Annual Report | Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua 2017

Our Mission, Staff, Performers, and Letter from the Director Our Mission Letter from the Director Hey Big Top Fans & Supporters! Thanks to you for making 2017 a successful and memorable year. It is so gratifying to hear from members of the Big Top family whose lives have been enriched by the programs that we present. Lately I've been hearing the stories of young people who have been inspired to become musicians, teachers, and music industry professionals because of their exposure to the arts through Big Top's work. One person fell in love with music because he was exposed to our Tent Show Radio program when he was a young school student. He told me that he couldn't believe all of the different styles of music he was hearing, and was amazed they were all coming from a stage in his own state. Later, he found himself on the Big Top stage opening for one of our headliners and marveling at the journey he had taken thanks in large part to Big Top Chautauqua. Another told me of being in the audience when our Blue Canvas Orchestra travelled to his school. He said it was his first experience with live performance and he was hooked. Who else have we inspired through our programs – we will never know the extent of our impact, but we are proud to plant the seeds that may sprout into a lifelong love of the arts and culture. Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua provides entertaining and educational cultural activities with an emphasis on performances that celebrate history and the environment. Administration Terry Matier Executive Director Phillip Anich Operations Manager & Canvas Master Dan Clevette General Manager Austin Hamilton Production Manager James Shafstall Marketing Director Kent Kuhlman Communications Coordinator Carrie Slater Duffy Development Manager Ruth Goetz Sponsorship Coordinator Anne Olson Volunteer Coordinator / Development Assistant Laura Greene Box Office Manager Linda Nemec Box Office Assistant Ocean Clevette, Azsa Greiner, Elizabeth Herriott, Riley Johnson, Michelle McCumber, Gina Nagro, Angela Welty Box Office Assistants Laura Greene, Britney Wilkins Merchandise Managers Aimee Sweet Stage Manager and Operations Assistant Mike Gustafson, Christine Hulmer, Anne Olson House Managers Michael Demaree Lighting Director T&E Concert Services, Travis Johnson Sound Company and Engineer Avery Aurand, Josiah Cook, Ethan Kowalczyk, Rachael Pieper-Butterfield, Zakery VanderLinden Production Assistants Emma Rusch Marketing Intern / Photographer You may have heard that changes are afoot at the Big Top. Indeed our glorious canvas tents we have enjoyed since our founding in 1986 are no longer being made. There's a reason why we are the last all-canvas music venue in the country. Canvas has gone the way of the horse drawn carriage. There are new, improved and more sustainable structures available. The Board that guides the Big Top organization is in the midst of studying our course forward and you will be hearing much more about this in the coming years. It will be difficult to say goodbye to the cloth that has inspired generations of Chautauqua fans, but we will all be thankful for improved safety, accessibility, comfort and perhaps especially dry seats on those rainy Northwoods nights. This project will include a major capital ca mpaign to raise the needed funds, and will require the help of the entire Big Top Family. If you want to help, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks to all of you for the role you play, large or small, in the existence and prosperity of Big Top Chautauqua. Big Top is an important, positive presence in our lives and we must all be part of securing the next 30 years of music and magic. Exciting times ahead! 2017 Cast and Performers With heartfelt gratitude, Tent Show Radio Austin Hamilton Tent Show Radio Producer Michael Perry Tent Show Radio Host Jaime Hansen Tent Show Radio Engineer Phillip Anich Tent Show Radio Announcer 2017 Summer Staff Blue Canvas Orchestra Severin Behnen Musical Director, Band Leader, Vocals, Accordion, Piano Ed Willett Musical Director, Band Leader, Cello, Guitar, Vocals Betty Ferris Visuals Director Phillip Anich Vocals Bruce Bowers Violin Bruce Burnside Mandolin, Vocals Corey Carlson Guitar, Vocals Andy Dee Guitar, Dobro, Vocals Jack Gunderson Vocals, Bass Tom Mitchell Percussion, Vocals Terry Matier, Executive Director Jane Aleckson Bass, Vocals Nate Bean Bass, Guitar, Vocals Emily Belanger Vocals Hilary Bobel Cronon Photographer Ivan Curry Narrator Gerry DePerry Blessing of the Tent, Storyteller Danielle Diamond Vocals Tom Draughon Guitar, Banjo, Vocals Carolyn Gouge Traditional Dancer Lizzie Herriott Vocals Emily Kinnunen Vocals Billy Knoblauch Bass Jan Lee Writer, Director, Vocals Radoslav Lorkovic Piano, Accordion, Vocals Stevie Matier Bodhran, Guitar, Vocals Otis McLennon Vocals, Harmonica 7 1 5 ·373 ·5 5 52 Frank Montano Flute John Munson Emcee Reggie Neal Bass, Vocals Warren Nelson Vocals, Guitar The Nibi Singers Vocals Andy Noyes Guitar Vincent Osborn Bass Nori Perrine Violin Michael Perry Vocals, Guitar, Storytelling Dr. Jim Peterson Traditional Dancer Bruce Qualey Bass, Vocals Randy Sabien Violin, Mandolin, Vocals Joe Savage Steel Guitar Mary Lou Williams Vocals Liesel Wilson Violin, Vocals Liz Woodworth Show Coordinator Blue Canvas Orchestra Guest Artists 7

Annual Report | Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua 2017 | Page 7