NEW GLARUS -The 73rd Wilhelm Tell Festival will be Friday through Sunday in New Glarus.
This will be the first year the pageant is not performed in German. The difficult decision to drop the German production was based on many factors. It was increasingly difficult to fill the lead roles; many of the German-speaking cast held their roles for decades and had matured past the age of their characters. The attendance for the German play was dwindling annually as well.
There are hopes to re-create the German play for the 75th Tell Festival in 2012. Many of the German cast will continue to be involved in the English production as part of the crowd scenes and other roles.
For the past four years, there has been a Fest Tent on First Street. In 2006, the Fest Tent was sponsored by Swiss Roots. The following years, individuals came forward to sponsor the Fest Tent: Linda and Elda Schiesser sponsored it in 2007; Peggy and Bill Decker sponsored it in 2008; and Ken and Kay Roth co-sponsored the tent with the Swiss Center in 2009. There will not be a Fest Tent downtown this year.
On Friday night, the Kinderchor's Laternenzug (Lantern Parade) will begin at the Village Park Gazebo. All children are invited to participate. The children will walk from the Village Park south on 2nd Street, then east on 5th Avenue, south on 1st Street to The Maple Leaf. The group will then continue on the sidewalk east past Puempel's to Railroad Street, where the route continues around the block ending at the Swiss Church lawn. They perform a short concert as the opening ceremony for the festival weekend.
The English performance of Schiller's Wilhelm Tell will be performed at The Tell Grounds located on County W just east of New Glarus on Saturday and Sunday. The grounds open at noon. The Lunch Stand, located at the grounds, offers bratwurst, hot dogs, and Swiss cheese on rye. Beer, soda and water are also available along with the popular Landjaeger. Entertainment begins at 1 p.m. with the bell ringers and Swiss Miss Dancers.
The pageant begins at 1:30 p.m. with an opening scene that is not to be missed. The Usherettes perform three folk dances at intermission.
Immediately following the play on Saturday, people are welcome to set up their tents for Swiss camping. Swiss camping allows folks to camp at the Tell Grounds and enjoy a roaring campfire with s'mores made with Swiss Chocolate and Cervalat, a Swiss wurst (sausage).
A typical Swiss continental breakfast of hard rolls, cheeses, jam and fruit is offered the following morning.
The Yodel Showcase and a Yodel Concert will be held Saturday evening at Tell's Shooting Park on County Road O just north of New Glarus beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Yodel Showcase, a Swiss version of "New Glarus Has Talent" is open to everyone who wants to yodel. Registration can be done in advance at the New Glarus Chamber office, or prior to the event.
The Yodel Club New Glarus and Maennerchor will perform a concert following the Showcase. Refreshments will be available.
Sunday is a full day beginning with the Friends of the New Glarus Library Book Sale at 8 a.m. The sale is at the Village Hall, and runs until 5 p.m. Proceeds go toward the building fund. The annual Art in the Park begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m. Juried artists from the Midwest fill the Village Park with a wide variety of art.
Advance tickets for the Wilhelm Tell play can be purchased at the New Glarus Chamber office.
The phone number is (608) 527-2095, 1-800-527-6838 or info@swisstown.com. Other events are free.
Anyone interested in volunteering can contact either Petra Streiff at (608) 527-4155 or Kaye Gmur at (608) 287-4700.
This will be the first year the pageant is not performed in German. The difficult decision to drop the German production was based on many factors. It was increasingly difficult to fill the lead roles; many of the German-speaking cast held their roles for decades and had matured past the age of their characters. The attendance for the German play was dwindling annually as well.
There are hopes to re-create the German play for the 75th Tell Festival in 2012. Many of the German cast will continue to be involved in the English production as part of the crowd scenes and other roles.
For the past four years, there has been a Fest Tent on First Street. In 2006, the Fest Tent was sponsored by Swiss Roots. The following years, individuals came forward to sponsor the Fest Tent: Linda and Elda Schiesser sponsored it in 2007; Peggy and Bill Decker sponsored it in 2008; and Ken and Kay Roth co-sponsored the tent with the Swiss Center in 2009. There will not be a Fest Tent downtown this year.
On Friday night, the Kinderchor's Laternenzug (Lantern Parade) will begin at the Village Park Gazebo. All children are invited to participate. The children will walk from the Village Park south on 2nd Street, then east on 5th Avenue, south on 1st Street to The Maple Leaf. The group will then continue on the sidewalk east past Puempel's to Railroad Street, where the route continues around the block ending at the Swiss Church lawn. They perform a short concert as the opening ceremony for the festival weekend.
The English performance of Schiller's Wilhelm Tell will be performed at The Tell Grounds located on County W just east of New Glarus on Saturday and Sunday. The grounds open at noon. The Lunch Stand, located at the grounds, offers bratwurst, hot dogs, and Swiss cheese on rye. Beer, soda and water are also available along with the popular Landjaeger. Entertainment begins at 1 p.m. with the bell ringers and Swiss Miss Dancers.
The pageant begins at 1:30 p.m. with an opening scene that is not to be missed. The Usherettes perform three folk dances at intermission.
Immediately following the play on Saturday, people are welcome to set up their tents for Swiss camping. Swiss camping allows folks to camp at the Tell Grounds and enjoy a roaring campfire with s'mores made with Swiss Chocolate and Cervalat, a Swiss wurst (sausage).
A typical Swiss continental breakfast of hard rolls, cheeses, jam and fruit is offered the following morning.
The Yodel Showcase and a Yodel Concert will be held Saturday evening at Tell's Shooting Park on County Road O just north of New Glarus beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Yodel Showcase, a Swiss version of "New Glarus Has Talent" is open to everyone who wants to yodel. Registration can be done in advance at the New Glarus Chamber office, or prior to the event.
The Yodel Club New Glarus and Maennerchor will perform a concert following the Showcase. Refreshments will be available.
Sunday is a full day beginning with the Friends of the New Glarus Library Book Sale at 8 a.m. The sale is at the Village Hall, and runs until 5 p.m. Proceeds go toward the building fund. The annual Art in the Park begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m. Juried artists from the Midwest fill the Village Park with a wide variety of art.
Advance tickets for the Wilhelm Tell play can be purchased at the New Glarus Chamber office.
The phone number is (608) 527-2095, 1-800-527-6838 or info@swisstown.com. Other events are free.
Anyone interested in volunteering can contact either Petra Streiff at (608) 527-4155 or Kaye Gmur at (608) 287-4700.