Join award-winning singer-songwriter, folklorist, and former archaeologist Chris Vallillo for Forgottonia—a powerful and poignant theatrical journey into the heart of rural Illinois. This multi-media production weaves together 35 years of Vallillo’s original music with vivid storytelling and striking black-and-white photography by renowned rural photographer Tim Schroll, creating a compelling and intimate portrait of West Central Illinois.
Named after the tongue-in-cheek 1972 protest in which sixteen counties declared themselves the independent nation of "Forgottonia" to draw attention to regional neglect, this show explores the culture, history, and resilience of a place both overlooked and deeply loved.
With masterful fingerstyle and slide guitar, Vallillo’s performance is steeped in authenticity and deep respect for rural traditions, yet never feels confined by the past. Accompanied by mandolinist Don Steirnberg and bassist Marc Edelstein, Forgottonia brings to life the voices and stories of a vanishing era, offering a soulful celebration of community, identity, and the land that shaped them.
Whether you’re a native Midwesterner or simply curious about the spirit of America’s heartland, Forgottonia is a must-see tribute to the power of place and the people who call it home.