What’s to Like About Rockford: The Nutcracker at The Coronado Theatre

 img_2947blog.JPG

An annual holiday tradition in Rockford, The Nutcracker is performed by the Rockford Symphony Orchestra and the Rockford Dance Company. This year the dancers and musicians were exceptional, the choreography whimsical and lovely. A review can be read here.

The venue contributes the rest of the magic and still manages to take my breath away every time I go, whether for The Nutcracker or for one of the many Broadway shows that travel through Rockford. Built in the 1920s, the theater first opened in 1927. After falling into disrepair over the years, the theatre was completely renovated and re-opened in 2001. You can read The Coronado’s Wikipedia entry here. There is also a terrific book about the history and restoration of the theatre by Gwendolyn Quirk, which can be found at Amazon here.

Dubbed Rockford’s Crown Jewel, photos can’t completely capture the grandness of this theater, but I tried:

img_2922blog.JPG

Chandelier at the Coronado Theatre, Rockford, IL, hanging between Southwest and Southeast stairwells.

img_2934blog.JPG

The stage and audience at The Coronado Theatre, Rockford, IL, as viewed from the left lower balcony.

img_2938blog.JPG

The ceiling of the lobby, Coronado Theatre, Rockford, IL.

Photographs by Karin Blaski 12/2/12

During the Last Twelve Days of Fall Semester

dreamstimefree_56772.jpg

My Students Gave to Me:

Twelve harried phone calls,

Eleven hours grading,

Ten sleepless nights,

Nine more hours grading,

Eight homemade cookies,

Seven failing grades,

Six thank you e-mails,

Five homework due date extension requests,

Four calling cell phones (during final exams!),

Three requests for reference letters,

Two handwritten thank you cards,

And one job I hate to love 🙂

Photograph Andrew Taylor