The Krannert Center for the Performing Arts is an educational and performing arts complex located at 500 South Goodwin Street in Urbana, Illinois, on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Herman C. Krannert, an industrialist who was the founder of Inland Container Corporation and an alumnus of the University, and his wife Ellnora Krannert made a gift of $16 million which made creation of the Center possible. Max Abramovitz, the architect of the Center, was also a UI alumnus.
The total combined seating capacity of the four venues at the Center is approximately 4,000. The main lobby features a floor made of teak from Thailand, which cost $1 million, and marble walls from Carrara, Italy. The building opened in 1969.
Foellinger Great Hall, with 2,078 seats, is the largest of the venues at the Center and is known for its acoustics; it attracts world famous artists and ensembles to perform every year. Some noteworthy orchestras like the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony have used the hall for recordings. The School of Music at the University of Illinois hosts many performances at this venue by students, faculty, the Sinfonia da Camera and the University of Illinois Wind Symphony. It is the main venue for the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, the Professional Orchestra in Residence at the Krannert Center and the Sinfonia da Camera conducted by Ian Hobson.
Dr. Cyril Harris, a noted acoustician and Emeritus Professor of Architecture at Columbia University designed the interior of the Foellinger Great Hall. His past projects include the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City and Powell Symphony Hall in St. Louis. Later projects include the mid-1970s renovation of Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center and the late-1990s design of Benaroya Hall in Seattle. The design of the hall is almost perfectly symmetrical. There are no parallel surfaces in the room, instead all the surfaces are angled to ensure that the sound reflects back to the audience. This accounts for much of the hall's acoustic superiority. No amplification is necessary for instrumental music.
Tryon Festival Theatre, with 974 seats on two levels, was primarily intended for operas and the acoustics are designed to favor vocal performances. It also hosts performances of ballet, dances, musicals and plays. This theater is equipped with a Sennheiser Audio System, computerized lighting control, sound reinforcement and recording capability. It has become a tradition for the local Champaign-Urbana Ballet and the Sinfonia da Camera to perform The Nutcracker in the Festival theatre every December. A unique feature of the theatre, designed to support the plays and musicals, is that a trap door may be placed almost anywhere on stage with removable 4'x 8' panels.
Colwell Playhouse, with 674 seats, mainly hosts plays and dance performances and is used mainly by the Departments of Theatre and Dance and also by touring productions. Like the Festival theatre, it is equipped with a Sennheiser Audio System, a computerized lighting system, sound reinforcement and recording capability. The acoustics in this venue are designed to specifically support speech performances. The walls are shaped to reflect voices from the stage towards the audience while the back walls are echo-proof.
Studio Theatre, a small theatre with 200 seats, is a black box theatre designed to support experimental performances. It was intended as an experimental workspace for students and performers and hence has a smaller, less intimidating seating capacity. Its audio and lighting capabilities are similar to the other venues with a computerized lighting system and sound reinforcement.
Amphitheatre; this theater is located on the outside of the Krannert Center and is a common spot for students to relax, study, and socialize during the warmer months. It is a popular on-campus first date destination and was voted "Best Spot to Share A First Kiss" by the student population in 2006. It is also the location of On The Rocks a set of student written, produced, and directed one-act plays put on by the Krannert Center Student Association in the spring.
Stage 5 Bar; this bar and performance stage is located in the central lobby of the center. It is used for a variety of purposes including simple patron lounging, meetings, course events and small performances like Afterglow concerts, Traffic Jam events and Interval concerts. It is also home to Krannert Uncorked. Krannert Uncorked is a wine tasting event, for those of age, on Thursdays. Stage 5 Bar also serves cocktails, imported beers and hors d'oeuvres 90 minutes before most performances until performances end for the evening.
Intermezzo Cafe, located on the north end of the lobby between Colwell Playhouse and the Studio Theatre, provides full meals, snacks, and refreshments throughout the day and before/after performances all week. The cafe is certified by the Illinois Green Business Association, and all proceeds go back into Krannert Center events. They use many locally produced products, as well as organic and vegetarian selections.
Artists
Joshua Bell, Grammy winning violinist - April 2010, March 2004
Lang Lang, pianist - April 2010
Joshua Redman, jazz saxophonist - May 2008
Zakir Hussain, acclaimed tabla player - April 2008
Kronos Quartet, avant-garde string quartet - April 2008
Savion Glover, noted tap dancer - October 2007
Chick Corea, multiple Grammy winning jazz pianist - April 2007, April 2009
Sonny Rollins, multiple Grammy winning jazz saxophone legend - October 2006
Yo-Yo Ma - March 2006
Cecilia Bartoli, mezzo-soprano - October 2005
Directions in Music, featuring Herbie Hancock (piano), Michael Brecker (saxophone), and Roy Hargrove (trumpet) - March 2005
Clark Terry, Grammy winning jazz trumpet player - March 2004
Dee Dee Bridgewater, multiple Grammy winning jazz vocalist - December 2003
Maya Beiser, cellist - October 2003 (World Premiere The world to come)
Luciano Pavarotti, Tenor - October 1980
Ensembles
China National Symphony Orchestra - February 2013
National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba - October 2013
Russian National Ballet Theatre - January 2011
St. Olaf Choir - February 2012
Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra - April 2010
Moscow State Radio Symphony Orchestra - February 2010
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra - March 2006
Russian National Ballet - January 2006
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - January 2006
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra - December 2005
Munich Symphony Orchestra - October 2005
Chicago Symphony Orchestra - February 2005
Moscow State Radio Symphony - February 2004
Vienna Symphony Orchestra - November 2003
London Symphony Orchestra - May 2001
Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra - February 2001
Festivals
The Krannert Center hosts the Ellnora Guitar Festival (formerly Wall to Wall Guitar Festival) every two years in September, beginning in 2005, which has featured artists such as Pat Metheny, Elliot Fisk, Andy Summers, Taj Mahal, Vernon Reid, Toubab Krewe, Campbell Brothers, The Romeros, Alex DeGrassi, Los Lobos, John McLaughlin, Jorma Kaukonen, and Buddy Guy.
Additionally, Krannert has sponsored the Pygmalion Music Festival every September since 2006, which has brought indie rock artists such as Iron & Wine, The Books, David Bazan, Danielson, Andrew Bird, Yo La Tengo, and High Places to the traditionally jazz and classical-oriented venue.
