MONROE - Grammy award-winners, great comedy, Irish music and an evening with the Green Bay Packers legendary coach are all a part of the Monroe Arts Center's 2010-2011 Entertainment Season. MAC's 35th season includes the debut of the Theater Series.
Julliard School of Music pianist Alpin Hong will perform Oct. 24. On Nov. 21, multi-instrumentalist Todd Green will conclude this series by performing his original blend of classical, jazz, new age and world music on more than 30 instruments from around the world.
Four shows will be presented at the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center as part of the PAC Stage Series. Brass and percussion group "The Dallas Brass" will perform Oct. 18, with songs ranging from Gershwin and Sousa to the Tijuana Brass and Chicago. MHS and Monroe Middle School bands will each perform a musical selection with the ensemble during the concert.
On Oct. 22, legendary folk music icon Arlo Guthrie makes a stop in Monroe with his Journey On North American tour. Guthrie will perform along with his band and special guests Abe Guthrie and The Burns Sisters.
Comedian Anita Renfroe brings her unique brand of estrogen-flavored comedy to the PAC Nov. 6. She has been featured on "Good Morning America," "Dr. Phil," "The Early Show," "Inside Edition" and "Oprah & Friends," and she became a YouTube Internet sensation with her video "William Tell Momsense."
Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter Marty Raybon and his band Full Circle will provide the final performance of the PAC Stage Series in February. Raybon led the music group Shenandoah to 33 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Charts, including 13 number one singles including "The Church on Cumberland Road," "Next to You, Next to Me," and "Butterfly Kisses."
"All That Jazz Big Band" heats up the MAC stage with the big band sound in February for the first show in the MAC Stage Series. On April 9, musician and Grammy-award winner Tom Chapin will entertain, amuse and enlighten audiences with songs, vocals and guitar work. Chapin's long-time friends and band members, Michael Mark and Jon Cobert, will add their musicianship, songwriting and personal warmth.
Rounding out the MAC Stage Series in May is the traditional Irish music of the Milwaukee group Athas. Their blend of fiddle, flute, bodhran and guitar, combines for a lively concert.
In June, the Summer Concert Series opens with the songwriting and vocals, combined with elements of folk, flamenco, jazz and world beat music of Wisconsin music duo Patchouli. Cuba City native Ernie Hendrickson, along with his band, brings the elements of acoustic blues, bluegrass, folk and pop music to the MAC stage in July. Art Stevenson and High Water, the Midwest's pre-eminent performers of traditional bluegrass music who have been playing their distinct style of music for 25 years, will bring the Summer Concert Series to a close in August.
MAC's brand-new Theater Series opens on Dec. 18 at PAC with "Vince: The Life and Times of Vince Lombardi." Veteran actor John Pinero's one-man play and riveting portrayal of the greatest professional coach in football history has won him recognition and praise from every significant member of the professional football community, as well as from the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and former Lombardi players. The second theater presentation of this series, "Unsinkable Women: Stories and Songs From the Titanic," comes to the MAC stage in April. Almost 100 years to the date after the legendary "Titanic" went down, American theater, film, and television actress Deborah Jean Templin portrays through songs and stories, nine women who took that unfortunate, memorable journey. In May, actress Leslie Fitzwater brings French cabaret singer Edith Piaf to life on stage. Fitzwater perfectly captures Piaf's powerful voice and tragic life in this unforgettable production.
A Writer's Series featuring Wisconsin authors Jerry Apps, Michael Perry and David Rhodes takes place in March, April and May of 2011. Memories into Memoirs Writing Workshop led by Apps will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. on March 17. In this workshop, Apps will show participants how to craft memories into stories for your family and friends, and even for possible publication.
Numerous special community events have been planned for the new season. "A Christmas Carol Radio Show," slated for broadcast in December on Big Radio, will feature local actors playing multiple characters with ingenious and dramatic sound effects. The ever-popular "Showcase of Talent" variety show will bring some of the most talented individuals in the area to the stage for two consecutive nights of entertainment. Saturday night's performance will also be broadcast on Big Radio. Other special events include the Holiday Silent Auction, the Holiday Concert and Community Sing-Along, Champagne and Candlelight-A New Year's Eve Celebration, the Underwriters Preview Party and A Taste of Spring.
Single tickets and value-priced ticket packages for all performances are now on sale at the MAC box office located at 1315 11th St. For further information or to obtain an Entertainment Guide, contact the Monroe Arts Center at (608) 325-5700 or online at www.monroeartscenter.com.
Julliard School of Music pianist Alpin Hong will perform Oct. 24. On Nov. 21, multi-instrumentalist Todd Green will conclude this series by performing his original blend of classical, jazz, new age and world music on more than 30 instruments from around the world.
Four shows will be presented at the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center as part of the PAC Stage Series. Brass and percussion group "The Dallas Brass" will perform Oct. 18, with songs ranging from Gershwin and Sousa to the Tijuana Brass and Chicago. MHS and Monroe Middle School bands will each perform a musical selection with the ensemble during the concert.
On Oct. 22, legendary folk music icon Arlo Guthrie makes a stop in Monroe with his Journey On North American tour. Guthrie will perform along with his band and special guests Abe Guthrie and The Burns Sisters.
Comedian Anita Renfroe brings her unique brand of estrogen-flavored comedy to the PAC Nov. 6. She has been featured on "Good Morning America," "Dr. Phil," "The Early Show," "Inside Edition" and "Oprah & Friends," and she became a YouTube Internet sensation with her video "William Tell Momsense."
Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter Marty Raybon and his band Full Circle will provide the final performance of the PAC Stage Series in February. Raybon led the music group Shenandoah to 33 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Charts, including 13 number one singles including "The Church on Cumberland Road," "Next to You, Next to Me," and "Butterfly Kisses."
"All That Jazz Big Band" heats up the MAC stage with the big band sound in February for the first show in the MAC Stage Series. On April 9, musician and Grammy-award winner Tom Chapin will entertain, amuse and enlighten audiences with songs, vocals and guitar work. Chapin's long-time friends and band members, Michael Mark and Jon Cobert, will add their musicianship, songwriting and personal warmth.
Rounding out the MAC Stage Series in May is the traditional Irish music of the Milwaukee group Athas. Their blend of fiddle, flute, bodhran and guitar, combines for a lively concert.
In June, the Summer Concert Series opens with the songwriting and vocals, combined with elements of folk, flamenco, jazz and world beat music of Wisconsin music duo Patchouli. Cuba City native Ernie Hendrickson, along with his band, brings the elements of acoustic blues, bluegrass, folk and pop music to the MAC stage in July. Art Stevenson and High Water, the Midwest's pre-eminent performers of traditional bluegrass music who have been playing their distinct style of music for 25 years, will bring the Summer Concert Series to a close in August.
MAC's brand-new Theater Series opens on Dec. 18 at PAC with "Vince: The Life and Times of Vince Lombardi." Veteran actor John Pinero's one-man play and riveting portrayal of the greatest professional coach in football history has won him recognition and praise from every significant member of the professional football community, as well as from the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and former Lombardi players. The second theater presentation of this series, "Unsinkable Women: Stories and Songs From the Titanic," comes to the MAC stage in April. Almost 100 years to the date after the legendary "Titanic" went down, American theater, film, and television actress Deborah Jean Templin portrays through songs and stories, nine women who took that unfortunate, memorable journey. In May, actress Leslie Fitzwater brings French cabaret singer Edith Piaf to life on stage. Fitzwater perfectly captures Piaf's powerful voice and tragic life in this unforgettable production.
A Writer's Series featuring Wisconsin authors Jerry Apps, Michael Perry and David Rhodes takes place in March, April and May of 2011. Memories into Memoirs Writing Workshop led by Apps will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. on March 17. In this workshop, Apps will show participants how to craft memories into stories for your family and friends, and even for possible publication.
Numerous special community events have been planned for the new season. "A Christmas Carol Radio Show," slated for broadcast in December on Big Radio, will feature local actors playing multiple characters with ingenious and dramatic sound effects. The ever-popular "Showcase of Talent" variety show will bring some of the most talented individuals in the area to the stage for two consecutive nights of entertainment. Saturday night's performance will also be broadcast on Big Radio. Other special events include the Holiday Silent Auction, the Holiday Concert and Community Sing-Along, Champagne and Candlelight-A New Year's Eve Celebration, the Underwriters Preview Party and A Taste of Spring.
Single tickets and value-priced ticket packages for all performances are now on sale at the MAC box office located at 1315 11th St. For further information or to obtain an Entertainment Guide, contact the Monroe Arts Center at (608) 325-5700 or online at www.monroeartscenter.com.