Grand Theater Newsletter - November

Encore November 2015 The Grand Theater TheGrandWausau @GrandTheater

THIS MONTH AT THE GRAND WARREN MILLER’S CHASING SHADOWS

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT SHAUN HOPPER’S RESIDENCY

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INTRODUCING OUR NEW ONLINE NEWSLETTER “ENCORE!”

This newsletter will not only preview our upcoming events, but it will also recap what has happened and give you a look behind the scenes of what is happening at The Grand!

Viewing this publication online? Look for interactive links by hovering your mouse over select pictures.

401 Fourth Street, Wausau 54403

715-842-0988/888-239-0421

www.grandtheater.org

CALENDAR NOVEMBER - MAY November 21

Warren Miller Ski Film

November 24 Vienna Boys Choir

SO LD

December 18

Altenburgh’s Christmas Extravaganza!

OU T

January 28 VoicePlay

March 2

Get The Led Out

February 19 Mummenschanz

February 24 Once

March 21 42nd Street

April 8 Cirque Ziva

April 14

Alpin Hong

May 8

Rosanne Cash

April 21

Improvised Shakespeare Co.

May 15 Lewis Black

JUST ANNOUNCED! Known as the king of the rant, Lewis Black uses his trademark style of comedic yelling and animated finger-pointing to skewer anything and anyone that gets under his skin.

Starting at

$48

Featured Sponsors:

audience laugh while making compelling points about the absurdity of our world.

He’s come a long way through his career, releasing eight comedy albums, winning two Grammy Awards, and has been featured on Comedy Central and HBO.

Lewis Black is one of the most prolific and popular performers working today. He executes a brilliant trifecta as stand-up comedian, actor and author. Don’t miss your chance to see His live performances provide Lewis Black at The Grand! a cathartic release of anger Get Your Tickets! and disillusionment for his Friday, November 6th - 9am. audience.

Are you a season subscriber?

He is a passionate performer who is a more pissed-off optimist than mean-spirited curmudgeon. Lewis is the rare comic who can make an SO LD

O UT

Call the ticket office to get your tickets before anyone else!

Grand Theater 401 Fourth St., Wausau 715-842-0988 www.grandtheater.org

Vienna Boys Choir Tu e s d ay, N ove m be r 24t h 7:30pm - SOLD OUT!

The Vienna Boys Choir, one of the oldest choirs in the world, makes its Wausau debut this Holiday Season with a sold out show.

Thank you Wausau for making this a sell-out!

Featured Sponsors:

Chasing Shadows

Altenburgh’s Christmas Extravaganza!

S aturday, N ovem b e r 21st Eve nt- 6:3 0p m - Tickets $20

Watch top athletes as they chase storms, snow, big lines, and their dreams on mountains across the world in Warren Miller Entertainment’s 66th snow sports film, Chasing Shadows. The event includes much more than just a film: come visit winter sport vendors, enter to win cool prizes, and get ready for winter! It’s a night to welcome winter and the return to the slopes!

Presenting Sponsor: Featured Sponsors:

F r i d ay, D e c e m be r 18t h 7:30 pm - Starting at $39

Extremely Limited Tickets Available!

Presenting Sponsor: Featured Sponsors:

John Altenburgh’s Christmas concert returns to The Grand this holiday season with an allnew show featuring numerous local musicians! A true Wisconsin Christmas tradition!

T hurs d ay, Jan u ar y 28t h

Frid ay, Fe b r u ar y 1 9 th

We d n e s d ay, Marc h 2nd

One of the stars of NBC’s “The Sing Off,” VoicePlay’s a capella performance channels the breadth of the musical landscape and laces it with inventive and hilarious on-stage theatrics. VoicePlay is unlike any experience available today, recreating the orchestrated sound of an entire musical production with nothing but the human voice.

The World’s premier puppet troupe, Mummenschanz is back with its signature combination of whimsy and grace, comedy and pathos. Clad in colorful, abstract costumes and masks, actors enact scenarios realistic and fantastic, in a magical collection of wordless, songless skits. Mummenschanz bedazzles with witty, weird, timeless creatures that perform unique stories.

The premier Led Zeppelin tribute band comes to the Grand Theater stage! Dubbed by many as “The American Led Zeppelin,” Get The Led Out captures the essence of the iconic band and brings it to the stage in a remarkable show. Get The Led Out brings just what the audience wants…a high energy Zeppelin concert with an honest, heart-thumping intensity.

Presenting Sponsor:

Presenting Sponsor:

Featured Sponsor:

Featured Sponsors:

7 :3 0 pm - Starting at $25

Presenting Sponsor: Featured Sponsors:

7:30 pm - Starting at $38

7:30pm - Starting at $30

Februar y 24th 7 : 3 0 p m - Starting at $69

Presenting Sponsors: Featured Sponsors:

Cirque Ziva F r i d ay, A p r i l 8 th

7:30 pm - Starting at $29

M onday, M arch 21st

7: 30 pm - Starting at $70 The quintessential backstage musical comedy classic 42nd Street is the song and dance fable of Broadway that features some of the greatest songs ever written, such as “We’re In The Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle Off To Buffalo,” “Dames,” “I Only Have Eyes For You” and of course “42nd Street.”

“A stage extravaganza.”

-The New York Times “...An emotional, romantic show.”

-Chicago Tribune

Featured Sponsors:

The newest show from the amazing Golden Dragon Acrobats, Cirque Ziva is a fast-paced, technically innovative, and beautifully presented acrobatic spectacle.

“The Golden Dragons present a well-placed sampler of a highly stylized art form. There is a precision and beauty about everything these performers do.”

-Washington Post Presenting Sponsor: Featured Sponsors:

Alpin Hong

Improvised Shakespeare Co.

T h urs d ay, Ap r i l 14t h

T h u rs d ay, A p r i l 2 1 st

S u n d ay, M ay 8t h

Classical pianist Alpin Hong’s combination of stunning technique, emotional range, and rare humor create a unique experience that has been called “Classical for the IGeneration.” Rooted in extensive classical training and a background in extreme sports, martial arts, and video games, he is a creative force in his vitality and charisma.

Based on an audience suggestion, the Improvised Shakespeare Co. creates a fully improvised (and hilarious!)

Shakespearean masterpiece right before your eyes! Each of the players has brushed up on his “thee’s” and “thou’s” to bring you an evening of off-the-cuff comedy using the language of William Shakespeare.

Rosanne Cash comes to The Grand with a show that celebrates her newest album, The River & The Thread, winner of three Grammys in 2014. One of the preeminent performing songwriters of today. A Grammy-winning singer and composer, Cash has recorded 15 albums and is the recipient of numerous awards.

Featured Sponsors:

Presenting Sponsor:

Presenting Sponsor:

Featured Sponsors:

Featured Sponsors:

7: 30 pm - Starting at $22

7:30 pm - Starting at $25

Rosanne Cash 7:30 pm - Starting at $49

ASK THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SEAN WRIGHT Q: The season at The Grand used to have 4-5 Broadway shows, and now most seasons feature 2-3. What has happened?

A: We certainly would love to get back to 4-5 Broadway shows, but right now we are being offered a very limited number of shows, many of which would be repeats for the market. Broadway producers book in a simple way: multiple weeks, single weeks, half weeks and lastly singles (where we are), so until they start struggling at a full week, shows like Jersey Boys, Book of Mormon, Kinky Books, etc., will be a challenge to get to The Grand. Broadway producers are also unwilling to leave shows up on Broadway long enough to garner enough interest that they can succeed on the road, reducing the number of shows that even make it to the touring market. That said, we are very happy to have two Tony-winning shows this season in Once and 42nd Street, and are optimistic about some of the Broadway options for next season.

Q: What has been the biggest change in booking shows in recent years?

A: By far the biggest change has been that many artists are not as interested in booking 12-18 months in advance as they once were. Every comedian holds out to make sure they aren’t going to get a TV show (not just on the networks, but on Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, etc.), most country artists want to make sure they aren’t going to be picked up by an arena tour, and many pop/rock artists are looking to package together with other artists to create larger tours that can play bigger venues. That means we have to be creative, working with other venues in the region to create block-booking routes that are appealing to artists. We also have to be adaptive, willing to book acts later in the process and add on to our season, much as we’ve done this season with Lewis Black and another show we’ll be announcing very soon.

Not too Late to Subscribe!

Order 4+ shows to receive exclusive subscriber benefits: • Priority Seating • Free Ticket Exchanges • Discount Ticket Prices • Invitations to Special Events

Send Your Questions to: askthegrand@grandtheater.org

Looking for the PERFECT Holiday Gift?

A gift certificate to The Grand is good for three years and is sure to delight this holiday season!

Available at our Ticket Office.

COMING SOON

BLACK FRIDAY SALES! Watch your e-mail and social media for upcoming details on Black Friday Deals!

Keb’ Mo’ 9/18/15

Dan Larson and the Kilgen Wonder Organ during Nosferatu 10/18/15

Met Opera Rising Stars 9/25/15

Black Violin 10/08/15

Shaun Hopper during his Residency 10/1310/15/15

The Hot Sardines signing after their show 10/20/15

Kelsea Ballerini Meet and Greet 9/17/15

The Grand Sells Out with The Midtown Men 10/28/15

Shaun Hopper Subscriber Pre-Show Event 10/15/15

The Midtown Men 10/28/15

Ushers get into the silent movie spirit during Nosferatu 10/18/15

Black Violin E3YP Pre-show Event 10/08/15

Meet and Greet Sound Check with Black Violin 10/08/15

Kelsea Ballerini 9/17/15

THE SEASON SO FAR

Click Here for Video Recap

ARTIST RESIDENCY: SHAUN HOPPER Over three days and six stops, guitarist Shaun Hopper’s Artist Residency reached over 1,000 community members through school workshops, jam sessions and a live radio performance. There was even an impromptu concert for those enjoying dinner at City Grill.

At Jo Hora Shau for 1 stud them eage what and their

For Shaun Hopper’s visit at Newman Catholic School students created a musical backdrop full of colorful guitars and musical notes and then shared stories of what inspires them.

At the evening jam session at the Wausau Conservatory of Music Shaun and several local musicians discussed technique and played together while Shaun shared his experiences touring with B.B. King.

One of the most talented fingerstyle guitarists in the world, Shaun Hopper’s three days in Wausau made quite an impact.

for huge success, many will be able to say that they had the opportunity to interact with him “before he became a huge star”.

Whether it was master classes with area students, a jam session with local guitarists or the performance at The Grand that wrapped up the residency, Hopper’s talent, perspective on life and personality won over everyone he encountered. An artist who is destined

Part of our mission is to engage the community beyond the stage of The Grand and artist residences are a great way to build that engagement. By bringing Hopper into places outside The Grand, students and community members were exposed to a professional performing

ohn Muir and ace Mann un played 150 band dents and left m with an erness to take t they heard apply it to r own playing.

At DC Everest Senior High School 20 jazz band students didn’t hesitate to jump in and play along with Shaun.

Glen Moberg and Shaun played a great Boys and Girls Club members selection of Shaun Hopper’s original enthusiastically tested Shaun’s works for his Wisconsin Public Radio radio extensive repertoire of music. program Route 51.

artist that they otherwise may not have had the opportunity to experience.

Shaun Hopper brought such a unique perspective to the art of guitar not only because of his specific technique, but also his ability to apply that drive and inspiration to everyday life.

Stay tuned, as come April there will be another residency experience to share when Alpin Hong comes to The Grand.

Mr. Hong is a classical pianist who also dabbles in video games, martial arts, and extreme sports, and is a major advocate for music education.

We are already working to develop an outstanding residency during his time here, April 12-14, and look forward to sharing the details and ways with you can connect with the artist with you in future publications.

What Show Would You Like To See?

Don’t Miss Out on What’s Happening

Click HERE to tell us who you want to see next season, or visit www.grandtheater.org to make your suggestion.

Want to do More?

The Grand is looking for focus group participants! Give us your feedback on what you have seen at The Grand, what you would like to see, and anything else that can help us create a better patron experience.

For more information or to sign up, email: askthegrand@grandtheater.org

Get Your

Tickets!

The Grand Theater Ticket Office 401 Fourth Street - Wausau WI 54403 715-842-0988 or 888-239-0421 www.grandtheater.org

Coming to The Grand!

November

5 Branson Country Christmas 7 11-11 Part 5 12-14 WCT: Elephant Man CVA Wrap It Up - Fibers & Threads Gala 13 Mannheim Steamroller Christmas 15 Aspirus Arts in Education: 19 Peter Rabbit Tales Warren Miller Event: Chasing Shadows 21 Vienna Boys Choir: Christmas in Vienna24 SOLD OUT

December

Central Wisconsin School of Ballet: The Nutcracker 7-8 Wausau West Choir Concert It’s a Very Joe.e Christmas: 9 Benefiting Toys for Tots 11-13 WCT: A Christmas Carol 18 Altenburgh’s Christmas Extravaganza!

21 Lorie Line: Christmas in the City 5-6

January 28

VoicePlay

February 3

18 19 24

Aspirus Arts in Education: Goodnight Moon Aspirus Arts in Education: Mummenschanz Mummenschanz Once

March 2 5

Get the Led Out Wausau Dance Theatre: Carnival of the Animals 10-12 WCT: Music Man 14 Aspirus Arts in Education: Stinky Cheese Man 18 Aspirus Arts in Education: The Big Friendly Giant 21 42nd Street 25 Vic Ferrari

April 5

St. Francis Xavier: Disney’s Aristocats Kids 8 Cirque Ziva 14 Alpin Hong 16 River Valley Harmonizers 18 Aspirus Arts in Education: Amber Brown is not a Crayon 21 Improvised Shakespeare Company 30-1 Dance Magic

May 7

Central Wisconsin School of Ballet: Student Showcase 8 Rosanne Cash 14 Heidi’s Dance Recital 15 Lewis Black - JUST ANNOUNCED 21-22 DDH Dance Recital

June

1 ??? - Announcement Coming Soon!

4 Judy Peterson Dance Recital 16-18 WCT: Rent

Calendar is subject to change. Updates will be found on our website, our social media, and in upcoming newsletters.