Monday, August 18, 2014

New titles added to the 2014-15 Season

We're excited to announce five new titles to the 2014-15 Season! Single tickets go on sale Monday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. 

Julie Fowlis
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. in Kimberly-Clark Theater
Julie Fowlis is a groundbreaking artist who continues to entice new audiences worldwide and push accepted musical boundaries with her adaptations of songs from her native Scottish Gaelic tradition. Fowlis has been a proud standard bearer for Gaelic music and culture over the course of a solo career which has spanned three award-winning studio albums and numerous highly acclaimed projects and collaborations.






Brian Setzer
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
With a career spanning more than 30 years, Setzer has smash hits as founder/leader of The Stray Cats, his 18-piece Brian Setzer Orchestra and as a solo artist. His November concert will include Setzer’s legendary guitar magic on hits such as “Rock This Town,” “(She’s) Sexy +17,” “Stray Cat Strut,” and “Jump, Jive and Wail” and lots more, as well as his re-imagined and acclaimed Holiday classics.






Buddy Guy
Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
Buddy Guy has earned six Grammy Awards, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, ranking in the top 30 of Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” and was a proud recipient of Kennedy Center Honors. His legendary showmanship on stage, fueled by the passion and excitement of his music, has been filling venues around the country for decades. Buddy continues to deliver his classic hits with the same energy he had when he first picked up a guitar over 50 years ago.





It Gets Better Project
Saturday, February 21, 2015
The It Gets Better Project is a performing arts response to the difficult issue of bullying, one of the most challenging issues among today’s young adults and adolescents. In addition to the performance, members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles will visit schools and facilitate community dialogue toward reducing bullying and helping to ensure that all young people grow up in a safe, supportive climate.






Hal Holbrook
Friday, April 24, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Mark Twain Tonight! is a one-man play devised by Hal Holbrook, in which he depicts Mark Twain giving a dramatic recitation selected from several of his (Twain's) writings, with an emphasis on the comic ones.









Are there any other titles you'd wish would be added to the 2014-15 Season? Tell us in the comments section below!

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

On sale dates announced for the 2014-15 Season

We are pleased to announce our single ticket on sale dates for the 2014-15 Season!

Kimberly-Clark Broadway Across America – Fox Cities On Sale Dates:

The Book of Mormon (Sept. 16-21)
On sale now! Tickets start at $50.



On sale: Sept. 12 at 10 a.m.; tickets start at $43.



Once (Jan. 27 – Feb. 1, 2015)
On sale Friday, Nov. 14 at 10 a.m.; tickets start at $43.



Mamma Mia! (Feb. 27 – Mar. 1, 2015)
On sale Friday, Dec. 5 at 10 a.m.; tickets start at $43.



Annie (Mar. 24-29, 2015)
On sale Friday, Dec. 5 at 10 a.m.; tickets start at $43.



Jersey Boys (May 5-10, 2015)
On sale Friday, Mar. 6, 2015 at 10 a.m.; tickets start at $43.



Dirty Dancing (June 2-7, 2015)
On sale Friday, Mar. 20, 2015 at 10 a.m.; tickets start at $43.



Boldt Arts Alive! titles go on sale Monday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m.
On sale Monday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m.; tickets start at $25.



On sale Monday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m.; tickets start at $12.



Ramsey Lewis and his Electric Band with special guest Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire (Thursday, Oct. 23)
On sale Monday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m.; tickets start at $35.



On sale Monday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m.; tickets start at $25.



Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Thursday, Nov. 6)
On sale Monday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m.; tickets start at $45.



Disney’s Fantasia (Saturday, Nov. 8)
On sale Monday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m.; tickets start at $35.



An Evening with Cheyenne Jackson (Thursday, Nov. 13 and Friday, Nov. 14) Kimberly Clark-Theater
On sale Monday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m.; tickets start at $35.



Makaroff Youth Ballet’s The Nutcracker (Saturday, Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 7)
On sale Monday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m.; tickets start at $35.



Ballroom with a Twist (Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015)
On sale Monday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m.; tickets start at $29.



Earl Klugh and Nnenna Freelon: An Intimate Evening (Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015 and Friday, Feb. 13, 2015)
On sale Monday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m.; tickets start at $35.



Danú 20th Anniversary Tour (Thursday, Mar. 12, 2015)
On sale Monday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m.; tickets start at $35.



On sale Monday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m.; tickets start at $35.



Wild Kratts ─ Live! (Saturday, April 18, 2015)
On sale Monday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m.; tickets start at $20.



Pilobolus (Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2015)
On sale Monday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m.; tickets start at $30.




We can't wait to see you at the shows this season!

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Meet Maria


Meet Maria Van Laanen, the Fox Cities P.A.C.'s new president! 


Maria Van Laanen joined the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in 2001 as director of marketing and draws from more than 20 years of arts management experience. She has been instrumental in leading the organization since the beginning. For more than five years she served as vice president of communications and external relations. In 2011 she was promoted to executive vice president and assumed the role of overseeing the day-to-day operations for the Center. On July 1, she started her new role as president.

Get to know Maria with a few questions we asked her below.

Tell us about your background.
Before coming to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center I worked for a company originally called Jujamcyn Productions and through a series of takeovers eventually became what is now known as Broadway Across America. I was based out of Minneapolis and led the marketing campaigns for many Broadway series across the country.

What is your favorite show and why?
Choosing just one favorite show is nearly impossible for me. A few of my favorites include: Les Miserables, my first major Broadway musical I saw. I fell in love with every aspect of the production, especially the music. The Lion King holds a very special place in my heart as I was part of the Minneapolis team who worked on its world premiere. Julie Taymor's vision and artistry truly transformed the way many experience musical theater. I am also incredibly moved by the beauty and athleticism of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater every time I have the chance to see them perform.

What is the first show you ever saw?
Music was a major part of my life growing up, so my first performances were concerts. The first concert my parents brought me and my brother to was the rock band Tesla opening for David Lee Roth on his first solo tour.

Tell us about your first day working at the Fox Cities P.A.C.
I started working for the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in 2001 while the building was still under construction. At that time we worked out of what is now the 222 Building. Since I was only the second employee, my first day included ordering my computer and office supplies. I then began reaching out to local media and businesses to begin building many of the relationships that are still core to our work today.

Where are you from?
Although my family moved around quite a bit, the majority of my childhood was in Northeast Wisconsin and that is where most of my family still lives.

Tell us about your family.
My husband of 18 years, Chad is a high school teacher who works with at-risk students and coaches varsity football. My 13 year old daughter, is a great student and an avid swimmer for the Fox Cities YMCA Swim Team.

What are your hobbies?
I enjoy the outdoors when I am not in a theater. My family and I love to camp, canoe and hike when we have a weekend free. 

What are your questions for Maria? Ask them in the comments section.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Announcing the Broadway Nights Contest Winner

Have you been following the Fox 11 Broadway Night's Contest? This Morning Good Day Wisconsin was live from Thrivent Financial Hall to select a grand prize winner!

Congratulations to winner Kurt from Fond du Lac! Watch the clip on fox11online.com.

Kurt won a 2014-15 Broadway Season Ticket Package featuring The Book of Mormon, seven overnight stays at the CopperLeaf Hotel in downtown Appleton, seven $50 gift certificates to Fratellos Waterfront Restaurant and an autographed poster signed by the cast for each show.

Runners up received a pair of tickets to A Christmas Story, The Musical.


Good Day Wisconsin's Emily Deem kicks off the morning.


The 5 qualifiers chose their seats at random. 

And the winner is...

...Kurt from Fond du Lac!

Kurt and his wife, Jamie, with Emily Deem.

Season Ticket Packages are on sale now through June 25! To learn more about this season's performances or becoming a Season Ticket Holder, visit foxcitiespac.com or call our ticket office at (920) 730-3760.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Phantom by the Numbers

The spectacular new production of The Phantom of the Opera is coming to the Fox Cities 11-22. Think you know everything Phantom? See what it takes to pull together one of the largest shows touring the country!

Load–in
75 local stagehands are hired in every market to load the production into the theater
35 local stagehands are used for each performance
20 trucks are used to move the production from city to city (16 trucks in the building, 4 more trucks for the jump/advance)

Linda Balgord as Madame Giry. Photo by Matthew Murphy.
Costumes
• The design incorporates not only original Maria Björnson designs from the original but also designs by Maria that were never used for Phantom before.
• There are a few pieces from the original production that are over 25 years old used in this production.
• Over 1,200 costume pieces used during the show.
• Each ballet girl goes through a pair of ballet shoes every 2-3 weeks
• Madame Giry has only 1 costume


Julia Udine and Cooper Grodin. Photo by Matthew Murphy. 

Wigs
• Over 120 wigs travel with Phantom
• About 50 wigs are used in the show every night
• All wigs are made from human hair except for 5
• Stock of about 50 mustaches

Sound
• Phantom uses over 200 speakers
• Approximately 50 are used just for the surround sound package

Electrics
• Over 85 moving lights in the design that utilizes 4 different kinds of haze/smoke effects.

Chandelier
• Over 6,000 beads are on the chandelier
• Each strand has 632 beads
• The chandelier weighs 1 ton
• This new chandelier was designed by Howard Eaton (who designed the Olympic rings for the London ceremonies)

Scenery
• The main scenic wall weighs 10 tons and rotates around the stage
• The 2 opera boxes scenic elements together take up a full truck to travel from city to city
The Company performs Hannibal. Photo by Matthew Murphy. 
Orchestra
• 17 orchestra members plus conductor perform Andrew Lloyd Webber’s magnificent score every performance

Don't miss this spectacular new production! Tickets are on sale now and begin at $49. Visit foxcitiespac.com for details.