Prairie Center presents 'Spoon River Anthology' Jan. 17

The Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts will present the "Spoon River Anthology" at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, in the lecture hall.

The event commemorates the centennial anniversary of Edgar Lee Masters' groundbreaking work with a fresh adaptation starring actors Paddy and Jon Lynn and folk singer Patti Ecker.

Causing a sensation with its frankness about sex, moral decay and hypocrisy, the collection of more than 200 interconnected free verse epitaphs focuses on former residents of the fictitious town of Spoon River, who come forward from their graves to tell the truth about their lives.

Its free verse style and its portrayal of characters with blunt, brutal honesty caused a scandal upon its debut. The stories capture all aspects of life - irony, comedy, failure, success. These dramatized monologues will not only reflect on the life and times of those living in 1915, but also offer universal lessons to Illinoisans living today.

The performance is presented through the Illinois Humanities Council's Road Scholar program.

Tickets are $10 and can be ordered online at www.prairiecenter.org or by calling (847) 895-3600. The Prairie Center is located at 201 Schaumburg Court.