SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — "The Life and Work of Vachel Lindsay," a new documentary about the Springfield poet, will screen in Springfield and Carbondale next month.
The film, produced by The Storyteller Studios and commissioned by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and State Historic Sites Springfield, tells the story of Springfield poet Vachel Lindsay. The project was funded through a partnership with the Vachel Lindsay Association.
“We appreciate the generous leadership of the Vachel Lindsay Association for funding this educational and entertaining film,” said Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. “The Vachel Lindsay Home is a historical treasure in the capital city, and this film adds an important component to the visitor experience.”
Lindsay (1879-1931) became famous in the Midwest for spoken poetry performance. His works depicted small-town and rural America but have drawn criticism in the modern era for the way African-Americans were portrayed.
The film will screen at 6 p.m. Friday, April 14 in Brookens Auditorium at the University of Illinois Springfield. It also will screen at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 22 at the Varsity Center in Carbondale. Tickets for the Springfield screening can be ordered at uis.edu/event/screening-life-and-work-vachel-lindsay; tickets for the Carbondale event are available online at thevarsitycenter.org.
The film is a new part of the visitor experience at the Vachel Lindsay Home on Fifth Street in Springfield and will be available on the IDNR website.
“The Vachel Lindsay Home is an important historic site that helps us stay connected to the roots of literature and art that run deep in Illinois,” said Justin Blandford, superintendent of State Historic Sites Springfield. “After seeing this film, our guests will have a much deeper appreciation for Vachel Lindsay’s contributions as a poet, illustrator and pioneering film critic.”
The film was directed and produced by Kevin Christensen of The Storyteller Studios. The trailer can be viewed at https://thestorytellerstudios.com/vachel.
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