'Road to Rising Star' open mic series starts Wednesday
BLOOMINGTON — Musicians, poets, comedians and performers of any kind are encouraged to join The Road to Rising Star open mic competition that starts Wednesday at The Bistro. The family-friendly talent competition is a chance to earn your way onto the Bloomington-Normal PrideFest stage July 25. Two winners are chosen each month; in addition to Wednesday’s competition, rounds will take place May 20 and June 17. The final winner is chosen at the July 15 finale. Head here to sign up to compete. The competition is 9 to 10 p.m. at The Bistro, 316 N. Main St., and audience members are encouraged to swing by to cheer on the competitors.
LGBTQ+ bar Amy’s Place now open in Champaign
CHAMPAIGN — Champaign/Urbana has a queer bar again now that Amy’s Place has held its soft opening Sunday. The bar at 120 N. First St. is open 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. every day. Owned by DJ Amy Beth Myers, Amy’s Place is cash-only and aims to begin offering themed nights and more within a few weeks. In January, the Champaign/Urbana area lost another LGBTQ+ bar, Anthem, which has operated for two years. Learn more about Amy’s Place at its Facebook page and Instagram.
Auditions Saturday for Jane Austen comedy
URBANA — A comedic take on Jane Austen’s most famous stories will hold auditions this Saturday for a run that debuts in June. “The Complete Works of Jane Austen (Unabridged)” is an 80-minute, three-person portrayal of the main works of Austen, the 1800s English writer who wrote “Pride and Prejudice,” “Sense and Sensibility,” and four other novels. Station Theatre in Urbana debuts the play June 18; this Saturday’s auditions are at the theater, 223 N. Broadway Ave., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Station Theatre also has auditions coming May 11 and 12 for “Come From Away.:
