Arts Passport to Downtown Appleton

Downtown Appleton Inc. and Arts Network Downtown have put together an Arts Passport coupon book, so you can save on the arts in downtown Appleton. For just $5, take advantage of savings at 10 local arts organizations including The Trout Museum of Art, the Fox Valley Symphony, Lawrence University and more! At the Fox Cities P.A.C. the Arts Passport invites you to explore the cultures of the world with a buy one, get one ticket offer on select Arts Alive! shows this fall.

Visit appletondowntown.org for details!

Calling All GLEEKS

Tonight’s the night! Fox’s musical phenomenon "GLEE" hits your living room with the kind of TV originality that has everyone talking about their favorite characters, their favorite guest stars and especially, their favorite songs!

If you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet, there’s plenty of time to get hooked in Season 2. With acclaimed Broadway performers like Matthew Morrison (South Pacific, The Light in the Piazza), Lea Michelle (Spring Awakening) and a host of Broadway guest stars including Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel and Neil Patrick Harris, it’s a musical in your living room every Tuesday night.

Tonight, tune in for a Glee-tastic performance of “What I Did For Love” from A Chorus Line and get just a taste of what’s in store for the next Broadway show at the Fox Cities P.A.C.!

Falling Fast for South Pacific

As the "Overture" opens each performance of Rodgers & Hamerstein’s South Pacific this week at the Fox Cities P.A.C., the audience is clearly swept away as its first Broadway revival since 1949 brings alive the music and magic of an American classic.

Whether we’re entranced by a love story, entertained with timeless humor, taken by the military memories or thrilled by the sounds of a bygone era, we’re falling fast for South Pacific!

REVIEW: Fox Cities Performing Arts Center off to a brilliant start with 'South Pacific'
 
NEWS: 'South Pacific' theme no easy score for Fox Valley musicians
Community Reviews

Themes in 'South Pacific' of facing prejudice and overcoming racism still relevant today

Great seats are still available for performances tonight through Sunday. Visit foxcitiespac.com for details!

Community Review: Rankin File - South Pacific

It may be because my father was in the South Pacific in WWII, or perhaps because I was there 27 years later for the next war.  It may be because the Michener narrative projected on the stage reminding me of iridescent blue green water and pearl white sand.  But, as suggested by Michener, I loved this production because of the people. This production was a joy.  

Anyone who has hoped to someday hear the magnificence of a Welsh Baritone resonating the difficult and plaintive  “This Nearly Was Mine” with a voice that effortlessly resonated power as if from the deepest peddle pipe of a great cathedral organ must see this production.  Jason Howard as Emile de Becque was better than I could have imagined possible.  Carmen Cusack as Ensign Nellie Forbush was perfectly cast and was a delight.  Washing your hair on stage is no easy task, but even harder is singing afterward with a wet head.  I loved the contrast of voices between Cusack and Howard. As their characters dictated they were as different as Dinah Shore and Bryn Terfel, but together and separately they made beautiful music. Bravo!  

Other notes: 

• The sound was right on making every word understandable, and every note heard.  Many productions these days don’t seem to think it necessary to hear the words.
• The orchestra and its orchestration was a treat.  Who does it better than Rogers/Bennett?   I noticed many local musicians.  I saw the New York version several weeks ago on PBS and thought this orchestra was at least as good if not better. (Maybe it’s my TV.)
• I appreciated the staging, and the attention to detail in the theme of segregation, but was blown away with the interpretation of “The Beach” and the movement of troops to a new location.  For me, this kind of impressionism is what it’s all about.  
• Jodi Kimura, as Bloody Mary, captured the part and played it very well.
• Did anyone notice that a couple of the sailors were a bit “cheeky”? 

Community Review: South Pacific, A Performance That Stays With You

Last night after seeing Roger & Hammerstein's South Pacific at the Fox Cities P.A.C., I left with a feeling of hope and a little bounce in my step. After Carmen Cusack's, who played Nellie, opening number I could tell the show was filled with a compelling story line accompanied with strong vocals. South Pacific's magnifcent stage design and costumes, intriguing plot and the talented performers made me feel like I was right there on the naval base with them.

The first thing I noticed when the show began, was the beautiful set and costumes. Everything was very detailed and intricate, which helped me feel like I was on the island. The back-drop of the Bali Ha'i island added so much mystery to the performance, it made me want to escape to the island as much as Billis and Joe wanted to. One prop I especially enjoyed was the massive plane that sat on the left side of the stage for most of Act I. The accuracy in the costumes from the swimming suits to the shoes and naval uniforms were very impressive.

Obviously this performance could not have been so great without the talented performers. Each character was so strong and played their part with so much dedication from start  to finish. From Billis' quirks, Nellie's intense passion and Bloody Mary's ridiculousness, each character developed throughout the play beautfully and made each part quite enjoyable to watch. The singing was incredible and each song was sang with passion. The group numbers were so strong and filled with individual talent yet flowed together perfectly.

The themes of love and running away to something better were carried flawlessly throughout the whole performance. Even at 17, I could relate and enjoyed how the problems progressed throughout the show.

At the end of the show I felt sad, hopeful, relieved, everything the characters felt. I left with a little bounce in my step as the songs stuck in my head. Overall, I was extremely pleased and impressed. Anyone planning to go see the show will not regret it!

Community Review: South Pacific 9/14/10

When doing my research on South Pacific I found it to be a story of two romances that takes place on a naval base in the South Pacific. After seeing the show, it's so much more than simple love stories. The show entices you with beautiful sets and then completely envelops you with its energy, comedy, emotion and athletic ability. 

Since I am not a military aficionado, I appreciate how Rodgers and Hammerstein brought forward the military theme and characters without getting too technical or detailed. They incorporated humor and action with the military jargon to keep me entertained.

My hats off to the lighting crew in this production. They were able to offer the audience a crystal blue ocean, stunning sunsets and warplanes that seem to fly directly at us. (At one point I believe I ducked down in my seat just to be on the safe side). It was a fantastic addition to the show.

My only negative comment was to the few audience members who fled the auditorium as soon as the house lights came on. I appreciate the responsibilities we all have to rush back too, however, this cast just performed an incredible 3-hour show solely for our entertainment and I believe that showing them our appreciation through a few moments of applause is not a lot to ask.

I encourage your feedback and enjoy the show.

Community Review: I Am Impressed

Last night I attended the Lincoln Center Theater Production of Roger & Hammerstein's South Pacific at the Fox Cities P.A.C., and it was flawless! But, that wasn't the first word I used to describe it this morning to my elderly mom, who I call every morning first thing. When she asked, "How was it?" I could only spurt single words, like "refreshing," and "inspiring." I told her that it was "energetic," unable even to begin forming full sentences or brief summaries. I just didn't know where to begin. I loved all of it, but words are too simplistic to convey that!

This show, a part of the Broadway Across America series, is a magnificent, timely, nostalgic reminder of my mother's generation, yet just as significant for me and my children (and grandchildren) today. It's themes are universal and poignant. America is still at war; people still fall in love with inconvenient others. And, sadly, we haven't eliminated biases toward groups of people; we've only changed the targets.

I've read all the James Michener books, including Tales of the South Pacific, and I've seen other versions of this musical. However, this was the best interpretation of the era, and its emotional rollercoaster, that I have experienced.

The cast is widely talented. What a delight to be transported to all those sentimental areas on the voice of the incredible Jason Howard, as Emile de Becque! WOW! How inspiring to see the multi-talented Carmen Cusack as Ensign Nellie Forbush. This lady can act; she can dance; and she sings like an angel.

South Pacific is humorous at times (Jodi Kimura portraying Bloody Mary), heart-breaking at other times (Sumie Maeda portraying Liat) as when the sins of war are punished and innocent individuals lose all they truly care about.

Overall, it's just great entertainment - flawless, really, from the cast to the costumes, to the sets; and,all carried by some of the greatest orchestral Broadway music ever, performed by an orchestra right there at the front of the room. Inspiring. The acoustics of the Center are marvelous; the theater, perfect for such a Broadway show.

South Pacific is an awesome talent-packed, colorful show, and everyone who sees it will undoubtedly be both entertained and challenged by its smart dialogue and lyrical music. If you get a chance, it's definitely worth the trip; you won't be disappointed.

Community Review: Nothing Else Is Built The Same

I’ve always been a Rodgers & Hammerstein junkie (I don't mind admitting that for nearly as long as I can remember, Oklahoma! has been my favorite musical). When I was younger, however, I wasn’t hooked by South Pacific; the music is catchy, Billis and Bloody Mary are hilarious, so why couldn’t I get into this show? As I’ve gotten older, I realize that what the problem was, to quote Oscar Hammerstein, “nothing else is built the same.” South Pacific is a nuanced, yet whimsical look at several very deep and often dark subjects: war, prejudice, and yes, love. As I kid, I didn’t “get” these topics, so I didn’t “get” the show.

 As I got ready to see South Pacific last night, I wondered what must have been changed, updated, to make the show relatable and fresh more than 60 years after it debuted. The answer I found, is nothing! This production of South Pacific offered nostalgia without feeling dated. All of the songs were beautifully sung and staged (when Jason Howard finished “Some Enchanted Evening” the audience’s excitement was palpable). South Pacific follows the old musical model of spontaneously bursting into song and dance (in new shows, there is orchestration playing through most of the show so the songs don’t feel quite as unnatural) but managed to make it feel normal. There is the light humor I remembered from childhood, and a wealth of more adult jokes that were new to me as I viewed the show through grown-up eye! Rodgers & Hammerstein were able to leave you feeling happy and but there is a somberness to the entire show that you cannot, and should not, escape. Even the end, the standard "happily ever after" that you find in shows from the Golden Era of the Musical, had a dark cloud over it as all of the sailors, seabees, and marines we've spent the entire show falling in love with, ship out to face the bloodiest period in WWII's Pacific Theater.

 Finally, I wouldn’t be me (a history-nerd through and through) if I didn’t say that I really appreciated the care this production took to historical accuracy! The costumes were well researched and gorgeous! I was floored when a whole airplane was rolled out onstage for much of Act I. More than any of that was the subtle approaches to race (one of the most prominent themes of the show) the show took. Through careful staging and the great acting within the Company, it was obvious that the issues of race confronting Nellie, Emile, Lt. Cable, and Liat really were very deep and pervasive. The obvious spoken and sung sentiments regarding issues of race give the audience the promps needed to know that this is a history piece, yet "You Have to be Carefully Taught" felt as fresh and relevant today as it must have been 60 years ago. There were many subtle ways the show illustrated the depth and acceptance of racism that was present in the 1940s; the military in WWII was a segregated, and that fact was shown to the audience, though never stated. The updates I had expected to see can be found in all of these subtleties and complexities.  South Pacific is a classic for a reason, and I'm so happy to say that now I get it!

Broadway’s Back

It’s opening week for the 2010/11 Broadway season at the Fox Cities P.A.C. with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific, but we’re not the only ones celebrating Broadway’s return! In New York this month, it’s officially Back2Broadway, and even “Late Night” host Jimmy Fallon is in on the fun.

Throughout the week, catch a glimpse of Broadway’s hottest shows on NBC’s “Late Night.” Tony® Award-nominee Sean Hayes and Tony Goldwyn will perform “Our Little Secret” from the Broadway revival of Burt Bacharach's Promises, Promises on September 14.

On Wednesday, Green Day front man Billie Joe Armstrong will introduce the cast of his Tony-nominated musical American Idiot, and the cast of the emo-rock musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, including leading man Benjamin Walker, will perform on Thursday, September 16.

Which Broadway shows are you most excited about this season?

Boldt Arts Alive! Shows On Sale Today

The 2010/11 Boldt Arts Alive! Series rolls out the biggest season yet at the Fox Cities P.A.C. as tickets go on sale for several fall shows. Click here for details on the Fox Cities Choral Music Festival, Barter Theatre’s The Diary of Anne Frank, Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway, Ailey II and the Center’s first community production of Handel’s Messiah!

Tickets can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787 or the Center’s ticket office at (920) 730-3760. You can also purchase tickets in person at the Center’s ticket office or online or 24/7 at foxcitiespac.com. Have a group of 15 or more? Call (920) 730-3786 for the group sales department.

Musical Warfare

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific isn’t just a classic like a fabulous forties dress, taken out of the attic, dusted off and matched with a pair of red pumps for a night out. September 14-19, the Fox Cities P.A.C. will present a historical piece of art, refurbished with care and refinished to its original Broadway luster to capture drama and emotion of World War II Era America.

But as Ensign Nellie Forbush flaunts her pixie pin curls and forties swimsuit, anchor your experience with the thought that back in 1949 South Pacific touched hearts still freshly wounded from World War II. Just four years after V-J Day, Broadway theatergoers took their seats to experience scenes of sailors in the South Pacific that surely must have brought back recent memories of news stories and letters home, and for veterans, war.

But South Pacific is far from the only musical inspired to face war with songs and choreography. As you think back to your favorite shows, how many titles are set during mankind’s darkest hours? From obvious titles like Miss Saigon, Hair and Les Miserables to the less obvious social warfare in shows like RENT and West Side Story, the list of wartime musicals goes on and on.

It’s almost easy to forget that a musical like The Sound of Music (spoiler alert to the three people in the world who haven’t seen Julie Andrews as Fraline Maria) ends with the Von Trapp family fleeing the Nazis over the Swiss Alps. Weren’t they just singing songs about whiskers on kittens, turning 17 and a little alpine flower called Edelweiss?

Even now, Green Day’s American Idiot is drawing crowds on Broadway to a show that deals with a war still being fought by American soldiers. But why does war play a central role in so many musicals?

Perhaps it’s because war serves as a catalyst of change and introduces elements of the extreme that contrast themes of right and wrong, love and hate, triumph and defeat. Perhaps its because war forces people into action and into situations that are unusual and surreal. Perhaps its because people need the arts to understand the human experience, and musicals allow us, as artists and audiences, to approach something with which we struggle to define and accept.

Whatever the reason for wartime musicals, have no fear, Rodgers and Hammerstein mastered the balance between reality and make believe. South Pacific will take you on an amazing adventure, back in time, across an ocean to a world in which an active combat marine falls in love amidst the tune of “Happy Talk.”

Did I leave any titles out that deserve a mention? What’s your favorite wartime musical, and what makes work for you?

Share your thoughts and reactions to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific here on the Fox Cities P.A.C. Blog!

Check out this great read highlighting why South Pacific is still engaging audiences today!

Musical Warfare

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific isn’t just a classic like a fabulous forties dress, taken out of the attic, dusted off and matched with a pair of red pumps for a night out. September 14-19, the Fox Cities P.A.C. will present a historical piece of art, refurbished with care and refinished to its original Broadway luster to capture drama and emotion of World War II Era America.

But as Ensign Nellie Forbush flaunts her pixie pin curls and forties swimsuit, anchor your experience with the thought that back in 1949 South Pacific touched hearts still freshly wounded from World War II. Just four years after V-J Day, Broadway theatergoers took their seats to experience scenes of sailors in the South Pacific that surely must have brought back recent memories of news stories and letters home, and for veterans, war.

But South Pacific is far from the only musical inspired to face war with songs and choreography. As you think back to your favorite shows, how many titles are set during mankind’s darkest hours? From obvious titles like Miss Saigon, Hair and Les Miserables to the less obvious social warfare in shows like RENT and West Side Story, the list of wartime musicals goes on and on.

It’s almost easy to forget that a musical like The Sound of Music (spoiler alert to the three people in the world who haven’t seen Julie Andrews as Fraline Maria) ends with the Von Trapp family fleeing the Nazis over the Swiss Alps. Weren’t they just singing songs about whiskers on kittens, turning 17 and a little alpine flower called Edelweiss?

Even now, Green Day’s American Idiot is drawing crowds on Broadway to a show that deals with a war still being fought by American soldiers. But why does war play a central role in so many musicals?

Perhaps it’s because war serves as a catalyst of change and introduces elements of the extreme that contrast themes of right and wrong, love and hate, triumph and defeat. Perhaps its because war forces people into action and into situations that are unusual and surreal. Perhaps its because people need the arts to understand the human experience, and musicals allow us, as artists and audiences, to approach something with which we struggle to define and accept.

Whatever the reason for wartime musicals, have no fear, Rodgers and Hammerstein mastered the balance between reality and make believe. South Pacific will take you on an amazing adventure, back in time, across an ocean to a world in which an active combat marine falls in love amidst the tune of “Happy Talk.”

Did I leave any titles out that deserve a mention? What’s your favorite wartime musical, and what makes work for you?

Share your thoughts and reactions to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific here on the Fox Cities P.A.C. Blog!

Check out this great read highlighting why South Pacific is still engaging audiences today!

Meet Your 2010/11 Community Reviewers

Two years ago, the Center launched a new program to engage local theater fans in writing and publishing their reactions to performances at the Fox Cities P.A.C. This year, a new group of Community Reviewers are ready and excited to share their opinions online. Men and women of all ages, with a variety of backgrounds and interests are poised and ready to lend their two cents to help you, their peers, enjoy the show.
Meet your Community Reviewers!
Nora
Nancy
Rob
Greg
Aurora
Carolyn
Luke
Shirley

Welcome to the Fox Cities P.A.C. Blog!

We’re on a new adventure into the blogosphere for the 2010/11 Season, and it’s going to be a wild ride . This year is packed with amazing performances like WICKED, Jersey Boys, Cirque Dreams Illumination and Liza Minnelli – just to name a few. I can’t believe the season is almost here. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s

South Pacific opens in just a few short weeks!

With so many great titles headed your way, it’s the perfect time to launch a new forum to share some behind the scenes details, insights on the upcoming shows and create a place where people can comment and converse about the performing arts in the Fox Cities. Just a couple things you can expect to find here this year – news from the Center, behind the scenes features and reviews from audience members just like you!

There will be lots to talk about this season. We're digging deep, looking for the latest and greatest to make your Fox Cities P.A.C. experience even more exciting. Do you have an idea for a blog post? We'd love to hear it!

Stay tuned in September for more from your Fox Cities P.A.C. Blog!

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About the Editor – Kari Navis

In my third year at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, I’m thrilled to be a part of this organization and the performing arts in the Fox Cities. Officially, I serve as the organization’s copywriter. Unofficially, I’m the resident language geek and social media manager. I’ve been a fan of the arts since I was four years old and first saw Fiddler on the Roof in a tiny high school auditorium with my (now) sister-in-law cast as the fiddler. Of course, she was the only person in town that could play the violin. I love the arts and creative people, traveling, “Mad Men” and riding my horse and making the trek back home to see the family whenever I can.
Have an idea for the blog? Send me your ideas at knavis@foxcitiespac.com!  

Meet Rob, a 2010/11 Community Reviewer

Local reviewers like Rob will see selected Broadway and Arts Alive! performances and post his reviews. He'll attend the hottest touring shows and share their opinion on all aspects of the performance – from the acting to the set design and the choreography to the storyline! Click on 'read more' to learn more about Rob.

What is your professional background? I’m a computer tech at Lawrence University. I also DJ weddings through Dorsey Entertainment and host “Rock Band Bar Night” – it’s like karaoke, but you play the video game Rock Band.
What do you do during your free time? Community theatre takes up a big part of my free time. I’ve been involved in over 50 productions.
What are some of your favorite TV shows, movies and books?
TV: Doctor Who, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Weeds, Dexter.
Movies: American Beauty, The Princess Bride, Inception, Contact, V for Vendetta.
Books: Harry Potter, most political and religious-themed non-fiction.
If you could star in a theatrical production, which role/show would you choose? Why?
Right now the role I most want to perform is Robert in Company. I’m a huge Stephen Sondheim fan, and I love the music in that show.

Meet Jon, a 2010/11 Community Reviewer

Local reviewers like Jon will see selected Broadway and Arts Alive! performances and post his reviews. He'll attend the hottest touring shows and share his opinion on all aspects of the performance – from the acting to the set design and the choreography to the storyline! Click 'read more' to earn more about Jon.

What is your professional background? Currently I am an e-commerce Creative Specialist (last 5 years). Prior to that I had a brief stint as a technical writer for software company in Hartford, WI, and I was an Editor/Writer in the Publications Department of model railroad company in Milwaukee. I also did freelance work for a Milwaukee promotions company and a local newspaper.
What do you do during your free time?
Read, write, hang out with my kids, coach youth sports, listen to Brewers/Packers games, make my own wine, grill out, work in the garden/yard
What was your first experience with the arts? Went to see Great Expectations as a freshman in high school. Hated it. Went back two years later to a production of Animal Farm. Absolutely loved it.
What was the first show you saw at the Fox Cities P.A.C.?
Have yet to see one

Meet Greg, a 2010/11 Community Reviewer

Local reviewers like Greg will see selected Broadway and Arts Alive! performances and post his reviews. He'll attend the hottest touring shows and share his opinion on all aspects of the performance – from the acting to the set design and the choreography to the storyline! Click 'read more' to learn more about Greg.

What is your professional background? BS degree, 7-12 Teaching Certificate, Majors: Criminal Justice, History, and Political Science
What is your dream job?
Gentleman Farmer
What is your favorite Broadway show?
The 1990s revival of Roger’s and Hammerstein’s Carousel; better than the original!

Meet Luke, a 2010/11 Community Reviewer

Local reviewers like Luke will see selected Broadway and Arts Alive! performances and post his reviews. He'll attend the hottest touring shows and share his opinion on all aspects of the performance – from the acting to the set design and the choreography to the storyline! Click 'read more' to learn more about Luke.

What is your professional background? I am a vocal music educator at Kimberly High School.
What is your dream job?
I’m doing it.
What is your favorite Broadway show?
Can’t name one, so I’ll name my current 5 (in no particular order).
-The Last Five Years: Brilliant contemporary music and very intelligent and honest portrayal of a failing relationship.
-Bat Boy: A very quirky and funny telling of an “outsider” story.
-Les Mis: Epic. That is all.
-Putnam County Spelling Bee: Funniest show I’ve ever seen.
-Avenue Q: Also, the funniest show I’ve ever seen.
Have you ever been disappointed by a performance? Why? I saw Phantom of the Opera in New York a few years ago, and realized that the show actually isn’t really very good at all. There’s a great deal of spectacle, glitz, and romance, but not much substance or compelling story. I know that everyone is supposed to love this show, but there’s really not much there that is engaging.

Meet Shirley, a 2010/11 Community Reviewer

Local reviewers like Shirley will see selected Broadway and Arts Alive! performances and post her reviews. She'll attend the hottest touring shows and share her opinion on all aspects of the performance – from the acting to the set design and the choreography to the storyline! Click 'read more' to learn more about Shirley.

What is your professional background?
Radiological technologist
What is your dream job? Super Mom
What is your favorite Broadway show?
My Fair Lady or Mamma Mia

Meet Nancy, a 2010/11 Community Reviewer

Local reviewers like Nancy will see selected Broadway and Arts Alive! performances and post her reviews. She'll attend the hottest touring shows and share her opinion on all aspects of the performance – from the acting to the set design and the choreography to the storyline! Click 'read more' to learn more about Nancy.

What is your professional background?
Secondary Language Arts teacher – 37 years
What is your dream job?
I worked it for 37 years! What could be better than teaching teens the appreciation of great literature?!
What do you do during your free time?
Read, attend shows and athletic events, volunteer, garden, cook/bake, time with grandchildren
If you could star in a theatrical production, which role/show would you choose? Why?
Elizabeth in Paint Your Wagon because it’s such a fun musical set in such a glamorous time – Gold Rush – and it has great music. I even liked the movie!

Meet Nora, a 2010/11 Community Reviewer

Local reviewers like Nora will see selected Broadway and Arts Alive! performances and post her reviews. She'll attend the hottest touring shows and share her opinion on all aspects of the performance – from the acting to the set design and the choreography to the storyline! Click 'read more' to learn more about Nora.

What is your professional background?
I have an Associate Degree in Education and right now I am finishing my Bachelor in Liberal Arts with a Master in Psychology. I been working for the AASD for the last 10 years.

What kind of music do you enjoy?
I enjoy music from the Beatles, CCR, Rolling Stones and of course music in Spanish as Serrat and Arjona.

What was the first show you saw at the Fox Cities P.A.C.?
It was children’s show I attended as a chaperone with my daughter’s school field trip. If you could star in a theatrical production, which role/show would you choose? Why? Grease – I love the roles I probably would not mind what I would get since I love it!!!

Meet Carolyn, a 2010/11 Community Reviewer

Local reviewers like Carolyn will see selected Broadway and Arts Alive! performances and post her reviews. She'll attend the hottest touring shows and share her opinion on all aspects of the performance – from the acting to the set design and the choreography to the storyline! Click 'read more' to learn more about Carolyn.

What is your professional background?
I am the educator at The History Museum in downtown Appleton.
What is your dream job?
I’m doing it!
What was your first experience with the arts?
My earliest theater memory is wondering why a camel was wearing tennis shoes in a local production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
If you could star in a theatrical production, which roles/show would you choose? Why?
I’m not one to be in front of people, but I’d love to run backstage for most any show!

Meet Aurora, a 2010/11 Season Community Reviewer

Local reviewers like Aurora will see selected Broadway and Arts Alive! performances and post her reviews. She'll  attend the hottest touring shows and share her opinion on all aspects of the performance – from the acting to the set design and the choreography to the storyline!
Click 'read more' to learn more about Aurora.
What is your professional background?
I don't really have any. I'm a senior at Xavier High School and have had several jobs but nothing really professional.
What is your dream job?
My dream job would be to be an editor of a magazine or newspaper.
What do you do during your free time?
During my free time I like to go to concerts and play guitar. I also enjoy writing, running and snowboarding.
What kind of music do you enjoy?
I enjoy all types of music, mostly acoustic pieces, classical rock, blues, and anything with interesting melodies and lyrics. Dave Matthews Band, Sufjan Stevens, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Norah Jones, Matt and Kim, MGMT and Joan Jett are a few of my favorites.
Has there been one show you thought you wouldn't like but enjoyed?
One show I didn't think I would enjoy was Wicked because I heard so many good things about it I was convinced it just couldn't be that good. The show ended up being even better than anyone had told me and I was more than pleased.