The Central Illinois Building & Construction Trades Council (CIBCTC) and affiliated unions are partnering with Springfield Youth Performance Group (SYPG) to present Books on Stage at the Performing Arts Center at the University of Illinois Springfield on February 2, 2024, at 10am.
Books on Stage is a free community performance for elementary students and senior citizen organizations throughout Central Illinois. Several children’s stories for readers of all levels will be brought to life through movement, bright costumes and lively music. Stories include: Snow White, Cinderella, Little Women, Mr.
Popper’s Penguins, Jumanji, Alice in Wonderland, and Winnie the Pooh. Each story to be performed has a moral of kindness and compassion.
The production will also feature a live reading by Illinois author Marisa Richards of her book: Girls Who Build. This picture book introduces readers to jobs in the construction trades and features female characters inspired by real women who do the work each day. Richards is also a member of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) with District Council 30 in Aurora, IL.
“The CIBCTC and our affiliated unions are proud to support this educational opportunity to bring stories to life for area school children, senior citizens, and community members,” stated Aaron Gurnsey, President of the Central Illinois Building & Construction Trades Council. “Our members work every day to help build a better world and find innovative ways to give back to our communities. We are excited to help bring Author Marisa Richards to Central Illinois to share her children’s book about opportunities in the trades.”
“SYPG Foundation is grateful for this wonderful partnership with area labor organizations,” noted Taryn Grant, Executive Director of SYPG.“Thanks to this generous sponsorship from the CIBCTC and its member unions we can also make Books on Stage accessible beyond the main production on February 2nd. SYPG will be able to continue sharing the tales included in Books on Stage to interested schools and community organizations well into the future.”
CIBCTC is an alliance of 15 different Building & Construction Trades that work together to provide essential coordination and support of all affiliated unions and their signatory contractors, to improve relationships and to create harmony among its member organizations.
SYPG was founded in the summer of 2005 as a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children through the performing arts. SYPG’s mission is to encourage and cultivate the artistically talented youth in our community by giving them the opportunity to perform thereby enhancing community awareness and appreciation of the performing arts. SYPG works toward this purpose by targeting excellence in stage performances, arts education, and youth-centered programming that is facilitated by professional artists.
For more information about the production on February 2, 2024, or to find out how to bring Books on Stage to your organization, email sypg@sypgfoundation.org or call 217-553-4475.
