed being Reggie at all sporting events—not just football and basketball games. He remembers the fear of falling into the Horton Field House pool while supporting the swimming and diving team.
He also recalled the challenges of the suit: limited vision, cumbersome feet, and being hot inside the “carpet of a costume.” He once required a trip to the hospital due to dehydration. “My roommates thought me being Reggie was cool at first until they realized how sweaty I got,” Swierczek said. “Sometimes I had to hang the suit up in the bathroom on our floor in Watterson Towers because it smelled horrible!”
The challenges of the suit made stunts extra difficult, but it didn’t stop Swierczek from grabbing a ball off the rack to take a few shots during halftime at basketball games. By his final performance, he had mastered the art.
“I made five out of seven 3-pointers, going all around the 3-point line,” he recalled. “And then, for my final shot before teams came back out to warm up, I was at halfcourt trying to get the crowd into it for my final shot. I moved back to the tip of the Redbird head at center court, and … it went in, and the crowd went wild!”
Reggie rocked the arena
Reggie Redbird is known for being a pretty talented bird, but on the night of November 6, 2018, he showcased a brand-new skill. With his Fender Statocaster guitar in hand, Reggie stood at the front of the band section and delivered an electrifying version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” for fans attending the men’s basketball home opener.
The performance was years in the making for Jackson Earl ’19, who waited until he had accumulated ample “street cred” by his senior year before pitching the idea. He had previously played the national anthem on guitar prior to a basketball game in high school and before a fireworks show in his hometown.
Jackson Earl ’19, left, spends some time with his favorite mascot on his graduation day.
But playing the guitar while fully costumed? That presented some challenges.
“Well, I quite literally took an old set of Reggie hands and shaved the left hand down with a box cutter until I could feel each guitar string through the glove. Then I poked a hole for my guitar pick to stick out of in the right hand,” Earl said. “I practiced for weeks leading up to the performance—sometimes with just the hands, sometimes with the hands and the head, and sometimes in the full suit, but always in the dark.
“I had to build muscle memory, because there was no way I could see any of the frets or strings out of the head while in an upright stance.”
Earl was pleased with the performance in which he “only missed two notes.” Aiming for “Hendrix meets Satriani,” he used reverb and delay effects through his guitar amp. Reactions were split; some didn’t care for the nontraditional rendition, while others told him he “crushed it.”
“It probably was my proudest moment as Reggie,” said Earl, now a math and computer science teacher at Champaign Central High School. “I was able to add to Reggie’s persona in my own way that no one else had done before.”
Jackson Earl ’19 plays “The “Star-Spangled Banner” prior to a men’s basketball game in 2018.
The performance brought a fitting end to Earl’s time in the suit.
“Being Reggie was one of the best things I have ever done,” he said. “It felt like a VIP pass to the entire campus. I had the blessing of getting to know students and faculty in a completely unique way, both in and out of the suit.”
We heard from several Reggies and have archived their memories. And there’s still time to be counted in the Reggie roll call. Update your information online and be sure to share your Reggie memories!
The upcoming event for the Fall 2023 International Seminar Series is now open for registration. All events will be presented simultaneously in-person in the Old Main Room of the Bone Student Center, and online through Zoom. The discussion will be held Wednesday, October 25, from noon-1 p.m. These events are free and open to the public. RSVP is required for in-person attendance.
We are pleased to formally invite you to the third event of Fall 2023 International Seminar Series in which the “Impressions of Colonialism” discussion will be continued, now from the student perspective. To provide context, when the United Nations was established in 1945, almost a third of the world’s population—750 million people—lived in states that were governed by other countries. Since that date over 80 countries have gained their independence from colonial administration. As such, the student panel will discuss what colonialism means to them as young people of today and by sharing their individual experiences.
This discussion will be facilitated by Dr. Tom Buller, professor in the Department of Philosophy.
Lunch will be provided before the event at 11:45 a.m. In-person RSVP is required so that an accurate food count will be available. Alternatively, you can also join the event via this Zoom link. Advance registration is not necessary for online attendance.
Anyone with questions, concerns, or regarding any accommodation to participate fully, should contact Emmy Buonomo at ecbuono@IllinoisState.edu or call the Office of International Engagement at (309) 438-1651. Allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation, thank you.
The 2023 inaugural Foxtail Film Festival lacked just one thing: the history of the Berlin International Film Festival.
“I had this one assignment on the syllabus,” said Dr. Andrew Ventimiglia, director of the Foxtail Film Festival and professor of the corresponding undergraduate course, COM 334: Film Festival Curation & Management. “But the history of Berlinale just kept getting pushed back week after week because we had so many other urgent things to do to prepare for the festival.”
The first run of any event (and in this case, classroom, too) often comes with the “unknown, unknowns,” said Ventimiglia. “There was a certain degree of chaos in the classroom last year that I would hope to mitigate in the future!”
Festival director Dr. Andrew Ventimiglia, chats with an attendee at the inaugural 2023 celebration.
But despite the lack of Berlin’s history of film to inform Illinois State University’s first film celebration, the students in COM 334 rolled out the red carpet and impressed all who attended. Held April 27-29, 2023, at the historic Normal Theater, the Foxtail Film Festival spotlighted young filmmakers who walked away motivated, celebrated, and inspired to create.
“The inaugural run of the Foxtail Film Festival was a tremendous success!” said Brendan Leahy, board member and assistant professor in film & digital media. “We were able to recognize young talent and support their work. Presentations by established industry professionals, demonstrations, discussions, networking, photos on the red carpet, and film fest swag made for a spectacular three-day event.”
With incredible keynotes by professional filmmakers, Doug Spilatro ‘79 and Griffin Hammond ’07, M.S. ’09, the festival drew in several hundred attendees.
“It was exciting. It was exhausting. And it was invigorating, to the extent that everyone said, ‘let’s run it back’ when the festival concluded,” said Ventimiglia.
And “run it back” we will. On April 25-28, 2024, the School of Communication, in partnership with the Department of Sociology & Anthropology, the School of Theatre & Dance, and the Wonsook Kim School of Art, will host the second annual Foxtail Film Festival at the Normal Theater. With a mission to support local and regional filmmakers and to connect Illinois State University and the Bloomington-Normal community to the broader industry, the highly anticipated festival will return—and it promises another successful year of film celebration.
Celebrating success
Griffin Hammond ’07 M.S. ’09, serves as a keynote speaker in 2023.
The Foxtail Film Festival has been a decade in the making. Originally the brainchild of Dr. Brent Simonds, professor of mass media, the festival saw setback after setback before coming to fruition. Most notably, the delay the COVID-19 world pandemic caused.
“After 10 years of dreaming and planning, I couldn’t have been more pleased with our inaugural film festival,” said Simonds. “I am very proud of Dr. Ventimiglia and his students and the work they did to pull it off. I have even greater hopes for success next year.”
His sentiments are widely shared within the School of Communication.
“The inaugural year for the Foxtail Film Festival was such a success,” said Dr. Aimee Miller-Ott, interim director of the school. “The entire team did an amazing job organizing the festival. From the speaking events with award-winning filmmakers to the high school and college film competition, I’m in absolute awe.”
It’s no easy feat curating a festival from the ground up. While the planning process and classroom experiences are invaluable, it’s just one part of the grand equation that makes the Foxtail Film Festival a one-of-a-kind experience for all.
“It’s vital for the budding filmmaker to have such a positive experience screening their film within a genuine exhibition space like the historic Normal Theater,” added Leahy.
Cultivating the next generation of filmmakers is at the heart of the Foxtail’s mission.
“I’m most proud of the way the festival provided a supportive environment for the filmmakers who came,” said Ventimiglia. “Seeing that level of excitement and engagement by those who attended made the entire festival for me because those are things well outside of my control. That felt really good.”
A one-of-a-kind student experience with room to grow
The festival is a unique experience for Illinois State University students. Not only do students get the opportunity in class to learn the business and art of film festival management, but students also have hands-on opportunities to create evaluation rubrics, judge film submissions, and produce a fully curated festival lineup.
“There are not that many classes like this in the country,” said Ventimiglia. “There’s a small group of people who teach in the film festival area and there’s a film festival research network, but even there it’s only a handful of people who get to teach a class like this that builds a festival. I can count on one hand the classes similar to this across the country. What we have here in the School of Communication is really exceptional.”
Offered every spring semester, COM 334 fills with 25 undergraduate students from all majors across campus interested in the film industry.
“One thing that will keep the festival new and different every year is the degree to which it is student run,” said Ventimiglia. “The interests, the programming, and the points of emphasis we want to highlight in films each year are going to be highly dependent on what students we have enrolled. That means there’s always going to be a level of unpredictability because we’re going to find those themes and figure out what we want to highlight based on who chooses to take the class.”
The 2023 festival received upwards of 40 film submissions, but Ventimiglia would ideally like to see an increase of 100-120 in 2024.
Foxtail Film Festival merchandise.
“To me, the more submissions we get will be an added challenge,” he said. “Obviously, there will be more to sift through, but I do think that’s the biggest step to start elevating the festival.”
The inaugural festival’s success demonstrated that Illinois State University has a community that supports local filmmakers and is excited about the filmmaking community. With enthusiasm, comes room to grow.
“I’d really like to focus on increasing the visibility of the festival in the local community and by extension within the broader film festival industry because that allows us to get more film submissions and then make better lineups,” Ventimiglia added. “The more visibility, the stronger options we have.”
But it’s not just the Illinois State University community Ventimiglia plans to target. As the festival grows in scale, he anticipates connecting with Heartland Community College, Illinois Wesleyan University, and Eureka College, too, to gain a wider reach.
From building sponsorships with local small businesses to growing the Foxtail social media platforms, Ventimiglia anticipates incorporating new assignments into the classroom in 2024 that will make use of student talent while simultaneously growing the festival.
“I had students last year who created amazing merchandise and drafted sponsorship requests to send out to local businesses. Most of which, we didn’t get to use,” he said.
As the Foxtail Film Festival enters its second year, Ventimiglia is keenly aware of the role students will play and how their interests and skills will grow the second annual celebration.
“The students will always have a strong voice in anything we do. My role is as much quality control and management as it is director of the film festival,” he added.
Support the festival
The Foxtail Film Festival is an excellent opportunity for alumni to visit campus and support student-run initiatives.
“I hope to see the Foxtail run forever, but in order to do that we need a sustainable budget,” said Ventimiglia. “As we enter our second year of planning, we’d gratefully accept any financial support.”
The second annual Foxtail Film Festival will return to the historic Normal Theater on April 25-28, 2024. Show your support for this unique, one-of-a-kind student-led experience and contribute today. Connect with us on social media, too. The Foxtail Film Festival is on Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Kim CarthansDr. Patrick HalloranTim MooreDr. Jeremy SchenkDaniel Jackson
The College of Education at Illinois State University will induct four alumni into its Hall of Fame on Friday, October 13 during the University’s 2023 Homecoming celebration. One Outstanding Young Alumni will also be recognized during this event.
Hall of Fame
Kim Carthans, Normal, IL, ‘94, M.S. ‘99 earned a Bachelor of Science in elementary education and a Master of Science in reading, and is pursuing her doctorate degree in education at Illinois State. For 26 years, Kim has been in the elementary classroom and is currently a third-grade teacher at Thomas Metcalf Laboratory School. Kim created her own story time business and a book blog to honor diverse and inclusive literature. She has worked alongside her local and classroom community in donating materials to schools in Kenya, food pantries, and the Center for Civic Engagement at ISU. She has also helped form local and international pen pal systems with second grade classes locally and in Kenya. In addition to her role as a teacher, Kim is a proud member of the Illinois Reading Council, NAACP, Association of Black Academic Employees at ISU, and the Teach Better Team.
Dr. Patrick Halloran, Coal City, IL, M.S. ‘93, Ed.D. ’08 earned a Master of Science and Doctor of Education in educational administration from Illinois State. For 38 years, Patrick has been in education as a teacher, leader, mentor, and coach. In 2018, he retired as superintendent of Morris Community High School District. He currently serves as an instructor in the Department of Educational Administration and Foundations and is a leadership coach for principals and superintendents throughout Illinois. In 2018, he was named the Illinois Association of School Administrators Three Rivers Division Superintendent of Distinction. Patrick has always valued a servant leader approach with an emphasis on relationship building and he continues to give back to education through building district leaders who understand the importance of serving those they lead. In his local community, he serves on multiple community organization boards.
Tim Moore, Bloomington, IL, M.S. ‘01, earned a Master of Science in educational administration from Illinois State. For 26 years, he has served the students and families of Bloomington High School. He began as a business teacher and has been the principal for the last 16 years. Tim serves as a mentor for aspiring principals in his district and across the state through his work in the Illinois Principals Association. He served on the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) board of directors as he understands and appreciates the relationship of interscholastic athletics to the success of schools and students. He has been a guest speaker on the Paul Garcia Show podcast, the Illinois Principals Association Leaders of Hope series, and for teacher education programs at ISU. Tim believes that his sole purpose as an educator is to serve others and help provide opportunities for his students and staff.
Dr. Jeremy Schenk, Wadsworth, IL, ‘00, M.S. ‘01 earned his Bachelor of Science in social work and Master of Science in college student personnel administration (CSPA) from Illinois State. He earned a doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Missouri. He currently serves as the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs at Northwestern University. He began his career in student affairs at ISU 25 years ago. For nearly his whole career, he has been a part of the Association of College Unions International where he served in many leadership roles including President during the pandemic. Jeremy has completed exceptional research in human resources within student affairs. He also led a study that looked into recruiting, retaining, and engaging the student affairs workforce. Among all his achievements, Jeremy takes the most pride in his inspiring students. For the last five years, he served on the CSPA advisory board at ISU.
Outstanding Young Alumni
Daniel Jackson, Chicago, IL, ‘18, earned a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Illinois State. He is a second-grade teacher and the culture and climate chairman at Dixon Elementary in Chicago. During his five years of teaching, he has created an environment for children where they are taught independence, respect for differences, values and principles for effective living, human rights, and respect for the environment. He developed multiple programs at Dixon including Tie Tuesday, which teaches students how to dress professionally and obtain professional etiquette, health skills, and holistic wellness. He is a mentor for young men at Trinity United Church of Christ. Daniel works with the Golden Apple Foundation, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, and the Teach Plus Fellowship as an advocate and public speaker for education. He currently serves on the board of Directors for the Illinois State University Alumni Association. Daniel is an educator who teaches to transform lives of young minds through critical thinking.
