Jimmy Rea
Arts Reporter & HostJimmy Rea is a proud Ozarkian with deep ties to the music community. With 2 decades of creative entrepreneurship underfoot, Jimmy has toured coast to coast and around the world with acoustic acts The HillBenders and Keller Williams. Spearheading numerous musical groups, recording projects, and live music events, Rea’s work in the Springfield music scene is a passion and lifestyle. Happily married to wife Melissa and father to Archie, they enjoy life together with 2 dogs and a cat. In his downtime you can find Jimmy fishing for bass in the crisp rivers, creeks, and streams of the Ozarks.
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Devising Original Theatre Springfield invites area theater creatives to participate in the fast-paced Playwright’s Playground Festival, where teams have just 24 hours to create, rehearse and perform original works.
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The 15th Annual Queen City Shout festival returns to venues across Springfield from March 23-29, featuring more than 100 live music performances along with film screenings, poetry events, dance and visual arts programming.
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Springfield Little Theatre opens “Sweeney Todd,” Nick, Ruell and Ned reunite for a special show at the historic Fox Theatre, Soundcheck with Jess Balisle and Eric Leick, watercolor as meditation, and music from Drifter’s Mile.
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The classic performance will be show director Joanie Garner Diprizio’s inaugural Landers production, running from March 13th through the 29th.
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Film and television in our region continues to grow thanks to the Ozarks Film Foundry and the SWMO Film Office. High Tide Theatrical opens “The Laramie Project,” the Springfield Youth Symphony performs a piece by Shostakovich, a local author discusses his new book about life in show business, and we hear new music from David Hinson.
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High Tide Theatrical’s next production, “The Laramie Project,” portrays conversations within a community after a tragic hate crime leaves a gay man dead. We speak with the show’s director and an actor about tackling emotional subject matter and how theater can help audiences better understand one another.
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Sid Pierce’s new book, "Roadie: From the Tour Bus to the School Bus," began during the COVID-19 pandemic and is intended as an heirloom for his daughter, highlighting his years on the road with country music legend Roy Clark and others.
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Broadway tours’ economic impact on the Ozarks, Laura French puts a jazzy twist on a classic cinematic song, we explore local country music jams, and the Springfield Art Museum’s annual All-School Exhibition continues despite building renovations.
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Although the museum is closed for renovations, the long-running exhibition of student artwork will continue this year at another location.
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Officials at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts announced upcoming dates for Wicked and said that Broadway touring productions deliver far more than entertainment for the community.