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Wabeno Area Players and volunteers are getting ready for their annual fundraiser.  They have partnered with St. Ambrose Parish in Wabeno and will hold the sale at Madonna Hall (1794 Elm Ave., Wabeno).  The proceeds from the sale will benefit the players by subsidizing the production costs for the 2018 Show Season.  A portion of the sales will also go towards maintenance and upkeep for Madonna Hall.  Madonna Hall is the principle performance space for Wabeno Area Players.

The players are taking donated items for the sale.  All donations are tax deductible as the Wabeno Area Players is a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization.  For more information about the sale please contact (715) 889-1606 or (405) 361-8294.  You may also email: wabenoareaplayers@gmail.com.

Due to unforeseen circumstances the August Production of the Dastardly Doctor Devereaux has been cancelled.  The show was scheduled for August 10-13, 2017.  Please accept our sincerest apology.  Our September and November Productions will continue.

The Wabeno Area Players are in search of actors and actresses for their August show, the hilarious musical comedy melodrama, “The Dastardly Doctor Devereaux.” Show dates are set for August 10, 11, 12, and 13. Open tryouts for the side-splitting medical spoof are Monday, June 19 and Tuesday, June 20 at 6:00PM in the Wabeno High School Auditorium.

The Players are hoping to find energetic and committed persons to fill five major female roles, four major male roles, six minor roles and the chorus. Most of the major roles have singing solos. The music is not challenging and it’s filled with fun! There are roles that call for little or no singing abilities. There are large group numbers needing persons to play patients and personnel at the Hanover D. Cash Clinic.

The roles include Lotta Cash, a wealthy widow and owner of Hanover D. Cash Clinic. The evil Dogsbreath Devereaux, M.D., sets his sights on marrying Lotta so he can inherit her fortune and her late husband’s clinic. A second villain in the story is the nasty nurse, Hilda Hatchet, who Devereaux promises to wed after she helps him eliminate Lotta.

Sweet and innocent Wendy March is the heroine, and handsome Dr. Phil Good is the hero of the melodrama. They are assisted by naïve and kooky Nurse Ivy Dripp who is madly in love with the muscle-bound orderly, Ward Helper. A burlesque dancer from Brooklyn, Trixie St. James, barges into the clinic with a broken ankle and derails the blossoming relationship of Wendy and Phil. Officer Tommy Gunn, is an authoritative cop in need of medical attention, but finds mayhem instead. Minor roles include six zany patients who have uproarious medical issues, Brother Sunbeam, a peace-loving minister, and Trixie’s troupe of energetic burlesque dancers.

Packets of tryout materials include the complete script, CDs of the music, mini scripts of dialog, and instructions for tryout preparation. The packets are available at the Wabeno Public Library, Lakes Country Library, Laona Public Library, and Crandon Public Library or from Carol Bartlein.

Persons who are unable to make the tryouts on June 19 or 20 should contact Carol Bartlein at 715-473-5466 and make other arrangements. Also call her if there are tryout questions. Rehearsals will start June 26 and be two to four nights a week depending on the role. The show is under the direction of Carol Bartlein.

The Wabeno Area Players is excited to announce auditions for “The Letter.” This is the premier of this work by playwright Dr. Daniel Boatright. Auditions will be held at two different locations on Saturday, March 25th. The first location will be the Crandon Public Library, located at 110 W Polk St, Crandon, WI 54520, from 9:30 to 11:30. The second location will be at the Wabeno Town Hall, located at 4473 N Branch St, Wabeno, WI 54566 from 1:00 to 3:00. The show will run May 25-28, 2017.

 
“The Letter” dates from WW-II when it was left in the tank now near the Wabeno Legion Hall. It was written by one of the Andrews Sisters to the driver, who was wounded and whom they visited at a field hospital in Italy. He forgot to get it out of the tank when he was reassigned, and it has lain hidden since the war. It is discovered and the town decides to find out more about him and give the letter to his living relatives only to discover he is still alive. Inviting him to Wabeno for a civic affair and publicity opportunity, he flashes back to the war, the Andrews Sisters and the story unfolds. This production features music of The Andrews Sisters, Bing Crosby and Benny Goodman. Some of the songs are: Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree, Rum and Coca Cola, In the Mood, Shoo Shoo Baby, Swinging On a Star, I’ll Be seeing You and many more.

 
All auditioners for the cast roles will be required to do a cold reading from the script, and an interview by the director. None of the roles require singing and dialogue is very limited. The following roles will be cast: 1 Male age 18 to 35, 1 Male age 60 to 75, 2 Males age 18 to 60, 2 females age 18 to 75 and several non-speaking roles. Rehearsals will begin for the speaking roles the end of April.

 
Those interested in performing in the band will be required to play any song of their choice. A sight reading piece will also be given of one of the selections from the production. The following instrumentalists are needed: 2 Trumpets, 1 Alto Saxophone, 1 Tenor Saxophone, 1 Clarinet, 1 Trombone, Guitar and Bass. Rehearsals will begin with the band in April. This is great opportunity for local musicians to showcase their talent and play in a Big Band ensemble.

 
For more information or questions please contact:

 
Wabeno Area Players
P.O. Box 325
Wabeno, WI 54566
(715) 889-1606
(715) 473-5466
wabenoareaplayers@gmail.com
www.wabenoareaplayers.org
Facebook @wabenoraeaplayers

The scholarship is in the memory of Erna Rousseau, a lifelong piano teacher and accompanist from Wabeno. Erna was a large presence in the community when it came to the arts and supporting these programs and the youth involved with them. It’s awarded annually to a student from Wabeno, Crandon, and Laona. The scholarships are awarded to students who have been involved in the arts in high school and plan on pursuing a college degree in education, art, graphic arts, music, dance, theater or TV/broadcast journalism. Scholarships are also awarded to current high school students to attend visual and performing arts camp and clinics. Since 1997 the fund has thus far given over $6000 in scholarships to area young adults.
The Erna Rousseau Scholarship Committee in cooperation with Wabeno Area Players has announced that the Goodman/Armstrong Creek School District will now be added to the scholarship. This makes students from this school district eligible to apply and receive the scholarships.

Postsecondary Scholarship
This postsecondary scholarship is designed to recognize area students who have demonstrated academic success, community service and involvement in the performing and/or visual arts. The amount of the scholarship is $500. This will be awarded to the recipient in the spring semester of his/her second year of college. The scholarship is open to applicants who will be enrolled in an institution of higher learning as an education, music, art, graphic arts, theater, dance or TV/broadcast journalism. The student must carry at least 12 credits a semester and have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. A letter of recommendation from a teacher or administrator must be submitted to the scholarship committee. Applications must be postmarked or hand delivered by April 1. The Scholarship Committee’s decision will be announced on class night or graduation day. The decision of the committee will be final.

High School Fine Arts Camps, Clinics and Workshop Scholarships
These scholarships are designed to recognize area students who have demonstrated success and talent in the performing and/or visual arts. The amount of the scholarship is $250. Two scholarships may be awarded per year. The scholarship is open to students in the school districts of Crandon, Laona, Wabeno and Goodman/Armstrong Creek who are freshmen, sophomores, or juniors at the time of the application. The scholarship is open to applicants who wish to attend a fine arts workshop, clinic or camp (music, art, theater, forensics, etc…), and who agree to attend the entire camp. Applicants must include a camp brochure or information from the camp/clinic/workshop. A letter of recommendation must be included with the application. This should be written by a teacher, administrator, or fine arts extra-curricular coach and should stress the student’s dedication to their art, academic strength, and good attendance record. Applications must be received no later than April 1 and scholarships will be awarded on or before May 1. The decision of the
committee will be final.
The school districts of Crandon, Laona, Wabeno and Goodman/Armstrong Creek have received the scholarship information. If anyone is interested in the scholarships they should see the school administration, counselor, fine arts teachers or extra-curricular coaches. For additional information please see the Wabeno Area Players Website at www.wabenoareaplayers.org and look for the Erna Rousseau Scholarship tab. Questions may also be directed to Laura Bobbe 715-674-6705, Carol Bartlein 715-473-5466 or Jackie Enders 715-674-4061. Correspondence can be sent to: Erna Rousseau Scholarship, C/O Laura Bobbe, 5775 West Shore Lane, Laona, WI 54541.

This is the only local scholarship designed to give to students that participate and excel in the arts. Wabeno Area Players is the financial fiduciary of the Erna Rousseau Scholarship. This 501c3 organization raises funds throughout the year for the scholarship. If you are interested in learning more about the Wabeno Area Players and would like to give to the Erna Rousseau Scholarship, please use the contact information below. All donations are tax deductible.

Wabeno Area Players
P.O. Box 325
Wabeno, WI 54566
(715) 889-1606
(715) 473-5466
wabenoareaplayers@gmail.com
www.wabenoareaplayers.org
Facebook @wabenoraeaplayers