News – Page 2 – Wabeno Area Players

Wabeno Area Players To Hold Auditions for Play On

The Wabeno Area Players will be holding Auditions for the March production of Play On. This hilarious comedy is sure to be a favorite of all involved and who attend. The show will be March 26-29, 2020. Auditions will Tuesday, January 14th at 6:00 p.m. They will be held at the Nancy Volk Auditorium (Wabeno High School, 4325 Branch St., Wabeno, WI 54566) in Wabeno. The audition will consist of cold readings. For more information please call (715) 889-1606 or email wabenoareaplayers@gmail.com.

This will be the featured production of the Wisconsin Association of Community Theatre Conference being held in Wabeno at the Wabeno High School and Nancy Volk Auditorium. The conference will focus on workshops devoted to community theatre or high school theatre. Workshops are led by experts that have or are working with community/high school theatre in many areas. These workshops are for those with experience, little experience, or no experience in producing a theatrical production. The workshops are open to adults and students as well. Anyone interested or involved in theatre is welcome to attend. These workshops would include: acting, directing, stage management, improvisation, sound & lights, volunteerism, AACTFest, and state community theater networking. This is also a great opportunity to get to know other theatre people from around the state, share ideas, possibly exchange costumes or props, and have a great time.

A little about Play On…

Theatre and Fine Arts Group Announces its 2020 Season (and it’s a doozie!)

There are many things that make Forest County unique. While some are well known far and wide, some are hidden gems. Wabeno Area Players (WAP) is one of the brightest gems you’ll find in these parts.

Founded almost 40 years ago, WAP’s main mission was to bring the arts to our community by way of theatre, music and song.And for all those years, that’s just what it’s done. But hold on to your hats, folks, because the 2020 season will see WAP in overdrive!

For the first time ever, WAP is presenting 12 events over the course of every month in 2020 but December. If the sheer number of special events doesn’t impress you, the variety and high quality of them certainly will!

There’s not enough space to provide a complete list and description of the entire season, but rest assured, there’s a little something for everyone: history, music, song, comedy, and yes, even climate change. To sweeten the pot, one doesn’t have to drive far or pay big city prices for quality entertainment, and it’s right here in our own backyard!

A brief list of the season is included here, but to get the complete skinny on everything from an overview of the production andvenue to dates and ticket prices, please visit wabenoareaplayers.org, or visit WAP on Facebook at facebook.com/wabenoareaplayers.

• January: Saving Snow Documentary Viewing (Fine Arts Series)

• February: The MadHatters A Cappella (Fine Arts Series)

• March: Play On (WAP Mainstage Production)

• March: Wisconsin Association of Community Theatre Conference

• April: Wisconsin Singers (Fine Arts Series)

• May: Huisman Honors Recital (Fine Arts Series)

• June: A Night AT The Museum (Fine Arts Series)

• July: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (WAP Mainstage Production)

•August: A Night At The Old School House

• September: The Outrageous Adventures of Sheldon & Mrs. Levine (WAP Mainstage Production)

• October: The Special Consensus (Fine Arts Series)

• November: Four Old Broads (WAP Mainstage Production)

WAP exists to entertain, to inspire, to educate, and to impact in a positive way, and we hope you’ll join us in 2020! Be sure to stay tuned as more information is released each month on upcoming performances.

FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI AND POTAWATOMI CARTER CASINO HOTEL RECOGNIZED

At a recent Wabeno Area Players Fine Arts Series Concert, the Forest County Potawatomi and the Potawatomi Carter Casino Hotel, were recognized for their support of the new fine arts series initiative and supporting the arts in our area.

“Without the support of the of these two entities, we would not have been able to offer the wide range of performances and visiting artists to our schools and community,” stated Jameson, President and Artistic Director of the Players. “This past year we had music professionals work with our students during the day and perform for the community in evening concerts at the Nancy Volk Auditorium.”

Representing the Forest County Potawatomi Community and the Potawatomi Carter Casino Hotel is Casino General Manager, Stacey White (Center). Presenting Stacey with the plaques are Robert Brown (left), WAP Treasurer and Carol Bartlein (right), WAP Vice-President.

The players are soon releasing the 2020 Season and are just now starting their 2020 Pledge Drive. For more information about supporting the players and all their initiatives, please call (715) 889-1606, email wabenoareaplayers@gmail.com.

Flowers from the Heart and Wabeno Area Players Team Up for Murder Mystery Scholarship Fundraiser “A Mafia Murder Christmas Party”

On Saturday, December 14, 2019 at 7:00pm the Wabeno Area Players will be presenting “A Mafia Murder Christmas Party.” It will be held in the beautiful atmosphere of Flowers from the Heart, in Crandon.

This is an audience participation murder mystery show. Only 50 tickets will be available. You can only purchase the tickets in person at Flowers from the Heart. No telephone or email purchases will be available. The cost per ticket is $25.00 which includes hors d’oeuvres and adult beverages.

You get to be part of the show! All attendees must come wearing 1920’s fashions and ready to solve the crime of murder. This will be the event of the season and all proceeds go towards a great cause. During the night you will be entertained by characters and music of the holiday season.

Not only will you have fun and enjoy an evening of good cheer, you will be able to purchase store items at a discount. Door prize giveaways and raffles will be held throughout the night.

This event will take the place of Flowers from the Heart’s annual “Night of Elegance.” Flowers from the Heart and Owner Bruce Walentowski have been major supporters of the Erna Rousseau Scholarship and Wabeno Area Players. Bruce wanted to do something different this year and give back to the communities his business has served for 32 years. Flowers from the Heart opened its doors in December of 1987. Almost to the date of this special fundraising event.

Proceeds and donations from this evening will go to the Erna Rousseau Scholarship Fund. The scholarship is in the memory of Erna Rousseau, a lifelong piano teacher and accompanist from Wabeno. Erna always made time for students from the area and supported the arts fully. It’s awarded annually to a student from Crandon, Goodman/Armstrong Creek, White Lake, Elcho, Phelps, Pembine, Florence, Three Lakes, Laona and Wabeno who have been involved in the arts in high school and plan on pursuing a college degree in education, art, music, dance, or theater. Scholarships are now being awarded to current high school students to attend summer camps. Since 1997 the scholarship has awarded over $10,000 to 34 area students. It’s the only scholarship of it’s kind for the youth in our area. Wabeno Area Players is the only community focused arts organization in our area as well. Both entities rely on the generous support of the community we live in. All donations are tax deductible. If you are interested in donating to the scholarship or Wabeno Area Players, please contact (715) 889-1606. You can also email us at wabenoareaplayers@gmail.com or send donations directly to:

Wabeno Area Players

P.O. Box 325

Wabeno, WI 54566

The festivities will begin at 7:00pm the evenings of the 14th. The doors will open at 6:30pm and close at 7:00pm sharp. The Murder/Mystery will last until 10:00pm. The party will continue after 10 and guests can shop, visit with the cast and Bruce. Flowers from the Heart is located at 117 North Lake Avenue in Crandon. Space is limited to 50 guests. For more information please call (715) 889-1606 or (715) 478-3710. More information is available on Facebook@wabenoareaplayers.

Rose Colella Cocktail Jazz Quartet

To Perform for the Wabeno Area Players Fine Arts Series

On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. in the Nancy Volk Auditorium (Wabeno High School, 4325 Branch St., Wabeno, WI 54566). Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students.

Fresh off her first U.S. & Canada Tour, with over 30 appearances in NYC, LA, San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto & more, jazz vocalist Rose Colella released her much-anticipated album, “Cocktail” to sold-out audiences and global acclaim, and is currently scheduling her next tour.

Recently featured in The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune & The Chicago Sun-Times, Rose has also received mention in All About Jazz, JAZZIZ, NPR’s A Blog Supreme & LA Jazz Scene, describing her as “elegantly tipsy,” “pure seduction,” “cooly coquettish” & “beautiful and inviting.”

Rose currently performs regularly at Chicago’s top jazz clubs, including The Jazz Showcase, The Green Mill Andy’s & Winter’s, alongside the city’s finest jazz musicians, as well as her tour appearances every Summer from NYC to LA. Rose was recently chosen by LIONSGATE Films to present her “LA LA LAND” show during their Blu-Ray DVD release of the film, to two sold-out shows in 2017, and the event was featured in Entertainment Weekly, IMDB, New York Post’s Page Six, Chicago Tribune, NBC Chicago, Hollywood Reporter, PARADE Magazine, Time Out Chicago, BroadwayWorld, RedEye & Eater.

Rose received her Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies from Roosevelt University in Chicago and owns the entertainment agency Lola Bard Productions, named for her grandmother, a 1930s vocalist who performed and recorded with Bobby Hackett & The Original Dixieland Jazz Band. Rose & Lola were featured in The New York Times, with a story detailing Rose’s career as a jazz vocalist in Chicago, inspired by Lola’s career as a jazz vocalist in New York City.

During the day of the concert, Rose Colella will hold a Masterclass at 1:00 p.m. for area high school students. Any teacher or student interested should call (715) 889-1606.

For tickets call (800) 838-3006 or order online at wap-rosecolella.brownpapertickets.com. Tickets will also be available at the door one hour before the performance. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more information about this event call (715) 889-1606 or email wabenoareaplayers@gmail.com.