It's Great to Be Back in the Theater Enjoying
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
WELL-ROUNDED COMMUNITIES START WITH WELL-ROUNDED KIDS. The arts open doors for them to walk through with confidence. At Ruder Ware we know there is an infinite amount of potential just waiting to be discovered in every kid. What better way to discover it, than through the arts? wausau | eau claire | green bay ruderware.com visit our blogs at blueinklaw.com SEASON AT A GLANCE AUGUST JANUARY Portland Cello Project: Winter Dance Party Jim Belushi & Purple Reign Aug. 6 the Board of Comedy Apr. 20 Jan. 14 The Fab Four The British Invasion Aug. 12 The Magic of Bill Blagg Apr. 22 Jan. 21 Blue Man Group SEPTEMBER The World of Musicals Apr. 28 & 29 Cat & Nat Jan. 26 Sep. 28 MAY Classic Albums Live: Anastasia The Price is Right Live! AC/DC’s Back In Black May 10 & 11 Sep. 29 Jan. 28 FEBRUARY Riverdance 25th Anniversary OCTOBER Russian National Ballet: May 25 & 26 Three Dog Night Swan Lake Oct. 1 Feb. 1 JUNE Wynonna & the Big Noise The Secret Sisters Rumours: A Fleetwood Oct. 7 Feb. 24 Mac Tribute The Music of Billy Joel & An Officer and A June 11 Elton John starring Michael Gentleman Cavanaugh Feb. 26 Oct. 14 Waitress MARCH Oct. 20 & 21 Yamato: The Drummers of Japan Home Free March 3 Oct. 28 ABBA Mania Beautiful: Oct. 30 The Carole King Musical March 14 NOVEMBER Celtic Angels Ireland Charlie Berens: The March 19 Midwest Survival Guide The TEN Tenors Tour March 24 Nov. 19 RAIN: A Tribute Fiddler on the Roof to the Beatles Nov. 24 March 25 DECEMBER An Olde English Christmas APRIL with Herman’s Hermits The Four Phantoms starring Peter Noone Apr. 7 Dec. 16 Red Hot Chilli Pipers The John Altenburgh Apr. 9 Christmas Extravaganza Dec. 17 OUR MISSION The Performing Arts Foundation ENTERTAINS, EDUCATES, and ENRICHES the community by offering world-class programming, which develops a lifelong appreciation for the arts in its citizens and enhances the quality of life in the region. THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO MAKE OUR MISSION POSSIBLE... SERIES PRESENTERS PRESENTING SPONSORS FEATURED SPONSORS The entire season at The Grand is supported, in part, by the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts. These performances are also supported, in part, by the Community Arts Grant program of the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, the B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation, and the City of Wausau’s Room Tax Funding. OUR STAFF SEAN WRIGHT MERRY LITTLE Executive Director General Manager & Associate Director GAIL BAYER JOEL FREIBERG SCOTT FRITSCHE Custodian Director of Ticketing & Assistant Technical Director Analytics KATE KREISS KATY LANG MICHAEL LOOMIS Marketing & Communications Director of Education & Director of Guest Services & Coordinator Community Engagement Event Management PAULA LOOMIS MISTY PFANTZ VICKY RICE-BRICKO Ticket Office Custodian Event Coordinator MELANIE RUBY DAVID RUSCH MARK WEISS Director of Marketing & Assistant Technical Director Technical Director Development ABOUT US When reflecting on the past few years, it’s hard to believe there BOARD OF was ever a time when things felt “normal.” DIRECTORS At first, we didn’t want 2020 to end: with nine shows already sold out and another ten sold-out shows scheduled for later in the OFFICERS season, 2020 was on track to be another record-breaking year Kevin Wolf for The Grand. PRESIDENT And then, March 13 arrived. Jenny Sweeney Everyone remembers where they were when they realized that VICE PRESIDENT COVID was going to fundamentally change life as we knew it. Denis Crevier The Broadway tour of WAITRESS had already loaded on to the TREASURER stage at The Grand when everything came to a standstill. In that moment, the Arts and Entertainment industry fundamentally Angela Lentz changed. CORPORATE SECRETARY In that moment, we had to make a choice: we could either go into hibernation and wait for the world to return to “normal,” or we could adapt. Our mission is to educate, entertain, and MEMBERS enrich our community: it was time to live that mission in an AT LARGE entirely new way. Chris Gerboth The Grand moved online, outside, onto laptop screens and Kay Gruling into our city parks. We showcased students, emerging artists, Todd Nicklaus and Broadway superstars. We continued to live our mission in Dean Nienhuis order to survive the extended intermission that no one ever saw Glendon Peterson coming. Steve Ruppel And now, we’re back! In addition to a phenomenal lineup of Broadway shows returning (including two nights of WAITRESS), we’re proud to welcome you into our revitalized historic space. From the changes you can see, like our new Mezzanine bar, to the changes you can’t, like updates to our HVAC system, we’re proud to welcome you back into this iconic building that has adapted, changed, and survived for almost 100 years. The Grand is more than a theater -- it’s a place for our community. Thank you for being a part of our history and our future! SERIES SPONSORED BY 2021/22 SPOTLIGHT SERIES Our stage comes to life when today’s most exciting nationally-touring shows come to town! THREE DOG NIGHT October 1 One of the most legendary rock bands of all time comes to The Grand! THE JOHN ALTENBURGH CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA December 17 This Wisconsin Christmas tradition returns for another year! THE MAGIC OF BILL BLAGG LIVE! January 21 Featuring all-new illusions! CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE: AC/DC’S BACK IN BLACK January 28 Celebrate the third best-selling album of all time, note for note, cut for cut! THE TEN TENORS: LOVE IS IN THE AIR March 24 One of Australia’s most popular groups returns to The Grand to perform your favorite feel-good love songs! PORTLAND CELLO PROJECT: PURPLE REIGN April 20 One of the world’s premier classical-crossover ensembles brings the hits of Prince to life! 2021/22 TDS FIBER BROADWAY SERIES WAITRESS|OCTOBER 20 & 21 Audiences and critics alike have raved about the uplifting and hilarious musical Entertainment Weekly called “a little slice of heaven”! FIDDLER ON THE ROOF|NOVEMBER 24 Rich with musical hits you know and love, FIDDLER is the heartwarming story of family, life, love, and laughter. AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN FEBRUARY 26 Based on the Oscar-winning film starring Richard Gere, this breathtaking production celebrates triumph over adversity. BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL|MARCH 14 This Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical has thrilled audiences across the globe with the inspiring true story of Carole King’s rise to fame. BLUE MAN GROUP APRIL 28 & 29 Enjoy music, laughter and surprises at every turn. By the end of this spectacle, you’ll be saying “I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT JUST HAPPENED BUT I LOVED IT.” ANASTASIA|MAY 10 & 11 ANASTASIA transports us from the twilight of the Russian Empire to Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. RIVERDANCE 25TH ANNIVERSARY|MAY 25 & 26 Enjoy a powerful reinvention of Riverdance, celebrated the world over for its Grammy Award-winning score and the energy of its Irish and international dance. 2021/22 ARTS IN EDUCATION SERIES Over the past year, The Grand has offered access to six virtual educational performances, at no cost to schools or families. Over 745 teachers and parents have accessed these programs, sharing the power of the performing arts with tens of thousands students from Central Wisconsin and beyond. We are excited to continue to offer these virtual programs in the Fall of 2021, and even more thrilled to welcome students back to the theater in person in early 2022. The Performing Arts Foundation is dedicated to serving schools, teachers, and students of the region through educational and cultural experiences. The Grand brings curriculum-based performing arts to our area’s students, engaging students in the arts, social studies, language arts, math, science, and more. This series ensures the arts remain accessible to our youngest patrons in public, private, parochial, and home schools. We can’t wait to welcome students back into The Grand’s historic space! Stay tuned for the announcement of a series of in-person shows. Be sure to like us on Facebook and keep an eye on our website at grandtheater.org so you don’t miss all of the exciting show announcements coming just around the corner! SHAYNA STEELE TUBA SKINNY AUG 17, 2021 | R&B/SOUL SEP 16, 2021| VINTAGE-STYLE JAZZ Not only does Shayna Steele have a Drawing on a wide range of influences, charismatic, charming, and truly unique their unique sound evokes the rich musical voice, but also impressive technique and a heritage of their New Orleans home. powerful sound you won’t soon forget. ROYAL WOOD BAD BAD HATS OCT 2, 2021 | SINGER-SONGWRITER NOV 18, 2021 | INDIE ROCK Experience this Canadian singer’s emotional This Minneapolis-based rock group combines lyrics, beautiful melodies, and soulful vocals. nineties-rock influences with a lighthearted feel. PLUS THREE MORE SHOWS TO BE ANNOUNCED! Limited tickets still available! Tables are limited! GA tickets are still available. Call The Grand’s Ticket Office for more information at 715-842-0988 or visit us in-person at 401 N 4th Street, Downtown Wausau. “We’re proud to be the inaugural Community Engagement Series sponsor. Access is at the heart“ of our work, whether for health, wellness, or community connectedness. With a mission to ENTERTAIN, EDUCATE, and JENNIFERENRICH SMITH North Central Wisconsin, The Grand TheaterEXECUTIVE pushes DIRECTOR the performing arts from the stage into our community. Through workshops, Online Activities: Engagement Events: pre-show activities, free Virtual programs and From film screenings to cultural events, and online events like Zoom Trivia, dance lessons to comedy activities, the Bridge Clinic Facebook Watch workshops, these free Community Engagement Parties, and spotlight events explore creative Series not only makes the performances keep ways to engage our arts more accessible to audiences engaged community.