Vol.2, No.12, April 3, 2026
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People. Places. Things To Do. |
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| | Welcome, friends and arts lovers!
Spring is doing that thing where everything starts stacking up at once. Dance, music, events, exhibitions, and festivals. I love it.
This week, we’re celebrating deep legacy and new momentum. Springfield Ballet marks its 50th anniversary with new leadership and a return of live orchestra music, while the Ozark Festival Orchestra brings a finale to its 46th season in Monett, Missouri, with the smell of fresh-baked pies lingering around the baton of conductor Carla Wootton.
Decades melt together, and generations keep showing up, putting in the time and building something that lasts. Whether it’s young dancers finding their footing or volunteer musicians filling out a full orchestra in a town of 10,000, it all points back to the same thing: artistic legacy and the desire to use this life to create, share, and connect.
That’s what The Green Room is all about.
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| Jimmy Rea
Host, Arts News
KSMU 91.1 - FM
Ozarks Public Broadcasting
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The Green Room is sponsored by Springfield Community Gardens
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New Executive Director, Kyler Dibben. Photo Credit: Springfield Ballet
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With a new executive director and two new co-artistic directors, Springfield Ballet is setting its sights on the next 50 years, beginning with its upcoming production of Beauty and the Beast...read more.
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Ozark Festival Orchestra dress rehearsal. Photo credit: Ozark Festival Orchestra
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The Ozark Festival Orchestra wraps up its season with a program of cinematic favorites and a pie auction. The long-running volunteer ensemble continues to bring big sound to a small town after outgrowing its previous venue...read more.
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Arts News on KSMU is your long-standing source for what's happening in the Ozarks arts scene spotlighting local creators, performances, and cultural events every week. Tune in Fridays at 10 a.m. on 91.1-FM or stream at KSMU.org
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👉Got a story, event, or artist I should know about? Share your arts and music tips with The Green Room, and help us shine a spotlight on the creative pulse of the Ozarks! You can email them to me at JRea@MissouriState.edu.
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Sponsored by Sothern Plumbing
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🎶Friends don't leave friends out of the music and arts scene - they share all the local arts and music happenings. Just forward this email to friends!
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In 1870, a town was invented just to the north of Springfield. Years earlier, the St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad (the “Frisco” line) had informed the city of Springfield that the local topography would require them to lay their tracks about a mile north of town. Springfield thought the railroad would eventually change course but (fun fact) they did not. Meanwhile, a group of investors cleverly bought up all the land around the forthcoming rail line and made their own town. And so, “North Springfield” was born. However, the residents of OG Springfield had a different, more pejorative name for their new neighbors to the north: “Moon City.”
Obviously, the name implied that the town was a foolish endeavor and its residents were crazy for living there, “lunatics,” if you will, which of course itself means “affected by the moon,” hence, “Moon City.” Not a long walk at all there, gentlemen. Sick 19th century burn!
Naturally, 146 years later, someone named a bar after it. And then that bar changed hands. And then that bar changed hands again. And then, late in 2023, the bar closed. And that, it seemed, was the end of it for the Moon City Pub. But along came three friends who had all worked at the bar at one time or another and, with the blessing and help of the prior owners, bought the bar outright and reopened it in the summer of 2024.
Priority number one? Keep the vibe of their favorite watering hole but make it an essential part of the Springfield music scene. At this, they have succeeded in spades. Before they even opened the doors the only big change they made to the place was to restore and expand the stage, and now Moon City Pub is host to shows multiple nights a week, and frequently full up.
So, you have a coterie of people. Bound together in camaraderie, adventure, and the service of music and vice.
Give them a bar.
Put in a stage.
Adopt a cat. (They have a proper bar cat! Moon Pie! She’s adorable.)
Watch. What. Happens.
This is the story of Moon City Pub.
Lunatics all.
We’ll see you next week!
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Local Radar with Ran Cummings is a weekly music and conversation radio show on KSMU featuring bands and performances from in and around the Ozarks every Friday night at 9:00 p.m. on 91.1 - FM or stream at KSMU.org.
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Studio Live with Melissa Rea and Jess Balisle airs on the 2nd Friday of every month at noon. Tune in at 91.1-FM or stream at KSMU.org for an hour of live music and conversation with talented local artists. Later that evening, experience the music in person at a FREE live performance from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Springfield Brewing Company.
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| April 10: The Shandies
May 8: Little Jones
June 12: The Sideburns
July 10: Jin J. X
August 14: Patti Steel
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In the mood to stay in? Queue up one of these videos handpicked by our staff at Ozarks Public Broadcasting, perfect for a night in when you're skipping the scene but still craving culture.
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These favorites from KSMU and OPT are just the beginning—there’s a whole world of storytelling, music, documentaries, and local gems waiting on you to dive in and discover at your local public broadcasting station.
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Was this email sent to you by a friend? If you'd love fresh takes, local gems, and behind-the-scenes artsy goodness in your inbox every week subscribe to The Green Room.
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The Green Room is a production of Ozarks Public Broadcasting. For more information about our programs and services please visit our website.
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Mailing Address:
901 South National Ave.
Springfield, MO 65897
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| Telephone:
Ozarks Public Television 417-836-3500
KSMU Radio 417-836-5878
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