Vol.2, No.2, January 16, 2026
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People. Places. Things To Do. |
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| | Howdy friends. I hope your week ran smoothly.
Live performances take real courage. A room full of people, a shared sense of anticipation, and an understanding that anything could happen next. Whether it’s a talent show or an improvised story unfolding on the spot, these moments remind us why we still gather around the arts and experience them in real time.
This week, we hear from organizers behind Ozarks Star Search, a good old-fashioned talent show returning to the Seymour YMCA with an open call for artists across the Ozarks. It’s a community-driven event where performers of all disciplines and experience levels share the spotlight. The audience casts the final vote for cash prizes, while the bigger goal is equal parts fun and fundraising for local families.
Also flowing from the artistic tap of the Ozarks this week is Dice, Dragons, and DOTS, a new monthly series from Devising Original Theatre Springfield that blends role-playing games with improv theatre at Mother’s Brewing Company. It’s part fantasy, part performance, and entirely shaped by the players on stage and the game master, proving that theatre does not need a traditional script or setting to exist. Sometimes it ends up even better than what is written on the page.
Community excitement runs through this week’s conversations, and it’s the kind of energy we’ll keep chasing as another year of local creativity continues. Welcome back to The Green Room.
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| Jimmy Rea
Host, Arts News
KSMU 91.1 - FM
Ozarks Public Broadcasting
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The Green Room Arts News Letter is presented by
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Former first - place winner Addie Kelley receives her prize money. Photo Credit: Ozarks Star Search
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Get ready to discover the next big act in the Ozarks! From singers and dancers to quirky acts and everything in between, the 16th annual Ozarks Star Search is back March 7 at the Seymour YMCA with bigger prizes and bigger energy. Whether you’re thinking about stepping on stage or just love seeing local talent shine, this is your front-row invite to the fun, the community vibe, and a chance to see what folks from across the region bring to the spotlight...read more.
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Dice, Dragons, and DOTS cast and crew gather for rehearsal. Photo Credit: Dice, Dragons, and DOTS
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Dice, Dragons, and DOTS throws players and performers together in a story that unfolds in real time, with a game master setting the scene, actors bringing characters to life, and the crowd soaking up every twist and turn. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when theatre and tabletop gaming collide, this local twist on fantasy storytelling then...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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🎶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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What’s punk rock about brunch?
EVERYTHING.
Is it breakfast? No.
But kinda.
Is it lunch? Not yet.
But you can get a hamburger.
Brunch exists outside of your laws and norms. It is definable, but constantly redefined. It can bend to whatever you most want it to be. And it certainly doesn’t care what you show up dressed in (but it also kinda does).
Could anything sound more punk rock?
With this in mind, since this last summer, Ruthie’s Off C-Street, along with local punk luminary Timmy “The Angry Panda” Miano, have been hosting a monthly food and music gathering every 3rd Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m.: “Punk Rock Brunch.”
With a properly greasy bar menu, some excellent breakfast fare, plenty of cocktails, but also ice-cold orange juice, and all the cereal you could ask for, it has become a delicious institution for the local music scene. Did you want some ear splitting, three-chord garage rock, a PBR, and a bowl of Lucky Charms? Buddy, have I got a deal for you.
This Sunday features clown-folk duo Little Things Collective (Yeah. You heard me. “Clown-Folk.”) and the Missouri alt-rock stylings of New Madrid, MO. There will be eggs. There will be burritos. There will be loud noises. There will be bacon. There will be juice. There will be clown stuff. There will be cereal.
Sounds pretty punk rock to me.
So, take your inner punk for a ride, give a listen to Memorial Day by New Madrid, MO, think about how much bacon you’re gonna want with your fries, and we’ll see you next week!
(And, yeah. You should definitely get some Lucky Charms.)
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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 the 2nd Friday of every month on KSMU. Tune in at 12:00 p.m. for an hour of live music and conversation with talented artists. Later that evening, experience the music in person at a FREE performance from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at Springfield Brewing Company.
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| February 13: Joe Dillstrom
March 13: Pomfret
April 10: The Shandies
May 8: Little Jones
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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 Arts News letter.
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The Green Room: A Weekly Arts News Letter 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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