Wausau Morning Report with Chad Holmes: Thursday, September 11

you

And welcome back.

It is the WXCO morning report part of mornings with Pat Crite Low here on 98.9 WXCO.

I am Chad Holmes.

Ian Welsh is off today.

He went down to Chicago last night to see the Doobie brothers in concert.

So taking advantage of that and hopefully he'll have a great time.

We'll talk to him about that tomorrow here today.

We get another opportunity to talk about a guy who knows a thing or two about bringing some famous acts here to Central Wisconsin.

It is Sean Wright, Sean Wright, Executive Director of the

Grand Theater, and also the Performing Arts Foundation of Wausau.

Sean, good to see you again.

Yeah, good morning.

Glad to be

here.

Yeah, you say, doobies, hey, I've seen them all the

time.

No, no, no, no.

You guys are great.

Amazing.

These many decades later still out there filling arenas around North America.

Are you going south?

Because I saw the Cardinals are in Milwaukee this

weekend.

No, I think we'll pass on that game.

Another season you might,

right?

I can think of things I'd rather watch than the Cardinals.

And also, I'm sure that this time of year, you're busy as we get now towards the middle portion of September, as we kind of start to get closer and closer to the real, the heat up for the, for the, yes, the new 2020, 2025, 2026 season at the Grand.

It's been, you know, you've been into it,

but

it's going to start to really start to

purr, isn't

it?

Yeah, absolutely.

I mean, we were just talking about the calendar.

in the office earlier this week and realizing, oh, this is the last Friday, Saturday, Sunday that we don't have a show or an event on at least one of those days all the way till Christmas.

So we ratchet it back up and a few shows underway.

But yeah, as you said, as we get into next week and then beyond and especially in October, we are full speed ahead until we hit that little break around the holiday season, which we will need after a very busy holiday season.

And

then we've taught previously that this whole year is a little compressed, so you're trying to fill it.

In the end, do you think you're going to have close to the same number of events at the Grand, even with the end of the season coming

a little shorter?

Yeah, even with the end of the season coming about May 10th, I do think we'll have the same number of events every time.

It seems like we're kind of finished adding events.

Something pops up, whether it's something that we're doing, working with an outside promoter or just other events that...

But frankly, you forget, have to be fit in that end of the year window.

I just saw something pop up on the calendar the other day and I said, oh, of course, yeah, we normally do that in May.

It didn't occur to me because we're so living in that world of gearing up toward the shutdown next May.

So yes, the schedule is, there's not, there aren't a lot of holes in the schedule.

Right now, the most common thing I say when I get a phone call is like, no, our schedule is jammed.

Well, we'd love to get it.

I'm just telling you.

We'd love a Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

Yes, you and everybody else.

You

may

as well

ask for the

moon and move backwards.

But

even moving backwards right now,

you

don't have very much time after that

as well.

Which is a really good problem to have.

But yes, it is a losing a couple of months over the summer means that there's a lot of things that get pushed back into March, April, May of 26.

And it means that we're going to

We're going to be busy right up until they kick us out.

That idea of the weekend that brings me up to popped into my mind just now because it was before Ian and left for Chicago.

We were talking on the air about how sometimes with these big events

there in the middle of the week, you may

hope that they would land on a weekend, but sometimes you just, you know, have if you want to see this concert or this performance, whatever it may be, it has to be into the middle of the week.

How difficult.

Is it to get a major act like say for a weekend?

Yeah, yeah, it absolutely is a challenge And you know there are certain things I have you know people all the time So you know why don't you do your Broadway on the weekend?

Well because for us to do the Broadway on the weekend We would have to do a minimum of three shows sometimes even four shows just because that's the way that those work It's a wound up in a very fantastic situation this year with Mrs. Doubtfire being able to do that on a Saturday because obviously they're taking Super Bowl Sunday off and

you know, but otherwise that's, that's just not an option.

And so at times you, as part of the negotiation process, you may wind up with a show you won on a Friday, on a Thursday, or one another.

Thursday on a Tuesday.

But you also know there are certain shows that just fit on weekends.

And the thing is, with some of those shows, artists and agents know as well.

You know, there's, I would say when we're working to book comedy, for example, with our friends at Outback Presents, probably the largest book or a comedy in North America, you know, they're asking for Thursday through Sunday avails.

They're not asking for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, because the comedians they work with know that that's just not, you know,

It's not the environment they want as a touring comedian.

Yeah, so everybody sort of finds the right way, their shows that work just fine.

Again, that's one of the interesting

aspects of your job.

Again, I think as you go into the future, get somebody to do a little documentary because there's so much I think that people don't know about that you put together.

And again, I've used that as an example of being a general

manager

of baseball.

I think a lot of us would love

because that's why they play fantasy baseball, fancy football, because you're going to be a general manager and you're going to be a general manager and put all these pieces together.

I imagine that is, you know, there's probably a lot of stress involved, but boy, there's

got to be a

lot of fun

as well.

Oh, absolutely.

No, I mean, there's, there's nothing better than a week like this week where we look at it and.

going back last you know last Friday we put Marshall Tucker band on sale we put a second show for Mannheim steamroller on sale roll into this week we announced stevo and Justin willman and uh you know we're going to be adding a second show for cirque music a holiday as well and so you know that's exciting it's exciting to see that there's uh you know

Interest from artists and promoters and working in our in our space and in our market and that we and that we were able to to make them work You know, we were able to figure out a way to make all the things work the date and the deal and and everything that you know, that's there and Yeah, it's a there are times where you look at it and go

That is not at all what I want to deal with.

And you've got issues with, especially with international artists right now.

It's hard for them to get visas.

And so there's, but this way, until the show actually plays on your stage, you almost sort of live in that, okay, what could happen to derail us?

I guess sort of the same way.

You can make a trade, bring up a player or whatever, but until they actually step in the batter's box or tow the slab, like you don't know, or are they actually going to, is it actually going to work out?

We will have more with Sean Wright, the executive director of the Grand Theater of Wausau coming up in just over 20 minutes.

Our next local segment at 7.22 this morning.

That is coming up.

Also coming up, we have an information update, news, weather and sports at the top and bottom of every hour.

That's straight ahead.

And then more of Mornings with Pat Krightlow on 98.9 WXCO.

And welcome back.

The time is 722.

The WXCO morning reports.

Part of mornings with Pat Krightlo.

Again, we're talking to Sean Wright, the executive director of Wasa's Grand Theater and also the Wasa Performing Arts Foundation here on 98.9 WXCO.

Well, let's look ahead because as you said, we're starting to start to roll.

What are some of the big shows number one that are coming?

And also the shows that people, we always like to say, hey, the tickets are starting to get lower and lower in terms of availabilities.

Maybe some of the shows that people bear start thinking about it.

They want to be there to make sure they get good tickets.

Yeah.

Away from Saturday, we were really cool sort of.

actually calling it a festival, Mumfest.

Here come the mummies, a very fascinating band and they are fantastic, rock and soul, R&B, yeah, Funk.

Funk's probably the best description of them, but they literally dress up as mummies.

And the

hook

is because it's a rotating cast of Nashville and LA musicians.

Like these are people who play in...

Bands you know they play aside artists with artists that you know and love and so for them to go out on their own

have the concealed identity and you just, you know, you never know who these are, but a really, really cool show and they're out with.

It's a fun concept.

It's just a fun, loud, dancing, funky show.

Do you know who they are?

I do not know who they are because my thought would be when they come to Wasson, they got to come and grab something to eat here downtown.

And maybe if there's somebody that's recognizable, it's like, Hey, it's you.

Exactly.

So we're looking at the.

Oh, I guess I don't know.

Tell the body tell how tall you are or something like that.

That's a mystery.

The mystery needs to be solved.

And

so they've got a couple of openers, Lucy Davis and Platinum Moon.

And, you know, it's just a, I appreciate a group who's like, no, we're going to turn this into a festival.

Start the show at seven o'clock.

A couple of great artists playing full sets.

And then the mummies come on 930.

Class example, that show has to be on a weekend.

We can't have an artist coming on

930 on a Tuesday night.

to come out and enjoy it.

It's a fun night to leave the kids at home and just check out a really cool band and in here come the mummies and mumfest.

And then, yeah, as we get into October, a lot of shows with tickets going fast, full some prison experience, illuminate as well.

We stole some tickets for Adam's family, but those are starting to really move also.

And we dive right in over the next 30 days.

Yeah.

I mean, it's almost as though, as you said, the runoff is to get to fall.

It kind of turns a little bit because.

that we still have the opportunity.

We're gonna have, I think, a beautiful weekend for people to do their outdoor.

It's probably a great weekend for you guys to have off, but then as you do get into the fall and some of those cooler nights and rainy nights and then we get the winter, it just feels like, hey, that's the time you wanna get nice and dressed up and get the jacket on and go into the grand theater and experience everything that's there.

It's part of the change of the seasons is the idea of some of these great shows coming to the grand.

Absolutely.

I mean, I have that conversation with colleagues on other venues, other...

markets all the time.

And they're like, well, summer is such a great time for us.

And I said, because you're not in Northern Wisconsin.

We savor it.

We

exactly.

And we want to be outside.

We want to be on the 400 block.

We want to be at athletic park.

We want to be on the water.

We want to be all those things.

So come November.

When we're looking and it's dark at 430 and we know what's ahead, like, oh, no, that's a perfect time to look at the calendar and say, what amazing things are going on at the Grand and the other arts organizations in this community, in this region and take in shows and events to helpfully make the winter feel a little shorter.

Well, and I have something that we also touch on and that you're very proud to be supporting is the Central Wisconsin Jerry Ensemble.

And I saw that last weekend during the Festival of Arts that they were

or sort of their coming out party.

And that's the first performance of

the year.

And you gotta be proud of when you see something such as the Festival of Arts, because I do think that what you provide at the Grand gets people connected in a way that maybe they otherwise wouldn't be, and that spreads, doesn't it?

Oh, absolutely.

I mean, it's one of the things that makes this community unique is that there are communities like ours that have a Festival of the Arts, or have a Grand, or have a Woodson Art Museum, or have these things.

tend to have one of those entities, maybe two.

The great thing about this community is we have all of these things and that they're supported.

People come out, Festival of the Arts, people come to shows at the Grand, take classes at the CVA, go to the Woodson for Birds and Art.

It's this really fantastic arts ecosystem that we have in this region and people are supportive of all of it to allow it not just to survive but to flourish.

And that is something that makes Wausau unique compared to a lot of us.

similar communities.

It's frankly amazing to me because there's limited amounts of money.

Like for the average person in Central Wisconsin, and yet you all seem to work together in a way and it's not probably not in detention away, but it just, it flows in a way that is kind of special in this

area.

Yeah, it is.

And I think the thing that happens is that it just, it's just so embedded in immunity.

It's interesting for me when I meet people in other parts of the state who grew up here, had

family here and inevitably, first thing they talk about most of the time is, oh, I grew up going to the, my grandparents lived in the wild side, grew up going to the things at the Grand, or, oh, you know, I still, your art museum is incredible.

I come back and do that, or just met somebody a couple of weeks ago over in the Greenberry who was talking about how much they love Chalkfest.

They heard

about this

Chalkfest thing and come back for that.

And when you combine it with the outdoor amenities we have, and it's Granite Peak, or have a whitewater course, all those things, it all sort of,

hand in glove to make it a better place to live and work and for people to visit.

So many great shows coming up and as we always finish, the best way to get those tickets.

Best way to get those tickets is Grand Theater ER.org and especially this time of year as we have some shows, I like Cirque Musica, Teresa Caputo, some others that are selling out.

We just remind people, visit the actual, visit the website, GrandTheaterER.org.

Don't just type in Grand Theater tickets, Theresa Caputo, Wausau, because you wind up at Vivid Seats or StubHub or Seat Geek or somewhere like that, and you wind up paying way, way over face value.

And yes, so please visit there and visit the newly launched Grand100.org for

all

of these second century information so you can learn more and be a part of that transformative campaign

as well.

We will certainly be talking more about that as it gets closer and closer.

So, so much exciting.

going on at the Grand.

Sean, thank you very much.

And my pleasure.

Sean Wright, again, executive director of the Grand Theater and Wausau Performing Arts Foundation.

He joins us every other week, every other Thursday here on the WXCO morning report, part of Mornings with Pat Crite Low.

Coming up on 7.30, we will have the farm report, part of our information update, a look at the weather, and a whole bunch more.

I'll be back at 7.52.

Keep it right here.

Borny's the pack right low 98.9 WXC on.

WXCO morning report part of mornings with packed right low on 98.9 WXCO online at WXCO FM mobile devices and Alexa by searching WXCO and on the civic media app The time is 7.53.

We are live from our downtown studios at the corner of Washington Street in North Third Street Temperature stands at 59 degrees It is Thursday morning

the 11th day of September of 2025, so much that could be talked about here on this September 11th.

It is 24 years since 9-11.

I think anybody that was living on that day can recall what they were doing.

For myself, it was similar to what I'm doing here this morning.

I was working on the radio.

In fact, I was working down in Stevens Point at a radio station in Stevens Point during the morning show.

And when the first reports came in, the thought was, no, it was an accident.

Somehow an airplane accidentally, for whatever reason, could have been mechanical issues, could have been some sort of technical issue, somehow ended up hitting the top of one of the towers of the World Trade Center.

And then, of course, the second plane went in, and all of a sudden, everything changed.

Everything changed.

It was...

Basically known that this was not an accident.

This was not something that was just coincidental and I remember in the aftermath and in the next couple of days as the continuous coverage went on and we were on the airwaves and and talking about this and I remember being home one of those nights and thinking how much I wish we could have gone back just a few more days to when things were normal and in some respects things have not

Ever gone back to that normal the normal that we had back on September the 10th of 2001 I can still remember what I was actually doing on September the 10th 2001.

I remember there was a Monday night football game Between the New York Giants and the Denver Broncos.

I don't know why I can remember that but I can remember that and that was basically in some respects the last normal day that we've seen and it

ties in now to what happened yesterday the news that Conservative activist that's one way to put it Charlie Kirk was assassinated in a act of political violence yesterday the gunman gunman gun person still at large and There's so many ways we can go about this discussion

One way I want to spend a couple of moments on is the importance of leadership.

In our country's history, we have seen numerous times of crisis.

And one reason that the country's been able to get through times of crisis was the fortunate blessing of good leadership.

And I go back to when I was a kid.

instance where a Political figure that now as I look back I disagreed with with a lot of especially economic policy And that's Ronald Reagan came through big time when I was in middle school.

It was the space shuttle Tragedy Where a teacher was the first teacher to go into space Kristen McAuliffe was part of that crew and the space shuttle blew up

And whether you were a Republican Democrat independent, whether you were a supporter or somebody who did not support Ronald Reagan, he stepped up.

He said the words that were needed.

He provided some leadership to try to bring a country broken by this tragedy together.

That's what we need in these circumstances.

And it's not just this one yesterday.

We needed it just a couple of months ago.

And I'm gonna bring up the name Hortman.

as people like Derek Van Orden and folks on Fox News weep for the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

Didn't see much in terms of weeping or outrage at an act of political violence a couple of months ago in Minnesota.

We saw Donald Trump speak yesterday after this tragedy.

Not bringing people together threatening again basically In a way looking to use this in order to continue his Totalitarian grip on this country It's not too late.

It's not too late for true leadership within all parties to show up And if the president of the United States a Republican won't step up.

There are other Republican leaders that can step up

not by rage tweeting, as we heard Pat Critelow take a look at the social media timeline of Derek Van Orden earlier in this hour.

We need true leadership that looks beyond who got assassinated.

It's a tragedy, no matter who gets assassinated.

We can agree with Melissa Hortman's politics and disagree with Charlie Kirk's, but it's still an outrage and wrong.

And to look at these through partisan lenses is wrong It doesn't mean you can't be truthful about a person after they go because I think that Saying what Charlie Kirk was in life is not desecrating the debt It's also about being truthful in these situations as well But you can't have selective outrage when it comes to political assassination Coming up top of the hour news update

and then at 8.06 I will be joining Pat Krightlow for my weekly segment with Pat on Thursdays at 8.06 and then I'll be back again at 8.22 as well for another edition of the WXEO morning report coming up on 8 o'clock here on 98.9 WXEO

Welcome back.

It is the WXO morning report part of mornings with pack right low here on 98.9 WXO online at WXO FM mobile devices and Alexa by searching WXO and on the civic media app chat homes flying solo here this morning Ian Welsh He left right after the show yesterday headed

Down to Chicago with his dad because he's gonna go and see the doobie brothers and also a Jimmy Buffett Band that plays Jimmy Buffett's music so we look forward to hearing a report from Ian Welsh about his trek down to Chicago coming up Tomorrow morning here on the program that also means we will not have a number for the day gonna take a break on that one coming up as

I'm going to Be right back here.

No actually I must stay around because I dug on it the folks at the door have to wait that's one of the things when you have a situation where We have I'm recording an interview coming up after this segment is done and usually if we have me myself I'm on the air

You're trying to get in.

You can't get in yet.

You can't get in yet.

I'm on the air.

So I can't get to you yet.

You're seeing live radio at its best right here.

I tell you, it's one of those situations where we're on the air live and there's somebody that I'm going to do an interview with for the show tomorrow morning.

That's outside and we're trying to use hand signals dog on it.

I tell you we need I say it all the time.

I appreciate Ian Welsh more

when he's not here than when he is here.

Not to say I don't appreciate him when he's here.

I do see that, uh, that it's a case where when he's not here, I kind of realized, boy, I've been trouble.

And it was the same thing last night when we did the big high school sports show.

Hope you were with us for the big high school sports show last night.

If you missed it, we had, uh, Abbotsford head football coach, Jacob Knappmiller on, and we also had was a West senior.

Shay Jones as a guest as well.

If you missed it, you can go to our website, wxco.fm or civicmedia.us, click on the shows and then go to sports and you'll be able to find the Big High School Sports Show and listen to it there as a podcast.

But also you can subscribe as a podcast on Spotify or wherever you get your podcast.

So just search Big High School Sports Show on Spotify and then subscribe and be able to listen to all the previous episodes as well.

on Spotify.

Quickly noting that tonight the Packers are in action.

Sean Wright was with us earlier today and I was talking to Sean when he left and he's heading to Green Bay tonight.

I'm sure many of you are heading to Green Bay as well as the Packers take on the Washington commanders looking to get off to a quick 2-0 start.

If the Packers win tonight, they'll be the first team in the NFL to be 2-0 on the season.

So again, Packers and Washington tonight, if you're heading over to Titletown, hopefully you'll be able to have a lot of fun and should be a really nice evening.

And I was talking to Sean as well.

When he was leaving I said you know that is the exact night I would kind of want to go I haven't gone to a packer game in a long time But I just have no stomach to sit in the cold anymore.

So a game in late November or December Not not for me I prefer to sit on the coach be able to watch the Packers in comfort and I think a lot of us and actually tonight I don't know what I'm gonna do.

I don't have Amazon Prime So that's where the game is it's on Amazon tonight

Gotta figure something out.

I guess maybe just listen to the radio.

There you go.

I love listening to the radio So I think I'll be listening to the Packers on the radio tonight and don't forget tomorrow night.

We have a pair of high school football games I will be at Steam Stadium as the Wassal West Warriors take on the DC Everest evergreens big one in the Wisconsin Valley Conference We will have a live coverage starting with the pregame show at 6 35 and the opening kickoff at 7 p.m.

That's again Wassal West taking on DC Everest high school football tomorrow night

on 98.9 WXCO online at WXCO.fm mobile devices and Alexa by searching WXCO and on the Civic Media app.

And then also tomorrow night, Tom Weaver is back with us.

Boy, I've been missing Tom.

He has not been available for the early part of the season, but now he is back and he will be over at Newman Catholic in Balliott Field as the Newman Catholic Cardinals will be taking on Niagara, the Niagara Badgers.

That game can be heard live on the sports two stream of 98 of WXCO.fm.

And the civic media app again the sports to stream of wxco.fm And the civic media app starting with the pregame show at 640 and the opening kickoff at 7 p.m That game can also be heard on a tape delay basis following the wasa west game tomorrow night here on 98.9 wxco something else i want to mention is that We we are very proud to be the only wasa radio station that still provides live play-by-play of high school sports here on on the radio and

Though we need support.

Our advertisers are the ones that are able to keep us on the air.

If you are a...

person or a business that appreciates our coverage of high school athletics, please reach out to us because we are in desperate need right now of further advertiser support.

Just reach out to us on our social media or if we're going to our website and getting the contact and we'll get that, get you the information just to take a peek at it.

So again, if you're able to, that would be terrific.

We're gonna take a time out.

bottom of the hour news update is coming up and then Jola pecky will be joining the pack right low coming up as well it is the WXCO morning report here on 98.9 WXCO

We built a studio in

his

house.

All fun!

Yeah, he's got a full-out studio now.

So

we've been tossing that idea like, what if we ever get bored?

Should

we

do another radio drama?

Yeah, Jim's got equipment he's building up to maybe do voiceovers and audiobooks and things.

Well, tell him to call Casey because we got all this stuff.

And we know roughly how to edit.

If

you want to wear headphones, feel free.

You don't have to.

I just need to because I got to make sure the sounds is pretty good.

And if you need to... Oh, the... If she's not going to wear those, that's probably better to wear.

Those are the hardest ones to

kind of... And what would be the advantage?

There's really none for you.

It

looks cool,

Paula.

It looks really cool.

So I should take a picture, huh?

Yes.

And if you need to

adjust the volume on your headphones.

Yes.

Perfect.

Thank you.

And

don't mind me is during the because again Normally during their interviews Ian takes the pictures too.

He does all this stuff

for me And I'm going to

kind of take a little bit of you across the way through a POV kind of kind of look at it here, so All right Here we go

And good morning once again everyone and welcome back.

It is the WXCO morning report part of mornings with pack right low here on 98.9 WXCO online at WXCO FM mobile devices and Alexa by searching WXCO and on the civic media app

I'm Chad Holmes.

Ian Welsh will join us in just a little bit, but first to start things off this morning.

Again, we've talked so often about all the amazing and opportunities for folks here in Central Wisconsin, either to go and experience the arts as an audience member or as a cast member or somebody behind the scenes.

Another terrific show is coming this weekend here to Central Wisconsin.

It is the Wausau Community Theater.

They are presenting Home.

I'm Darling.

by Laurel Wade.

He'll be at the UWSP Wassup Black Box Theater Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7 p.m.

and then a special Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.

And to talk about the production, talk about everything that's going on, we're very happy.

sit around the table and talk to a couple of cast members, Chanel Volpel and Paula Hawkins and ladies, both of you, thank you for coming on over this

morning.

Thank you for having

us.

Absolutely, and again, we'll make sure you get a little closer to that microphone, Paula, and also Chanel as well.

But home, I'm darling.

Number one, you have to think about it when you say it.

Darling, I'm home.

It's the first thing in the mind.

What is the meaning of the title of the show?

I think it's just a little bit of a juxtaposition just to get you started thinking about what the show is going to mean.

It's a little bit

backwards, it's a little bit flipped.

And I think the show takes on lots of themes like that.

A lot of talks about domesticity and the value of a woman's place in the home and in the workplace and in the world.

So is it darling, I hope I'm home or is it home?

I'm darling.

So we all have to think about things just a little bit.

And the thing about it as well is that number one here is.

I'm gonna stop for a moment.

I got all panicky

because I thought I did not start the recording.

And I did start the recording.

So I'm going to just edit it from the point of view or end of your answer.

Because I thought if we go through the whole interview, see, I am lost when Ian's not here.

It's just insane where I'm just worried because I started it, but then I forgot that I'd started it.

So I'm going to just do a little edit job here.

And because I thought better to look at it now than when we're all done to have to do it all over again.

Okay, we're gonna, again, I'm gonna start right where you ended.

Based on that description, it sounds like it could be a drama, but it's not a drama, is it?

It's a little bit of a drama, but I would say it's a light drama.

There's comedic moments in it, but there is still a lot of thoughtful material.

And

Paula, what

character are you

playing?

I play Sylvia.

I'm Judy's mother.

I was raised through the 50s.

and this show is about the 50s.

I've learned a lot about it because I was only 10 at the end of the 50s, so I'm learning a lot as my character about what it was actually like as a woman.

And Chanel, Paula said, Judy's mother.

You are Judy.

Can you talk a little bit about the character of Judy, one of the leads in this show?

Yes, I think Judy is quite interesting.

She has a desire to live out her dreams, as we all do, right?

And her dream is to live life authentically, like...

she is in the 1950s.

So she chooses to leave the workforce and she chooses to stay at home and keep her home clean and just live in just complete domestic tranquility.

Everything is lovely, everything's put away.

There's not a single thing that you see in her home that isn't from the 1950s or earlier, that isn't handmade, that isn't vintage.

And she takes such great pride in the care of her space.

And so it's really interesting to see how much joy she gets from that.

And then also,

As I married person as her character is married She has to kind of reconcile that with like with her husband's desires and what does he want and what brings him fulfillment?

You know, I think anybody who is in a relationship and Who has been married has to have some like conversations about that.

I don't know I think

She's just really interesting.

I think she's a very dynamic character.

And Paula, what's the relationship between mother and daughter in this show?

Is it a close relationship?

Is there is there conflict in this relationship?

How do you look at that?

It I think they're close loving but I have I don't approve of her lifestyle Because I was raised in the feminist era the character that

This bothers me a lot that she's not putting herself out, back out into the workforce and becoming a domestic goddess.

I don't approve of it.

And Chanel Judy, when you were explaining the character, what's below the surface here?

Is it as domestically blissful as you made it sound in your description?

Is there anything below the surface there for your character?

There is so much below the surface.

I would encourage people to come and see the show and find out.

Don't want to spoil it too, right?

I think that no matter where we're at in life, we...

You know, even if things are really wonderful and feel successful and feel like they are what we want them to be, there's still some areas where things are not actually perfect.

And if you can imagine an income or like a home with just one income, they're going to be financial decisions you have to make.

And in this particular show, she doesn't have children.

She's staying at home and taking care of the home.

And that's her job.

That's what

she really is bringing value in her family and her relationship.

But then her husband is the only income.

So they have to kind of.

to figure out how to manage life like that.

And we know in today's economy, that can be a little bit of a financial challenge.

How many total characters are in the production?

Six.

How long has the rehearsal process been for this show?

This one a little bit longer.

Seven, eight weeks, I believe.

That is a bit longer than

normal.

Is that a good thing?

Because I think that you can look at it maybe two ways, that sometimes it can be where, for lack of a better term, you can peak too early.

And do you feel like this has been good for this production, that having that little bit of extra time

has helped?

I think it's been very good.

We have actors who are seasoned actors.

We have actors that are

new, new to theater.

And because of the dynamic relationships between all the characters, there's so many layers that I think the extended rehearsal period has been a very good thing.

And Chanel, what about you in terms of the process?

How many shows have you been in, number one, a U.S.

theater veteran?

Yeah, I guess I would be considered one of the veterans of the cast.

How do you look at, you know, when you start a production, you know, let's start maybe from the table read and then write until opening night.

Your process is, is there anything in particular that you feel is very important in terms of developing a character?

Yes, so I actually read the script I think about four or five years ago and I just fell in love with the story I knew we needed to produce it at some point and now was the right time to do it so it's great as a performer I really dive into the heart of the character that I'm playing I want to know their thoughts their feelings their motivations I want to understand their history and what I found so intriguing with Judy is that she had an unconventional life growing up and she chooses a different but also unconventional life as an adult

And I thought that was really interesting to dive into.

And with any script, the author kind of tells you what they want you to know about the character, but then they give you

a freedom to develop more ideas on your own.

And I think we've been able to have the opportunity to really do that.

And with this term in particular, there's a lot of cultural references.

This is an English production.

It's set in Britain.

It's set in modern times, but of course it's also kind of set in the 50s or aesthetically in the 50s.

So we've had to study British accents and dialect training.

We've really looked into modern pop culture.

We've looked into 1950s historical references and culture.

So it's been a really fun learning process.

for this show.

And Paula, what about learning that English dialect?

Is that something that comes naturally to you?

I'm going to make it a mission.

Back in my college days, I did a show with a dialect and I hated it because I was not even good at it.

Do you find that something that you're able to develop easily and does it really help you in finding that character?

Yes, we did training and that helped a lot because it tells you how to speak the vowels.

I had done a previous show that was a Irish accent and I found that a little bit harder because everybody mimics a Brit accent, but they don't always do it consistently.

They do certain words, certain vowels, but it was a challenge and I think the cast has all come along.

quite a ways in their accents.

And talking generally about Wausau Community Theater and something I've talked about Ian about is he finds it to be so encouraging and welcoming.

And for folks out there who may have an interest in it, they may have sit in the audience this coming weekend and they think, well, I'd like to be involved in some way.

Give us your pitch.

Why should they do it?

Or do you want them to do it?

I assume you want them to do it, but can you talk a little bit about the organization and its ability to bring folks in to give unique opportunities that maybe,

you

know, folks would dream about?

Yeah, come play with us.

We're here to create art and...

do things for the community and build theater locally.

So you don't have to drive all the way to Minneapolis or Chicago or those big, you know, those faraway places with expensive tickets to go see theater.

We can do it here.

It's a wonderful outlet.

If you have an artistic itch or a logistical itch, I'm more logistical than artistic.

I stage manage a lot.

I like

to really organize and bring people together.

And it's so much fun.

I mean, most of our rehearsals are in the evening.

So for a lot of folks that works really nicely with a work schedule,

are very family friendly.

I've had productions where my production staff was a set of parents and so the kids

were playing in one

room or just hanging out and sometimes they got involved and we put them up on stage as well.

So it's been really cool to see like all the relationships that you can build and and all of the different types of things that we can do.

And I know in particular with our theater on the side we've been striving every production to bring in a new element of tech.

So we have a new tech thing that we're trying this production.

So if you really want to try something different or

I knew this is a great place for that.

And Paulo, what about your experiences

with WCT?

My grandson, he's 16, is helping with this show backstage.

This is the third show he's worked on.

And he is having such a wonderful time.

He loves this.

And when I was talking with him last night, I said, you know, this is the kind of place that you meet people that you would never...

ever meet anywhere else.

It brings in people from all walks of life and that you would probably never meet any other way, any other time.

And it's all ages.

You get, you can start with children's theater, you can go into adult theater and so you get to work with people, children, all ages, which is, which is very cool too.

He mentioned that the theater on the side and this is a production for your theater on the side program at WCT.

Yes.

One of

the interesting things from my perspective and I've actually gone to a couple of the shows on the side and actually went over at the

going to be a little bit of thinking and ruminating at the end of the production.

And I hope that it opens up dialogue for people to just have a good chat with a friend.

I mean, to get to talk about, like, oh, wow, I've never actually thought about the world this way.

And also still have an enjoyable time.

Because I think that's what I love most about this story, is it's thoughtful, but it's still enjoyable.

That's why I said it's a drama, but it's

light.

And there's nothing like live theater.

I mean, it really isn't.

The vibe because of the 50s to see the the 50s in the set the sets wonderful Yeah, the costumes are our vintage and they're wonderful.

Yeah, they are

actually I think mostly all vintage

Not all of them, but really close.

And we've been wearing heels and a big puffy skirt for all of the rehearsals.

So it's been fun.

Fantastic.

Really great opportunity.

Home I'm Darling by Laura Wade performed at the UW-USP Wasa Black Box Theater.

This Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 7 p.m.

and then a matinee on Sunday at 2 p.m.

You can get tickets.

Go to the Wasa Community Theater Facebook page.

You have a...

Rather long a little bit of a longer website, but what we'll do as well is on our podcast page and our show notes We will have a link where you can get your tickets as well So just go to our podcast page and we'll have the link in terms of getting tickets And uh, you're saying Lord,

I mean there may be tickets at the door to Right now the Sunday performance is nearing sold out but

Come, try to get a ticket.

There you go.

It's worth it.

Chanel, Volvo and Paula Hawkins, break a leg and thank you for coming in.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

We're going to take a quick break and then come back with more here on 98.9 WXCO.

There we go.

Very good.

Thank you so much for having us.

The nerves weren't just like rating it.

How many seats are in the black box?

There are only 40

seats.

It's the layout of the production.

It's a very large cat, like a whole kitchen and living

room

set.

So it's a little bit larger.

And like I said, we're trying out some new tech.

We're filling up the theater

pretty well.

Which is wonderful.

It's wonderful to have these kind of shows.

I prefer straight plays.

That's

the way I

am.

Thank

you for supporting us.

It means everything.

I hope you can come to the show here.

Yeah.

And

they had the same feeling when it was at Whitewater.

So, Crimes of the Heart.

You saw Crimes?

Yeah.

Thank you for coming to that.

That was

my baby.

That was

one of my dream shows.

It was so fun because when I went to school at UWMC and some friends of mine were in that show, they performed it there back in 1990.

Gosh, isn't

that a beautiful story?

It was and it was fun to see it again because it is a really good show and it was funny because I got there and I'm sitting there and I said,

I said, I took a picture of this, and I sent it to the woman now, and it was a lifetime friend of mine.

She's a theater professor at Southwest Minnesota State University, and she played the lead and grinds back in school.

I said, okay.

What's wrong with my hat here tonight?

Did she guess?

She did not.

Okay, because I feel like there's a lot

of questions.

No, right, right, right, right, right.

She did not guess it, so I had to tell her.

No,

thanks for coming to

that.

No, no, no, I really loved that.

That was

our first time with plumbing on stage.

That was very exciting for

me.

Yeah, it was very intimate.

And I imagine it's even more intimate to the black box than it was there.

Because I mean, there it felt like you were right there, you know.

Yeah, the first one I did in theater in the round was outside Mullingar at Whitewater.

Oh, that was the first one.

And I was I was freaked about having people so close and how how you tune them out.

And it worked.

And I was but it was scary.

And this one, they're even closer.

They're they're like a few feet away.

The audience will be.

Yeah, I don't know.

It's not quite a thrust.

I guess maybe a thrust, it's going to be an L shape for the audience and an L shape for a stage.

So I've never performed in the round or I've directed a whole bunch, but

I've

never been this

close to an audience.

So hopefully I don't sweat on everybody.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And that one, my husband and my stepson were in it.

They're only four characters.

So yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Exactly right.

And the audience is the best part of it because

I

mean, I haven't done it.

such a long time, but when I was in college, I got a little glassled in by my friends.

I didn't have any interest in it.

Like, oh, but then fall in love with it real fast.

And then, you know, still,

to this day, I

mean, I get to be on the radio and do a lot of fun stuff.

The greatest thrill of my life was being the lead in a show.

It was a-

What was that?

Play it again, Sam.

Oh.

It was back, you know, in school and, like, to hear people laugh.

Yeah.

And to have it, and to feel like it went well.

I

mean, I

was not a great actor, but I maximized my ability.

As long as you maximize what you get, it was so easy because it was such a funny show.

When you love it, it's

just a feeling.

But it's so weird because I remember the opening night because you're doing rehearsal.

You don't have an audience, especially with a comedy.

Because it's like the first time there's a laugh, I went right through it.

You

don't anticipate.

Then it's

like, okay, you gotta be ready for this.

It's like, wow, it's so different.

I mean, that's the thing.

People don't realize you can't bring in a, well, maybe for a small production, you can for a final dress or something, but for the most part.

the opening night is the

first

time you have a full house and it's like it's so it's completely different than the six weeks before that I've

been so serious about some very meticulous and so um I forgot that the show is also funny and then we had one of our volunteers coming in a stage crew and she's just cracking up like oh we're funny I forgot this

We need

to mention that and about be anticipating the pause for Bobby because it's his first show He won't know and he has some lines that people are gonna go Wow and just to be ready for

that

It's like, you know, it's a you have the rhythm for all that time if you stop the rhythm also, maybe your brain freezes,

you know I mean

it never happened, but it's like that was a scared me to death that if you lose that then all of a sudden especially natural because I think it was like half the line so if

I screwed up it was like it was all on me

But no, it's like because you just that's the thing in anything