MONROE - The Turner Hall of Monroe will host a premier screening of Wisconsin Public Television's new documentary titled "Polka!" at 7 p.m. Thursday in Turner Hall's Grand Hall in Monroe. The screening is open to the public, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. for general seating.
Free-will donations for Turner Hall's Swiss Heritage Series, the sponsor of the event, will be accepted.
The documentary, which will be broadcast for the first time on WPT at 7 p.m. March 6, takes a lively, nostalgic look at the history of polka in Wisconsin. The hour-long film explores how polka got here in the first place and why Wisconsinites still love it.
Although she will not be performing, the documentary's host, Mollie Busta of RFD-TV's "Mollie B Polka Party," will make a special guest appearance at Turner Hall's screening to meet and greet people. There will be a question-and-answer period following the screening.
Wisconsin Public Television crews visited Turner Hall of Monroe several times last year during the making of the documentary, including the filming of an interview with Dr. James P. Leary, a folklorist and professor from the University of Wisconsin-Madison who has written about local Swiss folk musicians, including Rudy Burkhalter, Martha Bernet, Betty Vetterli and the Monroe Swiss Singers.
Turner Hall's lower level Ratskeller Restaurant will feature a special buffet that evening for those who plan to see the documentary. Reservations are encouraged by calling 608-325-3461. More information on the premier screening is available at http://turnerhallofmonroe.org/shs.html.
Free-will donations for Turner Hall's Swiss Heritage Series, the sponsor of the event, will be accepted.
The documentary, which will be broadcast for the first time on WPT at 7 p.m. March 6, takes a lively, nostalgic look at the history of polka in Wisconsin. The hour-long film explores how polka got here in the first place and why Wisconsinites still love it.
Although she will not be performing, the documentary's host, Mollie Busta of RFD-TV's "Mollie B Polka Party," will make a special guest appearance at Turner Hall's screening to meet and greet people. There will be a question-and-answer period following the screening.
Wisconsin Public Television crews visited Turner Hall of Monroe several times last year during the making of the documentary, including the filming of an interview with Dr. James P. Leary, a folklorist and professor from the University of Wisconsin-Madison who has written about local Swiss folk musicians, including Rudy Burkhalter, Martha Bernet, Betty Vetterli and the Monroe Swiss Singers.
Turner Hall's lower level Ratskeller Restaurant will feature a special buffet that evening for those who plan to see the documentary. Reservations are encouraged by calling 608-325-3461. More information on the premier screening is available at http://turnerhallofmonroe.org/shs.html.
