Krannert Center first opened its doors in 1969 – the manifestation of a dream that began with two remarkable individuals, Herman and Ellnora Krannert, whose philanthropy has profoundly influenced the University of Illinois through gifts supporting both Krannert Art Museum and Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Widely considered the nation’s leading university-based performing arts center, for five decades Krannert Center has served as classroom, laboratory, and public square for the campus,community, and region. Krannert Center will celebrate its 50th anniversary in a two-season celebration, 2018-19 and 2019-20. University of Illinois students, staff and faculty and the general public share their stories of this remarkable facility.
At the time of the interview, Doug and Janet Nelson served as co-chairs of Krannert Center's 50th-Anniversary Community Celebration Committee. As audience members, advocates, donors, and representatives of a corporate sponsor, Doug and Janet reflect and recount their experiences at Krannert Center and their hopes for the future.
Rebecca McBride retired from Krannert Center in 2016 as Senior Associate Director after twenty-four years. A member of Krannert Center's 50th-Anniversary Community Celebration Committee and a consultant to the Center on its 50th-Anniversary celebration, Rebecca also provides marketing, strategic planning, and communications consulting to other non-profit organizations.
Tom Roadcap earned a B.S. in civil and environmental engineering, with a minor in music, from the University of Illinois. At the time of the interview, Tom was a graduate student at Illinois pursuing his M.S. in civil and environmental engineering. Tom was offered a Fulbright grant in 2018 to conduct master's research in Munich on railroad track safety and design. Tom recounts his experience at Krannert Center as as student.
