Contact: Amy Schrage 630-844-5244 [email protected]

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016

MUSIC BY THE LAKE ANNOUNCES 2016 SUMMER LINEUP

Season features weekend events June 26 through August 20 in the Ferro Pavilion on the shores of Wisconsin’s Geneva Lake

Events include a community showcase with the Lake Geneva Symphony; Micky Dolenz, the voice of the Monkees; YouTube sensation Postmodern Jukebox; interactive family show with television stars Imagination Movers; the songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein with the Chicago Philharmonic and Broadway vocalists; and all-male vocal phenomenon Straight No Chaser.

Williams Bay, Wis. — Outdoor summer entertainment venue Music by the Lake, presented by George Williams College of Aurora University, announces its 16th annual season presenting artist debuts and a range of musical genres and shows, including classical, dance, contemporary and nostalgic pop, Broadway, and star vocalists. The season, which includes weekend events from June 26 through August 20, features performances for all generations to enjoy.

Tickets for all summer events go on sale to festival donors at 9:00 a.m. on April 26. Support the festival at the Friend level or above and receive early access to tickets. Visit musicbythelake.com/support. Public ticket sales begin at 9:00 a.m. on May 10. Patrons can purchase their tickets at musicbythelake.com or by contacting the Music by the Lake ticket office at 262-245-8501. Music by the Lake does not charge a service fee on ticket orders.

CHICAGO PHILHARMONIC PRESENTS AN EVENING OF RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN BROADWAY HITS WITH STAR VOCALISTS

‘Oh, what a beautiful’… evening it will be when the Chicago Philharmonic, under the baton of Artistic Director Scott Speck, performs a program of Rodgers and Hammerstein favorites at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 13. The performance features Broadway vocalists Jenn Gambatese and Nathaniel Stampley, and will be hosted by composer Oscar Hammerstein -2-

II’s grandson, Oscar Andy Hammerstein III. The program will feature songs from legendary Broadway shows such as “The King and I,” “Carousel,” “Oklahoma!” and “South Pacific.” Oscar Hammerstein II and lyricist Richard Rodgers began what one critic has called the “most fruitful and successful partnership in the American musical theatre,” a partnership whose musicals ultimately earned 35 Tony Awards, 15 Academy Awards, two Pulitzer Prizes, two Grammy Awards and two Emmy Awards. Both Time magazine and CBS News placed Rodgers and Hammerstein among the top 20 artists of the 20th century. Originally comprised of principals from the Lyric Opera Orchestra, the Chicago Philharmonic is now a collective of more than 200 of the highest-level classical musicians performing in the Chicago area today. The Chicago Tribune calls it “one of the country's finest symphonic orchestras.” A writer, lecturer and family historian, Oscar Andy Hammerstein III has devoted much of his life to studying and preserving his family’s heritage and contribution to American culture. Jenn Gambatese, who recently appeared in the Chicago Lyric Opera’s spring 2015 production of “Carousel,” made her debut with the Lyric Opera to great acclaim as Maria in “The Sound of Music.” She also portrayed Glenda in the first national tour of “Wicked.” Vocalist Nathaniel Stampley appeared in the West End production of “The Lion King” and toured nationally with “Ragtime” and “Orpheus Returns.” The Joseph Jefferson Award nominee also has appeared locally with the North Shore Music Theatre, the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and recorded with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra.

SUMMER CLASSICS FILL CAMPUS WITH THE LAKE GENEVA SYMPHONY FEATURING THE DANCE FACTORY IN A COMMUNITY SHOWCASE

The Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra kicks off the 2016 Music by the Lake series with an afternoon of summer waltz music at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 26, in a special community showcase, which also features dancers from Delavan’s Dance Factory. Guests who are inspired to learn basic steps will be able to enjoy free waltz lessons with Dance Factory instructors prior to the performance. The program includes Johan Strauss Jr.’s ever-popular “Tales from the Vienna Woods” and “The Blue Danube” as well as works by Lehar, Mahler and Tchaikovsky.

Now in its 16th season, the Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of Music Director David Anderson, boasts talented musicians from southeast Wisconsin and northern Illinois. The Dance Factory & Music Studios is committed to teaching the art of dance and music through superior industry knowledge of its instructors.

THE VOICE OF THE MONKEES MICKY DOLENZ CELEBRATES NOSTALGIC POP

Micky Dolenz, drummer and vocalist behind the 1960s pop sensation the Monkees makes his Music by the Lake debut with a special solo appearance at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 9. Dolenz

(more)

-3- first emerged as a performer at age 10 when he starred in the TV series “Circus Boy,” which aired from 1956 to 1958, and he continued to appear on television in several supporting roles. From the day “The Monkees” first aired in 1966, Dolenz, along with fellow actor/musicians Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork, shot to fame, helping to turn out five platinum albums and three number-one hits by 1968. A dynamic showman, Dolenz gives the audience what it wants: the hits. His voice is unmistakable on chart busters “Take the Last Train to Clarksville” and “I’m a Believer,” and on other classics such as Carole King’s “Pleasant Valley Sunday.” This summer marks the 50th anniversary of the Monkees’ television series and the release of their debut single.

YOUTUBE SENSATION POSTMODERN JUKEBOX PERFORM THEIR INTERPRETATIONS OF TODAY’S BIGGEST HITS Online phenomenon Postmodern Jukebox make their festival debut at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, performing their genre-bending interpretations of today’s chart-topping songs. Postmodern Jukebox is the brainchild of pianist and arranger Scott Bradlee, who began to test his musical creativity by rewriting 1980s pop tunes as jazz, swing and ragtime arrangements. After posting solo video performances of these remakes on YouTube in 2009, Bradlee became a virtual sensation. By 2013 Bradlee and Postmodern Jukebox’s revolving cast of 50 musicians were posting a new video each week and attracting tens of thousands of views. Today, more than 160 videos later, Postmodern Jukebox’s YouTube channel boasts 1.9 million subscribers and more than 400 million views. In just four years the band has released 12 albums, including last year’s “Top Hat on Fleek,” which reached No. 6 on the Billboard Jazz Album chart. As Bradlee recently told Parade.com, Postmodern Jukebox is a “musical time machine,” taking their multi-generational audiences down a weirdly nostalgic road without ever straying very far from today’s pop favorites.

ALL-MALE VOCAL PHENOMENON STRAIGHT NO CHASER REINVENTS THE IDEA OF A CAPPELLA ON THE MODERN POP LANDSCAPE

If the phrase “male a cappella group” conjures up an image of students in blue blazers, ties, and khakis singing traditional college songs on ivied campuses… think again. Straight No Chaser are neither strait-laced nor straight-faced, but neither are they vaudeville-style kitsch. In an era when so much pop music is the product of digital processing and vocal pro-tooling, Straight No Chaser is the real deal — the captivating sound of ten unadulterated human voices coming together to make extraordinary music that is moving people in a fundamental sense…and with a sense of humor. They make their Music by the Lake debut at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 20, closing out the 2016 summer season.

Originally formed over a dozen years ago while students together at Indiana University, the group has reassembled and reemerged as a phenomenon - with a massive fan base, more than 20 million views on YouTube and numerous national television appearances. They have achieved

(more)

-4- success with two holiday releases, including 2008’s “Holiday Spirits” and 2009’s “Christmas Cheers” and three additional albums, including the 2015 release of “The New Old Fashioned.”

FAMILY EVENT FEATURES TELEVISION STARS IMAGINATION MOVERS

Imagination Movers, one of the country’s most popular touring acts for families, brings its high-energy, interactive stage show to the Ferro Pavilion at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 7. Best known from their Emmy Award-winning series on Disney Junior, the Movers — Rich, Scott, Dave and Smitty — have captured audiences in 55 countries with catchy pop-influenced tunes for the younger generation, as well as parent and grandparents alike. The group’s season-three soundtrack, “Back in Blue,” debuted at No. 2 on iTunes and Amazon.com. Their ninth album, “Licensed to Move,” was released in 2015. Pollstar magazine ranked their 2011 “In a Big Warehouse” among the top 100 tours of the year (one of only two family acts on the list).

MUSIC BY THE LAKE SUMMER EXPERIENCE

Free parking and shuttle service for all events is located close to campus at Williams Bay High School at 500 W. Geneva St., in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. The festival provides convenient food options for patrons to enjoy before or during the show. Easily-accessible food booths are located on campus featuring snacks and sweet treats as well as bottled water and sodas. Other a la carte items such as sandwiches, salads, burgers and ice cream, are available at the College Inn, located west of the pavilion. Lawn ticket holders may also bring their own food and drinks on campus, as well as small coolers and picnic gear. Alcohol can be consumed on designated lawn areas.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

All 2016 artists are making their Music by the Lake debut this season. Events are located in the Ferro Pavilion on the campus of George Williams College of Aurora University in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. Performances take place rain or shine.

Sunday, June 26, 4:00 p.m. – Community Showcase Summer Waltz Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra David Anderson, Music Director The Dance Factory Tickets: Reserved $15 / Lawn $15 / Campus opens at 2:30 p.m.

(more)

-5- Saturday, July 9, 7:30 p.m. Micky Dolenz-The Voice of the Monkees Tickets: Reserved $90-$70 / Terrace $45 / Lawn $25 / Campus opens at 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 16, 7:30 p.m. Postmodern Jukebox Tickets: Reserved $90-$70 / Terrace $45 / Lawn $25 / Campus opens at 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, August 7, 4:00 p.m. Imagination Movers Tickets: Adults $20, Children $10 (4-10), Children 3 and under FREE / Campus opens at 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 13, 7:30 p.m. Something Wonderful-the songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein Chicago Philharmonic Scott Speak, Conductor Oscar Andy Hammerstein III, Host Jenn Gambatese, Vocalist Nathaniel Stampley, Vocalist Tickets: Reserved $90-$70 / Terrace $45 / Lawn $25 / Campus opens at 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 20, 7:30 p.m. An Evening with Straight No Chaser Tickets: Reserved $90-$70 / Terrace $45 / Lawn $25 / Campus opens at 6:00 p.m.

Artist and venue photos are available for download in the Music by the Lake press room. Visit musicbythelake.com/pressroom.

###

The Music by the Lake festival appeals to music lovers of all ages, weaving together engaging events and breathtaking natural beauty, offering an unparalleled outdoor summer experience. The open-air setting of the Ferro Pavilion, which expands to pristine lawn picnic areas, takes patrons on a journey of sight and sound on Wisconsin’s Geneva Lake. Summer concerts offered on the campus of George Williams College of Aurora University (GWC) feature big band, family programming, classical, musical theatre and contemporary entertainment. Music by the Lake is part of GWC’s ongoing commitment to year-round cultural presentations, connecting campus and community. Visit musicbythelake.com for more information.

George Williams College was founded in 1884 by YMCA leaders who sought to educate students for lives of service, with a focus on body, mind and spirit. Today, GWC operates as a campus of Aurora University, offering undergraduate and graduate programs. GWC’s degree programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission through Aurora University. Visit gwc.aurora.edu for more information.