'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson' to rock Corn Stock

When you think about rock musicals, the ones that may come to mind include “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Hair” and “Rent.” And these days, “Hamilton” usually enters the conversation.

One show that doesn’t, at least yet, is “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.” It has only been done once in central Illinois, at Eureka College. It is, after all, a show that is destined to appeal more to a younger audience, what with its rock music and lyrics and its different take on history that turns Andrew Jackson in a rock star as he heads off to claim Native American property for the then-young United States.

“Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson gets it first community theatre look starting this Friday at Corn Stock Theatre’s Winter Playhouse. And when Corn Stock decided to produce it at its Winter Playhouse this season, it knew it wanted a director familiar with the style and able to draw younger audiences. Chip Joyce was a no brainer and he readily accepted the offer because it was a show he wanted to do.

He was, after all, the director of the most recent central Illinois productions of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Hair” and “Rent.”

“This is another type of show I love to do, the kind where you have a story line but is highly, highly theatrical and you can let your imagination run a little,” Joyce said. “Also, this show is very anachronistic with some severe artistic liberties taken. A lot of the characters are composite of the real-life people.”

The venue, Joyce said, is “the perfect place” for “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.” The Winter Playhouse is the theatre in Upper Bradley Park where Corn Stock produces edgy shows with much less concern about themes and language and such than at the summer venue under the tent.

“There really isn’t anyplace else in Peoria you can do this show, at least in community theatre, than at the (Winter Playhouse). I’m glad Corn Stock is doing it and that they asked me to direct,” he said.

The show was written by Michael Friedman and Alex Timbers. It is billed as a comedic historical rock musical about the founding of the Democratic Party and follows Jackson, who was the seventh President of the United States, as he forms militia to take much Native American land, claiming to have grabbed more land than Thomas Jefferson, all while focusing on populism.

Joyce said the title of the show refers more to the blood on the hands of Andrew Jackson for his actions in uprooting and killing so many Native Americans. “Populism rose up because people then felt like there was a need to shake things up a bit. And there is the EMO part of it, the highly emotional and sensitive lyrics of that subgenre.”

The cast of 17 includes many veterans of local community theatre. Adam Sitton portrays Jackson and Sagan Drake is Rachel, his wife. Others in the cast include Trish Ballard as the Storyteller, Aaron Elwell as Clay, Jarod Hazzard as Van Buren, Andrew Schoepke as John Quincy Adams and Josh Jones as Black Fox.

The music was directed by Laura Weaver Hughes and she performs with the five-piece band that will be on stage. Jennifer Morris is the choreographer.

Joyce said he believes “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” is cut from the same cloth as the better-known “Hamilton” in the style of the show and the music, which is why many are ready to draw comparisons between the two shows.

“I really have to tell people that this is not ‘Hamilton.’ It is an entirely different beast. But people will like it. The music is great, I was able to get a great cast and it’s a lot of fun,” Joyce said.

The show is one act, only 90 minutes long.

Show times ar 7:30 p.m. this Friday and Saturday, then again on Feb. 16, 17 and 18 and 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 19. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for students and can be purchased online at www.cornstocktheatre.com or ordered by calling (309) 676-2196.

The Heat Is On: Work Stress on the Rise

Having trouble "keeping calm and carrying on" at work? You're in the majority.

More than half (52 percent) of workers said they are stressed at work on a day-to-day basis, and 60 percent reported work-related pressure has increased in the last five years, according to a new survey by staffing firm Accountemps.

Their concerns are not lost on executives: 54 percent of CFOs acknowledged their teams are stressed, and 55 percent said worker anxiety is on the rise. Employees polled cited heavy workloads and looming deadlines (33 percent), attaining work-life balance (22 percent), and unrealistic expectations of managers (22 percent) as top worries.

"Business is moving faster than ever, and employees can feel the crunch when it comes to imminent deadlines," said Bill Driscoll, a district president for Accountemps. "Workers shouldn't suffer in silence. They can tap internal resources for help or seek advice from their managers to ensure they meet work expectations, while maintaining a healthy work-life balance."

Driscoll added, "A stressed employee can have detrimental effects on the department or company, including decreased morale and productivity, and increased burnout and turnover. Managers should look for signs their staff is overworked — like missed deadlines or excessive overtime — and talk to employees to pinpoint triggers and implement stress-relieving solutions."

Additional points from the Accountemps survey:

• Younger workers are feeling the pressure: 64 percent of professionals between the ages of 18 and 34 admitted to being stressed on the job, compared with 59 percent of workers ages 35 to 54 and only 35 percent of respondents ages 55 and older.
• Gender differences exist: Slightly more men (57 percent) than women (47 percent) said they are stressed at work on a daily basis.
• CFOs reported the most stressed staff in the following cities: 1) Salt Lake City, 2) Boston and Des Moines (tied), 4) Cleveland and 5) New York
• Professionals shared the following ways they combat stress at work: exercise daily (e.g., yoga, walking, running), enjoy time with friends or a significant other after work, engage in a hobby (e.g., gardening, reading), listen to music and take vacation time to recharge.

Accountemps offers employees and managers the following tips for combatting work-related stress:

About the Research
The surveys were developed by Accountemps and conducted by independent research firms. They include responses from more than 2,200 CFOs from a stratified random sample of companies in more than 20 of the largest U.S. metropolitan areas and more than 1,000 U.S. workers age 18 and older who work in an office environment.

Illinois has 7th highest sales tax in the country

From ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK

Illinois is among the top 10 most expensive sales tax states in the country, according to Washington D.C.-based Tax Foundation.

Tax Foundation Economist Nicole Kaeding said researchers reviewed state and local sales taxes for all the states and found Illinois to be the seventh highest. When combining the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax with the average local sales tax, the sales tax is 8.64 percent.

All of Illinois’ neighbors are ranked lower than Illinois, something Kaeding says could lead to tax tourism.

“In my home state of Indiana, there was always conversations about whether you would go to buy something in Illinois or buy it in Indiana or perhaps go to Ohio or Kentucky, and I’m sure there are many individuals in Illinois that make those same sort of decisions,” she said.

Missouri ranked at No. 14, Indiana at No. 21, Iowa at No. 27, and Kentucky ranked No. 38. Wisconsin was Illinois’ lowest ranked sales tax neighbor at No. 43.

This report comes at a time when some state senators are proposing sales taxes on certain services as part of the package of bills to end Illinois 19-month-long budget impasse.

Kaeding said service taxes could broaden the base and lower rates, but cautioned against taxing business-to-business services.

“If they do, what’s the problem? The big problem is that it results in higher costs for consumers,” she said. “So we want to make sure that those exemptions are properly included in any sales tax base expansion.”

Kaeding said ultimately it’s not about what’s taxed, but about how the money is spent. “I think we can find stories both in Illinois and in every other state and also the national level of where governments are not spending money as wisely as they should,” she said.

Illinois hasn’t had a budget for 19 months, and 90 percent of government functions are basically on autopilot with court orders, consent decrees and continuing appropriation, spending more than the state is taking in.

Illinois is among the top 10 most expensive sales tax states in the country, according to Washington D.C.-based Tax Foundation.

Tax Foundation Economist Nicole Kaeding said researchers reviewed state and local sales taxes for all the states and found Illinois to be the seventh highest. When combining the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax with the average local sales tax, the sales tax is 8.64 percent.

All of Illinois’ neighbors are ranked lower than Illinois, something Kaeding says could lead to tax tourism.

“In my home state of Indiana, there was always conversations about whether you would go to buy something in Illinois or buy it in Indiana or perhaps go to Ohio or Kentucky, and I’m sure there are many individuals in Illinois that make those same sort of decisions,” she said.

Missouri ranked at No. 14, Indiana at No. 21, Iowa at No. 27, and Kentucky ranked No. 38. Wisconsin was Illinois’ lowest ranked sales tax neighbor at No. 43.

This report comes at a time when some state senators are proposing sales taxes on certain services as part of the package of bills to end Illinois 19-month-long budget impasse.

Kaeding said service taxes could broaden the base and lower rates, but cautioned against taxing business-to-business services.

“If they do, what’s the problem? The big problem is that it results in higher costs for consumers,” she said. “So we want to make sure that those exemptions are properly included in any sales tax base expansion.”

Kaeding said ultimately it’s not about what’s taxed, but about how the money is spent. “I think we can find stories both in Illinois and in every other state and also the national level of where governments are not spending money as wisely as they should,” she said.

Illinois hasn’t had a budget for 19 months, and 90 percent of government functions are basically on autopilot with court orders, consent decrees and continuing appropriation, spending more than the state is taking in.

By the Numbers: Super Bowl LI

Super Bowl 51 will be played Feb. 5, 2017 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The first Super Bowl was played on Jan. 15, 1967, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with the Green Bay Packers beating the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10. This will be the third time the NFL's championship game will be held in Houston. In the last one, the New England Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers 32-29 in 2004.

The U.S. Census Bureau has compiled a collection of demographic and economic statistics examining the host metropolitan area, as well as the metro areas represented by the two participating teams — the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots.

Atlanta

463,878: The population of Atlanta, Ga., in 2015.
Source: Vintage 2015 Population Estimates

9^th: The ranking of the Atlanta metro area on the list of the nation's most populous metropolitan areas in 2015. The estimated population of the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Ga., metro area on July 1, 2015, was 5,710,795. The Atlanta metro area gained 95,431 people from July 1, 2014, to July 1, 2015. 
Source: Vintage 2015 Population

37.0%: The percentage of Atlanta metro area residents age 25 and older who had a bachelor's degree or higher in 2015; 88.7 percent had at least graduated from high school. The respective national figures were 30.6 percent and 87.1 percent. 
Source: 2015 American Community Survey

18.1%: The percentage of Atlanta metro area residents age 5 and older who spoke a language other than English at home in 2015. The national average was 21.5 percent.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey

$60,219: The median household income for the Atlanta metro area in 2015. The national median was $55,775.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey

$186,300: The median home value of owner-occupied homes in the Atlanta metro area in 2015. The national median was $194,500.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey

31.3 minutes: The average amount of time it took Atlanta metro area residents to get to work in 2015; 77.9 percent of the metro area's workers drove to work alone, 9.6 percent carpooled and 3.1 percent took public transportation. Nationally, it took an average of 26.4 minutes to get to work.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey

2: The number of snack food manufacturing establishments in the Atlanta metro area in 2014. In addition, there were 11 breweries and 277 sporting goods stores in the Atlanta metro area.
Source: 2014 County Business Patterns

New England

667,137: The population of Boston, Mass., in 2015.
Source: Vintage 2015 Population Estimates

10^th: The ranking for Boston on the list of the nation's most populous metropolitan areas in 2015. The estimated population of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Mass.-N.H., metro area on July 1, 2015, was 4,774,321. The Boston metro area gained 34,936 people from July 1, 2014, to July 1, 2015.
Source: Vintage 2015 Population

46.0%: The percentage of Boston metro area residents age 25 and older who had a bachelor's degree or higher in 2015; 91.4 percent had at least graduated from high school. The respective national figures were 30.6 percent and 87.1 percent. 
Source: 2015 American Community Survey

24.3%: The percentage of Boston metro area residents age 5 and older who spoke a language other than English at home in 2015. The national average was 21.5 percent.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey

$78,800: The median household income for the Boston metro area in 2015. The national median was $55,775.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey

$393,000
The median home value of owner-occupied homes in the Boston metro area in 2015. The national median was $194,500.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey

31.4 minutes: The average amount of time it took Boston metro area residents to get to work in 2015; 66.8 percent of the metro area's workers drove to work alone, 7.0 percent carpooled and 13.6 percent took public transportation. Nationally, it took an average of 26.4 minutes to get to work.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey

8: The number of snack food manufacturing establishments in the Boston metro area in 2014. There were 30 breweries and 367 sporting goods stores in the Boston metro area.
Source: 2014 County Business Patterns

Host Site – Houston, Texas

2,296,224: The population of Houston, Texas, in 2015, the location of NRG Stadium where Super Bowl 51 will be played.
Source: Vintage 2015 Population Estimates

5^th: The ranking of the Houston metro area on the list of the nation's most populous metro areas in 2015. The estimated population of the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas, metro area on July 1, 2015, was 6,656,947. The Houston metro area gained 159,083 people from July 1, 2014, to July 1, 2015.
Source: Vintage 2015 Population Estimates

31.5%: The percentage of Houston metro area residents age 25 and older who had a bachelor's degree or higher in 2015; 82.3 percent had at least graduated from high school. The respective national figures were 30.6 percent and 87.1 percent.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey

38.5%: The percentage of Houston metro area residents age 5 and older who spoke a language other than English at home in 2015. The national figure was 21.5 percent.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey

$61,465: The median household income for the Houston metro area in 2015. The national median was $55,775.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey

$168,300
The median home value of owner-occupied homes in the Houston metro area in 2015. The national median was $194,500.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey

30.2 minutes: The average amount of time it took Houston metro area residents to get to work in 2015; 80.7 percent of the metro area's workers drove to work alone, 10.1 percent carpooled and 2.2 percent took public transportation. Nationally, it took an average of 26.4 minutes to get to work.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey

9: The number of snack food manufacturing establishments in the Houston metro area in 2014. In addition, there were 17 breweries and 254 sporting goods stores in the Houston metro area.
Source: 2014 County Business Patterns