Stoughton Opera House 2017-2018 Brochure by City of Stoughton

2017 18 Arts & Culture Guide

Performance Schedule Inside

Herb Alpert & Lani Hall September 27, 2017

Photo by Smith Photography

i r p i t S L n ives H a i g e w r er o

Gazebo Musikk Series • Every Thursday All Summer • Enjoy open-air concerts at the Rotary Park Gazebo! Bring a lawn chair and some snacks!

Stoughton Fair • July 4–9, 2017 • The Stoughton Fair is the last free fair in Dane County and it’s fun for everyone!

Catfish River Music Festival • July 7–9, 2017 • The Catfish River Music Festival features free music in the park, headliners in the Opera House, food, fun, and more!

Coffee Break Festival • August 19, 2017 • Stoughton is the home of the Coffee Break! Coffee Brew-Off, Cup O’ Joe All Wheels Show, 5k, pork roast, beer tent and more!

Victorian Holiday Weekend • December 1–3 • Celebrate the season and enjoy shopping in beautiful downtown Stoughton! Dickens of a Run 5K, Santa sightings and much more!

Visit Us Again Anytime! WWW.STOUGHTONWI.COM • (608) 873-7912

17 18 Event Calendar Page Artist

Page Artist

Date

Dead Horses

Sat, Sept 16

Steely Dane

Sat, Feb 10

Music Appreciation

Mon, Sept 18

Davina and the Vagabonds

Fri, Feb 16

House of Waters

Sat, Feb 17

Ásgeir

Wed, Sept 20

My Bubba

Thur, Sept 21

Ray Wylie Hubbard (Rescheduled)

Fri, Sept 22

Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives— The Way Out West Tour (TWO SHOWS!)

Sat, Feb 24

Penny and Sparrow (Lowland Hum supports)

Sat, Sept 23

An Evening with Dailey & Vincent

Fri, Mar 2

Music Appreciation

Mon, Sept 25

Riders in the Sky

Sat, Mar 3

Herb Alpert & Lani Hall

Wed, Sept 27

Trout Steak Revival

Fri, Sept 29

Fox Prairie Elementary

Music Appreciation: The White Birch Ensemble

Mon, Oct 2

The SteelDrivers

Thur, Mar 8

Thur, Oct 5

BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet

Fri, Mar 9

2017

Date

Mary Gauthier

Tues, Mar 6 Wed, Mar 7

The Cactus Blossoms

Fri, Oct 6

Pieta Brown

Sat, Mar 10

Willy Porter & Carmen Nickerson

Sat, Oct 7

Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands

Thur, Mar 15

The Railsplitters

Fri, Mar 16

Music Appreciation: The Middleton Jazz

Mon, Oct 9

Salvation Army Brass Band from Stavanger, Norway

Tues, Oct 10

The Subdudes

Sat, Mar 17

Music Appreciation

Mon, Mar 19

The Weepies — Completely Acoustic and Alone

Fri, Oct 13

The Twilight Hours

Sat, Oct 14

The Quebe Sisters

Thur, Mar 22

Music Appreciation

Mon, Oct 16

Charlie Parr

Fri, Mar 23

The Harp Twins: Camille and Kennerly

Sat, Mar 24

WheelHouse

Thur, Oct 19

Chicago Farmer

Fri, Oct 20

Music Appreciation

Mon, Mar 26

Wynonna & The Big Noise — Roots and Revival Tour

Sat, Oct 21

Music Appreciation

Mon, Apr 2

The Steel Wheels

Thur, Apr 5

Rhonda Vincent & the Rage

Fri, Apr 6

Music Appreciation

Mon, Apr 9

Rosanne Cash

Mon, Oct 30

Music Appreciation

Mon, Apr 16

Patty Larkin

Thur, Apr 19

Music Appreciation

Mon, Oct 23

Michael Hecht: Tribute to Carl Sandburg

Wed, Oct 25

Super Doppler

Thur, Oct 26

An Evening with Junior Brown

Fri, Oct 27

Jeff Daniels and Ben Daniels Band

Sat, Oct 28

Music Appreciation: The Twa Dogs

2018

Thur, Apr 12 Fri, Apr 13

Noam Pikelny

Thur, Nov 2

Molly Tuttle Band

Fri, Nov 3

An Evening with Rodney Crowell

Fri, Apr 20

Sat, Nov 4

Del McCoury Band

Sat, Apr 21

Music Appreciation

Mon, Apr 23

Asleep at the Wheel

Fri, Nov 10

Music Appreciation

Mon, Apr 30

Sat, Nov 11

Playtime Productions — The Reluctant Dragon

Apr/May TBA

Thur, Nov 16

Lou & Peter Berryman

Fri, May 4

Leyla McCalla

Music Appreciation

Mon, Nov 6

Steve Kimock and Friends

Wed, Nov 8

Ruth Moody Band

Thur, Nov 9

18 19

Richard Thompson — Solo Acoustic Michael Perry

Sat, Apr 28 Sun, April 29

Dave Simonett

Fri, Nov 17

Music Appreciation

Mon, May 7

Jim Lauderdale

Sat, Nov 18

Harmonious Wail

Fri, May 11

An Evening with Sam Bush

Sat, May 12

The Dustbowl Revival

Thur, Nov 30

Playtime Productions — The Little Match Girl

Nov/Dec TBA

Syttende Mai

Sat, May 19

Tom Wopat — Home for the Holidays

Sat, Dec 2

Michael Hecht: Tribute to Tennessee Williams

Wed, May 30

Stoughton Chamber Singers

Fri, June 1

Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society

June Date TBA

Jeffrey Foucault & Kris Delmhorst

Fri, Dec 8

Billy Strings

Sat, Dec 9

Stoughton Festival Choir & City Band Christmas Concert

Sun, Dec 10

TABLE OF CONTENTS Usher Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 26 Opera House Policies. . . . . . . . . . . Page 36

The Stoughton Arts & Culture Guide is designed and produced by Grote Publishing. For information on sponsorships and advertising call 608-877-4400.

Restaurant List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 29 Seating Chart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 36 Friends of the Opera House . . . . . Page 34 Order Forms and Prices . . . . Page 37 & 38

Stoughton Opera House Box Office: (608) 877-4400

Reflections

Kid-Friendly Events

When you see this hand symbol next to a show, the kid in your life won’t want to miss it! Free admission for lap sitters (age 3 and under).

All Aboard! Follow the Bus Icon... Bring your group: Everything from bank bus groups, to RedHatters, to senior groups, to mystery tours, to field trips, to alumni gatherings. We are committed to providing you with engaging entertainment to make your trips to the Stoughton Opera House unforgettable experiences. All SOH events are able to accommodate groups. As a group you’ll enjoy: Best seats available. Ticket discounts for groups of eight or more and free, convenient bus parking. Book your group: Contact Box Office Manager Julia Blaikie at (608) 877-4400 or email her at julia@stoughtonoperahouse.com.

BOX OFFICE INFORMATION • (608) 877-4400

More than a century of songs and stories remain vibrant and alive within the Opera House. We are truly indebted to those who came before us for their foresight in preserving this treasure-trove of dreams. We are privileged to have the opportunity to gather in the Opera House with friends from near and far and share in so many wonderful moments. Each season we search for an interesting mix of performers to entertain and enlighten our audiences. We know that the midwestern hospitality and excellent acoustics of the Opera House are only part of the reason so many of you return year after year. At the Opera House we pride ourselves on nurturing a multigenerational atmosphere. It is our view that performance is one of the most important ways that one generation passes their experience and wisdom to another. It is our greatest wish that the intimacy of a performance at the Opera House allows for those who are burdened to leave something behind and those who are in need to take something away. To our wonderful patrons who have helped make this dream a reality we offer our deepest gratitude. We must also thank our sponsors, volunteers and many Friends of the Opera House. Without the support of our friends, the continued health and success of the theater would simply not be possible.

Hours: 9:00am to 4:30pm Tuesday through Friday 90 minutes prior to showtime 30 minutes after performances Guided tours available by appointment during business hours. email: boxoffice@stoughtonoperahouse.com

Authentic Scandinavian Menu Items

Friday ry Fish F r Dinne

Saturd a Norwe y gian Meatb all Dinne r

See you at the show! William Brehm, Director

Julia Blaikie, Box Office Manager

Nicki Dowland, House Manager

Become our fan on Facebook—Keep up with all the latest Opera House News including new shows and weather updates!

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

For Reservations Call 608-719-5041

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Fosdal Bakery “Here to make life a little sweeter...” Deli Soup Sandwiches Dessert

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A Great Place to Meet Your Friends! A beautiful, new, upscale bar and restaurant with a magnificent outdoor patio with fire pits right on the Yahara River just three blocks from the Opera House. • Pizzas • Steak Sandwiches • Wraps • Fish on Fridays • Burgers • Salads • Soon-to-be World Famous Reubens!

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Come Celebrate Your • Birthday • Anniversary • Class Reunion • Special event Indoors, outdoors, or on a pontoon cruise!

Visit us on Facebook!

On the River at 324 S. Water St. Stoughton, Wisconsin 608.205.6601 Stoughton Opera House Box Office: (608) 877-4400

Stoughton Opera House: 2017 2018 Season Your Seat is Waiting . . . Fall Season 2017 Dead Horses Sat, Sept 16 • 7:30pm

Since forming in 2010, the members of Milwaukee-based folk band Dead Horses have cultivated a soulful roots sensibility well beyond their years, due in part to the powerful musical and literary force that is their frontwoman and songwriter, Sarah Vos. Raised on Bible hymns by her preacher father, Vos’ backstory sounds more like that of an old bluesman from the Mississippi Delta than a young folk singer from Wisconsin. Dead Horses has crafted a timeless sound, informed as much by early-American prose à la Whitman as modern Americana music. www.deadhorses.net

My Bubba

Thur, Sept 21 • 7:30pm

Ásgeir

Wed, Sept 20 • 7:30pm Icelandic singer-songwriter Ásgeir has become an overnight sensation, with Dýrð í dauðaþögn (“In the Silence”) breaking all records to become Iceland’s fastest-selling debut album by a domestic artist. At the Iceland Music Awards, Ásgeir made an impressive sweep of the board, picking up Best Pop/Rock Album, Best Newcomer, Award for Online Achievement, and the Public Choice Award. The album recalls the heavenly vocals of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and light electronic touch of British glitch pop sensation James Blake. In Iceland, the unusual poetry of the lyrics have attracted almost as much attention as the music itself, in part because they are mostly written by Ásgeir’s 72 year old father. The songs themselves, however, are all Ásgeir: light and airy, inset with his distinctive melancholic voice, their vibrancy elevates their appeal far beyond the folktronica tag. www.asgeirmusic.com

Scandinavian folk duo My Bubba makes soft, soulful, sensual music that’s as playful as it is powerful. Together, My Larsdotter and Bubba Tomasdottir have toured with Damien Rice, co-written music with Matthew E. White, recorded with Noah Georgeson, and stepped on Bryan Adams’ toes. Literally. My Bubba’s new album, Big Bad Good, was recorded with Shahzad Ismaily (Will Oldham, Jolie Holland) at his Brooklyn studio, Figure 8 Recording. The songs were recorded as they were written, and most of the takes are among the first times the songs were ever sung —allowing the record to portray the immediate rawness and intimacy of a newborn song. www.ohmybubba.com

“My and Bubba set up off stage in front of a row of couches sans microphones and amps and entertained the 20 or so of us who came. It’s so lovely to hear voices unadorned and acoustic. Honestly a night of magic.“ - Bob Boilen, All Songs Considered

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

Ray Wylie Hubbard Rescheduled from 16–17 Season

Fri, Sept 22 • 7:30pm At 70, Ray Wylie Hubbard’s post-psycho-country approach to drifter’s rock is more raw-boned and rough-hewn than ever. Guitars hiss, sting, and slash, and the haunted, tribal beats underscore a voice of parched earth. The Texas original continues to write, record, perform, produce, tour, and score movies with the same wily spirit trademarked in the early 70s. Since then, he’s released 17 albums, including his latest, The Ruffian’s Misfortune. The reviews describe Ray Wylie as “one of the most strikingly original musicians in the country,” praising his “taut, dynamic, and compelling” music. He’s a presence you won’t soon forget, and his songs have a gritty intensity that will stay with you for a good long while. www.raywylie.com

Penny and Sparrow Lowland Hum supports

Sat, Sept 23 • 7:30pm With influences ranging from The Swell Season to Iron & Wine to Stephen Sondheim, Penny & Sparrow’s Andy Baxter and Kyle Jahnke create music as intimate and poignant as it is powerful and earnest. The duo started making music together as roommates at the University of Texas in Austin, quickly building a reputation for strikingly honest, bare-boned acoustic music that resonated deeply with those who heard their songs and saw their captivating performances. True to their DIY ethos, Penny & Sparrow independently released two celebrated albums and one EP and toured the country extensively, building a loyal and fervent following. Produced by John Paul White (Civil Wars) and Ben Tanner (Alabama Shakes), Let A Lover Drown (EP released Mar 2017) finds Penny & Sparrow pushing forward while maintaining a firm footing in a signature sound that boasts affecting vocals and contemplative lyrics. The depth, dynamics, and soul baring in their live shows make it easy to understand why fans have such a strong connection to their music, and why so many more are beginning to. www.pennyandsparrow.com Virginia’s art-folk band Lowland Hum is husband-wife team Daniel and Lauren Goans. Both their live show and studio releases have garnered critical acclaim from the likes of NPR, the Washington Post, American Songwriter, and others. Lowland Hum’s songs have been described as poetic and evocative, and their arrangements as minimal, hushed, and dynamic. www.lowlandhum.com

Herb Alpert & Lani Hall Wed, Sept 27 • 7:30pm

Lani Hall is known for her emotional vocal interpretations and Herb Alpert for his trumpet virtuosity, but the married couple’s musical gifts have become as intertwined as their lives. Grammy-award winning Lani Hall helped propel Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66 to international stardom as the original lead singer, and during her solo career, she sang the title song of the 1983 James Bond movie, Never Say Never Again. Herb Alpert, best known from his Tijuana Brass period, is a legend in the music business and the co-founder of A & M Records, one of the most successful independent record labels in history. Alpert’s accomplishments include five number one hits, 28 albums on the Billboard charts and nine Grammys. From Lani’s exquisite voice to Herb’s trumpet mastery, a live concert with these two living legends is a once in a lifetime experience. www.herbalpert.com www.lanihallalpert.com

“Instrumental music can spread the international language.” —Herb Alpert

“Whether I write or sing, it’s to ‘clear myself.’ I feel a pressure building inside of me, and I have to sing or put it on paper to release it.” —Lani Hall Stoughton Opera House Box Office: (608) 877-4400

Mary Gauthier

Thur, Oct 5 • 7:30pm

Trout Steak Revival Fri, Sept 29 • 7:30pm

Curating a polished mix of Americana and Colorado bluegrass, Trout Steak Revival has earned a place in the Western states’ music scene, performing to sold-out audiences, winning the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition, and even winning an Emmy Award for a soundtrack with Rocky Mountain PBS. Their most recent album, Brighter Every Day, was released in March 2015. Produced by Chris Pandolfi of the Infamous Stringdusters, the album has received radio play and acclaim from fans and media worldwide. With their soulful narratives, heartfelt songwriting, tightly-woven instrumentation, and harmonies rooted in the band’s years of friendship, Trout Steak Revival pushes the envelope on a progressing genre while drawing creatively from the many canons of American roots music. www.troutsteak.com

Alt-country singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier wrote her first song at 35, driven after a life of extremes— plenty of negatives and a few brilliant bright spots—to dedicate herself full-time to songwriting and a career in music. She exploded onto the scene in 1999 following her self-released sophomore album Drag Queens in Limousines, which had critics comparing her self-described “country noir” to the likes of Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, John Prine, and, not surprisingly, Lucinda Williams. The success of Drag Queens led to main-stage shows at festivals around the country and multiple tours in Europe. Embraced by critics, folkies, and No Depression fans alike, Gauthier’s warmly candid treatment of her fringe-dwelling, downtrodden subjects rings true, never sentimental. Her songs—especially on 2014’s Trouble & Love—are painfully personal, yet they somehow infiltrate the souls of her listeners, no matter how different the paths they’ve followed through their lives. www.marygauthier.com

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The Cactus Blossoms Fri, Oct 6 • 7:30pm

The “alt country” music scene isn’t as big as it used to be, but there’s still a lot of vintage twang in the Twin Cities, courtesy of the Cactus Blossoms. The Minneapolis group, fronted by brothers Jack Torrey and Page Burkum, harkens back to the roots of country with its earnest songs and pristine harmonizing. Torrey and Burkum play country music the way the best always have: with an ear for universal truth in commonplace stories and for real emotion in simple melodies and beautiful harmonies. The Cactus Blossoms deliver handin-glove harmonies that mimic some of the giants of early country-- the Louvin Brothers; the Delmore Brothers; the Everly Brothers. For Jack Torrey, the core of the Cactus Blossoms is the singing. “Your voice is the most expressive thing that you have, if you let it be.” www.thecactusblossoms.com

Willy Porter & Carmen Nickerson Sat, Oct 7 • 7:30pm

A virtuoso guitarist, Willy Porter has more than ten albums to his catalogue including Dog Eared Dream (1994), which yielded the top 10 AAA single, “Angry Words.” He has shared the stage with rock and pop luminaries such as Jeff Beck, Sting, Paul Simon, Tori Amos and Jethro Tull. Carmen Nickerson is an accomplished jazz, R&B, and rock vocalist from the Midwest; she has also contributed her talents to studio and voice-over work in L.A. In their collaboration, the two artists compile candid snapshots of the human journey, exposing ideas such as hope, regret, love, loss, and connection that remain immutable against time, history, or place. Porter and Nickerson embody the best of what live music has to offer: heart, grit, and the kind of raw musicianship that transforms listeners into long-time fans. Willy Porter’s searing finger-picking guitar style blends deftly with Carmen Nickerson’s lush vocals to create an unforgettable sound that resonates long after the last chord fades. www.willyporter.com www.carmennickerson.com

The Salvation Army Brass Band from Stavanger, Norway

Music Appreciation Series A dazzling array of musical talents will be showcased throughout the season during these hour-long programs, organized by John Beutel and sponsored by the Stoughton Area Senior Center. All Music Appreciation events are free and open to the public.

Music Appreciation events will take place on the following Mondays at 3pm: • Sept 18, 25 • Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 • Nov 6 • Mar 19, 26 • Apr 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 • May 7

Featured Performers Oct 2:

The White Birch Ensemble will perform Russian music on traditional instruments of their country, joined on stage by the UW Madison Russian Folk Orchestra.

Oct 9:

The Middleton Jazz returns with a new program from the great jazz age of America.

October 30:

Tues, Oct 10 • 7:30pm

We welcome The Salvation Army Brass Band from Stavanger, Norway to perform at the Opera House during their tour of the area hosted by the Salvation Army Band in Rockford, IL. The band, which first performed live in 1892, will share in the rich Norwegian heritage of Stoughton and the surrounding area. www.fh-s.org/nb/hjem

“The Twa Dogs” (named after a poem by Robert Burns) are Dale and Cynthia Cameron Fix (bassoonist with the Madison Symphony). The duo will present Celtic jigs, reels, and songs on the accordion and tin whistle.

Keep an eye on our website as we announce more Music Appreciation performers!

Stoughton Opera House Box Office: (608) 877-4400

The Weepies Completely Acoustic and Alone

Fri, Oct 13 • 7:30pm Singer-songwriters Deb Talan & Steve Tannen had been mutual fans of each other’s music before they met—and when they did, in 2001, they began writing together that same night. Soon, indie pop-folk band The Weepies was born—and soon after, the two married, had 3 children, and produced five records over seven years. On the strength of their simple yet insightful songwriting and distinctive harmonies, The Weepies sold more than a million records, with over 17 million streams on Spotify and 20 million views on YouTube. Their music has appeared in more than a dozen TV shows and several major motion pictures and has been described as “subtly intoxicating.” www.theweepies.com

The Twilight Hours Sat, Oct 14 • 7:30pm

Minneapolis’ Matt Wilson and John Munson first performed together in Trip Shakespeare, an alt-rock band with a ‘60s sensibility fueled by Wilson’s sweet falsetto and offbeat songwriting. After Munson and fellow band member Dan (Wilson’s brother) went on to enjoy commercial success as Semisonic—the group that contributed “Closing Time” to our collective late ‘90s soundtracks—Wilson and Munson teamed up again in folk rock band The Twilight Hours. The call-backs to Trip Shakespeare’s Beatles-meets-Billy Preston sound in 2016’s Black Beauty are both copious and welcome, whether it’s the strumming guitars, Munson and Wilson’s voices harmonizing, or Wilson’s sweet falsetto, which hasn’t lost an octave. www.thetwilighthours.com

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S t o u g h t o n

Opera House

Friends Association

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www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

The Stoughton Opera House Friends Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the Opera House. Through targeted philanthropy, awareness building, and volunteer support, the Stoughton Opera House Friends Association will play an integral role in sustaining the Stoughton Opera House as a first-class performing arts facility. For more information visit www.stoughtonoperahousefriends.org Ask How You Can Help Today! •

(608) 877-4400

Come enjoy an evening with us at Big Sky Restaurant, featuring fantastic nightly specials and our award winning wine list.

Dinner is served Tuesday through Saturday 5 to close.

“Elegance and sophistication in a charming small town” –Charlotte –Robert S

“Big Sky is a small slice of heaven”

Call us at 608-205-6278 for reservations.

Big Sky Restaurant 176 East Main Street, Stoughton, WI 53589

Stoughton Opera House Box Office: (608) 877-4400

Chicago Farmer

Fri, Oct 20 • 7:30pm

WheelHouse Thur, Oct 19 • 7:30pm

Madison’s own WheelHouse is a nationally touring Americana and bluegrass band whose high and lonesome harmonies come with a little bit of grit. As a full-time working band they perform over 220 shows per year and have garnered attention from national labels. Featuring three and four part harmonies, fiddle and guitar leads, and driving rhythm of the upright bass, WheelHouse brings an energy and attitude unique to themselves. WheelHouse also owns their own brand of whiskey appropriately named WheelHouse Whiskey, which can be found throughout southwestern Wisconsin. www.mightywheelhouse.com

Bloomington, IL’s Chicago Farmer (Cody Diekhoff ) uses music as a commentary on modern times in the Midwest. With his unfeigned and relatable approach, the folk singer has earned a place in the heart of this generation’s rise of protest songs, composing music of the working man, the “regular person.” With his finger on the pulse of middle America, Chicago Farmer aims to capture the essence of the human condition. Coming from a long line of family farmers and factory workers in central Illinois and growing up in a rural farming community has inspired many autobiographical songs. Honest Tune wrote of 2013’s Backenforth, IL, “You can smell the dirt in the fields, hear the wind as it blows across the plains, and see the people that Chicago Farmer sings about. Each track captures a moment in time, whether for a person or a particular place.” With his 7th album—2016’s independently-released Midwest Side Stories— Chicago Farmer builds an adventurous narrative that captures his immense capabilities as a performer, songwriter, and story teller. He draws you in with the emotion in his voice and holds you captive with the lyrical pictures he paints about the real struggle of the common man. www.chicagofarmer.com

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“With her tight band behind her after touring together for several years, she just sounds like she’s home… You can just feel the grin on her face.” —NPR’s Ann Powers

Wynonna & The Big Noise Roots and Revival Tour Sat, Oct 21 • 7:30pm Respected by the millions of fans who are drawn to her music and undeniable talent, Wynonna’s rich and commanding voice has sold over 30 million albums worldwide spanning her remarkable 33-year career. Dubbed by Rolling Stone as “the greatest female country singer since Patsy Cline,” this iconic performer has received over 60 industry awards, with countless charting singles, including 20 No.1 hits such as “Mama He’s Crazy,” “Why Not Me,” and “Grandpa, (Tell Me ‘Bout The Good Ole Days).” Wynonna and her band The Big Noise, led by her husband/drummer/producer Cactus Moser, released their debut full-length album in 2016 to critical acclaim. Wynonna has described the new sound as “vintage yet modern” and a “return to the well.” It’s a rootsy work encompassing country, Americana, blues, soul, and rock, featuring Derek Trucks, Jason Isbell, Susan Tedeschi, and Timothy B Schmit. NPR’s Ann Powers noted “With her tight band behind her after touring together for several years, she just sounds like she’s home…You can just feel the grin on her face.” www.wynonna.com

Stoughton Opera House Box Office: (608) 877-4400

Michael Hecht: Tribute to Carl Sandburg

SVP Announces its fabulous 2017-2018 season

Wed, Oct 25 • 1:00pm

November 2017

March 2018 An Adult Comedy

May 2018

Michael Hecht will present a tribute to Carl Sandburg utilizing visuals, personal discussion, and written excerpts on how Sandburg celebrates the extraordinary in ordinary people. Musical accompaniment by Roxanne Neat and Steve Hoffenberg. Free-will donations accepted at the door.

An Original Family Comedy For:

Syttende Mai

Madison Magazine has named Stoughton Village Players the 2016 Best Suburban Community Theater.

The Village Players Theater is located at 255 East Main Street, Stoughton WI.

For more information on show dates, buying tickets, auditions, membership, and more, visit our website at

StoughtonVillagePlayers.org

Super Doppler Thur, Oct 26 • 7:30pm

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Virginia-based Super Doppler’s Moonlight Anthems is a raucous blend of soul, roots, and rock that tips its cap equally to Levon and Lennon. The 2017 album builds off the wave of critical success garnered by the band’s self-recorded and released eponymous 2015 debut, which Pop Matters hailed for its “propulsive soul energy,” The Huffington Post described as “Chicago meets the Grateful Dead meets The Band,” and RVA Magazine raved had “not only revived, but given a psychedelic face-lift to the soundtrack of the dancehalls of the ‘50s and ‘60s.” The record offered but a taste of Super Doppler’s ecstatic live show, which began to draw sellout crowds across the region and earned the band a slew of high profile festival slots everywhere from Firefly to Floyd Fest. On Moonlight Anthems, ornately detailed arrangements and lush orchestrations make each track like opening the door to another room in an eccentrically curated mansion; the discoveries are impossible to predict, but each is more fantastic than the last. www.superdopplerband.com

Jeff Daniels and Ben Daniels Band Sat, Oct 28 • 7:30pm

An Evening with Junior Brown Fri, Oct 27 • 7:30pm

If you haven’t seen Junior Brown yet, you need to “guit with it!” A one-man musical hot fusion machine, he’s coming to town with his unique guit-steel-- part electric guitar and part country steel guitar. A cross between Jimi Hendrix and Ernest Tubb, Junior Brown is one of the best surf guitarists around, with several Grammy nods, a CMA (Country Music Association) award, and an IBMA for his duet with Ralph Stanley. Junior has also collaborated with Hank Thompson, the Beach Boys, George Jones, Leon McAuliffe, Ray Price, Leona Williams, Lynn Morris, Lloyd Green and Doc Watson, and has appeared in many movies and shows (Letterman, Conan, Saturday Night Live, Austin City Limits, SpongeBob, X Files, Dukes of Hazzard, Me Myself and Irene, Better Call Saul). His latest album, Deep In The Heart Of Me, is forthcoming in 2017. Seeing Junior Brown live is a definite must; come check out the American Original voted #1 House Rocker by the readers of Guitar Player! www.juniorbrown.com

In 1976, Jeff Daniels bought a Guild D-40 from Herb David’s Guitar Studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan, threw it in the back of his old Buick, and moved to New York City. That guitar led to a creative outlet, became a solace, a road into the artist that he didn’t know existed. Now, over 40 years later, he releases his 8th record, Simple Truths. Though the world largely knows him as an actor with Golden Globe nominated film roles, these days he can be found on the road playing the bluesy folk music he kept quiet for so long. “[Songwriting has] been a wonderful creative friend for me between all the movies and theater and television,” Daniels says of the nearly 400 songs he’s amassed, songs that display a good-natured humor and down-to-earth honesty. The New York Times says, “Jeff Daniels sings his songs with a growly twang and barbed good humor, at its high point evoking a transcendental picture of American wanderlust.” The Ben Daniels Band will open for Jeff and will join him on stage. With a sound that spans Americana, blues, jazz, and rock, the Ben Daniels Band cuts through with their originality and musicianship, and their arrangements pull people inside their sound: pleasantly familiar, yet unforgettably unique. www.jeffdaniels.com www.bendanielsband.com

Noam Pikelny Thur, Nov 2 • 7:30pm

Noam Pikelny has emerged as the preeminent banjoist of his generation. He is a founding member of Punch Brothers, a 3-time Grammy Nominee, and was awarded the first annual Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass in 2010. His fourth album, Universal Favorite, is truly his solo debut, as his previous solo efforts were full-band affairs that revealed his abilities as a dynamic bandleader while reinforcing his reputation as an inventive accompanist. The new release features only the man himself, showcasing his unique approach and his compositional flair. For the first time in his career, Pikelny even sings—a striking deadpan baritone that conveys humor and melancholy in equal measure. This album, he says, “is the most personal statement I’ve put forward. The setting couldn’t be more stark and I think it lays bare my musical core. Most importantly, it’s an incredibly honest solo album, in that there are honestly no other people on this record other than me.” www.noampikelny.com Stoughton Opera House Box Office: (608) 877-4400

Molly Tuttle Band

Fri, Nov 3 • 7:30pm

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A virtuoso multi-instrumentalist and awardwinning songwriter with a distinctive voice, Molly has turned the heads of even the most seasoned industry professionals. She began performing on stage when she was 11, and recorded her first album, The Old Apple Tree, at age 13. Since then, she’s appeared on A Prairie Home Companion and at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, was featured on the cover of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, won first place in the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Competition at Merlefest, and, this fall, received a Momentum Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association in the instrumentalist category. Her lovely voice, impeccable guitar playing, and sensitive songwriting make her a star on the rise. She has already received more than two million YouTube views and is currently gearing up to release her first solo EP. www.mollytuttlemusic.com

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Local flavors at your local tavern Enjoy craft beers, artisan cocktails, and modern Wisconsin comfort food with ingredients sourced from local farmers. Join us after your show at the Historic Stoughton Opera House to complete the perfect evening. Whether you are coming for drinks or dinner, your visit to Wendigo will be legendary.

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Leyla McCalla Sat, Nov 4 • 7:30pm

A Haitian-American who sings in French, Haitian Creole, and English, Leyla McCalla plays cello, tenor banjo, and guitar. Deeply influenced by traditional Creole, Cajun, and Haitian music, as well as by American jazz and folk, her music is at once earthy, elegant, soulful, and witty. Raised mostly in suburban New Jersey, Leyla experienced a renewed sense of connection with her Haitian heritage after moving to New Orleans, which led to her involvement as a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and deeply enriched her own music and sense of purpose. Her new album, A Day For The Hunter, A Day For The Prey (2016) is named after the Haitian proverb that also provided the title of Gage Averill’s 1997 book about popular music, power, and politics in Haiti. The album continues to explore the themes of social justice and pan-African consciousness that marked 2013’s Vari-Colored Songs. Leyla McCalla’s music vibrates with three centuries of history, yet also feels strikingly fresh, distinctive, and contemporary. www.leylamccalla.com

Steve Kimock and Friends

Wed, Nov 8 • 7:30pm A master of improvisation for nearly four decades, rock legend Steve Kimock has been inspiring music fans with his transcendent guitar speak, voiced through electric, acoustic, lap, and pedal steel guitars. Through the years, he’s explored all number of sounds and styles-- blues, jazz, funk, folk, psychedelic, boogie, gypsy, progrock, traditional American, world fusion-- you name it. Threaded through this expansive and highly nuanced musical landscape is Kimock’s signature sound, the prodigious product of his ability to articulate crystal-clear tone, melody and emotion into intricately woven music crafted with technical brilliance. His passion and devotion to performing live is matchless, and his unparalleled ability to embrace and capture his audiences musically is the stuff of legends. www.kimock.com

Ruth Moody Band Thur, Nov 9 • 7:30pm

Founding member of the internationally renowned, Billboardcharting trio The Wailin’ Jennys, Ruth Moody has performed in sold-out venues around the world, made numerous criticallyacclaimed albums, and appeared more than a dozen times on the national radio show A Prairie Home Companion. Ruth is an artist of exceptional depth and grace, lauded for her ethereal vocals, impressive multi-instrumentalism, and masterful songwriting. Written with a maturity and wisdom that belies her age, her songs are timeless, universal, and exceptionally well-crafted, all sung with an intimacy and honesty that is unmistakably hers. www.ruthmoody.com

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“The finest rock songwriter after Dylan and the best electric guitarist since Hendrix.” —Los Angeles Times

Author Michael Perry Thur, Nov 16 • 7:30pm

Fresh off the release of two new books (Danger: Man Working and Montaigne in Barn Boots: An Amateur Ambles Through Philosophy), Michael Perry brings his prose and comic talents to the stage in a performance that is equal parts comedy, poetry, and roughneck rambling. Wherever you prefer to shoot the breeze-- at the local cafe, the volunteer fire department, or a literature festival-- this performance will tickle your funny bone and touch your heart. www.sneezingcow.com

Dave Simonett Fri, Nov 17 • 7:30pm

As the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for Trampled by Turtles, Dave Simonett had a noteworthy 2016 full of sold out shows coast to coast — including noteworthy performances at Newport Folk Festival and Red Rocks Amphitheater. Don’t miss this opportunity to share an intimate, acoustic show with Simonett, performing songs from his solo EP Razor Pony as well as his other major works from TBT and Dead Man Winter. www.deadmanwinter.com

Jim Lauderdale

Sat, Nov 18 • 7:30pm Singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale helped lay the blueprint for the Americana movement of the ‘90s, earning high critical marks for an eclectic series of albums that spanned hard country, slick pop, rootsy rock & roll, blues, folk, R&B, and bluegrass. Remaining open to inspiration, disdainful of genre restrictions, and in almost perpetual motion, Lauderdale has a recording career that spans a quarter century. He’s toured with artists from Freedy Johnston, Nick Lowe, and Hootie & the Blowfish to Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard, and his songs have provided a rich vein of material (and numerous hits) for the likes of George Strait, Patty Loveless, the Dixie Chicks, Elvis Costello, Mark Chesnutt, Gary Allan, Lee Ann Womack and others. Lauderdale has won a pair of Grammy Awards — one for an album recorded with one of his heroes, Dr. Ralph Stanley. Lauderdale’s own prolific nature has shown up with a vengeance, with his newest album I’m a Song being the fourth he’s released in 12 months. www.jimlauderdale.com

The Dustbowl Revival Thur, Nov 30 • 7:30pm

The Dustbowl Revival merges old school bluegrass, gospel, pre-war blues, and the hot swing of New Orleans to form a spicy roots cocktail. Some call it string band-brass band mash up. Imagine Old Crow Medicine Show teaming up with Louis Armstrong’s Hot Fives and Sevens, or Bob Dylan and The Band jamming with Benny Goodman and his orchestra in 1938. Known for roaring live sets, The Dustbowl Revival plays infectious, joyous music—a youthful take on timeworn American traditions. Starting as a small string band playing up and down the west coast, the group has grown into a traveling mini orchestra featuring fiddle, mandolin, trombone, clarinet, trumpet, ukelele, drums, tuba, organ, a bass made from a canoe oar, harmonica, and plenty of washboard and kazoo for good luck. Named “Best Live Band in LA” by The LA Weekly, each Dustbowl performance promises to be a white-knuckle ride through the history of American folk music that rarely stays just on the stage. www.dustbowlrevival.com

“...evokes a Depressionera sensibility redolent of John Steinbeck, and the spirit-raising gospel of the American South.” — Boston Globe

Stoughton Opera House Box Office: (608) 877-4400

Playtime Productions

The Little Match Girl

Nov/Dec Date TBA A young girl tries to sell matches to support her family as a cold and windy New Year’s Eve approaches. Witness her adventures as the touring children’s troupe, PlayTime Productions, brings another classic tale to life for the children’s stage. Playtime shows are a great way to expose your family to live musical theater—always affordable and fun for the whole family! www.playtimeproductions.org

Jeffrey Foucault & Kris Delmhorst Fri, Dec 8 • 7:30pm

In the fall of 2017, Kris Delmhorst and Jeffrey Foucault will tour the USA on a special split-bill, sharing the stage to celebrate the release of The Wild, Kris Delmhorst’s October 2017 album featuring Foucault and members of his band. Though married since 2004, these two acclaimed artists have until now maintained independent touring careers, and The Wild marks their first foray into the studio together, to record Delmhorst’s darkly hopeful, fiercely wise new collection of songs. Merging her sophisticated melodies and hauntingly open voice with Foucault’s lean aesthetic, the album navigates the poles of home and away, known and unknown, and reunites her with old bandmates including Billy Conway—the former Morphine drummer who produced her first two albums—and bassist Jeremy Moses Curtis (Booker T). Featuring two distinct sets of music every night, with the two artists fronting the band in succession and joining each other’s sets, the tour offers a rare and intimate performance from two of the country’s foremost songwriters. www.jeffreyfoucault.com www.krisdelmhorst.com

Billy Strings Sat, Dec 9 • 7:30pm

Tom Wopat

Home for the Holidays Sat, Dec 2 • 7:30pm All it takes is a phrase or two from Tom Wopat’s warm, engaging baritone to trigger the desire to hear more. And the more one listens, the better it gets — from the way he finds the heart of a song’s story to his lyrical phrasing and his gently swinging, jazz-infused rhythms. Wisconsin-born Wopat may be best known for his starring role in the ’80s hit television series The Dukes of Hazzard, but his versatility shines in a career reaching from television to high visibility Broadway roles and back to his first true love-- music. This holiday season, let Tom Wopat warm your frozen toes from the inside out with his smooth, jazzy renditions of all your winter favorites. www.tomwopat.com

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Whether sharing stages with bluegrass acoustic music royalty, crisscrossing the nation playing as a solo artist, or performing high-energy, jaw-dropping sets at festivals, Billy Strings creates fans wherever he plays. Raised in Michigan and based in Nashville, Strings learned music from his father, who learned it from his father, who learned from his father before him. Maybe that’s why at 24, Strings’ songs, articulation, and entire approach sound so authentic and steeped in tradition. Strings has played on stage with the likes of Del McCoury, David Grisman, Larry Keel, and Sam Bush, and has performed at festivals such as Pickathon, Merlefest, DelFest, High Sierra Music Festival, and Grey Fox. He won IBMA 2016 Momentum Awards Instrumentalist of the Year for guitar, banjo, and mandolin and was voted #1 in scene tastemaker Bluegrass Situation’s Top 16 of ’16. Already, Billy Strings has seen many accomplishments-- but the best is yet to come. www.billystrings.com

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Stoughton Festival Choir and City Band Christmas Concert

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Sun, Dec 10 • 4:00pm Come celebrate the community in the spirit of the Christmas season. Both the Festival Choir and the Stoughton City Band will dazzle with a variety of sacred and secular music, plus a carol sing-along. A wonderful tradition for the whole family!

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Stoughton Opera House: Spring 2018 Steely Dane

Sat, Feb 10 • 7:30pm Winner of the 2015 MAMA award for best cover band, Steely Dane is dedicated to not only faithfully reproducing the Steely Dan and Donald Fagen songbook, but to bringing an energetic live-show experience to the crowd. 20 of Dane County’s best jazz and rock musicians have banded together around their passion for Steely Dan music, playing in the same configuration as the Steely Dan touring band including a four piece horn section and three background singers. Shows consist of hits and deep cuts-- sometimes even complete albums-- and are sure to have you out of your seats singing along. www.steelydane.com

Davina and the Vagabonds Fri, Feb 16 • 7:30pm

Davina Sowers and the Vagabonds have created a stir on the national music scene with their high-energy live shows, level A musicianship, sharp-dressed professionalism, and Sowers’ commanding stage presence. With influences ranging from Fats Domino and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Aretha Franklin and Tom Waits, the band is converting audiences one show at a time, from Vancouver to Miami and across Europe. This rollicking quintet is held together by Sowers’ keyboard playing, with acoustic bass, drums, and a spicy trumpet and trombone horn section. The group’s focused, clean sound and emphasis on acoustic instruments is novel to both blues and jazz worlds, and sets the show closer to New Orleans than to Chicago. DATV’s shows are filled with New Orleans charm, Memphis soul swagger, dark theatrical moments that evoke Kurt Weill, and tender gospel passages. Davina has been compared to Etta James, Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin, Billie Holiday, and Betty Boop, but comparisons don’t suffice: Sowers is a true original. www.davinaandthevagabonds.com

House of Waters Sat, Feb 17 • 7:30pm

House of Waters is hammered dulcimer virtuoso Max ZT, master percussionist Luke Notary, and brilliant bassist Moto Fukushima, a trio drawing inspiration from Africa, India, South America, and jazz traditions. Max, a National Hammered Dulcimer Champion, studied with the Cissoko griot family in Senegal and recently returned from a year in India studying with the world-renowned santoor master Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. Luke studied with djembe legend Cheik Oumar Diabate and has just returned from a year touring the world with Cirque du Soleil. Moto’s finesse, subtlety and power attracted the attention of many jazz greats, who he has accompanied to critical acclaim. House of Waters has shared the stage with Ravi Shankar, Tinariwen, Jimmy Cliff, KODO, Blitz the Ambassador, Dave Eggar, and more; their concerts are beautiful and electrifying moments of mastery and magic. www.houseofwaters.com

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An Evening with Dailey & Vincent Fri, Mar 2 • 7:30pm

Born of the ever-vibrant Nashville bluegrass and traditional country scenes, Dailey and Vincent started their careers playing separately with some of the finest bands on the scene. Jamie Dailey was the lead singer and guitar picker for Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, while Darrin Vincent was performing with Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder. In 2008, the pair—whose voices matched like brothers—left their prior obligations to focus on a career as their own band. Since then, Dailey and Vincent have earned dozens of nominations—from the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America, the Grammys, and elsewhere. They’ve consistently won awards from the IBMA for Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Contemporary Gospel Group of the Year, as well as awards for vocals and instrumental performances. Their backing band is widely recognized as one of the finest in the field, and all of their albums have appeared on some Billboard chart or another. Two men born to sing together, Dailey and Vincent deliver with a thrilling blend of clarity, precision, and soul, the outcome proving it is possible to be both classic and brand new. www.daileyandvincent.com

Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives The Way Out West Tour

Sat, Feb 24 • TWO SHOWS! 3:00pm & 7:00pm Five-time Grammy winner, platinum recording artist, Grand Ole Opry star, country music archivist, Southern culture historian, photographer, musician, songwriter, TV show host, and charismatic force of nature Marty Stuart has spent over 4 decades celebrating American roots music with a missionary’s zeal. His teenage years on tour with bluegrass legend Lester Flatt were followed by six years in Johnny Cash’s band and a chart-topping tenure as a solo artist. Stuart’s zest for every conceivable flavor of country music is also seen regularly on RFD-TV’s The Marty Stuart Show. www.martystuart.net

“I love crows. They are strange birds and they dress like Johnny Cash.” —Marty Stuart

Stoughton Opera House Box Office: (608) 877-4400

Riders in the Sky

Sat, Mar 3 • 7:30pm Round up your herd and join in the fun with America’s favorite singeE Fox Prairi lementar y ing cowboys! Adorned in colorful Western wear, this quartet of madcap cowpokes consists of Ranger Doug—Idol of American Youth; Too Slim—the Fastest Wit in the West; Woody Paul—King of the Cowboy Fiddlers; and Joey—the CowPolka King. Perpetual crowd-pleasers, this Grammy-winning quartet mixes authentic Western music with yodeling, rope tricks, and a whole heap of crackpot humor in the timeless tradition of Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Yes, it would be “The Easy Way” to call it a career after 30-plus years, but it wouldn’t be “The Cowboy Way!” The ponies are rested and watered, and Stoughton’s Favorite Cowboys are ready to saddle up and ride. www.ridersinthesky.com

BeauSoleil is “The best Cajun band in the world.” —Garrison Keillor, A Prairie Home Companion

Fox Prairie Elementary Performance

Tues, Mar 6 & Wed, Mar 7 • 6:30pm A charming school musical treat for the whole family! Theme TBA. Call Fox Prairie School for ticket information.

The SteelDrivers

BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet

Thur, Mar 8 • 7:30pm

Fri, Mar 9 • 7:30pm

A group of seasoned veterans braiding their bluegrass roots with new threads of their own design, The SteelDrivers bring together country, soul, and other contemporary influences to create an unapologetic hybrid, old as the hills but fresh as the morning dew. The SteelDrivers have been nominated for three Grammys and four IBMA awards, and the movie “Get Low” (Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Bill Murray) features four of their tunes. When English pop star Adele began performing the SteelDriver song “If It Hadn’t Been For Love,” she said of the band, “They’re a blues, country, bluegrass, swagger band and they are brilliant.” The SteelDrivers have been invited to perform on numerous radio and TV shows ranging from The Grand Ole Opry to NPR’s Mountain Stage to the Conan O’Brien show. www.thesteeldrivers.com

For almost 40 years, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet has been making some of the most potent and popular Cajun music on the planet. Born out of the rich Acadian ancestry of its members and created and driven by bandleader Michael Doucet’s spellbinding fiddle playing and soulful vocals, Grammy winners BeauSoleil are notorious for bringing even the most staid audiences to their feet. Their distinctive sound derives from the distilled spirits of New Orleans jazz, blues rock, folk, swamp pop, Zydeco, country, and bluegrass. Entertaining listeners everywhere from the Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans to Carnegie Hall, and all the way across the pond to Richard Thompson’s Meltdown Festival in England, BeauSoleil continues to captivate audiences the world over. www.beausoleilmusic.com

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

Pieta Brown Sat, Mar 10 • 7:30pm

Hailed as a “self-styled poetess, folk goddess and country waif” by the BBC, Pieta Brown first came to international attention with her 2002 self-titled debut. The daughter of Grammy-nominated folk musician Greg Brown, Pieta has since been recognized by NPR for her “moody, ethereal” songwriting, applauded by The Boston Globe for her “mercurial voice,” and has continued to gain widespread critical attention for both her singing and songwriting with each release. She has shared stages with artists from Emmylou Harris and JJ Cale to Neko Case and Richard Thompson, in addition to performing at major festivals like Bonnaroo and Mountain Jam. Continually revealing new layers as both a songwriter and performer, Pieta is being recognized as one of modern Americana’s true gems. www.pietabrown.com

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e owe so much to our team of volunteer ushers! It’s thanks to them that we’re able to keep our shows running smoothly all throughout the season! Unfortunately, we have so many events that finding enough ushers to help out at each show has become somewhat of a challenge. We are always looking for new volunteers to join the team. In addition to contributing to the success of our beautiful Opera House, volunteering as an usher provides the opportunity to see first-class acts free of charge! As well as being able to sign up for your favorite acts, you’ll discover new artists that blow you away. To join our team and get started, contact julia@stoughtonoperahouse.com or reach her at the box office, 608 877 4400.

We’re looking forward to having you on board! 26

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Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands Thur, Mar 15 • 7:30pm

One of bluegrass music’s stalwarts is singer, songwriter and fiddle player Laurie Lewis, a mainstay among Bay Area musicians since the mid-1970s. Lewis writes songs that cut through the noise; as one writer observed, “She does not sing inscrutably about her own life, but looks outward from an intimate perspective, in ways that let us see our own lives reflected back at us.” The members of the Right Hands give Lewis’ music a light, airy quality that complements the crystalline voice that twice won IBMA’s Female Vocalist of the Year. American folk music icon Utah Phillips put it best when he said of Laurie Lewis, “Whatever country music is supposed to be, she’s at the center of it.” www.laurielewis.com

The Railsplitters Fri, Mar 16 • 7:30pm

Colorado natives The Railsplitters believe using your roots to evolve is what bluegrass is all about. True to this ethos, their new album The Faster It Goes breaks the bonds of the genre and unleashes tradition with an adventurous spirit. The Railsplitters’ secret weapon is two-fold. First, the innovative imagination of Dusty Rider’s songwriting; second, the powerfully distinct vocals of Lauren Stovall, whose voice is as clean as Emmylou, as cutting as Allison Krauss, and carries the attitude of Dolly herself. With Joe D’Esposito’s New England-influenced fiddling, Peter Sharpe and Dusty Rider’s masterfully executed mandolin and banjo, and Leslie Ziegler’s innovative style on the upright bass, The Faster It Goes testifies to The Railsplitters’ multipolar and collaborative songwriting, giving voice to the talents of its members and a cohesive character to the sound. Though they operate with the instrumentation of a bluegrass band, The Railsplitters are making music totally unlimited by tradition. This is music for the open road, the open dance floor, and open ears—music of the American West, made for all. www.therailsplitters.com

STOUGHTON FLORAL For over 50 years, Stoughton Floral has supplied area residents beautiful flowers. We have gifts for every occasion; weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries.

You name it, we deliver! STOUGHTON FLORAL 168 E. Main Street (608) 873-6173 or (866) 595-6800 Mon–Fri 8 am–5:30 pm, Sat 8 am–3 pm

www.stoughtonfloral.com

The Subdudes Sat, Mar 17 • 7:30pm

Officers Mary-Carel Verden, President Jon Lewis, Vice-President

Members at Large Jim Borling Paul Lawrence John Beutel Pat O’Connor Gen Wilberg

Stoughton Opera House Board Members

iver Music F R e h

Over the course of 25 years and ten albums, The Subdudes have quietly become one of America’s national music treasures. The New Orleans-formed group is a living encapsulation of American music, a vibrant cauldron of sounds that stirs together meaty grooves and jazzy dynamics, soulful R&B swagger, easy vocal harmonies, cheeky rock ‘n’ roll attitude, and folky social consciousness — not to mention some of the sharpest musicianship and ensemble playing you’ll ever hear from any five musicians. Led by singer/guitarist Tommy Malone and accordionist John Magnie, The Subdudes came together in 1989 after backing artists such as Joni Mitchell and Rosanne Cash. Drawing most of their inspiration from the sounds of their native New Orleans and blending blues, gospel, funk, and R&B with their own harmony vocals, The Subdudes are also notable for the substitution of a tambourine player, Steve Amedée, for a drummer. Tim Cook rounds out the band on bass. www.subdudes.com

ght

2 on, WI • July

018

Watch for information on the

5th Annual Catfish River Festival

July 2018

www.catfishrivermusicfest.com

Stoughton Opera House Box Office: (608) 877-4400

“The Quebe Sisters play the best feelgood music I’ve ever heard. When they’re playing, I can’t stop smiling! I’d drive a thousand miles to hear them again.” —Ed King, Original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The Quebe Sisters Band Thur, March 22 • 7:30pm

When Grace, Sophia and Hulda Quebe (pronounced Kway-bee) raise their fiddles and play, singing in vintage style three-part harmony, hang onto your jaw. The sisters are a marvel: three voices and three instruments rolled into a single sound, rich with harmony and sweet to the ears. With a blend of western swing, vintage country, bluegrass, jazz & swing standards, and Texas style fiddling, the award-winning band has caught the attention of audiences nationwide and beyond. The Quebe Sisters have performed throughout the US and Europe, making appearances on the Marty Stuart Show, the Grand Ole Opry, the Kennedy Center, the Lincoln Center, and NPR’s A Prairie Home Companion. With a sound both full and pure, at once vintage and unlike anything you’ve ever heard, the Quebe Sisters Band is a phenomenon that has to be seen to be believed. quebesistersband.com

Charlie Parr Fri, Mar 23 • 7:30pm

Charlie Parr is a roots musician like no other today. His blistering picking— he switches between acoustic guitar, dobro and banjo—and keening, cut-through-the-crowd vocals resonate with a conviction that runs deep and true. His heartfelt and plaintive original folk blues and traditional spirituals are authentic in the truest sense. Quiet, thoughtful and humble, the Minnesota musician has built a frenzied following of fans around the world with his energetic performances and 13 records including his latest, Stumpjumper. The rural surroundings of his blue collar upbringing are reflected in his musical style and simple, honest lifestyle. Parr’s self-taught mix of slide, finger-picking, and quasi-frailing technique, together with a voice that’s low on drama and high on impact, is something to behold. www.charlieparr.com

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

The Harp Twins — Camille and Kennerly Sat, Mar 24 • 7:30pm

Young harpists Camille and Kennerly Kitt use electric harps and acoustic concert grand harps to break down boundaries between music genres. With over 64 million views on YouTube, the twins are easily the most followed and recognizable harp duo in the world. As actors, The Kitt Twins have appeared in commercials, TV shows, and three feature films. Mixing their virtuoso harp skills with stunningly complex arrangements of rock, metal, and soundtrack hits (interpreting everything from Metallica to The Beatles to instantly recognizable themes from Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings), the Harp Twins perform internationally. Camille and Kennerly’s radical duet harp revolution is changing the world’s perception of the harp and the way harp is played—one song at a time. www.harptwins.com

Skaalen

RETIREMENT SERVICES INDEPENDENT CONDOMINIUMS

Low-maintenance residence designed for carefree living offering a wide variety of comforts and conveniences.

ASSISTED LIVING

Providing assistance with the activities of daily living while offering the security of having licensed nursing staff available 24-hours a day.

The Steel Wheels Thur, Apr 5 • 7:30pm

Like a thunderstorm rolling over the hills of their native Virginia, The Steel Wheels perform with an energy that mesmerizes. Their music melds styles from traditional country to gospel, bluegrass to 70s rock. With Trent Wagler’s weathered tenor joined by bell-clear four-part harmonies, Eric Brubaker’s lively and evocative fiddle, Brian Dickel’s grounded yet buoyant upright bass, and Jay Lapp’s signature mandolin style, the Steel Wheels have become festival favorites. A dynamic four-piece string band marrying old-time musical traditions to an innovative sound, they will draw you in with their soulful mountain music for a truly magnetic revival. www.thesteelwheels.com

If you are looking for restaurants for before or after the shows, we encourage you to visit these fine establishments who support the Stoughton Opera House by advertising in this guide!

Restaurants & Bars Banushi’s BBG—873-3700, 800 Nygaard Street, Stoughton, WI

ASSISTED LIVING MEMORY CARE

Providing a homelike environment focusing on safety, maintaining independence and continuing to enrich life to the fullest. Licensed nursing staff available 24-hours a day.

THERAPY AND WELLNESS CENTER

In-patient and out-patient therapy services for people of all ages, following an accident, illness, or surgery. Wellness programs tailored to meet each individual’s personal fitness goals. Warm Water Therapy Pool.

SKILLED NURSING

Rehabilitative and restorative care to meet each individual’s need for long-term or short-term residency.

Big Sky—205-6278, 176 E. Main Street, Stoughton, WI Culver’s—873-6635, 916 Nygaard Street, Stoughton, WI Farenheit 364—205-2763, 364 E. Main Street, Stoughton, WI Fosdal Home Bakery (lunch only)—873-3073, 243 E. Main Street, Stoughton, WI JL Richards —835-9188, 668 Janesville Street, Oregon, WI Nauti Norske —205-6601, 324 South Water Street, Stoughton, WI Viking Brew Pub—719-5041, 211 E Main Street, Stoughton, WI Wendigo—877-1544, 121 E Main Street, Stoughton, WI

Whether you are considering Skaalen for yourself or someone you love, we invite you to take a tour of our campus by going to our website www.skaalen.com or stop in for a personal visit.

400 North Morris Street Stoughton, Wisconsin 53589 608.873.5651 • www.skaalen.com Stoughton Opera House Box Office: (608) 877-4400

Rhonda Vincent & the Rage Fri, Apr 6 • 7:30pm

When the Queen of Bluegrass comes to town, you don’t want to miss out! Rhonda Vincent is the only artist to receive seven consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year titles from the International Bluegrass Music Association; she has seen multiple Grammy nominations and 5 consecutive Entertainer of the Year Awards from the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America. In 2010, she received the prestigious “Star Award” from the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation. With over 80 awards, her band is the most awarded group in bluegrass music, incorporating savvy contemporary touches while drawing deeply from the haunting mountain soul of classic Monroe-styled bluegrass. Constantly forging connections with fans through her invigorating performances, she continues to grow as a songwriter, with an optimism that bursts through the speakers. www.rhondavincent.com

Rosanne Cash

TWO NIGHTS! Thur, Apr 12 & Fri, Apr 13 • 7:30pm One of the most compelling figures in popular music, with a body of work encompassing country, rock, roots, and pop influences, Rosanne Cash inherited a reverence for song and profound artistry—and an equal duty to find insights of her own. The oldest daughter of country music icon Johnny Cash and stepdaughter of June Carter Cash, she holds a lineage rooted in the very beginning of American country music, with its deep cultural and historical connections to the South. She has responded to this heritage with 15 albums of extraordinary songs, earning a Grammy and nominations for 12 more, the Americana Honors and Awards’ Album of the Year Award, and 21 top-40 hits, including 11 No. 1 singles. Her latest album, The River and the Thread, written with her longtime collaborator, producer, guitarist, and husband John Leventhal, reflects journeys through the Southern states which inevitably reconnect her to her roots. With just the right amount of patience and storytelling, this new album is an elegant, mature work of a songwriter and performer at the height of her powers. www.rosannecash.com

Patty Larkin

Thur, April 19 • 7:30pm Wisconsin-born Patty Larkin redefines the boundaries of folk-urban pop music with her inventive guitar wizardry and uncompromising vocals and lyrics. Acoustic Guitar hails her “soundscape experiments” while Rolling Stone praises her “evocative and sonic shading.” She has been described as “riveting” (Chicago Tribune), “hypnotic” (Entertainment Weekly) and a “dropdead brilliant” performer (Performing Songwriter). Still Green, Patty Larkin’s 13th album, plays out in technicolor sound images, a kaleidoscope of sun and sea that travels from the fluorescent-lit hallways of grief to the warm pull of love, family, and nature. www.pattylarkin.com

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

An Evening with Rodney Crowell Fri, Apr 20 • 7:30pm

The roots of Americana’s current incarnation can be traced back to Rodney Crowell, the Texas-born songwriter who’s collaborated with everyone from Emmylou Harris to Waylon Jennings, all while maintaining a solo career that’s netted him two Grammys and an induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Crowell’s new album Close Ties unfolds like a history lesson of his personal mythology and the music that shaped it. The collection considers Crowell’s influences while looking to the future, each song delivered with Crowell’s slight growl and poet’s eye for detail. There’s no doubt that Crowell was an architect of Americana as we know it, and with Close Ties, we’re fortunate to have a look at his blueprints. www.rodneycrowell.com

Del McCoury Band

Sat, Apr 21 • 7:30pm Bluegrass legend Del McCoury has expressed an authoritative and unrelenting authenticity in music for 50 years. In addition to wowing hardcore bluegrass fans with his particular blend of traditional vocals and top-flight musicianship, McCoury and his band wins new listeners by peppering solid bluegrass sound with hints of country, gospel, and jazz. With over 30 IBMA awards and multiple Grammys, including being inducted into the International Bluegrass Hall Of Fame, they’re the most honored group in bluegrass history. Fans fill venues from Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center to New Orleans’ Preservation Hall and the Grand Ole Opry to watch Del and the boys play with sheer joy that shines through in every performance. www.delmccouryband.com

Playtime Productions

The Reluctant Dragon Apr/May Date TBA

Asleep at the Wheel

TWO SHOWS! Sat, Apr 28 • 7:30pm & Sun, April 29 • 4:00pm Ray Benson founded Asleep at the Wheel in Paw Paw, West Virginia 46 years ago. Now based in Austin, the band holds 10 Grammy awards, 20 studio albums, and 20 singles on the Billboard country charts. The Grammy Award-winning Still The King: Celebrating the Music of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys is the band’s most recent release (2015) and marks their third full-length Bob Wills tribute album. Featuring 22 acclaimed collaborations, the all-star line up includes legends such as Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and George Strait and newcomers like The Avett Brothers, Amos Lee, Old Crow Medicine Show, and many other fine talents. Asleep at the Wheel is bringing a fresh look and sound into 2017. Now traveling as an 8-piece band, recent additions Katie Shore (fiddle, vocals), Dennis Ludiker (fiddle, mandolin), and Connor Forsyth (keyboard, vocals) have instilled a newfound energy and their own unique style within the band. Between those Texas Twin Fiddles and Boogie Piano, you can bet you’ll be dancin’ down the aisles and swingin’ all night long when the Wheel rolls into town! www.asleepatthewheel.com

Playtime Productions presents the delightful Kenneth Grahame tale about a youngster who befriends a peace-loving dragon as a famed dragon slayer arrives to rid the area of this so-called menace. Through camaraderie and diplomacy, people come to accept the amiable RELUCTANT DRAGON. Family audiences of all ages will fondly view the friendship created between a prudent youngster and a not so ferocious beast as the two adventure through interesting social encounters enlivened by Playtime’s drama, song, and dance. Young children and their families will enjoy many funny sequences as the dragon’s personality is revealed and the threat turns out to be just hot air. Playtime shows are a great way to expose your family to live musical theater—always affordable and fun for the whole family! www.playtimeproductions.org

Stoughton Opera House Box Office: (608) 877-4400

Photo courtesy John Rindahl / Archer Photography

Stoughton Opera House Timeline of Growth • 1900–1901 City Hall constructed. “City Auditorium” opens to the public.

• 1950–1955 In decline, the Opera House is closed to the

public.

• 1961 Amidst questions of structural integrity, the original clock tower is removed.

• 1980–1983 Debate rages over whether the entire building is worth saving.

• 1983 Citizens form the Friends of the Opera House to fund restoration.

Lou & Peter Berryman Fri, May 4 • 7:30pm

Masters of the comedy folk song, Wisconsin’s Lou and Peter Berryman charm folk festival audiences across the country with their peculiar, offbeat songs. Lou plays the accordion and writes the music; Peter plays the 12-string guitar and writes the lyrics. The two met in high school and formed their first band in 1964; they formed a jug band in college together in 1966 and led two other bands in 1969 and 1971. Meanwhile, they married in 1967 and were divorced in 1974, but became a professional duo in 1975 and began playing a weekly show at the Club deWash in Madison, Wisconsin in 1977. During the decades to follow, the duo has entertained crowds at folk festivals and coffeehouses across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. www.louandpeter.com

• 1988 Enabled by $105,000 in private donations, a new clock is installed on the tower.

• 1990 An additional $74,000 in donations funds the addition of an enclosed fire stairwell.

• 1992 Radiators replaced by central heating and air conditioning.

• 1992–2000 Opera House restoration underway.

- Balcony reinforced. - Modern dressing rooms constructed. - Main entrance and all woodwork restored. - Elevator installed. - Walls replastered and painted. - Gold leaf fleur-de-lis and scrolls restored. - Embossed metal ceiling restored and highlighted. - Original chandelier upgraded with modern wiring, lamps, and tulip bowls. - Aisles widened. - New carpet installed with embedded light tracks. - Original curtain restored. - Modern light, sound, and intercom systems installed.

• 2001 The Stoughton Opera House grand reopening.

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

Harmonious Wail Fri, May 11 • 7:30pm

Though richly influenced by European gypsy musicians, Madison’s own Harmonious Wail bursts through the boundaries of the genre with its enticing arrangements and sheer joy. Smoldering vocals are laced with jazzy mandolin and guitar for an infectious blend of continental jazz, swing, and gypsy music. Harmonious Wail has won multiple Madison Area Music Association (MAMA) awards. www.wail.com

An Evening with Sam Bush Sat, May 12 • 7:30pm

Father of Newgrass and King of Telluride Sam Bush has long since established himself as roots royalty, revered for both his solo and sideman work, which includes time with Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, and Béla Fleck. For Bush, a lifetime of channeling his energy has led to stylistic innovations that have changed the course of bluegrass and roots music alike. But instead of kicking back and soaking up honors such as an Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award and suite of Grammys and International Bluegrass Music Association trophies, Bush strives relentlessly to create something new. A rapt merging of life and art fills the legendary mandolin player’s new album Storyman, a freewheeling collection that gleefully picks and chooses from jazz, folk, blues, reggae, country swing, and bluegrass to create a jubilant noise only classifiable as the Sam Bush sound. www.sambush.com

Syttende Mai Sat, May 19

Open House Tours, Norwegian Music at 10:30am, Greig Male Chorus at 11:30am, Stoughton Center for Performing Arts Children’s Show at 3:30pm. Syttende Mai is an annual folk festival in Stoughton with many activities to celebrate Norwegian Heritage. The Opera House is open for tours along with some very special music throughout the day on Saturday.

Michael Hecht: Tribute to Tennessee Williams

Wed, May 30 • 1:00pm Michael Hecht will present a personal tribute to Tennessee Williams utilizing visuals, personal discussion, and written excerpts from the writing of Tennessee Williams. Free-will donations accepted at the door.

Stoughton Chamber Singers

Fri, June 1 • 7:30pm

The Stoughton Chamber Singers, under the direction of John Beutel, will present a variety of choral music for their annual spring concert. The program will feature choral music from various composers and various musical periods. Tickets will be available at the door, general admission.

Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society June Date TBA • 7:30pm

Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society celebrates its 27th season of summer chamber music in the south-central Wisconsin area. Its three-week festival is widely known for its diverse repertoire played by an ensemble of distinguished Wisconsin musicians and topflight artists from around the country. A BDDS hallmark, musicians explain the work from the stage, making even the most challenging new work accessible to a general audience. “Chamber music with a bang!” is serious music-making suffused with high energy, surprises, and lots of audience appeal. Contact BDDS for tickets: 608.255.9866 www.bachdancinganddynamite.org

Looking for the perfect gift for family

or friends? Tickets to Opera House Events are always the right size and a night out at a great show is remembered forever. Our Gift Cards never expire and can be used for any regular season event.

Give the gift they’ll never forget! •

(608) 877-4400

Stoughton Opera House Box Office: (608) 877-4400

17 18

FRIENDS OF STOUGHTON OPERA HOUSE PRODUCERS

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

Bob & Patricia Badeau Joanne Holtan Merle & Anita Lebakken Amy & Tom McFarland Larry & Julie Midtbo Leslie & Bryan Smith

Mary and Robert Bennett James Boyce Kevin & Susan Fenton Gordon & Anna Kopke Tom & Virginia Lunde Lon McPherson

Mary-Carel & Henry Verden Peter & Lori Vogel Burman Coffee Traders CEBO Industries, Inc. IKI Manufacturing, Inc Thrivent Financial

Duane & Peggy Marxen Patricia Ernest & Peter Owens Jim Danky & Christine Schelshorn Dale & Christine Verstegen Genevieve Wilberg Jahn Witzel

DIRECTORS Phil & Kit Blake James & Marsha Borling Carl Chenoweth Katherine Christenson Kristine Fauerbach & Ken Johnson Terry & Lynn Frick Pete & Nancy Halverson

Henry and Terri Jasen Al & Judy Miller Edward Neumueller Carolyn Hegeler & Fred Newmann Mark & Lori Nussle Jeanne & John Shearer Steven & Kristine Vaughn

AMBASSADORS Richard and Jean Asleson Bob Batyko Sheila and Tom Beatty Penny & Charles Billman Bill & Karen Bohn Carol & Roger Clausen Nancy Daly John A Davis Lorie Docken In Memory of Juliet (Johnson) Dooley

Allan & Joyce Eggleson Jim & Jean Elvekrog Michael Engelberger Jon Erickson Gwen Feit Sandra Fleming Kent E Flodin Gary & Shelly Freiburger Charles Green Richard & Diane Halom

Richard Hammerstrom Roger Hanson Susan & Herb Heneman Gil & Karen Herman Nancy & Gary Holloway Betty J Hull Cynthia and John Hurtenbach Dagny Knight Steven Landfried Marilyn Larson

Stoughton Trailers, LLC Dan Marshall Jody McCann & Peg Smelser Stephanie Mikesell & Terry McSaul Mike Modica Dan & Erica Moeser David & Nancy Nedveck Tom & Carol Novak Charlie Peters & Leslie Hearn Jim and Mary Pofahl

Jeff and Vicki Raymond Travis & Mary Richardson John & Karen Robison Dean & Carol Schroeder Susan & Gary Shadof Gilbert Skinner Wanda Sokolowski Mercedes R Stewart Dennis Strand Robin Stroebel & Allan Bachmann

Dustin Struckmeyer Gail Tappen John & Myra Taylor LaRynda Thoen Susan Turney Peter Wallace Spencer & Valli Warren Al and Claudia Watson Tom Yin Suzanne Leimontas & John Zwieg

PARTNERS Tom & Bev Anderson Jennifer Anderson Myra Andreassen Darlene Arneson Chris Baker Linda Barker Jeffrey Beatty John Beutel Eric Borchardt Jeanette Bossingham James Boyd Trish Brehm Les & Barb Brower Michael Cardwell George & Solveig Carlson Fritz & Laurine Carstens Karol Castle Mike Collins Nancy Dahm Joni Dean R. Lawrence DeRoo Nancy Dungan Shirley Eckes Marc Eisen & Connie Kinsella Hanson Electronics Ron and Lou Ann Ellingson Myra Elliott John & Nancy Elvekrog

Shirley & Ervin Erdahl Ken & Kathy Fellerson Richard & Mary Lou Fendrick Jack & Jan Finney Timothy Fixmer Wilma Furseth Catherine Furseth Michael George Susan Gimmestad Paul Goemans Claudia Grabow Claude Greene Diana Grimmer Jerry Griswold Marianne Guidos and Mark Fortney Roger and Cyndie Gullickson Jean Guritz William J Gustafson Marjie Hanssen Ann Hardel Steve Hathaway James Heitman Dr Perry & Pat Hellum Orin Hermundstad Jerry R Herzog David & Nancy Hoffman Grace A Homb Betty Humphries

Greg and Jane Hyer Lisa Jackson Bruce & Karen Jamison Patricia Jens Ann Jones Lawrence & Kim Kieck Dan & Jerri Kittleson Ken Kmiecik Connie & Richard Kraus Dale Kreul David Lewandowski Greg Linder Gerhardt & Mary Lingk Mary T Linton Marilynn & Jim Loving Art Luetke Mark Luetkehoelter Mary Madigan Mary Manering Paul & Sheila Manley Phillip & Nancy L Martin Sherry Masters Diane & Dan Matson Stanley McCord Greg & Diana McDonald Georgiann & Pete McDonald Rick & Joan McLaughlin Deb McLeish

Gary Mecklenburg Thomas Mecum Adam & Tamara Mehring Dana Merker Bruce Meyer Virginia & Marilynn Miller Kathryn Miller Donald & Kathy Miner Bob Mischka Allan & Karen Moore Mary Morgan John & Ellen Morgan Brenda Mueller William Murphy Jennifer Myhre Nawratil Sarita Neath Thomas Nelson Janet Nelson & Tim Reilley Henry Newcomb Tom & Mary Nordland Maura O’Brien John Ogden Steve Olson Sharon Owen Sandy & Skip Paton Tony Patterson Kristi L Patterson Tom and Shai Pellett

Melinda Perkins Mary & Jeff Peterson Jeannie Petterson Susan & John Petty Gene and Janice Pleggenkuhle Sandra & Chris Queram Stephanie Ramer Candy A Renard Robert Rice Susan M Rogers Michael Rose Lloyd & Sandra Rowley Carol Rucks David K Saiki Pete & Pat Sammataro Rick Sanders Barbara Sather Frank J Schmitt Pauline & Ted Schnese Mark & Carole Schubring Peg & Steve Schuett Stacy Sandler & Scott Dougald Nancy M Scovotti Jim and Mary Severson Dave & Peggy Sharpe Mary Spike and Bill Rieder Kevin & Jodi Stevens Robert J Stocki

Gale A Stone Margaret & Richard Straub James & Erma Sundby Gail & Michael Terrell Paul Theiler Scott Thomas Terry Thompson Jeff Trapp Kendra & Jerry Tutsch Sue and Steve Urban David & Pamela Van Doren Thomas Wacker James Wagner Dale Wallerich Glenn Watson Claire and Forrest Weesner Rodney Weston Deb & Greg Wiepz Elizabeth Wilcox Frank Willis Douglas Woodworth Yahara Bay Distillery Mike Zalewski Kyle Zander Kathleen & Thomas Zaremba Chris Ziemba Bill & Mary Zimmerman Irene Zimmerman

Plus many who gave at the Patron and Friend level. Thank you!

We get by — with a little help from our Friends

hen you become a Friend of the Stoughton Opera House, your donation helps to ensure success for our beautiful facility — through programming and continued maintenance. Your support also helps to keep ticket prices affordable for all our patrons. If you are already a Friend, please consider increasing your tax-deductible donation.

Donor Levels

Friend–$25–49 Patron–$50–$99

Ambassador–$250–$499 Director–$500–$999

Producer–$1,000–$1,999 Executive Producer– $2,000+

Members at all levels are invited to participate in the Member Presale, starting on the first Monday in August, two weeks ahead of the general public. Members receive advance notice and early ticket-buying privileges for all added shows throughout the season.

In addition to enjoying all the benefits of Partners, these contributors are recognized by name in all our performance programs.

As well as all other member benefits, Producers receive two complimentary tickets for any ten regular series performances.

Ambassadors receive two complimentary tickets to any show in the regular Opera House series, and Directors receive four.

Executive Producers receive 20 pairs of tickets for a $2000 contribution, 30 pairs for $3000, 40 pairs for $4000, and a pair of tickets to EVERY show with a $5000 contribution.

Partner–$100–$249 In addition to enjoying all the benefits of Patrons, Partners’ names are listed in the annual Arts & Culture Guide in recognition of their contribution.

Become a Friend of the Opera House! Call (608) 877-4400 34

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

Connecting people who care with causes that matter! The Stoughton Area Community Foundation works with an expanding pool of charitable dollars donated by people willing to invest in the future of the Stoughton area and enhance the quality of life for its citizens. In 2016/2017 the SACF awarded over $97,000 in grants to community nonprofits and scholarships to graduating Stoughton HighSchool students.

Community Development

Madison

Monona

Make A Difference!

Historic Preservation

Children and Youth

The Arts

Janesville

Community Wellness

Lake Waubesa

Norwegian Heritage Center

B&B and Hotels

Stoughton Chamber of Commerce

Stoughton Opera House

McFarland

B Lake Kegonsa N 51 B

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Fifth Street

To Mandt Park

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E. Main Street

Jefferson Street

Washington Street

Forrest Street

Page Street

W. Main Street

Divison Street

Hwy 51 to Madison

Water Street

Yah ara Riv

Stoughton

Public Parking Lots

Restaurant along Hwy 51 (just outside Stoughton) for dinner before an evening show.

Historic Arts and Shopping District

Parks

River

Yahara

Food

Join us by investing in the future of Stoughton. Map from Madison Please consider making a tax-deductible charitable gift. to Stoughton. Following Hwy 51. Contact us at 608-873-7131 • StoughtonFoundation.org Stop at Halverson’s Stoughton Area Community Foundation, PO Box 84, Stoughton, WI 53589 Coachman’s

51 138

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Sixth Street

E. Main Street

Jefferson Street

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W. Main Street

Yahara Riv er

Janesville

Sixth Street

Fourth Street

Food Historic Arts and Shopping District Public Parking Lots

Stoughton Opera House Stoughton Chamber of Commerce

Fourth Street

To Mandt Park

Jefferson Street

Fifth Street

Forrest Street

Divison Street

Water Street

E. Main Street

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North Street

W. Main Street

Washington Street

E. Main Street

Hwy 51 to Madison

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Parks

Divison Street Jefferson Street

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Hwy 51 to Madison

Water Street

Washington Street

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Hwy 51 to Madison

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To Mandt Park

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B&B and Hotels

Fifth Street

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Stoughton Opera House Box Office: (608) 877-4400 Sixth Street

Norwegian Heritage Center

Opera House Policies Box Office Information Contact: 608 877 4400 • boxoffice@ stoughtonoperahouse.com Hours: Tues‑Fri 9am–4:30 pm Hours before and after shows: 90 minutes prior to showtime and 30 minutes after performances Guided tours available by appointment during business hours The house opens at least one-half hour before the curtain. Parents should exercise discretion in deciding which events are appropriate for children (aisle seats are recommended). Regardless of age, a seat must be purchased for everyone attending an event, unless otherwise noted. Programs and events are subject to change without notice. Patrons arriv‑ ing late will be seated at a suitable pause in the performance. Concessions are not sold in the opera house; food and drink are not permitted in the theatre. Please refrain from cell phone and camera use … Enjoy the moment!

Accessibility The opera house has an elevator, handicap parking, wheelchair seating, and a two coil hearing loop system. Contact us for special requests.

Obstructed Seats The sight line from certain seats at the back of the main floor is slightly obstructed by one of two 7-inch wide poles holding up the balcony. The seats in this section are only available when avail‑ ability for regular seats becomes limited. Obstructed seats are sold at a rate of 25% off regular ticket price. Tickets on Sale August 7 at 9am for Stoughton Opera House Members. General Public Ticket Sales Begin August 21!

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

= Obstructed Seat

Stoughton Opera House Order Form 17 18

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com — (608) 877-4400

Step One—Select Tickets ARTIST ARTIST

DATE DATE

Dead Horses

Sat, Sept 16

7:30 pm

$20.00

Ásgeir

Wed, Sept 20

7:30 pm

$20.00

My Bubba

Thur, Sept 21

7:30 pm

$15.00

Ray Wylie Hubbard (Rescheduled)

Fri, Sept 22

7:30 pm

$25.00

Penny and Sparrow (Lowland Hum supports)

Sat, Sept 23

7:30 pm

$15.00

Herb Alpert & Lani Hall

Wed, Sept 27

7:30 pm

$60.00

Trout Steak Revival

Fri, Sept 29

7:30 pm

$22.00

Mary Gauthier

Thur, Oct 5

7:30 pm

$20.00

The Cactus Blossoms

Fri, Oct 6

7:30 pm

$20.00

Willy Porter & Carmen Nickerson

Sat, Oct 7

7:30 pm

$25.00

The Salvation Army Brass Band from Stavanger, Norway

Tues, Oct 10

7:30 pm

free-will donation

The Weepies — Completely Acoustic and Alone

Fri, Oct 13

7:30 pm

$30.00

The Twilight Hours

Sat, Oct 14

7:30 pm

$17.00

WheelHouse

Thur, Oct 19

7:30 pm

$17.00

Chicago Farmer

Fri, Oct 20

7:30 pm

$22.00

Wynonna & The Big Noise — Roots and Revival Tour

Sat, Oct 21

7:30 pm

$67.00

Michael Hecht: Tribute to Carl Sandburg

Wed, Oct 25

1:00 pm

free-will donation

PAGE

TIME TIME

Online ticketing now available at www. stoughtonoperahouse.com It’s Fast and Easy! QTY QTY

SINGLE PRICE

Super Doppler

Thur, Oct 26

7:30 pm

$22.00

An Evening with Junior Brown

Fri, Oct 27

7:30 pm

$28.00

Jeff Daniels and Ben Daniels Band

Sat, Oct 28

7:30 pm

$35.00

Noam Pikelny

Thur, Nov 2

7:30 pm

$22.00

Molly Tuttle Band

Fri, Nov 3

7:30 pm

$22.00

Leyla McCalla

Sat, Nov 4

7:30 pm

$25.00

Steve Kimock and Friends

Wed, Nov 8

7:30 pm

$27.00

Ruth Moody Band

Thur, Nov 9

7:30 pm

$25.00

Richard Thompson — Solo Acoustic

Fri & Sat, Nov 10 & 11

7:30 pm

$45.00

Michael Perry

Thur, Nov 16

7:30 pm

$20.00

Dave Simonett

Fri, Nov 17

7:30 pm

$25.00

Jim Lauderdale

Sat, Nov 18

7:30 pm

$25.00

The Dustbowl Revival

Thur, Nov 30

7:30 pm

$27.00

TOTAL

Playtime Productions — The Little Match Girl

Nov/Dec Date TBA

TBA

$5 per family at door

Tom Wopat — Home for the Holidays

Sat, Dec 2

7:30 pm

$35.00

Jeffrey Foucault & Kris Delmhorst

Fri, Dec 8

7:30 pm

$25.00

Billy Strings

Sat, Dec 9

7:30 pm

$25.00

Stoughton Festival Choir & City Band Christmas Concert

Sun, Dec 10

4:00 pm

free-will donation

Steely Dane

Sat, Feb 10

7:30 pm

$25.00

Davina and the Vagabonds

Fri, Feb 16

7:30 pm

$22.00

House of Waters

Sat, Feb 17

7:30 pm

$22.00

Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives—The Way Out West Tour

Sat, Feb 24

3:00 & 7:00m

$40.00

An Evening with Dailey & Vincent

Fri, Mar 2

7:30 pm

$35.00

Riders in the Sky

Sat, Mar 3

7:30 pm

$35.00

Fox Prairie Elementary Performance

Tues & Wed, Mar 6 & 7

6:30 pm

free-will donation

The SteelDrivers

Thur, Mar 8

7:30 pm

$35.00

BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet

Fri, Mar 9

7:30 pm

$30.00

Suggested kid-friendly events. Suggested group-friendly events. *A group is 8 or more—call for group rate.

(continued on reverse)

A – Subtotal:

Stoughton Opera House Box Office: (608) 877-4400

Stoughton Opera House Order Form 17 18

Online ticketing now available at www. stoughtonoperahouse.com It’s Fast and Easy!

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com — (608) 877-4400

Step One—Select Tickets PAGE

ARTIST

DATE

Pieta Brown

Sat, Mar 10

7:30 pm

TIME

QTY

$22.00

SINGLE

TOTAL

Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands

Thur, Mar 15

7:30 pm

$25.00

The Railsplitters

Fri, Mar 16

7:30 pm

$20.00

The Subdudes

Sat, Mar 17

7:30 pm

$35.00

The Quebe Sisters

Thur, Mar 22

7:30 pm

$25.00

Charlie Parr

Fri, Mar 23

7:30 pm

$22.00

The Harp Twins

Sat, Mar 24

7:30 pm

$15.00

The Steel Wheels

Thur, Apr 5

7:30 pm

$25.00

Rhonda Vincent & the Rage

Fri, Apr 6

7:30 pm

$35.00

Rosanne Cash

Thurs & Fri, Apr 12 & 13

7:30 pm

$60.00

Patty Larkin

Thur, Apr 19

7:30 Pm

$22.00

An Evening with Rodney Crowell

Fri, Apr 20

7:30 Pm

$35.00

Del McCoury Band

Sat, Apr 21

7:30 Pm

$45.00

Asleep at the Wheel

Sat, Apr 28

7:30 Pm

$45.00

Asleep at the Wheel

Sun, April 29

4:00 Pm

$45.00

Playtime Productions — The Reluctant Dragon

Apr/May Date TBA

TBA

$5 per family at door

Lou & Peter Berryman

Fri, May 4

7:30 Pm

$20.00

Harmonious Wail

Fri, May 11

7:30 Pm

$25.00

An Evening with Sam Bush

Sat May 12

7:30 Pm

$40.00

Syttende Mai

Sat, May 19

All Day

free to public

Michael Hecht: Tribute to Tennessee Williams

Wed, May 30

1:00 Pm

free-will donation

Stoughton Chamber Singers

Fri, June 1

7:30 Pm

$5 at door

Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society

June Date TBA

7:30 Pm

Call BDDS for tickets

B – Subtotal:

Suggested group-friendly events. A group is 8 or more—call for group rate.

(shows from reverse side) A – Subtotal:

Suggested kid-friendly events.

A&B – Ticket Total:

Step Two— Your Seating Preference:

Step Three—Become a Friend of the Opera House:Donors buy tickets beginning Aug 7, 2017 at 9am Friend–$25–$49

Partner–$100–$249

Director–$500–$999

Patron–$50–$99

Ambassador–$250–$499

Producer–$1,000–$1,999

Check

VISA

Card #:

C – Subtotal:

Ticket Sales Total (A&B) $

Step Four—Complete/Submit Your Order Payment:

No, Thank you

Executive Producer–$2000+

MasterCard Exp. Date:

Please add 5.5% Tax $ Ticket Service Fee $ Grand Total $

Name:

Although mail orders are processed as soon as possible after tickets go on sale, we cannot ensure all requests will be fulfilled, as shows can sell out immediately online.

Address: City: Phone (day):

State:

Zip:

MAIL/DELIVER TO: Stoughton Opera House, 381 E. Main St., Stoughton, WI 53589 BOX OFFICE: (608) 877-4400 EMAIL: boxoffice@stoughtonoperahouse.com

Phone (DOS**):

email:

Signature:

4.00

Friend Donation Total (C)

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

* Include your email to receive important show updates. We promise we will never sell your info to anyone. **Day of Show contact number.

Back cover Opera House photo courtesy John Rindahl / Archer Photography

Opera House Policies: Page 36

Helping You Achieve Balance We created banking solutions just for you. We’ll even help you build a personal plan to achieve your goals. Talk to us today about: • Savings and Investment Plans • Mortgages for Purchases & Refinancing • Competitive Platinum VISA® Credit Card

Federally Insured by NCUA

Smart Advice. Friendly Service. Locally Owned.

608-755-6065 800-779-5555 www.bhccu.org Stoughton Opera House Box Office: (608) 877-4400 39

PRSRT STD

Stoughton Opera House 381 E. Main Street Stoughton, WI 53589

U.S. POSTAGE PAID MADISON WI PERMIT NO 1121

Your seat is waiting.

ll N OW

T g o i c ke Au on ts gu Sa to le st be co 7 th me !

am em be r!

Southern Wisconsin’s Most Charming Theatre

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com (608) 877-4400

WHAT’S A SECOND OPINION WORTH? A lot—when it comes to your investments. As a Thrivent Financial consultant, I can look at your portfolio with fresh eyes to determine if it is aligned with your goals. No matter which way the financial markets are going, together we’ll determine whether any changes are needed to help keep your investment plan on track. Contact me today for a complimentary portfolio analysis. Bryan R Smith, FIC

Financial Consultant Greater Dane Financial Associates 248 W Main St Stoughton, WI 53589

608-873-0550

Mobile 608-235-1031 Securities and investment advisory services are offered through Thrivent Investment Management Inc., 625 Fourth Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55415, a FINRA and SIPC member and a wholly owned subsidiary of Thrivent Financial, the marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Appleton, WI. Thrivent Financial representatives are registered representatives of Thrivent Investment Management Inc. For additional important information, visit Thrivent.com/disclosures. Appleton, Wisconsin • Minneapolis, Minnesota • Thrivent.com • 800-847-4836

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