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!