Leading Economic Index up fourth consecutive month

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index®(LEI) forthe U.S. increased 0.5 percent in May to 101.7 (2004 = 100), following a 0.3 percent increase in April, and a 1.0 percent increase in March, the Conference Board announced Thursday.

"May's increase in the LEI, the fourth consecutive one, was broad based," said Ataman Ozyildirim, economist at The Conference Board. "Housing permits held the index back slightly but the LEI still points to an expanding economy and its pace may even pick up in the second half of the year."

"Recent data suggest the economy is finally moving up from a 2 percent growth trend to a more robust expansion," said Ken Goldstein, economist at The Conference Board. "The CEI shows the pace of economic activity continued to gain traction in May, while the trend in the LEI remains positive. Going forward, the biggest challenge is to sustain the rise in income growth, which will drive consumption."

The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) for the U.S. increased 0.3 percent in May to 109.0 (2004 = 100), following a 0.2 percent increase in April, and a 0.4 percent increase in March.

The Conference Board Lagging Economic Index® (LAG) for the U.S. increased 0.4 percent in May to 123.8 (2004 = 100), following a 0.3 percent increase in April, and a 0.6 percent increase in March.

The composite economic indexes are the key elements in an analytic system designed to signal peaks and troughs in the business cycle. The leading, coincident, and lagging economic indexes are essentially composite averages of several individual leading, coincident, or lagging indicators. They are constructed to summarize and reveal common turning point patterns in economic data in a clearer and more convincing manner than any individual component – primarily because they smooth out some of the volatility of individual components.

The ten components of The Conference Board Leading Economic Index^® for the U.S. are:

Average weekly hours, manufacturing
Average weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance
Manufacturers' new orders, consumer goods and materials
ISM® Index of New Orders 
Manufacturers' new orders, nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft orders
Building permits, new private housing units
Stock prices, 500 common stocks
Leading Credit Index™
Interest rate spread, 10-year Treasury bonds less federal funds
Average consumer expectations for business conditions

For the full release and technical notes visit
http://www.conference-board.org/data/bcicountry.cfm?cid=1

For more information about The Conference Board global business cycle indicators: 
http://www.conference-board.org/data/bci.cfm

Corn Stock presents a Simon classic, 'Lost in Yonkers'

When Corn Stock Theatre offered Amy Williams the chance to direct the Neil Simon classic “Lost In Yonkers,” she didn’t hesitate to accept.

“I love Neil Simon and his work and this is one of my favorites. So it wasn’t a hard decision to make,” said Williams. She didn’t submit to direct this season, but was asked when the show’s original director had to step down.

“It has been as fun to direct as it is to watch,” she said.

Audiences will get that chance starting Friday at 7:30 p.m. when “Lost In Yonkers” begins it’s nine-show run in the Corn Stock tent in Upper Bradley Park. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and can be purchased at the box office, online at www.cornstocktheatre.com or reserved by calling 676-2196.

“Lost In Yonkers” is considered by many to be the best play written by the prolific Simon. It won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for drama and the Tony Award for Best Play that same year.

The play takes place in 1942 and focuses largely on two teen-aged boys who go to live with their grandmother and aunt after their mother died and their father was forced to take a job that kept him on the road all the time.

Their new life in Yonkers brings a cast of characters as diverse as they can imagine. Grandmother is stern, Aunt Bella is mentally slow, their Uncle Louie is a smooth-talking mobster, and Aunt Gert has her own set of issues.

The boys want to return to their father and home in Brooklyn and they start scheming how to make it happen.

Comedy mixes with drama throughout the play, which is Corn Stock’s only non-musical of the 2014 season.

“We have a good cast for this show and I got lucky with a good turnout (at auditions). I think it was because people know Neil Simon, his writing and they know this piece of work,” Williams said.

The boys, Jay and Arty, are portrayed by Logan Henderson and Gardner Brown, respectively. It’s Henderson’s Corn Stock debut and only the second show for Brown, “but they handle these roles very well,” Williams said.

Grandma Kurnitz is portrayed by local theatre veteran Helen Englebrecht while Bella is played by Shannon Orrill, another veteran whom audiences loved in her portrayal as a crazed zombie in “Evil Dead The Musical” at Corn Stock’s Winter Playhouse last year. “They both are amazing actors,” Williams said.

Eddie, the boys’ father, is portrayed by Jeff Craig, Aunt Gert is played by Emily Toohill and Uncle Louie is portrayed by Paul Arbisi, who is on stage for the first time in more than 30 years, Williams said.

“This is a very strong piece with great characters. There isn’t a weak part in this play. For me it has been a joy to see the growth and the changes in the characters and getting to know the family so well. I think audiences will feel the same way,” she said.  

She hopes audiences will take from the show that family is family, “that no matter how rotten some of them are we still love them because they are family and they do for each other.”

“Lost In Yonkers” is Williams’ directorial debut in the tent. Previously she directed “Piece of My Heart” at Corn Stock’s Winter Playhouse and “12 Angry Men” at Peoria Players.

“Lost In Yonkers” continues through Saturday, June 28.

Bishop Sheen moves closer to beatification

Archbishop Fulton Sheen is but two steps from beatification in the quest to have him canonized a saint, the Peoria Diocese said Tuesday.

With the validations of medical experts and now theologians that a miracle involving a newborn nearly four years ago should be attributed to Sheen, it now is up to the Pope’s advisors to make a recommendation and finally Pope Francis to declare the former Peorian “Blessed,” the Diocese said in a news release.

The release said word came Tuesday to Peoria Bishop Daniel Jenky that the seven-member theological commission that advises the Vatican on Causes of Saints unanimously agreed with the Vatican’s medical experts on the recommendation.

The case involves a stillborn baby born in September 2010. For over an hour the child demonstrated no signs of life as medical professionals attempted every possible life saving procedure, while the child's parents and loved ones began immediately to seek the intercession of Fulton Sheen. After 61 minutes the baby was restored to full life and more than three years later demonstrates a full recovery.   

Tuesday's decision by the theologians comes after the March vote by the team of Vatican medical experts who affirmed that they could find no natural explanation for the child's healing. “The case will next be reviewed by the cardinals and bishops who advise the Pope on these matters.  Finally, the miracle would be presented to Pope Francis who would then officially affirm that God performed a miracle through the intercession of Fulton Sheen,” the diocese said. There is no timeline as to when these next steps might move forward. 

If Pope Francis validates this proposed miracle, Sheen could then be declared "Blessed" in a ceremony that could be celebrated in Peoria, Sheen's hometown. Upon the Holy Father signing the decree for the beatification, an additional miracle would lead to the Canonization of Archbishop Sheen, in which he would be declared a “Saint.” 

'Mary Poppins' set to soar at Eastlight

Many months ago, Robin Hunt and Steve Cordle were having a conversation about musicals that could be stage at Eastlight Theatre in East Peoria. Hunt has become one of the region’s most prolific directors, Cordle manages Eastlight and is well-known for his technical prowess.

It was a conversation Hunt is very glad happened. That’s because it led to her being offered to direct “Mary Poppins,” which opens Friday at 7:30 p.m. and continues through June 28 in the auditorium at East Peoria High School.

It is the second of three of two shows making their regional premiere during Eastlight’s current season, following “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” and ahead of “Young Frankenstein,” which opens Sept. 12.

“This was one of the shows Steve and I talked about as a possibility. So I was thrilled when it was eventually offered to me and it has been an incredible experience thanks to the hardworking and dedicated cast of people doing everything it can to make the magic that is ‘Mary Poppins’ happen,” Hunt said. “And of course, Steve Cordle is pulling out all the stops like he always does to bring that magic into the open. And there is much magic to behold.”

Yes, the character Mary Poppins will fly in the Eastlight production. But that is the only “secret” Hunt is willing to reveal ahead of opening night for the musical that is based on the Walt Disney film of the same name and the books of P.L. Travers.

Hunt believes audiences familiar with the film that starred Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke will enjoy the musical perhaps more because it goes deeper into the relationship of Mary and Bert the chimney sweep as well as her dealings with the Banks family, after she has arrived via umbrella to be nanny to Michael and Jane.

Mr. Banks, for example, was a smaller and more comedic role in the film than in the books and now, in the musical, Hunt said.

Hunt said all of the music from the film audiences know and love are in the musical, including “Chim Chim Cheree,” “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” “Let’s Go Fly a Kite,” and “Step In Time.”

The title role is portrayed by Stephanie Myre of Lincoln, who wowed Peoria audiences with her portrayal of Eponine in Eastlight’s production of “Les Miserables” two years ago, then later as a woman with severe mental health issues in “Next To Normal” at Corn Stock Theatre. Both of those productions were directed by Hunt. “To see her now bring a completely different type of character to life has been wonderful and it shows her incredible talent,” Hunt said.

Bert is portrayed by Josh Hammond, a veteran of central Illinois stages who brings “everything you could want in a Bert” to the Eastlight stage, she said.

Roger Roemer and Julie Clemens portray George and Winifred Banks and Jaret Ledford and Claire Hawks are their children, Michael and Jane, who have succeeded in driving way several nannie before Mary comes along.

Carmen McCarthy portrays Miss Andrews, who was George Banks’ nanny when he was a child and help him find perspective. Other cast members include local stage veterans Barb Couri (Bird Woman), Seth Hannan (Robertson Ay) and Andrew Harlan (Neleus).

Musical director is Shawn Degenhart, whom Hunt said came out of a semi-retirement from musical direction to do this show because he has a passion for the music from “Mary Poppins.” Hunt did her own choreography except the tap dance routine in “Step In Time,” choreographed by Erica Franken.

Hunt has directed many shows in central Illinois, most of them musicals, and said this one ranks in her top three favorites. “This is such a heart warming and fabulous story,” she said.

Tickets are on sale now and cost $18. They can be ordered by calling 699-7469 or online at www.eastlighttheatre.com.