Gus Gordon

About Gus Gordon

Gus Gordon was best known to residents of central Illinois as the Chief Meteorologist at ABC NewsChannel 20 for over 22 years (February of 1990-May of 2012).He left his position at NewsChannel 20 at the end of May 2012 to become the full-time Artistic Director at the Hoogland Center for the Arts in Springfield, Illinois. Gordon was named the Executive Director of the Hoogland Center for the Arts on February 1, 2013. He remains in both of those positions over 10 years later.Gordon has been an active supporter of the HCFTA since the building opened on December 31, 2003. His production of “Forever Plaid” was one of the very first shows ever presented on the main stage in the spring of 2004. Gordon continued to present independent shows at the facility under the Gordon Productions banner through 2007. From 2008 to 2012, he worked for the HCFTA part-time, producing over 60 musical, theatrical and special events to help raise funds to keep the building operating. As of December 12, 2025, he has produced over 300 events at the Hoogland.Gordon has a wealth of performing and producing experience. Locally, he has performed for the Springfield Muni Opera, the Springfield Theatre Centre, Lincoln\'s New Salem, Lincoln Land Community College, The Little Theatre on the Square, the Jacksonville Symphony, and the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. He was named “Best Television Personality” by the readers of the State Journal-Register for five consecutive years (20••••12), and was named “Best Actor” by the readers of the Illinois Times multiple times, most recently in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2023. He has been named \"Best Director\" seven years in a row (20••••23)Gus and his wife Claire, a professor at University of Illinois, Springfield, are the proud parents of Amy and John.Specialties: Theatrical producing, fundraising, grant writing, commercial spokesperson, master of ceremonies, graphic artist.

Experience

1. Professional Actor

   Little Theatre On The Square Inc

   Jun 1994 — Present

   I have played the following roles at The Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan, Illinois (the only professional theatre between Chicago and St. Louis): Joseph Pulitzer in Newsies; Horace Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly!(opposite Colleen Zenk); Cogsworth in Disney\'s Beauty and the Beast (opposite Anna McNeely); J.B. Biggley in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; Edna Turnblad in Hairspray; Julian Marsh in 42nd Street; Ziegfeld’s Voice in The Will Rogers Follies; Theodore Whitman in Follies in Concert (with Bill Hayes, Susan Seaforth Hayes, Ann B. Davis, Joan Roberts, Colleen Zenk, Anna McNeely, Mark Pinter); Steven Kodaly in She Love’s Me; Joe/ Josephine in Sugar (opposite Jack Milo). I will be playing Daddy Warbucks in Annie this summer.

Education

• Mississippi State University

  Certification, Broadcast Meteorology

  1993 — 1996

• University of Cincinnati

  BFA, Broadcasting

  1983 — 1987

Skills

• Voice Over
• Acting
• Theatre
• Voice Acting
• Broadcast Journalism
• Television
• Broadcast
• Emcee
• Musical Theatre