Historic sites spotlight local author

Author of 'Untold Rainbows' to sign books at Dana-Thomas House, speak at Vachel Lindsay Home

[March 06, 2014]  SPRINGFIELD — An area author of plays and short stories will appear at two Springfield historic sites in March to discuss his work and sign copies of his new book, "Untold Rainbows."

Gary Vitale will sign copies of the book March 15 at the Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site. The signing will take place from noon to 2 p.m. in the site's Sumac Shop.

Then on March 29, Vitale will appear at the Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site as part of the "Poets in the Parlor" series. The event begins at 2 p.m.

Both events are free.

"Untold Rainbows" features poems, essays and a short story. It comes with a CD of Vitale reading his poetry.

Vitale recently retired from teaching Shakespeare, drama, film and more at Benedictine University at Springfield.

"I've lived and worked in Springfield most of my life, and this book is full of personal recollections about incidents I've experienced," he says.

The Dana-Thomas House, at 301 E. Lawrence St., is a masterpiece of Prairie-style architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Vachel Lindsay Home, at 603 S. Fifth St., was the home of poet and artist Nicholas Vachel Lindsay. Both sites are run by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. For more information, visit www.illinoishistory.gov or www.dana-thomas.org.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency]