Route 66: The Mother Road through McLean County panel discussion
Join the Museum, Heartland Theatre Company, and Sprague Super Station for a lively panel discussion exploring the local legacy of the Mother Road immediately following the matinee performance of Heartland Theatre Company’s 10-Miute Play Festival: Route 66 on Sunday, June 7.
When Route 66 was established in 1926, it fundamentally transformed the United States by connecting the Midwest to California. As one of the first fully paved highways in the country, it spurred the growth of small towns along its path — including right here in McLean County, where 40 miles of the route runs through the heart of the region.
But Route 66 is more than 2,400 miles of pavement. It reflects who we are as a society — told through the stories of the people who made the road come alive: roadside diner owners, tourist park operators, service station attendants, state troopers, travelers, and more. These are the stories that form the fabric of our communities and history right here in McLean County.
This program is part of the Museum’s programming commemorating the centennial of Route 66 and the semi-quincentennial of the United States. Kathleen Kirk, Heartland Theatre Board member, will moderate the panel.
The panelists are:
· Dr. Terri Ryburn – author, playwright, and manager of Ryburn Place at Sprague Super Station in Normal
· LaWanda Matson – author and biographer of her father, Illinois State Trooper Chester Henry
· Candace Summers – Senior Director of Education at the McLean County Museum of History
The 10-Minute Play Festival: Route 66 will be on May 28-31 and June 4-7 and 11-14, 2026. Performances on Thursdays through Saturdays will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees will begin at 2:00 p.m. There will be a matinee and evening performance on June 13. To purchase tickets, visit heartlandtheatre.org.
This year's winning plays are:
AT THE MOTEL SAFARI - Mathew Green, Champaign IL
HALWAY THERE - Dan Borengasser, Springdale AR
COFFEE AT RAY'S - Harsh Hundal, Kelowna BC
SQUAWKING FOR A NEW TOMORROW - Angela Davis, Los Angeles CA
UNTIL THE ROAD ENDS - James Martin, Bloomington IL
THE COWBOY AT THE MIDPOINT CAFE - Don Salvo, Celebration FL
MOTHER ROAD - Georgie Morvis, Chicago IL
THE SIGNS OF THEIR TIMES - W. L. Newkirk, Celebration FL
Don't miss this conversation with three experts who bring these stories to life.