Good morning, it is the WXCO morning report part of morning to pack right low on 98.9 WXCO online at wxco.fm Mobile devices and Alexa by searching WXCO and on the civic media app I am Chad Holmes across the way is our in studio engineer Ian Welsh Ian.
Good morning.
Good morning, Jen Of course, we will have more with you coming up in just a little bit But sitting across the table for me this morning as we do every other Thursday is the executive director
of Wausau's Grant Theater and the Performing Arts Foundation, Sean Wright.
And Sean, good morning.
Good morning.
Have you been doing more?
Marathons,
are you taking over?
The season has come to an
end.
But no, it's always good to see you here.
The first thing I said to you when he came in, because I was looking at your Facebook page and getting information about what's going on at the Grand, it looks like in recent days, in weeks, it's been some really good shows and a lot of good response.
Yeah, a lot of really good shows.
You know, last week we had the Great Motley Tuttle, Grammy Award winner, now Grammy nominated again.
for her brand new album.
And I have to say, that was truly one of the best shows we've ever hosted, which was amazing because Molly woke up that morning with no voice.
And thanks to one of our fantastic board members who's the physician, got her in, got her taken care of, and she was able to perform that night.
Well,
I gotta say, I gotta jump in right now, because last last winter, I
had
a problem.
I'm going to have to call you
up
when you call me.
I don't.
I don't know if my name is quite as big there, but I mean.
We'll see what we can
do.
Yeah, but a great, a great night with her, the 615 Collective, you know, up and coming Nashville band put on a really fantastic show on Sunday, you know, sort of the covering something completely different.
Teresa Caputo, of course, the Long Island Medium for a sold out show and, you know, funny.
The thing was, in addition to doing her thing, she also felt compelled multiple times to insult people who were wearing Packers gear because of course Packers were playing her giants that day.
So that was kind of a fun thing.
And then, yeah, had a great couple of days with Brass Queens doing their 10 by 10 show and some residency.
And of course, Mark Martell, One Vision of Queen, all was a hit at the Grand.
So yeah, it's been a busy but fun, really.
Seven days
well last night.
I
saw the you had brass please and brass.
There's something about brass It
just it explodes doesn't it?
It really does and those artists are so talented, you know and all female band from from New York and you know
It's rare that we bring an artist right back on the 10 by 10 series.
They had been on our stage a year ago, but we brought them back because it was, you know, unanimous.
People were like, please bring them back.
Please.
I need to say, I need to bring my friends.
And so we not only had a sold out show, we had about a hundred students from area high schools, middle schools up in the balcony.
watching the show because they had worked with them.
And they actually did three days of residency work in the community, working with, did five different activities at four different schools and with a couple of community organizations.
And so, yeah, amazing sound, amazing artists, educators, residency, community engagers.
It was a good couple of days with them.
And you mentioned Teresa
Caputo sold out on Sunday again.
three o'clock,
three
o'clock.
So again, it wasn't a case where it was well after the Packer game.
And yet
you sell it out.
I mean, it shows really again, the amazement of the audiences around here, isn't
it?
Yeah, it really does.
I mean, that's I have to say, when they when they booked that day, you know, with us as, you know, the promoter bringing it in, I'm like, boy, it's going to be a noon game.
And they're like, yeah, we'll be fine.
And they write, you know, just a unique thing.
I think it just shows the.
thing I like as we get to this time of year is the schedule truly does offer something for everyone, you know, whether it's that or family shows or Broadway, I mean, music, you name it, and a little bit of everything on the schedule for us.
Before we started, I mentioned to you that sometimes there is a...
a bit of mystery
on
what shows will just connect.
And there are wonderful shows that sometimes don't find an audience.
And there are other shows, wonderful shows that always find an audience.
And I imagine over the years, you just, you continue to learn.
And as much as you do learn, you'll never be able to be, say, the psychic.
Oh, no.
Yeah, no, no, exactly.
It's the, you know, as somebody.
once said booking.
Booking shows in our industry is, you know, it's like legalized gambling and it is because you're, you're, you're putting out the money and you're hoping to get a return on your investment and hoping, you know, that the audience will come.
And, you know, sometimes, you know, there are shows that hit that you aren't expecting them to.
And there are other ones that you are convinced until the day the show happens that, you know, the house is going to be full and you
realize, nope, this one just didn't, you know, didn't connect for whatever reason.
You know, sometimes it's other events going on.
Sometimes it's, you know, but where it lands in the calendar, you know, it, like he said, you, you can do this for a lot of years and I've been doing it for a lot of years and you still, there are still the, the mysteries good and bad in this business.
We will have more with Sean Wright, the executive director of the Grand Theater in Wausau and the Wausau Performing Arts Foundation coming up in just a few minutes at 722.
We're gonna talk a bit about some of the shows coming into the Grand during a busy, very busy holiday season.
Also, we're gonna ask Sean about maybe some of the surprises because sometimes you bring in a show.
that maybe you think might succeed or maybe not succeed and just succeeds beyond all imagination.
What shows surprise Sean Wright in terms of how they connected with audiences, how successful they were.
So we'll talk about that.
And also coming up in a little bit, we're going to tell you about a person that you would not normally expect to be.
a performer at the Grand Theater, who will be coming to the Grand in early 2026.
It's somebody that's not really a performer, but somebody that a lot of folks have got a lot of joy from the last couple of years down in Milwaukee.
So who is that person?
Well, we'll let you know coming up a little bit later on in the program.
Again, it is the WXCO morning report, part of mornings with Pat Crichtlow, 98.9 WXCO.
Coming up on the top of the hour, seven o'clock, we are going to
If you have an information update, find out what's happening around the country, around the world, around the state, and around here in North Central Wisconsin.
Our Isabella Nieto will have the latest news from Central Wisconsin.
And then after that, more of Mornings with Pat Critello on 98.9 WXCO.
It is the WXCO morning report part of mornings with Pat Cricklow on 98.9 WXCO, online at wxco.fm both devices and Alexa by searching WXCO and on the Civic Media app.
We are continuing our conversation with the executive director of the Grand Theater in Wausau and the Wausau Performing Arts Foundation, Mr. Sean Wright.
Let me ask you, okay, as you said, you've done it for a long time.
What was the biggest surprise of, in a positive way?
Maybe a show that, well, you probably maybe had to have your arm twisted just a little bit to bring your arm in, and then all of a sudden it turned into something just massive.
Yeah, you know, I have to say, the two shows stand out during my time here, and it's funny, because they're very, very different shows.
The first was...
you know, when we brought the prices right live here
and
I'd been pitched those sort of game show in person shows for years and went, really, are people really gonna, you can watch the prices right 24 hours a day if
you want to
online.
And it sold out in 40 minutes.
And I went
I guess we need to do a second show.
Can we do a second show?
And so that's just on the like, you realize, oh, yeah, there's a real connection there for people.
And it's a family thing and it's friends and everybody dresses up and it's a whole, you know, it's, it's a beautiful piece of comfort food.
Plus there's the fact that, you know, you legitimately.
Who doesn't want to come on down?
Everybody's everybody's had that like if I were on the show, I would have I would have gotten that right So that's one and so funny the other one completely completely different is of course the beautiful and this is between the holiday season the beautiful all is calm about the the truce on Christmas Eve back in World War one and No, it was a bit beautiful show knew that
it would our audience would would absolutely do it.
But it is, you know, it's a uplifting, but it's it's not an easy, you know, show.
It
is it requires your attention.
There's not in a world of big Broadway musicals.
It's a very sparse set.
It's same actors wearing the same costumes for 90 minutes.
And the show sold out.
And we brought it back and it sold out again and bring it back again at some point.
And just every, every time we bring it, I am struck by the audience and they're just level of, you know, it's the exact opposite of crisis, right?
Where people are excited and doing everything.
The level of, you know, of just engagement on a people or.
watching and listening and taking in and, you know, respect is almost the word.
It's, you know, there are parts of that show where it's just dead silent in the grand because they are admiring the artistry that's on the stage, but also the story that inspired it.
And so, yeah, that's the thing is two very, very, very different shows, but also.
You know, two shows that have been very good to, uh, very good to us and very good to our patrons.
Again, we're talking to Sean Wright, the executive director of the Grand Theater here on 98.9 WXCO.
Well, let's look ahead because again, we're a week away from Thanksgiving, the Christmas season, and we've, we've banged this rum a lot that this is truly one of the busiest times of the year for you guys.
It absolutely is.
You know, on Friday night, you know, tomorrow night, the great Dusty Slake comedian there.
I mean, he is, he is the.
of the next best next big thing in the Nate Bargazzi comedy tree.
You know, Nate Bargazzi's got coaches have coaching trees, the Shanahan tree and Nate Bargazzi's got his comedy tree and Dusty Slay is there.
So if you're, you know, very much like Nate observational clean comedy, just a fun, fun night.
Saturday, Cirque Dream's holidays.
The evening show is sold out.
The three PM show still has.
maybe about 50, 60 tickets left at the last time I checked.
There's still an opportunity to come out and see that.
And then as we get in the next week, it's the next show on our Broadway series with Tina, the Tina Turner musical Tuesday and Wednesday.
A few seats left on Tuesday, decent availability on Wednesday night.
And then yeah, after the Thanksgiving holiday, it is full on holiday programming from Nutcracker to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Mannheim steamroller.
And don't forget, Steve Oh, very, very
much
celebrate the holidays with Steve Oh in December.
One of those is not like the other.
But yes, the schedule absolutely ramps up
or it
has.
It's already ramped up.
But yes, the holiday season is is good quickly upon us.
You mentioned Tina coming up next week, the part of your Broadway series.
In terms of the Broadway shows that you bring in, do you how do how do you
Do you see the shows?
Do you get the information on all these shows?
How much do you, I guess, is it, when you make these decisions, is it based on seeing the entire show?
Is it just based on information?
Okay.
It really depends on the show.
You know, there, there are definitely a lot of shows that I get the opportunity to see before they are here.
There are other shows that just because, you know,
scheduling of being when I'm in New York, I don't get the opportunity to see.
And so, and then at that point, you're really relying on the word of mouth, especially on the touring side, because some of the touring productions, obviously, you know, if it's a star driven production on Broadway, you want to make sure that in the touring world, it still stands up.
And
so this is a show that, you know, has been to Appleton, it's been to the Overture Center and to Madison and talking to colleagues there.
They just absolutely, absolutely raved about it.
And so, you know,
knowing Knowing the story knowing the talent behind it knowing the music and everything and then you hear from colleagues and patrons and you know I think my parents actually saw
this one in St.
Louis as part of their Broadway series
So you even get advice from them that you need to bring this show.
I imagine
it's gonna be big energy Yes, a lot of energy in the middle of the week so again get those tickets to see a Tina coming up next week at the Grand
I guess we should also again touch as we get closer and closer the second century campaign and For you and others who are working on it Have most of the decisions been made or is it just keep wrapping up in terms of the the questions and the work that needs to be
done Yeah, you know we are at that that point of the project on the you know on the construction side where Yeah, every day feels like we're getting closer, but something else
percolates and that's just kind of the nature of it.
And then there are, you know, of course, are the operational questions on our side because we have to vacate our, we have to vacate our space and we have a lot of things in that space and how that works out.
And when we, you know, get out of the space because we do have shows all the way leading up to our closure.
So yeah, it is definitely a, you know, it's a puzzle every day.
We always, I think we say every day we feel like we learn more.
But we also feel like about every other day, there's something else new that we have to figure out.
And we will have a few more minutes with Sean Wright coming up at 7.52.
And we'll tell you about the very special show that will be coming in January.
Again, it got me excited.
So we're going to learn a little bit more about, again, a show that just was announced at the Grand and also talk a little bit more about the second century campaign as well.
It is the WXCO morning report.
Part of morning to the pack right low 98.9 WXCO.
WXCO morning report part of mornings with pack right low on ninety eight point nine WXCO online at WXCO dot FM mobile devices and Alexa by searching WXCO and on the civic media app.
We have a few more minutes with Sean Wright the executive director of the Grand Theater in Wausau and the Wausau performing arts foundation
Talk a little bit more about the second century campaign, but also again, there's a very special show that's just been announced that you'll be able to get tickets starting tomorrow.
So let's get right back, final few minutes with Sean Wright.
I remember back in the early 90s when Letterman moved into the Ed Sullivan Theater, right in New York.
And they actually had video of how they basically just gutted the entirety of the inside.
Is that going to be the case at the Grand
for this project?
Yeah, we will definitely have all kinds of project updates throughout.
And yeah, it's actually one of the things, you know, Sadie Fisher's course was at News nine is on our team handling all of our marketing for the second century.
And I know she's excited for me.
into actual construction work because it would make the job a lot easier right now.
She's got to come up with everything on her own.
And what's the hook on this?
What's the hook on that as opposed to, hey, I can go down and shoot them removing all the seats because that's going to be something that people are really going to resonate with people.
Or today they're doing all the painting.
It's going to be really going to resonate with people.
Is there again, are you looking for folks still make donations?
Oh, absolutely.
Yeah.
No, absolutely.
We, you know, we, we've still got, we've still got a.
ways to go to get to get to our $17 million goal.
And so, yeah, we encourage people go online, visit grand 100.org, see all the renderings, read about the project, read about our impact and why we need to do this project and do it now.
And, you know, and how you can become a part of
the support for this really transformational moment for our theater and our community.
So that's
grand100.org and of course go to grandtheater.org and get those tickets for a very busy holiday season for
a busy holiday season and you know and every time I turn around we're announcing a new show or two so I saw one that you just announced oh
I guess we
Do you want to talk about Pat Murphy?
Sure.
I forgot all about that because we talked before.
The manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, Pat Murphy, is coming to town.
He is coming in January on January 19th, Monday night.
He will be here.
Song and dance, you know.
Yes, yes.
It's a one man brought.
It's this one man Charlie Chaplin show.
We didn't know that he had all these talents.
You didn't know, but that's what we're doing now.
You know, obviously.
It was, it was such an amazing year as a National League manager of the year again.
And, uh, uh, architect, not just of the Brewer's year, but of the pocket pancake.
Uh, so Pat Murphy will be here.
He was going to do a, uh, it's called inside the dugout with Pat Murphy is sort of behind the scenes look.
He'll do a, uh,
interview beforehand with a member of the Brewer's Network and Then the best thing is for fans he'll open it up for Q&A for about 45 minutes and of course this is in January So it's just a week or so before he heads To Arizona to get ready for spring training and so and we've been the best thing is we've got we've got a limited number about 50 Home plate seats that they get you you know right there in the batter's box right down in front of the grand
best seats in the house and you get the opportunity to have a meet and greet with with.
the manager of the Brewers, Pat Murphy, after the show, get an autograph, get some items signed, you know, maybe I'll get him to sign, you know, my, uh, Alba Pujols, Bobblehead from the office, maybe not.
You're gonna make sure the wardrobe is not full of red that night,
okay?
Yes, I've had many people say that they could loan me Brewers gear for that day.
I said I'd meet them in the middle, I'm not going to wear Brewers gear, but I also will not wear Cardinals.
gear how of our pirates gear, because nobody cares about them.
Two time nationally managers here, two for two.
Two for two.
You'll see that very often.
You know, talk about the pressure.
I was going to do it next year.
I don't know.
That'll be a question.
How do you
make it three out of
three?
Well, you have to, you know,
you have to do.
Helps having Brandon Woodruff, except the quality.
No, we're really excited.
That's just, you know, to the idea that everything is, we have something truly for everybody.
I mean, I think that we've got in about a seven day stretch.
in January, we've got Broadway with Kinky Boots, we've got dueling pianos, we've got a country show with Colin Ray, and we've got the manager of the Brewer's Pat Murphy.
What more could you want?
Our tickets available now.
Tickets available Friday morning at 9 a.m.
And yeah, you can get those.
And as we always remind people, if you're a subscriber.
You would have access to the presale, which is live now.
So.
Oh, so again, again, and it's never too late to.
We have plenty of shows still left for shows.
Get you make sure a subscriber and get you opportunity to presale because those those tickets are going to are going to go, especially those good ones and.
You know, no, we've been asked if there will be pancakes available in the Great Hall.
We're working on that.
We'll see.
Absolutely.
Oh, real fast.
Again, one more thing, one more thing, one
more
thing.
I saw this yesterday.
You announced the show for May the 3rd of next year.
Yeah.
Board teachers.
Board
teachers.
Of comedy tour.
Yeah.
Again, I mean, it's like, what did they hear recently?
They were here two years ago.
Two years ago.
And it just, just, or a year and a half ago, and just fantastic.
And as I said,
Teachers love it, but truly, as their marketing said, anybody who's ever graded a paper or sat in a classroom or attended a parent-teacher conference, we all know.
And just the fact that their tour is called, is it Friday yet?
Somebody said, we've all asked that question.
By
the way, the first thing I thought when I saw that announcement yesterday was,
May is the perfect time because they're
ready for the end of the year.
It's been a long grind perfect time And this is how how they know their market.
They only do shows Friday Saturday Sunday And the Sunday show is always at 3 p.m.
Oh because it's a
school night.
There you
go Get in enjoy your afternoon.
You have no
guilt and yes.
The last time we had it was in August, right before the school year.
So as somebody said, they were like, oh, although Sunday scaries, we got out and that.
So here they'll get all of the, we have a full year of yes.
So fantastic.
Again, go to grandtheater.org and that's E-R, not R-E because you want to make sure you get those tickets at the right
source.
Absolutely.
And again, become a subscriber, get the advantage of getting those Pat Murphy tickets and everything and every other.
show that comes down the pike before, in fact, the May 3rd.
That's all right before the end of the...
Right before, yeah.
It's one of the last two or three shows
before we shut the doors.
Well, Sean, it's always good to hear what's going on at the Grand.
Have a great rest of your week and we'll catch you in a couple of weeks' time.
Sounds great.
Sean Wright, executive director of the Grand Theater.
Coming up on 8 o'clock...
Top of the hour news updates, news, weather, sports, and then more of mornings with Pat Critello at 806.
In fact, Pat's guest at 806 will be me.
Yep.
I'm joining Pat Critello coming up after the news at the top of the hour here on 98.9.
Good morning once again everyone and welcome back WXCO morning report part of mornings with pack right low on 98.9 WXCO online at WXCO dot FM mobile devices and Alexa by searching WXCO and on the civic media app I am Chad Holmes along with Ian Welsh.
The time is 823 a little bit warmer today to start things off then we've seen the last few days
A little bit of fog, a little bit of mist, overcast conditions, but 38 degrees is the temperature here in downtown Wausau, corner of Washington Street and North 3rd Street in downtown Wausau, our WXCO Studios.
Tonight, today, I should say, will remain overcast with a slight chance, a little bit of rain in a high near 43 degrees before the sunny skies come back tomorrow, a Friday high of 42.
No snow yet.
Yep, no snow yet, but Ian Welsh across the way.
How are you doing?
Doing pretty good, Jen.
I have seen that they had started making a snow up on Red Mountain.
A couple days ago, it was actually nice because, you know, a couple days ago it was pretty frosty, but then driving home after the show, I was... I noticed there was quite a beautiful layer of frost that was over many of the trees and it looked like something out of a Christmas card.
It was actually...
Very beautiful.
I'm not a huge fan of snow, but once in a while...
I really appreciate it.
Speaking of Granite Peak, the Granite Peak ski area just has announced the official opening of their 2025-2026 winter season.
It will be coming up next Friday.
The day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November the 28th, Midwest Family ski resorts will open all three of their resorts, including Granite Peak, Lutson Mountains in Minnesota, and Snow River Mountain Resort in the UP of Michigan.
And they're inviting skiers and snowboarders to enjoy the Midwest longest slopes in
fastest lifts.
Granite Peak to begin with will open with several lifts and runs featuring terrain park elements and beginner routes.
The resort is known for its family friendly atmosphere and snow making capabilities.
So again a chance next week on Friday.
Enjoy Thanksgiving with the family.
Enjoy that turkey and ham and the stuffing and everything else and then try to work it all off by going to the ski hills and snowboard or ski or whatever.
want to do at Granite Peak.
Again, you know, Granite Peak is the highest point in the state of Wisconsin.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
So it's a absolutely so granite peak opening a week from Friday.
Also wanted to let folks know that this morning if you are a subscriber to our WXCO newsletter, it returned.
I have taken over as the editor of the newsletter.
So this morning in our newsletter, we have
Isabella Nieto's story about the Marathon County Sheriff's Department, considering a partnership with ICE.
Also, we have our featured podcast for the week, and that was our podcast yesterday when we had the talented students of D.C.
of our senior high school talking about SpongeBob the Musical.
Some other stories we highlighted in the newsletter, Democrat Jillian Bettino launched her campaign for the
29th State Senate District seat as a Democrat.
Also a link to our story about the Wausau City Council approving and Mayor Doug Denny denying the 2026 budget.
We have our story about the Marathon County Literacy Council collecting letters for Santa.
That is underway.
And also our write up on Tuesday nights girls basketball season tip off with the games around Central Wisconsin.
Plus we have our listing of our upcoming play by play of high school sports, including tonight when the Newman Catholic Cardinals and girls basketball will host North and Lutheran seven o'clock airtime right here on 98.9 WXCO online at WXCO.
dot FM mobile devices and Alexa by searching WXCO and on the Civic Media app.
So again, hope that you can, if you have not subscribed, you can start subscribing to our newsletter as we'll give you the news, the weather, the sports, our upcoming play-by-play schedule, and more on our weekly newsletter from 98.9 WXCO.
Just go to wxco.fm.
It will have a message pop up asking you.
If you'd like to sign up for the newsletter, please do so, and you'll get the information from me every week with WXCO.
All right, well, let's wrap it up with our number of the day quiz and Ian
Welsh.
Well, you're
one for three.
You're right where you need to be because we give him three choices for the number for the day.
So based on the math, he should get one out of three, right?
33%.
Every week, if he gets better than 33%, which would be two out of five, which is 40%, that's a passing grade.
If he gets three out of five, that is more right than wrong in a winning week.
4 out of 5 is an A grade, and of course try to go for that perfect week.
Give him the gold star for a perfect week.
It's
been a while since I've done that.
Well, that's
not very easy.
5 out of 5.
It is a challenge.
1 for 3 so far, so if he gets it right today, that means he would clinch a passing grade for the week.
Yes.
Coming up today at 1pm, the Edgar High School football team competes in the Division 6 state championship game at Camp Randall Stadium.
Okay.
The Wildcats are taking on Darlington.
Edgar has won nine state championships in their school history in high school football.
They've also been in the state championship game a number of times in addition to that.
Our number for the day is counting today.
How many times has Edgar
been in the state championship game in high school football.
Okay.
Your choices are 16 times, 19 times, 22 times.
So, so including today,
including today, they
won
nine times so far.
So how many times counting today have they been in the state championship football game 16,
19
or 22 times?
Okay.
Final answer.
I'm going to say 19.
I'm going to say 19 at times.
Final answer.
Edgar has advanced to the state title game in football 16
times.
Oh, the smallest number.
So one for four.
I tried.
Puts it all on the line tomorrow.
That's right.
Have a good rest of your day.
You too, Chad.
Happy Thursday, everybody.
Newman Girls basketball 7 o'clock tonight on WXCO.
