Season Program | Big Top Chautauqua 2017 | Page 25

Thursday, July 27, 2017 • 7:30 PM Friday, July 28, 2017 • 7:30 PM Saturday, July 29, 2017 • 1:00 PM
Tickets: $ 22 adult/ $ 11 student Tickets: $ 22 adult/ $ 11 student Also plays June 25 FREE event - No ticket required
Jan Lee and Severin Behnen lead the Blue Canvas Orchestra
in a new show about the queen of all the Great Lakes - Lake
Superior. Celebrate the power, majesty, history, and natural
wonder of Gitche Gumee through original songs, stories, and
spectacular images on the big screen. Jan Lee is the founder
of StageNorth in Washburn and a regular performer on the
Big Top Stage. Severin Behnen is Big Top’s Musical Director
during the summer and a teacher and professional musician
in Los Angeles in the offseason. They will be joined by BCO
members and special guests including Frank Montano, Tom
Draughon, Tom Mitchell, Jack Gunderson, Phil Anich, Liesel
Wilson, Emily Belanger, and Bruce Qualey, along with visuals
director Betty Ferris, for this special original production. The same team that brought you “Belfast to Bluegrass” and
“Shipwrecks and Shanties” has turned their eyes and ears to
the songs of peace and empowerment over the last 150 years.
This new performance will gather the songs of hope from
across the ages and around the world and will feature some
of the most inspirational and powerful songs that sprang forth
from the resilient spirits of songwriters, poets and storytellers.
While the show bumps up against the reality of war, it is an
uplifting show spotlighting the collective triumph of the
people, and the songs that inspired them in their quests for
justice and ultimately peace. Artistic Director Mark Howard’s uniquely Irish-American
company was the birthplace of progressive Irish dance that
led directly to commercial productions such as Riverdance.
Many of TIDC’s dancers came through the prestigious Trinity
Academy of Irish Dance, the Chicago/Milwaukee-based
school that was founded in 1981 and soon began to win
unprecedented team titles for the United States at the World
Championships of Irish Dance. This matinée performance
will demonstrate Irish Dance techniques and discuss the rich
tradition of Irish Dance. Following the performance, members
of the company will give a brief lesson on the grounds.
Also plays August 13 and September 8
Sponsored by:
•Midland Services Inc.•
Sponsored by:
Essentia Health - Ashland Clinic
Sponsored by:
•LBS Insurance•
•Apostle Island Cruise Service•Ashland Rotary Club•Bad River Lodge & Casino•
•BMO Harris Bank•Chequamegon Bay Arts Council•Chippewa Valley Bank•
•In Memory of Scot Geissler•Ruth & Bruce Goetz•The Inn on Madeline Island•
•Deb & Jeff Lewis•Pier Plaza•Karen Traut•Von Holzen Chevrolet, Buick, GMC•
•Walmart-Ashland Store•Washburn IGA•WI Arts Board w/funds from State of WI
and the National Endowment for the Arts•Media sponsor: Wisconsin Public Radio•
August 19 th ~ 20 th
Lake Superior’s south
shore is alive with art!
See the work of nationally and
regionally acclaimed artists in
their galleries and home studios.
The artists will be present to
discuss their art - the techniques,
the materials, and the ideas
behind their work.
HerbsterStudioArtTour.com
[phone] WWW.BIGTOP.ORG 25