Chuck & Barb Merry and Tom Prosser Honored with Distinguished Service Award

At yesterday's Chairman's Luncheon, the Center took a moment to recognize three individuals who have gone above and beyond in serving the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center with its annual Distinguished Service Award. This year, the awards were presented to Chuck and Barb Merry and Tom Prosser for their years of service to the organization and their continued efforts to promote the performing arts in the Fox Cities.

Mike Weller, chairman of the Center's board of directors invited Boston Pops' conductor Keith Lockhart to share a few words about the Boston Pops Symphony Orchestra and the importance of community support for the arts.

Distinguished Service Award Winners:  (L to R) Chuck Merry, Barb Merry and Tom Prosser

Finding Just the Right Gift

When it comes to the holidays, there is a very fine line between holiday fun and holiday stress when it comes to shopping for the perfect presents. Whether you’re shopping for mom and dad or your in-laws, your niece or your neighbor, the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center has two great options for you to consider.

TICKETS THEY’LL LOVE
 Tickets are a perfect reason to plan a night out for a specific performance you think they’ll love. Do you have an Elvis or Johnny Cash fan on your list? Million Dollar Quartet would be a great fit. Clifford The Big Red Dog – LIVE! is a fun show to share with the family, and, honestly, who doesn’t love Mary Poppins? To find out which tickets will be available to wrap up this holiday season, visit foxcitiespac.com/events and look for the Ticketmaster icon. These shows are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the Center, by phone at (920) 730-3760 or online from the comfort of your home.

A GIFT CERTIFICATE
Gift certificates offer a ton of flexibility, so your giftee can plan their own special day. Certificates allow them to select their own performances, pick their own seats and customize their own live arts experience. Plus, they’re available in any amount, so you don’t have to blow your Christmas budget on front row seats. Instead, your gift will be a catalyst that shares the performing arts and invites people to discover a performance they will genuinely love and remember forever.

Curious to learn more about gifting a live performance? Let a ticket agent assist you in selecting a perfect gift today at (920) 730-3760 and order by December 16 to ensure your gift arrives before Christmas.

Broadway Buzz: Broadway Comes to You on Turkey Day

Don’t forget to get up early (or set your DVR!) on turkey day for the 85^th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade at 9 a.m. Watch performances by the Broadway stars from Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Sister Act, super-hero favorite Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark and Daniel Radcliffe with the cast of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Locally, the Fox Cities P.A.C. is preparing to participate in the 41^st Annual Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade tonight. Center staff and volunteers have been working hard over the past several weeks preparing an amazing float for this year’s theme “Lighting the Season.” Here’s a sneak peek at the Center’s float assembly!

Show & Tell: Les Miserables is an Emotional Masterpiece

I’ve seen many musicals over the past twenty years, and I must say that last night’s opening performance of Les Miserables at the Fox Cities P.A.C was among my favorites. Having never seen the show before and, admittedly, not knowing much beyond the basic storyline, what I experienced was nothing short of spectacular.


Upon entering the theater, my husband and I were both impressed by the elaborate and beautiful set. The scenery was stunning. Because this is the 25th anniversary of the show, the producers have reworked much of the scenery and added special effects like none I’ve seen before. The projected backdrops added color, motion and depth to the stage making it easy to forget you were watching a live performance. The special effects and lighting added to the mood and feel of the performance perfectly. One high point for me was the battle scene at the barricade where the sounds and flashes of gun fire made me jump in my seat and duck for cover. As awesome as the set and effects for the performance were, the talent of the cast was equally impressive.


Fear, misery, despair, sacrifice, greed, betrayal, passion, joy, and love are only a handful of the emotions executed perfectly by the cast throughout the two-and-a-half hour performance. The story of Les Miserables is an emotional whirlwind that begins with ex-con Jean Valjean serving time on the chain gang. After his release Valjean is bitter with society and returns to a life of crime. When he is about to be arrested again, a bishop lies to a police officer, Javert, to save him. Astonished, Valjean swears to turn his life around for the better. Throughout the next ten years, Valjean repays the acts of kindness shown to him including sparing the life of Javert after he has been exposed as a spy.


Emotions grow stronger as the story grows darker. When a revolution breaks out the audience is bombarded with rage, upheaval, despair, longing, and worry. But underneath it all there is a thread of love. As the revolution mounts and Valjean realizes that his daughter is in love with Marius, who is fighting at the barricade, Valjean prays to God to keep Marius safe. The prayer scene is arguably one of the best of the entire show. The pure emotion and power behind the music brought tears to my eyes.


The love between Marius and Cossette culminates in their marriage. At the wedding, Marius learns the truth about Valjean and how he rescued him from the revolution and from death. Marius and Cossette go immediately to Valjean where she learns the truth about her life before Valjean passes away. My absolute favorite part about the ending of the play was that Valjean was allowed to die with forgiveness, honor and dignity – something he could not achieve years earlier. 


At its heart, I found Les Miserables to be an uplifting story about the survival of the spirit and the power of forgiveness. It is a testament to the power that one person has to change when given the opportunity to do so.

Show & Tell: Les Miserables

For my inaugural evening as a Show & Tell reviewer, I drew Les Miserables, one of the best known musicals of the past 25 years. My daughter and I were filled with anticipation as we entered the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center Tuesday evening for the opening night of a eight performance run here in Appleton.

I must first admit that prior to this I did not know much about this classic show. I was advised by some friends that I should at least get an overview of the storyline and characters. Fortunately, there is a concise synopsis in the program to assist any novices, such as myself. Once the lights went down and the curtain came up, we were taken on a wonderful 2 ½ hour ride.

Two of the constants in the performance were Jean Valjean, an ex-con who has broken his parole, and Javert, the officer sworn to bring him back to justice for his past transgressions. Their paths crossed throughout the evening as Valjean strives to be a man who does right by those around him while dealing with the secrets of his past. Both characters bring a strong voice to the story, notably Valjean’s “Bring Him Home” and Javert’s “Soliloquy.”

There was no shortage of amazing vocal moments from the rest of the characters, including “On My Own,” “”I Dreamed a Dream” and the haunting “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables.” The set and visual effects blended seamlessly as the story unfolded.

All in all, this was an amazing evening of theater. I enjoy performances that bring emotions right to the surface, and then let them out. This show did not fail to deliver. As we left the Center, I felt very fortunate to have been able to see such a performance in our community. It is easy to see why this story has produced a run of such length. If like me, you have not yet experienced Les Mis, seize the opportunity while it is right in your backyard. You will not be disappointed.