Downtown Champaign has a two-night theatre event on the calendar next week: We Interrupt This Program at the Virginia Theatre on Friday, October 16, and Saturday, October 17, 2026.

Both performances begin at 7:30 p.m. at 203 West Park Avenue, giving local audiences two dates to choose from.

The evening pairs a stage play with a moderated conversation, so it is worth understanding the format before choosing a seat.

A fictional broadcast, followed by a discussion

The Champaign Park District announcement identifies Bill Odenkirk as the playwright and Sarah Edwards as the discussion moderator.

Featured guests include Bob Odenkirk, Jill Talley, Ahmed Best and Avi Loeb, with Ryan Groff listed as a special musical guest.

The play places a Midwestern radio station in the middle of a planned War of the Worlds rebroadcast when news of an alien ship interrupts proceedings.

That is the fictional premise, not a report of a real sighting in Illinois.

A discussion afterward brings together Best, Loeb and Bill Odenkirk to consider extraterrestrial life and the way people interpret evidence.

For audiences, the pairing invites two different kinds of attention: following a staged story and then listening to a conversation about its larger questions.

It also gives friends something specific to talk about afterward, beyond whether they liked an individual performance.

Ticket prices include additional fees

The official ticket page lists reserved seating at $39.50, $59.50, $79.50 and $89.50, plus a per-ticket fee of $5 to $10.

VIP packages are listed at $189.50 plus a $12 fee and $289.50 plus a $15 fee, with a premium reserved ticket included in each package.

Package benefits differ, so read the actual inclusions before paying for an upgrade.

Listed prices do not establish which seats are still available at the moment you book.

Compare the final checkout total for your whole group, including fees, rather than multiplying only the advertised seat price.

When inviting someone, share the date and total cost together so there is no uncertainty about the commitment.

Buying tickets and collecting them

The Virginia box office page lists non-show weekday hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with different opening arrangements on performance days.

The box office opens at 10 a.m. on weekday show days and two hours before showtime on weekend show days.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels. Illustrative stock photo; not a photograph of the Virginia Theatre or this production.

Phone assistance is available at 217-356-9063.

Choose seats together when buying for a group, and make sure everyone understands which night the order covers.

If one person places the whole order, decide in advance how tickets will reach the others and who will handle questions with the box office.

Sales are final under the posted policy, so verify the performance date before completing payment.

If collecting tickets at Will Call, bring photo identification.

Keep the order confirmation where you can reach it easily and agree on a meeting place if members of your party arrive separately.

Choose seats with access needs in mind

The theatre's accessibility guidance lists wheelchair-accessible main-floor seating and companion seating that can be purchased online or by phone.

Its mezzanine and upper balcony still require stairs.

Assisted listening devices are available without charge at the box office, with identification required.

Contact staff before buying if a particular seating area or device will determine whether you can attend comfortably.

Do not assume every seat has the same access simply because a building has an elevator.

Parking and arrival

The box office page points drivers toward surrounding metered spaces and the Hill Street Parking Deck.

It also warns that the church lot west of the theatre is unavailable to theatre patrons.

Use posted parking signs rather than following another vehicle into a lot.

The facility policies call for bag inspections on entry and prohibit outside food, drinks and recording devices unless an exception is announced.

Allow time for parking, ticket collection and the entry check instead of arriving at the advertised start time.

Before leaving home, confirm your chosen October 16 or 17 performance, review the ticket page for any updates and bring the information needed to enter without rushing.