It’s Time! Join TODAY!
FRIENDS of UIS Performing Arts Center are donors who play a pivotal role in fostering opportunities within our local community. FRIENDS provide vital support for performances by renowned artists, essential enhancements to our facilities, and enriching experiences for local children. Donations to FRIENDS are recognized through a membership program that provides unique benefits based on the level of giving. If you’re looking for the best seat opportunities and a VIP experience from start to finish, this is the membership for you.
Don’t miss out on amazing perks only available through membership in FRIENDS of the UIS Performing Arts Center. Donations to FRIENDS for the 2026-2027 season will receive benefits through June 30, 2027.
For an overview of all membership levels and benefits, click here.
Checks can be mailed to:
FRIENDS of UIS Performing Arts Center
University of Illinois at Springfield
One University Plaza, MS PAC 397
Springfield, IL 62703
Make checks payable to UIS PAC FRIENDS
Special Project HIGHLIGHT
We are highlighting
Our Stage / Our Voices
Our Stage / Our Voices is a program
formed to take a leadership role in
cultivating an environment whereby
members of historically
underrepresented communities
address the issues of inequality in the
regional performing arts with the goal
of achieving diversity and inclusion.
To learn more about this amazing
program or to show your support
through donation, click here.
Donor HIGHLIGHT
Meet Donor David Milling and the Woman Behind His Love for the Arts
Dave Milling grew up with a mother who filled their home with the lilt of piano music and frequently shuttled the family around town to see as many local musical performances as possible. To Dave, the decision to sponsor a row of seats in the newly refreshed Sangamon Auditorium in honor of his late mother, Dorothy Milling, was a no-brainer.
“My mom passed away in 2021. With her love for music, it seemed to be a nice way to honor her by donating to the beautiful, refreshed venue,” Dave says.
Dorothy inspired her children by sharing her musical talents with them and supported their artistic interests by investing in piano and organ lessons as they grew up. Dave loved taking lessons and continued to seek out music and theatre opportunities throughout his high school years, even playing J. B. Biggley in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
Although Dave’s own piano skills have waned some with time, his love for the performing arts never has. When Dave and his family moved to Springfield as he pursued his career in finance, he was thrilled to discover the UIS Performing Arts Center and the high-quality productions offered to the community. After his children graduated, Dave’s interest in the arts grew even more, attending shows and orchestral events whenever he could.
“The Sangamon Auditorium is a wonderful facility,” Dave says. “I keep telling people that—even if you’re not familiar with the show, it’s worth your time to go out and spend a few hours. Especially the way it looks now, it really rivals any venue I’ve been to. In terms of accessibility, and looks, and freshness… it’s going to be an even better venue than it was.”
Beyond being a patron and sponsor of the UIS Performing Arts Center, Dave has deep ties to the Springfield community. In his years here, Dave has volunteered for and supported many groups, including United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Mini-O’Beirne Crisis Nursery, Wooden It Be Lovely, and the Salvation Army—where he helps cook breakfast for the community once a month.
“Through the organizations I’ve been involved in, I’ve met so many wonderful people,” Dave says. “When I first moved to Springfield after my college years, I wasn’t sure how long I would stay, but it’s become my home.”
Dave already has his tickets lined up for all of this season’s productions, including Jersey Boys, the show Dave is most excited to see. Of the refreshed features of the remodeled Sangamon Auditorium, Dave is most looking forward to the additional aisles on the main floor that will make accessing seats easier.
Whenever Dave attends a show, he thinks of his mom and her legacy of sharing music and joy with everyone around her. He knows she would be proud of the donation made in her memory, because she lived her life with an attitude of helping others and loving the people she knew to make the world around them a better place.
“I think my mom would love to hear me say that I should have taken piano lessons more seriously, and she’d be really happy to see that I’m continuing to see shows,” Dave says. “The picture I shared of my mom and Madison is my favorite one, because you can feel the love that she had for her children and grandchildren, and what a kind and generous soul she was. People instantly warmed up to her—she was that kind of person. She loved life.”