Welcome, everyone, to Midday Magazine for the April 30th, 2024.
Have your host, James D. Mailov here. Hope you're all having a great day. Thanks for joining us.
In part two today, we're going to speak with our friends with Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre.
Talk about rumors. We have some of the actors and director joining us, looking forward to that.
Men looking forward to this for a while here. We have Sally Kissner, executive director of the Arts Council,
with us right now, and Sally, it is always fun when you join us, especially these particular episodes we get to do together,
where we get to preview the entire season of the 24-25 season. Absolutely.
Looking forward to this, I do want to shout you out again, like I always like to do with these segments,
because you do such a great job hunting down all these acts, and bringing them to town,
and doing so much of the legwork, the logistics that are involved in this.
We appreciate it. Appreciate you bringing so much culture to our community. Thank you.
Let's go ahead and kick things off with Colin Ray. Actually, could we back up?
Yes, absolutely. We have a pre-season show this year, something totally different.
So July 14th, we're having Bluffet and the son of a sailor band, which is a Jimmy Buffett tribute band,
just totally fun. Tickets are only $25 for adults, $10 for students.
We're going to have a lot of cool decorations in the pack, and then we're bringing in some food trucks for after the show.
It's a four o'clock show. So afterwards, stick around and plan on just buying your dinner at the food truck.
I imagine a lot of people out there who are big fans of Jimmy Buffett saw the celebration of his,
where all these celebrities came together to celebrate the life of Jimmy Buffett.
You know, his loss is right now to a degree where a lot of his fans are kind of, you know,
being okay, coming new good place with it. And when you get to that spot with a musician,
you start listening to their music a little bit more. Maybe it had a harder time listening to it for a bit there.
And having an act like this come to town is perfectly timed. That's a great time to bring them in.
It's going to be fun. That's a fun one right there. So now do you want to go to Colin?
I do. And I am really excited about this one.
So we have Colin Ray kicking off our regular season on Thursday, September 26th.
And I am not a huge country fan, but I knew his name. And as soon as he came across my computer,
I was like, okay, let's look at bringing him in.
He, I'm with you. I don't know as much about country myself. I'm learning more and more as I'm doing more work on the country station of RSWRI.
And I knew Colin from that and some things. He's got a very soulful voice.
Very much so. For that genre of music, you don't hear that that often, but there's such emotion to his singing.
Yep, very touching music.
That is a great performer. He's coming up Thursday, September 26th, 730 Show.
This is a multi platinum country recording artist. He's done a lot of great work in his career.
And we're going to play a little of him for you right now.
Well, the shouldn't have played that good. I got carried away and left the music.
Go to my head. Well, she shouldn't have worn that dress. The wet curl around when she was spinning.
Yeah, that's a nice version, Sally.
And one of the songs that really struck me that I recognized was, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
So if you haven't heard that recently, plan on coming out and seeing him.
Yeah, you can hear more of Colin at Colin Ray.com. That's Colin R-A-Y-E. Colin Ray.com. Get a preview before the show, before he comes to town.
September 26th. Keep that in mind, everybody. The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Sally.
Now, the music of Glenn Miller has been entertaining people for decades.
Some of our favorite songs, some of our favorite swing is Glenn Miller. This orchestra really brings it to life.
It really does. I saw them probably four or five years ago and was thinking about bringing them in at that time.
And then COVID hit and it's just wonderful. I think it probably appeals to an older crowd.
And yet young people should come and enjoy an orchestra like this because the standards that they play are just, you know, they're wonderful. They're very touching.
I had a student, I kid you not coming into my class at Second City a little while ago.
And they're singing this song and I know I know it, but I don't know what they're, it took me a second.
Was that old black magic? They were just humming it.
And I'm like, is that old black magic you're humming? And like, yeah, my grandmother used to play it or whatever and stuff.
The younger generations are getting into a lot of that music. They're having nostalgia for stuff that they didn't even experience.
But it's too accredited to the music. It's that eternal the music of Glenn Miller. It's been around for so long.
This is a direct continuation of Glenn's original band featuring top tier musicians from across the country.
It's pretty cool.
And one thing we're working on last season, we tried a couple of meals before the show at local restaurants.
This is one of them that we're working on a meal before the show. So we just thought it was a nice segue into Glenn Miller orchestra.
It's really good music for that. It feels like it sets the tone for something like that. Really good.
The Glenn Miller orchestra coming to town Thursday, November 7th, 730 show.
We also want to get into boogie and the yo-yo's. They're Christmas with you. Now boogie and yo-yo's, we don't have to tell the audience about these guys.
We know boogie and yo-yo as well. I've even emceed for them. That's how they've been in this area a long time.
They are very good, very talented. And they're pulling out all the stops. Their Christmas show is amazing.
They've been performing at the Fox City's Performing Arts Center with their Christmas show.
The last, I don't know how many years. And they're continuing to book at every single year in that area.
So I took a look at it and it was phenomenal. But I'd bring it in.
It's nice to bring in these acts that we wouldn't maybe, well, I know we wouldn't have otherwise that are big names or these artists that are covering other artists, some of these things.
But being able to support an act that we've supported for so long in a special setting with a special, you know, featured show, a Christmas show.
It's such a nice idea. It's such a cool way of supporting local. I really enjoy that.
And it's a really good show. They've been doing this for a long time for a reason. They're very good at what they do.
Looking forward to that one. That is coming up Thursday, December 12th, book in the Yo-Yo's Christmas with you.
One of the things that I appreciate about the Arts Council seasons, Sally, is the versatility, the variety that you're able to bring.
And how you're able to bring in not just different style of music as we've already covered country and orchestral and just rock and some fun stuff like that.
Also, the idea of bringing comedians in, like that seems like a really fun idea too.
And we love comedy. It seems like a good fit.
You bet. Jeff Allen is coming in January, January 31st, and his show is called Are We There Yet?
It's very family-friendly. He is hilarious when I first started looking at his little clips that come across my desk.
One of them was a half hour long, and I thought I'd look at five minutes or whatever.
I couldn't stop watching it. It was hilarious and just so enjoyable.
I love when those things happen. I love when that happens. Jeff is for a long time been a great comedic writer and a celebrated stand-up comedian.
It's nice to see his career getting the do. It's always deserved. And it's really cool to see him come into town.
Now, Sally, this is just between us. I won't share it with anybody else.
But are you thinking about in future seasons bringing more stand-up comedians in or more comedic acts, things like that?
Yes, we have looked at that, and we've gotten more requests on our surveys for comedy.
So, yeah, we're open to that.
I think that's a really fun idea. It's not easy.
I imagine to find a comedian that's going to be able to cover so many genres and our ages, I should say.
Our area, we've got a very wide range of ages of people that go to these shows.
So, being able to bring in an act like Jeff, that's a perfect fit.
And there are other ones out there. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes to town. That's going to be great.
And something we're doing special with this one.
As you may remember, on Always Olivia last year, we did a fundraiser.
Well, we are doing a fundraiser for the Jeff Allen show.
He totally supports recovery charities.
So, I did a little bit of research, and we came up with Opportunity of Hope.
It's connected to ODC.
And we're going to have $3 of every ticket sold, go to Opportunity for Hope, as well as have another link on the site where you can make additional donations.
Well, we appreciate the work that you guys do over there so much.
But when you do things like this, it's above and beyond. I think that is so cool.
We're still talking about the Always Olivia concert.
And what we were able to do with the show like that.
So, I mean, that is really noteworthy. Thank you very much for that.
Thank you for bringing Jeff to town. We're looking forward to that.
Are we there yet? Jeff will be here on January 31st.
So, we'll have an answer to that question on January 31st.
That's going to be a good show. Be sure to get your tickets for that.
And find out more information about all the things that Sally and I are talking about at saverthearts.com, saverthearts.com.
We'll get that out there one more time before we wrap up.
Sally, you know how I do these shows. I preview the season with you.
And I'm looking forward to our interviews.
There's always one act that I get a little more excited about than the others.
I am jacked for all of these acts.
But I got to say, I honestly, I feel a little ashamed to admit this.
I had not heard of bachelors of Broadway before, gentlemen of the theater.
You said that you went down the rabbit hole with Jeff Allen.
I went down the rabbit hole with these gentlemen.
I'm like, okay, I want to sample the music a little bit.
So, I have an idea of what to talk about with Sally and everything.
Like five songs later.
I'm like, oh yeah, I have other work to do.
I couldn't help myself. They're very talented.
The harmonies.
Yep, they're gorgeous.
Can you tell us a little bit about what these guys are bringing to town?
Well, they're backed by a nine-piece band.
So, it's not just the three guys singing.
They have a fresh take on audience Broadway favorites from Wicked, Phantom of the Opera,
Les Mis, Jersey Boys, 42nd Street, Miss Saigon, and any other ones you can think of.
Yeah, yeah.
These guys are incredibly, incredibly talented.
And you don't have to take my word for it.
Go ahead and take a listen.
I'm through accepting limits.
Cause someone said they're so.
Through some things I cannot change.
But till I try, I'll never know.
Too long I've been afraid of losing love.
I guess I lost.
Well, if that's love, it comes and runs to high cost.
Just incredible voices.
Very talented.
All three of these guys, magnificent, powerful voices.
And then backed by such a great, great, you know, supporting cast in that band and everything.
Right.
And you add all that and put it on the pack stage.
That's going to be a good show.
That is going to be a good show.
And that one we're also looking at possibly doing a meal beforehand.
So very.
Make a whole night of it.
And I just realized that all that to just show you how distracted I got by the talent of those men and everything.
I did not even realize the show is on my birthday.
It's on Thursday, February 20th.
Well, you have to come.
I really do.
I really do.
That's going to be a great show.
Everybody again, February 20th, bachelor's of Broadway, gentlemen of theater.
They cover such a wide range of great theater hits and do such a magnificent job of it.
You can find out more by going to their website and encourage you to do that.
Sally, we're going to wrap up our conversation with the final show of the main season.
The music of Billy Joel and Elton John starring Michael Kavanaugh.
And Michael Kavanaugh has performed in Wasabi for.
I've seen him a couple of times there.
He is just so talented.
And he was actually hand picked by Billy Joel for the lead in the hit Broadway musical, Moving Out.
He's phenomenal.
And his band is also phenomenal.
So he has a six piece band that will be with him as well.
He has a Grammy and Tony Award nominee called The New Voice of American Rock and Roll Songbook.
The only thing that I would add onto that is his versatility.
He is so versatile.
Absolutely.
I'm not a singer.
So I don't always understand how a singer can do this and do this kind of thing and stuff.
So maybe it's not as hard as I think it is.
But it sure seems difficult to be able to cut like it's one thing.
All right, you know what?
I'm going to color.
I'm going to cover Billy Joel.
Wow.
All right.
That's a big name.
That's one of our biggest greatest songwriters of all time and everything.
Oh, and I'm going to throw Elton John in there.
Like, what?
Like, why would you do that to yourself unless you can back it up?
And boy, can he back it up?
And he shares a few others, too.
Yes.
So come and find out.
He's such a fun artist, too.
And all these things that Sally and I can ramble about him and talk about with him.
And they're all noteworthy.
I think we could have just ended it with Billy Joel picked him.
Yeah.
Like, that alone would pretty much do it for you.
I want to play a little bit of Michael's work for everybody.
So we're going to do that right now.
Don't go changing to try and please me.
You've never let me down before.
Oh, my don't imagine.
You're too familiar.
Mr. Cavanaugh is amazing.
His band is really good, too.
I did want to make sure to mention that.
He's got a really, really good touring band with him.
You can find out more at michaulcavenaud.com.
michaulcavenaud.com.
I encourage you to do that.
Sally, with all of these acts, I'm a little curious.
You mentioned earlier that with the Glenn Miller orchestra you saw them years ago
and were looking for an opportunity to bring them in.
Other acts like this, like that, or you mentioned with Jeff, you'd just come across him.
Were these acts, you know, all lined up, or were the things that you were hoping to do eventually?
A little bit of each for the season.
Yeah, it's kind of, you know, there are some that I look at now.
I mean, there are so many good performances to bring in.
It's so hard to whittle it down to one season.
It's like, so I kind of have some on the back burner for next year and the year after that.
That's a good way to do it.
Well, and then there's the scheduling of these.
Right.
Which I can't, I talk about this with Pam all the time.
And Marvela, what she does, and a big shot of the Pam Hilke,
and all of the guests that join us for all these years on Midday Magazine and Morning Magazine
are all able to because of the work that you and her do to schedule these things.
And then I think it's something like this.
And just a marvel at that, Sally, the logistics of that.
It seems difficult, but I imagine working with these acts,
you guys try to find common ground, try to work it out together.
We try to, you know, we have some dates that are given to us by the performing arts center.
For example, we can't always get the dates that we want.
We need to, you know, work with them.
So then it's a matter of, are these groups routing in the Midwest?
Because if they're not, then they won't even look at those dates.
So there was one I tried to fit into the schedule this year.
And it's not going to work because the dates wouldn't work.
So that's another one in my back pocket for the next season.
I want to, I want to mention the ticket packages and that for everybody as well.
There are a season ticket packages available for everybody.
You can start getting those on July 22nd, I see.
That's correct. July 22nd.
And then individually, you can get tickets beginning, beginning August 12th.
And I've gotten quite a few phone calls already since the brochures hit the mailboxes.
So please mark down those dates.
And a package of all six shows, including tax, would be 279.78.
Pretty reasonable for this level of talent.
Six incredible acts that you get to see and know that you've already got your tickets.
You don't have to worry about it.
Right.
Being able to make plans throughout the year, every season, especially, you know,
you've got winter months coming up and those kind of things, having stuff to look forward to is really nice.
Yeah.
All of this.
And you don't have to travel two hours.
You know, you don't have to drive to Milwaukee or Madison or something like that to be able to see these acts.
You just got to go five, ten minutes away to get to the performing arts center.
All of that is really good.
And it's so great to be able to bring this entertainment and this culture to our community.
This community deserves it.
It supports those things.
But we encourage you to buy tickets, whether it's a single ticket and individual one or a package.
Because the work that the arts council does goes bigger than just entertaining us.
The educational level of this, Sally, where we're able to bring students in for some of these acts.
And the work that Eric does with the students and everything, they're helping set up for these bands and so much of that.
The supporting of the youth and the encouragement of that.
It goes so much farther.
I will remind the audience again that Wisconsin finished last in the nation when it comes to funding the arts.
Last.
That can happen.
Not in our state.
Not in Wisconsin.
Not when we are so known for our arts.
We've got so many great artists throughout our history.
This states history that have been celebrated and encouraged and enjoyed.
Even a kid who doesn't grow up to be an artist is made better by being involved in the arts.
They get better experience talking in front of people, speaking with others.
More public speaking, never heard anybody.
And they learn so much of these things through the arts council and thanks to the arts council.
So when you're buying these tickets, you are putting back into our community.
They are an investment.
They are an investment in the arts.
They are an investment in our community.
So not only are you going to take in a great show and enjoy yourself and have a night that you're going to remember.
But at the end of that night or during the show itself, even in the back of your mind, you're going to be able to think,
Oh, and I put back into my community.
Oh, and I added to my community.
I added to the culture of our youth.
Those are things that you can't take lightly.
They feel really good.
And there's something that you do when you buy tickets with the arts council and take in any of these great acts.
Oh, go ahead.
I did forget to mention we have an outreach scheduled with bachelor's of Broadway.
Oh, no, of all the ones to have it with.
Yes.
Wow.
Nice.
Oh, man.
I really wish I was a kid.
So that is going to be a fun one.
Sally, we also always want to encourage people to, you know, for most of these shows, we're looking for volunteers and that.
So whether if you want to be a part of things with the arts council or find out more information of ways you can impact it.
And impact your community with through the arts.
I encourage you to reach out to Sally.
If people want to do that, Sally, how can they get a hold of you?
They can give me a call 715-424-2787.
And again, you can see the entire season of the arts council by going on to their website, saverthearts.com.
That's saverthearts.com.
Look more into it and encourage you to dive into these acts and learn a little bit more about them if you don't know much.
Every one of them have great websites that have audio available so that you can check them out.
And enjoy and go down your own rabbit hole like Sally and I did.
Exactly.
Really enjoying these acts.
Really enjoy it every time we get together, Sally.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
As we're wrapping up, let's one more time remind everybody about Buffett.
This Buffett concert coming up.
Love it and the son of a sailor band.
Yes.
Sunday, July 14th at 4pm at the Performing Arts Center.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students.
You can buy those now at saverthearts.com or give us a call 715-424-2787.
Appreciate you, Sally.
Appreciate the work you do.
Keep it up.
And we'll talk again real soon.
Sounds good.
Thanks, Sally.
We'll be back with more Midday Magazine right here on WFHR, locally grown radio.
