Stoughton Opera House 2019-2020 Brochure

2019 20 Arts & Culture Guide

Performance Schedule Inside

2019 Tony Award Winner :

Anais Mitchell October 17, 2019

VISIT STOUGHTON PLAY | SHOP | STAY

mid

SYTTENDE MAI FESTIVAL

«« Celebrate Stoughton’s Norwegian Heritage

early

CATFISH RIVER MUSIC FESTIVAL

«« The Catfish River Music Festival features

STOUGHTON FAIR

«« The Stoughton Fair is the last free fair in

GAZEBO MUSIKK SERIES

«« Enjoy weekly open-air concerts at Rotary

COFFEE BREAK FESTIVAL

«« Stoughton is the home of the Coffee Break!

STOUGHTON WINE WALK

«« The wine walk explores Stoughton’s arts

VICTORIAN HOLIDAY FESTIVAL

«« Celebrate the season and enjoy shopping

MAY

JUL

early

JUL

Thur

in Summer

mid

AUG

late

OCT

early

DEC

and enjoy food, parades, athletics, and more! This is the largest Syttende Mai Festival outside of Norway.

free music in the park, food, fun, and more!

Dane County and it’s fun for everyone!

Park Gazebo! Bring a lawn chair and snacks!

Coffee Brew-Off, Cup O’ Joe All Wheels Show, pork roast, beer tent and more!

district and one-of-a-kind shops while funds go towards local scholarships.

beautiful downtown Stoughton! Artisan shopping, Santa sightings and much more!

532 EAST MAIN ST. STOUGHTON, WI 53589 • 608.873.7912 VISITSTOUGHTON.COM • VISITORSERVICES@STOUGHTONWI.COM

19 20 Page Artist

Page Artist

Date

6

WORT Tribute to Bill Malone

Sun, Sept 15

22

Steely Dane

6

Edgar Knecht Trio

Tue, Sept 17

22

Michael Perry Presents "Half A Star"

7

Lee Ann Womack

Thur, Sept 26

22

Sierra Hull

Fri, Feb 28

7

Carsie Blanton

Fri, Sept 27

23

David L. Harris

Sat, Feb 29

7

Shook Twins

Sat, Sept 28

23

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Thur, Mar 5

Mon, Sept 30

23

BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet

Fri, Mar 6

Thur, Oct 3

24

The Travelin’ McCourys

Sat, Mar 7

24

Ruth Moody

Thur, Mar 12 Fri, Mar 13

9

Music Appreciation

8

The Accidentals

8

Madison Jazz Review Featuring: Barbacoa, Jon Hoel Trio, Gerri DiMaggio's World Jazz Unit

Fri, Oct 4

Sat, Feb 8 Thur, Feb 27

24

The Subdudes

Sat, Oct 5

24

Albert Cummings

Music Appreciation

Mon, Oct 7

26

Ron Artis II & The Truth

Wed, Mar 18

9

Emo Philips (Guy Weatherspoon supports)

Thur, Oct 10

26

The Steel Wheels

Thur, Mar 19

9

Kaki King

Sat, Oct 12

27

Aoife O'Donovan: Songs & Strings

9

Music Appreciation

8

Susan Werner

9

12

2019

Date

Order Online—Donors start on Aug 5/General Public on Aug 19

Michael Hecht Tribute Jimmy Santiago Baca (with Bill Camplin)

Mon, Oct 14

27

Wed, Oct 16

12

Anaïs Mitchell

13

Harry Manx

Fri, Oct 18

14

Iris Dement (Pieta Brown supports)

Sat, Oct 19

9

Music Appreciation

Thur, Oct 17

2020

Event Calendar

Sat, Mar 14

Fri, Mar 20

Marty Stuart and his Fabulous

Sat, Mar 21

Superlatives—TWO SHOWS!

28

Darrell Scott—Solo

Thur, Mar 26

28

Playtime Productions

TBD Mar/Apr

28

Michael Hecht Tribute to Anne Frank (with

Wed, Apr 1

the East Side Lutheran Junior Bell Choir)

Mon, Oct 21

28

Harp Twins

Sat, Apr 4

Opera for the Young: Pirates of Penzance

Sun, Apr 5

15

Richard Thompson—Solo Acoustic

Wed & Thur, Oct 23&24

28

15

Pokey LaFarge—Solo

Fri, Oct 25

29

Leo Kottke

15

Gina Chavez

Sat, Oct 26

29

Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

Fri, Apr 17

15

Playtime Productions

TBD Nov/Dec

30

The Gibson Brothers

Sat, Apr 18

Mon, Oct 28

30

Taj Mahal Trio

Fri, Nov 1

30

Rodney Crowell

Fri, Apr 24

Sat & Sun, Nov 2&3

31

MadFiddle & Hwy 151

Sun, Apr 26

31

Asleep at The Wheel

9

Music Appreciation

16

Suzy Bogguss

16

Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi

9

Music Appreciation

17

Livingston Taylor

17

Jena Friedman

Mon, Nov 4 Thur, Nov 7 Fri, Nov 8

18

The Flatlanders

18

Che Apalache

Wed, Nov 13

20

Tommy Castro & Tinsley Ellis

Thur, Nov 14

20

Steve Earle—Solo

Sat, Nov 9

Fri & Sat, Nov 15&16

Thur, Apr 16

Thur, Apr 23

Thur & Fri, Apr 30 & May 1

31

Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band

31

Fox Prairie Elementary Performance

32

Kruger Brothers

Sat, May 9

33

Syttende Mai

Sat, May 16

33

Stoughton Chamber Singers

Fri, May 29

33

Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society

Fri, Jun 26

Sat, May 2 Tue & Wed, May 4&5

20

On A Winter's Night

Fri, Nov 22

20

Joan Shelley

Fri, Dec 6

21

Cherish The Ladies

Fri, Dec 7

TABLE OF CONTENTS

21

Stoughton Festival Choir & City Band

Sun, Dec 8

21

Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra

Sun, Dec 15

Friends of the Opera House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4 Usher Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 21 Restaurant List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 32 Policies & Accessibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 36 Seating Chart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 36 Order Forms and Prices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 37 & 38

The Stoughton Arts & Culture Guide is designed and produced by Grote Publishing.

For information on sponsorships and advertising call 608-877-4400.

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

3

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...

It has been our honor to share in your joy and excitement as you return to the Opera House for a favorite live performance or arrive the first of many times to come. We are humbled by your generosity in giving in remembrance of a loved one, and grateful that you recognize the treasure so prominently hidden in the heart of downtown Stoughton.

Together, as we move into the 2019–20 season, we look forward to growing with you as new opportunities are presented alongside the opening spaces on the building’s first floor. Your support and enthusiasm over the lifetime of this beloved theater have made it the musical and theatrical destination it is and ushers the way to the community arts center it feels destined to become.

We thank you—our patrons, volunteers, artists, sponsors, and friends—for seeing the immense value in helping this vibrant space thrive and grow for the many generations ahead.

We’ll see you at the show!

William Brehm, Director

Nicki Dowland, House Manager

Victoria Flynn, Box Office Manager

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 Victoria Flynn at (608) 877-4400 or email her at victoria@stoughtonoperahouse.com.

BOX OFFICE INFORMATION • (608) 877-4400 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

Follow us @stoughtonoperahouse!

S t o u g h t o n

Opera House

Friends Association

fgfgfgfg 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! •

4

(608) 877-4400

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

SAVE THE DATE! JULY 31 AUGUST1* 2020 AND

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.

For updates and special events, follow us on Facebook @wendigotavern 121 E. Main Street, Stoughton Stoughton Opera House Box Office: (608) 877-4400

5

Stoughton Opera House: 2019 2020 Season Your Seat is Waiting . . .

Fall Season 2019 ”A vital, flashing album connecting jazz and folklore in a unique way.”

—Jazzthing

A Tribute to Bill Malone Sun. Sept. 15 • 5:30 pm

Bill Malone, host of Back to the Country on WORT 89.9 FM, is regarded as the leading historian of country music. He’s literally written the book on it (Country Music USA). Doug Moe once said that having Bill Malone volunteer as a host for a community radio station is like having Meryl Streep perform Community Theater.

Bill turned 85 in August and has spent the last few years working with Ken Burns on the multi-part documentary, Country Music. He is the only historian Ken used for the series!

Join us for an intimate evening with Bill and Bobbie Malone. Hear about Bill’s experience working with Ken Burns and other highlights from his life; enjoy live music from Chris Plata with Extra Hot as well as The Dirty Shirts.

Proceeds from this event benefit WORT Community Radio.

Following this event, attendees can remain for a big screen showing of the first episode of the Country Music documentary. If there are seats available at that point, they will be offered for free. www.wortfm.org

6

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

Edgar Knecht Jazz Trio Tues. Sept. 17 • 7:30 pm

Edgar Knecht is a professionally studied pianist and composer. In the course of a highly successful career, this ‘piano sensation,’ who was already concertizing at the age of fourteen, arrived at a musical sujet that has developed into his own personal language. In an entirely unique manner, Knecht combined jazz and folk tunes from a variety of sources with folksongs of his native Germany. He succeeded in reviving wonderful old songs, which had been almost forgotten because of the difficult times in German history. “An essential aspect of what I do is exposing my own musical roots. Whilst this is common in other cultures, in Germany it’s not easy to use folk songs because of our special history“ the Kassel-born musician explains. Together with Rolf Denecke on upright bass and Tobias Schulte on percussion, Knecht has gained a world-wide reputation with his unique brand of music. www.edgarknecht.de

Lee Ann Womack Thur. Sept. 26 • 7:30 pm

Artists don’t really make albums like Lee Ann Womack’s The Lonely, The Lonesome, and the Gone anymore. Albums that seem to exist separate and apart from any external pressures. Albums that possess both a profound sense of history and a clear-eyed vision for the future. Albums that transcend genres while embracing their roots. Albums that evoke a sense of place and of personality so vivid they make listeners feel more like participants in the songs than simply admirers of them. The Lonely, The Lonesome & The Gone is her most personal album to date, marking the culmination of a journey that began with her 2005 CMA Album of the Year, There’s More Where That Came From, toward an authentic American music that celebrates her roots and adds to the canon. www.leeannwomack.com

“Her startling precision is matched only by her passion, a combination that lends even the slightest quaver in her voice an emotional resonance that would be lost on lesser talents.”

—NPR Music

Carsie Blanton Fri. Sept. 27 • 7:30 PM

New Orleans’ genre-stretching folk-rock mischief-maker, Carsie Blanton, writes songs fraught with humor and poignancy inspired by musicians as diversly rich as Ray Charles and Joni Mitchell; The Beatles and Erykah Badu; Nick Lowe, Tom Waits, Dolly Parton and Billie Holiday. With healthy doses of moxie and spice, Blanton revs up a spirited night. www.carsieblanton.com

“Her smoky vocals recall Nina Simone and Billie Holiday, while her wit as a songwriter is in the spirit of Cole Porter.”

—NPR

Shook Twins Sat. Sept. 28 • 7:30 pm

Everybody in your life will write his or her own chapter in your story. Take a step back, and you’ll see the influence of your loved ones, mentors, and friends in your decisions.

Shook Twins refer to these folks in the title of their fourth album, Some Good Lives.

Over the course of three full-length releases and a handful of EPs since 2008, acclaim would come to the Shook Twins by way of everyone from USA Today and Baeble Music to Langhorne Slim, The Lumineers, Mason Jennings, and iconic best-selling author Neil Gaiman who enthusiastically decreed, “They make music that twines through your soul the way vines cover an abandoned shack in the woods.” Beyond gigs with the likes of Gregory Alan Isakov and Ani DiFranco, they captivated crowds at High Sierra Music Festival, Lightning In A Bottle, Bumbershoot, Hulaween, Summer Camp Music Festival, and many more. www.shooktwins.com

“Some Good Lives is as affirming as it is magical.”

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

7

Madison Jazz Review Featuring: Jon Hoel Trio, Barbacoa, Gerri DiMaggio’s World Jazz Unit Fri. Oct. 4 • 7:30

A showcase of some of Madison’s finest jazz musicians featuring the Jon Hoel Trio, Barbacoa, and the Gerri DiMaggio World Jazz Unit. With genres ranging from traditional vocal swing to modern avant garde to funk, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

The Accidentals Thur. Oct. 3 • 7:30 pm

Named among Yahoo Music’s “Top 10 Bands to Watch in 2017,” The Accidentals’ adventure began in their hometown of Traverse City, MI, when Larson, a sophomore cellist, and Buist, a junior violinist, were paired for a high school orchestra event. The gifted young musicians became fast friends and before long, bandmates. Having both grown up in musical families with professional pianists for fathers and vocalists for mothers, their shared influences bounced between classical, jazz, bluegrass, country, alt-rock, and the obscure.

The goal as ever is to experiment and experience, exploring new ideas and approaches while always staying true to their roots. With their third album release, Odyssey, The Accidentals have conjured a truly one of its kind sound and vision, booming with free-thinking musicality, wisdom, and an understanding that growth is a process, not something that happens overnight. The Accidentals are already moving forward on their amazing journey, rolling down the windows on an open road towards someplace that’s both true and transcendent. www.theaccidentalsmusic.com

8

Barbacoa is an instrumental R&B quartet featuring some of the most sought after musicians in the Madison, WI area.

The band consists of Tony Barba-tenor saxophone, Mike Cammilleri-Hammond organ, Richard Hildner on electric guitar, and Chris Sandoval-drums www.barbacoaband.com Featuring Ben Ferris on bass and Kelby Kryshak on drums, the Jon Hoel Trio is one of Madison’s hardest working jazz groups. Playing originals and seldom played standards, the group focuses on exploring the jazz idiom, sometimes pushing the limits and other times staying deep in the pocket. They have performed at the Catfish River Music Festival, Orton Park Festival, and the Greater Madison Jazz Consortium’s Strollin’ series. www.jonathanhoel.com Gerri DiMaggio World Jazz Unit—With the sound of a nightclub singer right out of a 1940’s film noir, Gerri DiMaggio evokes romantic nostalgia with a modern edge. Her expressive singing, warm earthiness, and emotional insight, prove that she is a true believer in the power of storytelling.

Her show is a sultry mix of songs from the American Songbook with a modern edge, to Brazilian Jazz with a seductive sound that invites the audience into her own creative and colorful world. www.gerridimaggio.com

Susan Werner Sat. Oct. 5 • 7:30 pm

After writing twelve albums of songs in styles ranging from folk/rock to Tin Pan Alley to gospel, country and chamber music, what might a woman deemed by National Public Radio as “The Empress of the Unexpected” try next?

As audiences will testify, Susan Werner has been knocking it out of the park – or concert hall – all around the US for twenty years. Renowned as a charismatic performer, she’s known above all for challenging herself to conquer new styles, almost like mountaintops, every few years.

“Always an impressive songHer songs have been recorded by Tom Jones and writer, Werner continues to Michael Feinstein, Broadway stars Betty Buckley and Christine Ebersole, and countless individuals compose sharp, funny, comand ensembles. But Werner says she’s just getting passionate lyrics, a gift rare started: “I just released an album of songs inspired by a trip to Cuba. And I’ve always wanted to go to enough to set her apart…”

Scotland – hey, maybe I could learn the bagpipes.

— The Washington Post It’s not impossible...is it?” www.susanwerner.com

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

Emo Philips

Guy Weatherspoon supports Thur. Oct. 10 • 7:30 pm

Described by Jay Leno as the best joke writer in America, by British comedian Gary Delaney as the best joke writer in the world, and by “Weird Al” Yankovic as one of the funniest people on the planet, Emo Philips has performed over 6000 times throughout the Englishspeaking world, including a multi-week run “He is the velociraptor of at the Playhouse Theater in London’s West End. Since starting out in Chicago in 1976 at the age comedy: smart, sneaky of twenty, Emo has had award-winning comedy and merciless.” albums, several cable specials (including an hourlong one on HBO), and many appearances on —Star Tribune network television, both in America and in the UK. He has appeared in films (most notably, as the table-saw demonstrator in UHF) and has lent his distinctive voice to animated TV shows (such as Slacker Cats, Doctor Katz, Adventure Time, and Home Movies), but his first love, stand-up, remains his true one. www.emophilips.com An eccentric turtleneck wearing keytarist, Guy Weatherspoon weaves a theatrical approach into his live performances. He combines imaginative and sometimes comedic lyrics with classic 80’s and modern synthesizers to create a variety of textures ranging from shredding leads, gentle ballads, avantgarde atmospheres, to fairytale sparkles. www.facebook.com/guyweatherspoonband/

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 30 • Oct 7, 14, 21, 28 • Nov 4 Featured Performers

Kaki King

Oct. 1: Avanti Piano Trio

Composed of piano, violin, and cello, the Avanti Piano Trio out of Madison are well on their way into the vast and beautiful world of piano trio repertoire.

The Neck is a Bridge to the Body Sat. Oct. 12 • 7:30 pm

Kaki King’s groundbreaking new work, “The Neck Is A Bridge To The Body”, is an innovative, immersive, multimedia production.

Hailed by Rolling Stone as “a genre unto herself,” Kaki King is a true iconoclast, a visionary musician/artist whose singular work rightly stands out amongst the easily formatted.

Over her decade-long career thus far, the Brooklyn-based guitarist/composer has recorded five extraordinarily diverse and distinctive LPs, performed with such icons as Foo Fighters, Timbaland, and The Mountain Goats, contributed to a variety of film and TV soundtracks, and played to ever-growing audiences on innumerable world tours.

Each twist and veer marked the turning of a page, another step forward on a truly exceptional musical path. Beginning with 2002’s Everybody Loves You – to date, her only fully acoustic guitar recording – King has expanded and reconceived the role of the solo instrumental artist, constantly kicking at the boundaries of what’s expected. www.kakiking.com

“Not every musician can openly say they are carving new paths or truly doing something new... but Kaki is one of those musicians.”

—Onstage Review

Oct 21: The Wisconsin Brass Quintet

Regarded as one of the “superb brass ensembles in the USA” (Musicweb International) and praised for “remarkable musicianship and versatility” (International Trumpet Guild Journal), the widely acclaimed Wisconsin Brass Quintet (WBQ) has maintained a position at the forefront of brass chamber music since the group’s founding in 1972.

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

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

9

® PRODUCTS & SERVICES Products

US Cellular Service Computers HD TVs Bluetooth Headphones Tablets Accessories

Computer

Computer Setup Data Backup & Transfer Virus & Spyware Removal Computer Training Computer Repair Wireless Network

Cell Phones Broken Screen Charge Ports Water Damage Data Transfer and much more...

Onsite or In Store!

www.hansonelectronics.net 1015 N. Main St., Oregon, WI 53575

PH: (608) 835.2980

603 E. Main St., Evansville, WI 53536

2384 Jackson Street, Stoughton, WI 53589

PH: (608) 877-9548

PH: Opera(608) House882.0680 2019 7.38 x 4.5

Norwegian Heritage Center Tues-Sat 9:30am-4:30pm

◆

608.873.7567

www.livsreise.org ◆ Free Admission “Where immigrant stories come alive.”

277 W. Main St. Stoughton

◆

◆

Photo by TKWA

Livsreise offers a unique experience focusing on the immigration from Norway to America from the period of about 1825 to 1910. One can learn about Norwegian culture through various electronic and interactive displays. Also featured is a 68 seat handicapped accessible, hearing loop enabled auditorium where one can select from Livsreise’s video collection. There is also a genealogy lab/library and a temporary exhibit area currently featuring a traveling display from Vesterheim Museum.

10

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

Big Sky R es tau r an t FINE DINING IN A RELAXED ATMOSPHERE

JO I N U S F O R D I N N E R Come enjoy an evening with us at Big Sky Restaurant!

All of our food is fresh, never frozen and we only serve prime cuts of beef. We offer nightly specials, small plates, appetizers, entrees, and of course desserts! Chef Sean is always willing to accommodate your special dining requests or food allergies.

ST OU GH T ON OPE R A H OU SE Located only a block away from the Stoughton Opera House, we offer high-end organic choices ranging from seafood, steaks, pastas and fresh salads.

W H AT OU R CU ST OM E R S SAY “Elegance and sophistication in a charming small town” - Charlotte "Big Sky is a small slice of heaven” - Robert S. -

R E SE R V AT I ON S Online at bigskyrestaurantwi.com Call us at 608.205.6278

V I SI T U S Located only a block from the Opera House 176 East Main Street Stoughton, WI 53589

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

11

Michael Hecht:

Tribute to Jimmy Santiago Baca Wed. Oct. 16 • 1:00 pm

Michael Hecht will present a scholarly tribute to poet Jimmy Santiago Baca utilizing personal discussion and written excerpts. Free-will donations accepted at the door.

Music accompaniment by Bill Camplin

Anaïs Mitchell Thur. Oct. 17 • 7:30 pm

Creator of Hadestown, 2019 Winner of 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Anaïs Mitchell is a Vermont and Brooklyn-based singersongwriter who comes from the world of narrative folksong, poetry and balladry. She recorded for Ani Difranco’s Righteous Babe Records for several years before starting her own Wilderland label in 2012.

Among her recorded works are six full-length albums, including 2010’s sensationally-reviewed Hadestown, a folk opera based on the Orpheus myth; 2012’s Young Man in America, which was described by the UK’s Independent as ‘an epic tale of American becoming’; and 2013’s Child Ballads, a collaboration with Jefferson Hamer, which won a BBC Radio Two Folk Award. Mitchell has headlined shows worldwide as well as supporting tours for Bon Iver, Ani Difranco, Patty Griffin, Josh Ritter and Punch Brothers. She was the winner of a Folk Alliance 2018 Spirit of Folk Award.

Mitchell’s stage show of Hadestown, which was over a decade in the making, was first produced off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop and in Canada at Edmonton’s The Citadel, with record-breaking runs at both. In 2018 the show opened at London’s prestigious National Theatre, before transferring to Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre in April 2019. The musical has garnered rave reviews. The New York Times called it “inventive, beguiling and spellbinding” while Vogue announced that “Hadestown will be your new theater obsession.” If there’s a common thread in Mitchell’s work – from her earliest acoustic records to the Hadestown show – it’s that she’s as interested in the world around her as the one inside her. She has a way of tackling big themes with the same emotional intimacy most artists use to describe their inner lives. That’s perhaps why the New York Times noted that her songs “address contemporary angst with uncanny vision…a formidable songwriting talent.” www.anaismitchell.com

“Hadestown, Anaïs Mitchell’s bluesy and stylish show based on a Greek myth about a smitten young man who tries to rescue his lover from hell, captured the grand prize at the Tony Awards on Sunday night, winning best musical and seven other trophies, for direction, score, lighting, sound, supporting actor, orchestrations and set design.”

—Washington Post

12

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

Harry Manx

Fri. Oct. 18 • 7:30 pm Harry Manx has been called an “essential link” between the music of East and West, creating musical short stories that wed the tradition of the Blues with the depth of classical Indian ragas. He has created a unique sound that is hard to forget and deliciously addictive to listen to.

Harry forged his distinctive style by studying at the feet of the masters, first as a sound man in the blues clubs of Toronto and then under a rigorous tutelage with Vishwa Mohan Bhatt in India. Bhatt is the inventor of the 20-stringed Mohan Veena, which has become Harry’s signature instrument.

Harry played slide guitar for many years before meeting Bhatt in Rajasthan, in fact he had been living in another part of India for many years already, but he started at the beginning under Bhatt’s tutelage, unlearning most of what he knew about playing a slide instrument.

He learned Eastern scales and eventually ragas, deceptively complex and regimented musical patterns that form the basis of Indian composition. Learning the voicings of Indian music is a subtle art that comes with time. Harry spent most of twelve years in India learning that. It was later on that Harry decided to explore the connection between Indian ragas and blues scales which eventually led to the Indo-blues hybrid that has become his style. www.harrymanx.com

“Whether performing originals or an arrangement of a Hendrix or Springsteen tune, all of the musical elements serve to support his smoky, soulful vocals, and transport the listener to the quasi-hypnotic state his fans refer to as the ‘Harry Zone.’”

—Guitar Player

We’re Here For You Ambulatory Infusion Breast Care Services Business Health & Wellness Cardiac Rehab GERD Treatment Geriatric Psychiatry Home Health Inpatient Rehab Leg Vein Treatment Medical Imaging Orthopedics Rehabilitation Services Sleep Disorders Center Surgical Services Wound Clinic

608-873-6611 We accept over 160 insurance plans including: Dean Health Plan, Humana, Quartz, United Healthcare and more. For additional information, please go to our website.

stoughtonhospital.com

Stop by Culver’s after the Opera House show for a tasty treat!

916 Nygaard Street ,Stoughton, WI 53589 • 608-873-6635 Expires 08/31/20. Reproductions of this coupon are not accepted.

Shown: 2-Scoop Raspberry Sundae

Based on purchase at regular menu price. Please no substitutions. Not valid with any other offer. Value 1/200 cent. Limit one coupon per person per visit. Valid only at participating Culver’s® restaurants.

www.culvers.com Stoughton Opera House Box Office: (608) 877-4400

13

Iris Dement SVPAAnnounces itsfabulous fabulous 2018-2019 S season SVP nnounces its 2019–2020 eason

Peter and the Starcatcher

November 7-10 & 14-16, 2019

November 1–4adaptation & 8–10, of2018 A wildly theatrical STOUGHTON VILLAGE PLAYERS THEATER: 255 E. MAIN ST. Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s S un 1:30 pm • T hurs –S atnovels.

7:30 pm • T ickets : T hurs & S un $15 F ri –S at best-selling s -17 & 21-23 March u14 rio y! Comedy The HilaMusical med Co

March 19–21 & 26–28

May 16-18

May Family 14–16 An Original An Original Comedy For: Family Comedy for:

Syttende Syttende Mai

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

Pieta Brown supports

Sat. Oct. 19 • 7:30 pm The Trackless Woods, DeMent’s sixth studio album, is unlike anything else in her illustrious career. Beginning with her 1992 debut, Infamous Angel, which was hailed as “an essential album of the 1990’s” by Rolling Stone, DeMent released a series of stellar records that established her as “one of the finest singer-songwriters in America” according to The Guardian.

The music earned her multiple Grammy nominations, as well as the respect of peers like John Prine, Steve Earle, and Emmylou Harris, who all invited her to collaborate. Merle Haggard dubbed her “the best singer I’ve ever heard” and asked her to join his touring band, and David Byrne and Natalie Merchant famously covered her “Let The Mystery Be” as a duet on MTV Unplugged. DeMent returned in 2012 with her most recent album, Sing The Delta, which prompted NPR to call her “one of the great voices in contemporary popular music” and The Boston Globe to hail the collection as “a work of rare, unvarnished grace and power.” www.irisdement.com 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. 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 wide-spread critical attention for both her singing and songwriting with each release. Wall Street Journal, American Songwriter, and Amazon have all included her albums in year-end, ‘best-of’ picks. And along the way she has shared stages with everyone from Emmylou Harris and JJ Cale to Neko Case and Richard Thompson, in addition to performing at major festivals like Bonnaroo and Mountain Jam. But maybe even more importantly, to a fiercely independent artist like Pieta, she has received praise and support from many of her fellow artists and mentors - Justin Vernon, Iris Dement, Mark Knopfler, Amos Lee, producer Don Was, and film-maker Wim Wenders to name a few. www.pietabrown.com

UNIQUE ARTWORK SPINNING AND FELTING SUPPLIES AND CLASSES YARN, KNITTING AND CROCHET

14

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

“Iris DeMent’s first album of new material in 16 years, Sing The Delta, is a complex and beautiful triumph.”

—The Telegraph

Gina Chavez Sat. Oct. 26 • 7:30 pm

Richard Thompson Solo Acoustic —TWO SHOWS! Wed. Oct. 23 & Thurs. Oct. 24 • 7:30 pm

In 2017, Ivor Novello Award-winning and Grammy Award-nominated legend Richard Thompson gave himself up to the music itself. Picking up a guitar, emotions echoed through his deft fleet-fingered fretwork, poetic songwriting, impassioned picking.

Those transmissions comprise his nineteenth solo album, 13 Rivers.

In many ways, his career has pointed towards such a statement. Powered by evocative songcraft, jaw-dropping guitar playing, and indefinable spirit, this venerable icon holds a coveted spot on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” and counts a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association in Nashville, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the BBC Awards among his many accolades. 2011 saw Thompson garner an OBE (Order of the British Empire) personally bestowed upon him by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. Moreover, Time touted his anthem, “1952 Vincent Black Lightning,” on its “100 Greatest Songs Since 1923” list.

Thompson’s influence can’t be overstated. Everybody from Robert Plant, Don Henley, and Elvis Costello to REM, Sleater-Kinney and David Byrne has covered his music. www.richardthompson-music.com

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

—Los Angeles Times

Pokey LaFarge Solo Fri. Oct. 25 • 7:30 pm

Day after day, pencil in hand, always dressed in blue. Never feeling satisfied. Itchy. Incomplete. Attired halfway between a businessman and a janitor, Pokey LaFarge tries to make sense of trouble he’s seen and trouble he’s been in. This is the Great Why of his unending passion for songwriting. An unquenchable need to be heard in a world where everyone is talking and nobody is listening.

The songs on Pokey’s transformative new album Manic Revelations demand your attention. Here, you get the feeling this man is constantly reshuffling the deck in favor of some outcome or other. Each chord, each riff shades the stories he sets up in his lyrics.

But make no mistake – no matter how the cards lay, he is searching for the purest truth; he loves laying in the muck. Whatever it takes to serve the song. He wouldn’t know what to do if his life were any other way. www.pokeylafarge.net

A multi-ethnic Latin pop songstress, Gina Chavez is a 10-time Austin Music Award winner. Her bilingual record, Up.Rooted, topped both the Amazon and Latin iTunes charts following a feature on NPR’s All Things Considered and has been hailed by The Boston Globe, USA Today, and Texas Monthly. Her Tiny Desk concert made NPR’s top 15 of 2015. Fresh off a 10-country tour as a cultural ambassador with the U.S. State Department, Chavez’s passionate collection of bilingual songs take audiences on a journey through the Americas, blending the sounds and rhythms of the region with tension and grace. Her Spanish-language anthem, “Siete-D” (Grand Prize winner of the 2014 John Lennon Songwriting Contest) recounts her experience volunteering in a gang-dominated suburb of San Salvador where she is a co-founder of The Niñas Arriba College Fund for young Latinas. www.ginachavez.com

“Her voice stops you in your tracks.”

— NPR

Playtime Productions:

Ali Baba & A Few Thieves

Date TBD in Nov/Dec • 1:00 pm PlayTime Productions performs a unique rendition of Shaharazad’s story of Ali Baba from the Arabian Nights. As two legendary sisters appear to narrate this age-old tale, a band of unusual compatriots sets out after the treasure hidden in a nearby cave. The sharing of a traditional tale from the middle east is undertaken with the belief that children’s stories can cross modern cultural divides providing an ancient bit of folk wisdom for our times. www.playtimeproductions.org

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

15

Enjoy the show.

Thomas M Fendrick Financial Advisor .

1609 Hwy 51/138 Ste 102 Stoughton, WI 53589 608-873-8502 www.edwardjones.com

Suzy Bogguss Fri. Nov. 1 • 7:30 pm

Suzy Bogguss is one of country music’s most pristine and evocative vocalists. With the release of the Illinois native’s 1989 major label debut, Somewhere Between, Suzy quickly became one of the key artists that defined those golden days of ‘90s country.

She scored a string of Top 10 singles with country radio staples like “Outbound Plane”, “Drive South”, “Hey Cinderella”, “Letting Go”, and “Aces”, and her 1991 album of that name was certified platinum. In addition, she scored a trio of gold albums, and notched more than 3 million sales. On her new album, Lucky, a collection of songs all written by Merle Haggard, Suzy Bogguss, the CMA, ACM and Grammy-Award-winning singer, makes the country rebel’s compositions her own, reinterpreting classics like “The Bottle Let Me Down”, “Silver Wings”, and “Today I Started Loving You Again” from a female point of view. www.suzybogguss.com

Member SIPC

Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi—TWO SHOWS! Sat. Nov. 2 • 7:30 pm & Sun. Nov. 3 • 3:00 pm

Rhiannon Giddens is the co-founder of the Grammy Award-winning string band Carolina Chocolate Drops, in which she also plays banjo and fiddle. She began gaining recognition as a solo artist when she stole the show at the T Bone Burnett-produced “Another Day, Another Time” concert at New York City’s Town Hall in 2013. The elegant bearing, prodigious voice and fierce spirit that brought the audience to its feet that night is also abundantly evident on Giddens’ critically acclaimed solo debut, the Grammy-nominated album, Tomorrow Is My Turn, which masterfully blends American musical genres like gospel, jazz, blues and country, showcasing her extraordinary emotional range and dazzling vocal prowess.

Giddens’ follow-up album, Freedom Highway, was released in February 2017. It includes nine original songs Giddens wrote or co-wrote along with a traditional song and two civil rights-era songs, “Birmingham Sunday” and Staple Singers’ well-known “Freedom Highway,” from which the album takes its name. www.rhiannongiddens.com Francesco Turrisi has been defined a “musical alchemist” and a “musical polyglot” by the press. He left his native Italy in 1997 to study jazz piano and early music at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, where he obtained a Bachelor and a Master’s degree.

Turrisi has released four critically acclaimed albums as a leader and two as co-leader (Tarab and Zahr) on Diatribe records and on his own label Taquin records.

His latest album, Grigio, features Sean Nos singer Roisin El Safty, early music singer Clara Sanabras and percussion virtuoso Zohar Fresco. The album was described as “Lyrical, sensitively assembled and beautifully sung” by John Fordham in a review for The Guardian. www.francescoturrisi.com

16

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

“Rhiannon Giddens emerges as a peerless and powerful voice in roots music on her second solo album, a record that traces the power of African-American song from 200 years ago to today.”

—Pitchfork

Authentic Scandinavian Menu Items

Livingston Taylor

Saturd a Norwe y gian Meatb all Dinne r

Friday ry Fish F r Dinne

Thur. Nov. 7 • 7:30 pm

Livingston Taylor picked up his first guitar at the age of 13, which began a 50-year career that has encompassed performance, songwriting, and teaching. His musical knowledge has inspired a varied repertoire, and he is equally at home with a range of musical genres—folk, pop, gospel, jazz—while shifting seamlessly between upbeat storytelling and touching ballads to full orchestra performances. Livingston’s 50th year of making music was celebrated by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, both declaring January 18, 2017 “Livingston Taylor Day”. www.livingstontaylor.com

Featuring Syttende Mai inspired signature craft beer

Soot in My Eye!

For Reservations Call 608-719-5041

Mention This Ad Buy an appetizer—Get a beer for 1/2 Price!

PERSONALIZED CARE YOU DESERVE!

Jena Friedman Fri. Nov. 8 • 7:30 pm

Jena is a rising star within the comedy world and has gained considerable recognition and fans for her sharp political voice. Her one-woman show “American C***” debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2016 and later streamed as a one-hour special on Seeso, garnering incredible reviews and setting the table for her recent Adult Swim specials Soft Focus With Jena Friedman, the second one premiered this January. Jena’s past credits include producing on The Daily Show With Jon Stewart and writing on the Late Show With David Letterman. She was a panelist for “Stephen Colbert’s Live Election Night Democracy’s Series Finale,” on Showtime in 2016. www.jenafriedman.com

Together we travel on your journey for complete rejuvenation: A beautiful smile—a healthy oral system— complete wellness.

Comfortable, caring and supportive — dentistry as it should be. The experience you deserve and expert care you can trust.

We offer conscious sedation, Invisalign, beautiful, natural looking treatments with attention to detail and your complete satisfaction.

Start your journey today!

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

17

The Flatlanders

Sat. Nov. 9 • 7:30 pm

• We’ll fill your prescription, call ahead or walk in.

• Competitive pricing.

• Free delivery.

• Friendly service.

• Friendly people.

Find us on Facebook and Twitter

The fact that Texas music titans Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock - on their first go-round as The Flatlanders in 1972 - were completely rejected by the country music establishment is surprising in retrospect but, ultimately, poetic. That each went on to have formidable solo careers is a testament to their talent and determination. Add to this their diverse yet complimentary styles - Joe the street-wise rocker, Jimmie Dale the mystic with the classic country voice and Butch the cerebral folk singer - and you’ve got the story of one of the most extraordinary kinships in American musical history. www.theflatlanders.com

mcglynnrx.com

100 East Main •Stoughton, WI

873-3244 Dan McGlynn, RPh — Owner

Che Apalache Wed. Nov. 13 • 7:30 pm

Che Apalache is a four-man string band based in Buenos Aires with members from Argentina, Mexico and the United States. With a style that mixes South American music and Bluegrass they call Latingrass, Che Apalache’s repertoire ranges from vivid Latin rhythms to a-cappella mountain gospel songs sung in four-part harmony.

The group’s founder, Joe Troop (fiddle), is a North Carolina-born multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and composer who moved to Argentina in 2010. While patiently carving out a niche in the local music scene, Joe taught bluegrass and old-time music for a living.

That’s how he met Pau Barjau (banjo), Franco Martino (guitar) and Martin Bobrik (mandolin), his most dedicated students. They quickly became picking buddies and in 2013 decided to form Che Apalache and hit the stage.

Che Apalache began as a bluegrass band, but eventually incorporated Latin American styles into their repertoire. Combining instrumental prowess with tight vocal harmonies, they have created an authentic blend of genres to reflect the nature of their lives. Evoking images from Appalachia to the Andes, their debut album, Latingrass, is a testament to a powerful cultural and musical exchange. www.cheapalache.com

18

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

WELCOME Stoughton

center arts for the

Classes for Dance, Drama, Art, and Music Adults and Children Welcome

Serving you in a Classically Comfortable Atmosphere!!

• Largest Selection Of Craft Beers In Town • Extensive Lists of Wines • Specialty Cocktails for your Enjoyment Join Us Right Across the Street Before or After The Show!!!

2320 Jackson St, Stoughton WI • 608.873.0717

stoughtoncenterarts.com

364 E. Main St., Stoughton (608) 205-2763 Find us on Facebook!

FALL 2019

MADISON MUSIC COLLECTIVE presents...

InDIGenous Jazz Series presented by:

Madison Music Collective Greater Madison Jazz Consortium, and Wisconsin Union Theater

A FREE Series of Concerts Presenting New Original Music By Local Jazz Artists at

UW Memorial Union, Fredric March Play Circle Madison, WI 7:30 pm, Alternate Fridays SEPTEMBER 20

We’re Here for You. West Madison East Madison Middleton Sun Prairie Waunakee McFarland Stoughton Deerfield

PAWAN BENJAMIN and SHIVALIK GHOSHAL More Info: www.madisonmusiccollective.org OCTOBER 4

NEOPHONIC JAZZ ORCHESTRA OCTOBER 18 For more info: madisonmusiccollective.org

BETSY EZELL QUARTET

THIS PROJECT IS SUPPORTED BY DANE ARTS WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM THE ENDRES MFG. COMPANY FOUNDATION, THE EVJUE OUNDATION, INC., CHARITABLE ARM OF THE CAPITAL TIMES, THE W. JEROME FRAUTSCHI FOUNDATION, AND THE PLEASANT T. ROWLAND FOUNDATION.

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

19

Tommy Castro & Tinsley Ellis Thur. Nov. 14 • 7:30 pm

Whether he’s squeezing out the deepest blues or playing the funkiest soul grooves, legendary blues and soul giant Tommy Castro knows how to ignite a crowd. Over the course of his still-unfolding career, the guitarist, vocalist and songwriter has released 15 albums ranging from horn-fueled soul and R&B to piping hot blues to fiery rock ‘n’ roll. Castro has performed all over the world, earning countless fans with his legendary, sweat-drenched, exhilarating live shows. www.tommycastro.com Since his Alligator debut 30 years ago, Southern blues-rock guitar wizard, vocalist and songwriter Tinsley Ellis has become a bona fide worldwide guitar hero. Now, he makes his triumphant return to Alligator Records with a powerful new album, Winning Hand. Armed with his signature molten licks, melodic riffs and rousing, intense solos, Ellis, as his legions of fans will attest, is among the blues world’s best-loved, hardest working and most well-travelled statesmen. www.tinsleyellis.com

On A Winter’s Night Fri. Nov. 22 • 7:30 pm

Presenting the 25th Anniversary concerts of “On A Winter’s Night” from veteran singer/songwriters Christine Lavin, John Gorka, Patty Larkin, and Cliff Eberhardt. These are among the brightest stars of the singer/songwriter movement for the past three decades. In 1994 Christine Lavin gathered them together, along with folk and Americana artists to showcase music of the Winter Season on the now classic On A Winter’s Night CD, followed by several years of touring collaborations. These artists have released dozens of recordings and toured steadily through the decades, with fond memories of their touring days together. Now in 2019-20, the winter season is again celebrated by these unique and popular performers.

Joan Shelley Fri. Dec. 6 • 7:30 pm

Steve Earle Solo

Fri. & Sat. Nov. 15 & 16 • 7:30 pm One of the great singer-songwriters of the past four decades, Steve Earle bridges the genres of rock and country music. A guitarist, actor, playwright, novelist, memoirist, and political activist, Earle, has released over 20 albums. At a young age, his grit and gristle got him up on stage with idols Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt. Playing alongside these country music “outlaws” gave Earle the hard-edged stamina to press on through years of hard times to win 3 Grammy awards and earn 16 nominations. Earle brings a rare and unforgettable 2 night solo acoustic show to the stage. www.steveearle.com

20

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

Based out of Louisville, Kentucky, singer/songwriter Joan Shelley’s warm and mellifluous voice evokes both the deep south and west coast, drawing from both old-time country and ‘60s folk. A talented songwriter and prolific performer, Shelley splits her time between solo outings and collaborations with other area musicians. For her eponymous fifth studio LP, Shelley headed up to Chicago to record with Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy behind the board. The first single from the record, “Wild Indifference,” dropped in March 2017, with the full-length album arriving later that May. www.joanshelley.net

The fifth album from the Kentucky singersongwriter is her most intimate record yet, bracing and dense, featuring subtle production touches from Jeff Tweedy.

—Pitchfork

Cherish the Ladies

Sat. Dec. 7 • 7:30 pm “It is simply impossible to imagine an audience that wouldn’t enjoy what they do,” says The Boston Globe of Cherish The Ladies, Grammy Award nominated Irish-American supergroup that formed in 1985 to celebrate the rise of extraordinary women in what had been a male-dominated Celtic music scene. Celebrating their 35th anniversary, Cherish The Ladies has shared timeless Irish traditions and good cheer with audiences worldwide. They’ve brought their signature blend of virtuosic instrumental talents, beautiful vocals, and stunning step dancing to the White House, the Olympics, and to PBS with their television special, An Irish Homecoming, which recently received an Emmy Award. The Washington Post praises the ‘astonishing array of virtuosity’ that Cherish The Ladies bring to the stage on a regular basis. Their new album, Heart of the Home, embraces the gift of music passed down from generations. ‘It was the greatest gift they could give us,’ says bandleader Joanie Madden. ‘We’re carrying on the music of our fathers.’ As their reputation and admiration from both fans and critics alike continues to grow, Cherish The Ladies blazes forward into another decade of music making. www.cherishtheladies.com

“It is simply impossible to imagine an audience that wouldn’t enjoy what they do.”

- The Boston Globe

Christmas at the Silent Movies with the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra!

Sun. Dec. 15 • 3:00 pm

Hop aboard a musical time machine and experience the movies like you’ve never seen them before! The Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra, hailed as “the premier American ragtime ensemble”, will bring tears of laughter to your eyes as you laugh out loud to holiday themed silent films of yesteryear: Buster Keaton in The Frozen North (1922), Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy in Big Business (1929) and the first-ever film adaptations of A Christmas Carol and The Night Before Christmas, all accompanied live with their original historic orchestral scores. Between the films, Director Andrew Greene and Peacherine play the rollicking rhythms of the early 20th century, featuring favorites by Scott Joplin, Irving Berlin, and the creators of America’s first popular music: Ragtime!

Featuring an audience singalong of holiday classics, and a trombone parody of the famous Hallelujah Chorus! Fun for the whole family!! www.peacherineragtime.com

Y Stoughton Festival Choir & City Band Sun. Dec. 8 • 4:00 pm

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 music, plus a carol sing-along. A wonderful tradition for the whole family! stoughtonfestivalchoir.wordpress.com

Volunteering at the Stoughton Opera House ou too could be an Opera House Volunteer!

The Stoughton Opera House owes a lot to the vision and tenacity of its volunteers. From the moment the idea of restoration first began forming to the ushers we work with every season, volunteers have been key in making the Opera House vital and strong.

Because we’re always adding new performances to our listings, we’re also always welcoming new volunteers to our ranks. Ushering with the Stoughton Opera House provides the opportunity to see your favorite first-class acts free of charge, as well as the chance to discover new artists that will blow you away.

To join our team and get started, contact victoria@ stoughtonoperahouse.com or call the box office Tuesday-Friday from 9am-4:30pm at 608.877.4400.

We can’t wait to hear from you!

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

21

Stoughton Opera House: Spring 2020 Sierra Hull Fri. Feb. 28 • 7:30 pm

Steely Dane Sat. Feb. 8 • 7:30 pm

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. For this show the band is treating their audience to Steely Dan’s 1980 classic Gaucho in its entirety plus other hits along the way. www.steelydane.com

“The large ensemble fills the hall with soul and smarts. It’s a big band with a big sound, and it’s damn near perfect.”

– Madison Magazine

Michael Perry Presents “Half A Star” Thurs. Feb. 27 • 7:30 pm

In “Half A Star,” Michael Perry draws on the worst reviews of his career to take the audience on a hilarious, heartfelt, and unvarnished journey through a life in the arts as seen mostly from behind the windshield of a used van. Perry is a New York Times bestselling (#21 for ONE WEEK) author, humorist, playwright, singer/songwriter, and radio host from New Auburn, Wisconsin. www.sneezingcow.com

22

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

As a singer and mandolinist, Sierra Hull boasts a resume more noteworthy than most accomplish in a lifetime. The former child prodigy signed with Rounder at 13 and has traveled around the world sharing her music, playing rooms such as the White House, Carnegie Hall, and the Kennedy Center. Berklee gave her the school’s most prestigious award, the Presidential Scholarship (a first for a bluegrass musician), and most recently she has released Weighted Mind, her long-anticipated fourth album, on which her ethereal voice and fluid playing take center stage. Though she is best known for her work as a mandolin player, in this album of loss and restoration, Hull reveals her abundant gifts as a composer and lyricist.

On stage, Hull shows us how versatile the roots of Bluegrass and Americana can be. Using her increasingly iconic voice and expert mandolin playing, she and fellow musicians make contemporary music, undoubtedly rooted in traditional Bluegrass, and growing into a genre all its own. www.sierrahull.com

“I think she’s endless. I don’t see any boundaries. Talent like hers is so rare, and I don’t think it stops. It’s round.”

— Alison Krauss

Ladysmith Black Mambazo Thur. Mar. 5 • 7:30 pm

For over 50 years, South Africa’s Five Time Grammy Award winners, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has warmed the hearts of audiences worldwide with their uplifting vocal harmonies, signature dance moves and charming onstage banter. With a deep respect for both their cultural and personal history, Ladysmith Black Mambazo is everevolving with an eye toward their long musical legacy. www.mambazo.com

David L. Harris

“Above all LBM leave their audience in awe of the power and variety of the human voice and its ability to conjure up sounds which evoke the beauty and atmosphere of a land far away. What a gift.”

Sat. Feb 29 • 7:30 pm

African American trombonist, vocalist and composer David L. Harris embodies the edge of modern jazz and the sultriness of blues. Every time he steps on stage, David takes us on the emotionally engaging journey of love and liberation, wrapped in a sound that embraces the groove, grit and swing of the past. Growing up in a neighborhood called Scotlandville, in Baton Rouge, LA, David L. found his fingers pressed against the sliding brace of the trombone at the age of sixteen and has never let go since. He has toured internationally and domestic performing at The Newport Jazz Festival, The Montreal Jazz Festival, and The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

David L. has performed and been a featured soloist at legendary concert halls, such as the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, NY, The Lincoln Center in New York, NY, and The L’Olympia Music Hall in Paris, France; and has performed, recorded and collaborated with artist Herlin Riley, Wynton Marsalis, Shannon Powell, Aaron Neville, Aloe Blacc, Dr. Michael White, Dee Dee Bridgewater and The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. www.davidlharrismusic.com

—Yorkshire Post

BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet Fri. Mar. 6 • 7:30 pm

For the past 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, BeauSoleil is notorious for bringing even the most staid audience to its feet. BeauSoleil’s distinctive sound derives from the distilled spirits of New Orleans jazz, blues rock, folk, swamp pop, Zydeco, country and bluegrass, captivating listeners from the Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans, to Carnegie Hall, then all the way across the pond to Richard Thompson’s Meltdown Festival in England. www.beausoleilmusic.com

Stoughton Opera House Board Members Officers Mary-Carel Verden, President Jon Lewis, Vice-President

Members at Large John Beutel Jim Borling

Paul Lawrence Lisa Reeves Gen Wilberg

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

23

The Subdudes Fri. Mar. 13 • 7:30 pm

The Travelin’ McCourys Sat. Mar. 7 • 7:30 pm

The McCoury brothers—Ronnie (mandolin) and Rob (banjo)— were born into the bluegrass tradition. Their father, Del, is among the most influential and successful musicians in the history of the genre. Years on the road with Dad in the Del McCoury Band honed their knife-edge chops, and encouraged the duo to imagine how traditional bluegrass could cut innovative pathways into 21st century music. www.thetravelinmccourys.com

“The remarkable thing is, no matter what direction you search in bluegrass and its myriad offshoots, you’ll find the McCourys.”

—Inlander

Ruth Moody

Thurs. Mar. 12 • 7:30 pm Ruth Moody is an Australian-born, twotime Juno Award winning singer-songwriter from Winnipeg, Canada. Founding and current member of the internationally renowned, Billboard-charting trio The Wailin’ Jennys, she has performed in sold-out venues around the world, made numerous criticallyacclaimed albums, and has appeared more than a dozen times on the popular American radio show “A Prairie Home Companion”. www.ruthmoody.com

“Moody’s voice is a pure and rich intoxicant.”

— The Independent

24

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

Over the course of 25 years and ten albums, The Subdudes have quietly become one of America’s national music treasures. The 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

Albert Cummings Sat. Mar. 14 • 7:30 pm Albert Cummings writes, plays, and sings the blues like nobody else. He has played with blues legends B.B. King, Johnny Winter, and Buddy Guy. Taken with Albert’s fire and passion, bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton, of the band Double Trouble and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan’s rhythm section, volunteered to play on and produce his solo debut recording, 2003’s self-released From the Heart. B.B. King dubbed Cummings, “a great guitarist.” www.albertcummings.com

Lon’s

ai lg at e r T s

LLC

Bar & Grill

Tailgaters offers a relaxed welcoming atmosphere, delicious crafted cocktails, ice cold beers, and great food, and watch sports on all our TVs. Become part of the tradtion.

Beer • Cocktails • Happy Hour • Food & Drink Specials • Burgers Cocktails mixed with love and a great selection of ice cold beers. Happy Hour Monday—Friday 3:00pm–6:00 pm, Happy hour pricing on Badger and Packer gamer days. Busch Lite 16 oz. cans $2.50 all day/every day.

Enjoy a friendly game of pool or darts and rock your favorite tunes with our DJ and Karaoke.

Meat Raffles • Carry Out • Pool • Darts • Casual • 13 Televisions Grab a snack or a full dinner. Enjoy our signature fries cut before your eyes. Our kitchen is small, but we love to feed you all.

608-205-6531 • 151 E. Main Street, Stoughton

DJs • Karoke • Live Music • Fresh Fries Staff Stoughton Cut Opera House Box Office: • (608)Friendly 877-4400 25

Ron Artis II & The Truth

With over 8,339,034 naugas shedding their hydes we will always have the color you need in stock

Wed. Mar. 18 • 7:30 pm

Uniroyal Engineered Products Uniroyal Engineered Products 501 South Water Street Stoughton, WI 53589

501 South Water Street Stoughton, WI 53589 Visit us at Naugahyde.com Adopt a NAUGA™ today

Adopt a NAUGA™ Today Visit us at Naugahyde.com

Ron Artis II has been called “A Pure Artist”.

Always keeping a connection between life and music. Think Marvin Gaye, Gregory Porter, Jack Johnson, James Brown, Gary Clark Jr. and 100% Ron Artis II. Emerging from the islands of Hawaii, surprising artists/audiences all over the world, Ron’s new project ‘Ron Artis II & The Truth’ explores Soul, Funk and Blues--garnering praises from soul-music legend Booker T Jones, Eric Krasno & John Cruz. www.ronartisii.com

The Steel Wheels Thur. Mar. 19 • 7:30 pm

Fans of the Virginiabased acoustic roots music collective The Steel Wheels eagerly await the release of their 7th full-length album, Over The Trees. Recorded in Maine with producer Sam Kassirer. Over The Trees draws attention to the impeccable harmonies of the four original members: Trent Wagler (guitar/banjo), Eric Brubaker (fiddle), Brian Dickel (bass), and Jay Lapp (guitars/mandolin). Kevin Garcia, who plays multiple percussion instruments, keyboard, and mallet-based instruments, formally joined the band after the 2017 release of Wild as We Came Here, which Kassirer also produced. In addition to familiar-to-fans harmonies, The Steel Wheels ventured a little farther out of their known comfort zone for Over The Trees. “This is a bit of an experimental record at times, with new sounds and influences,” Wagler says. “We know where we come from. We are a string band from Virginia, but we are evolving with this album, and we are embracing the future.” www.thesteelwheels.com

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!

26

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

Aoife O’Donovan

“Songs & Strings” Fri. Mar. 20 • 7:30 pm

For a decade, Aoife O’Donovan wielded her instrument with tensile strength as the captivating lead singer of the Boston-based progressive string band Crooked Still. She was a featured vocalist on The Goat Rodeo Sessions, the Grammy-winning album by Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile; and collaborated with some of the most eminent names in music across a wide variety of genres from Alison Krauss to Dave Douglas. Today O’Donovan receives wide praise for her work with Sara Watkins and Sarah Jarosz in the I’m With Her band and tours in support of her solo album In the Magic Hour.

STOUGHTON FLORAL For over 50 years, Stoughton Floral has supplied area residents with beautiful flowers.

We have gifts for every occasion; weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries.

You name it, we deliver!

“(O’ Donovan) has a chill inducing vocal that shines throughout the entire record, haunting you with each word and phrase she spins within the loom of her storied songs.

STOUGHTON FLORAL 168 E. Main Street (608) 873-6173 or (866) 595-6800 Mon–Fri 9 am–5 pm, Sat 8 am–3 pm

www.stoughtonfloral.net

—red line roots

Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives —TWO SHOWS!

Sat, Mar 21 • 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. www.martystuart.net

Mark Rostowfske Tom Johnson

tom@rs-ins.com

mark@rs-ins.com

1520 E. Vernon Street P.O. Box 608, Stoughton, WI 53589 608-873-9258

www.rs-ins.com Stoughton Opera House Box Office: (608) 877-4400

27

Darrell Scott Solo

Thu. Mar. 26 • 7:30 pm Multi-Instrumentalist and Singer-Songwriter Darrell Scott mines and cultivates the everyday moments, taking the rote, menial, mundane, and allowing it to be surreal, ever poignant, and candidly honest. After recently touring with Robert Plant and the Zac Brown Band, producing albums for Malcolm Holcomb and Guy Clark, and being named “songwriter of the year” for both ASCAP and NSAI, these days find Scott roaming his Tennessee wilderness acreage hiking along the small river, creating delicious meals with food raised on his property and playing music. He often leads songwriting workshops to help people tell their own truths with their stories, and is as busy as always writing, producing, performing, and just plain fully immersing himself in life. www.darrellscott.com

“He writes, he sings, he plays, and it is all effortless, seamless and touched by the divine.”

—Music Fog

Harp Twins

Camille & Kennerly

Sat. Apr. 4 • 7:30 pm

Young harpists Camille and Kennerly Kitt, known as the Harp Twins, have achieved extraordinary success by taking Electric Harps and Concert Grand Harps to unprecedented levels and smashing boundaries between different genres of music. The duo has amassed over 1.5 million fans across their social media sites and over 100 million views on their YouTube music videos, making Camille and Kennerly the most followed and recognizable harp duo in the world. Mixing their virtuoso harp skills with their stunningly complex arrangements of rock, metal, and soundtrack hits - as well as Celtic Nordic inspired original songs - the Harp Twins deliver exciting, comedic, and interactive performances audiences cannot forget! www.harptwins.com

“If you live long enough, you get to hear this (Harp Twins’) version of White Wedding!”

—Billy Idol

Playtime Productions:

The Princess & The Pea

Date TBD in Apr/May • 1:00 pm Prince Lambert has finally decided it is time for a lifetime business partner. His mother has devised a test for every princess who applies to be the colleague of her favored son. Come see if you could pass this royalty test, as the touring children’s troupe, PlayTime Productions brings this classic Hans Christian Andersen tale to life on stage. www.playtimeproductions.org

Michael Hecht: Tribute to Ann Frank

(with the East Side Lutheran Junior Bell Choir) Wed. Apr. 1 • 7:30 pm

Michael Hecht will present a scholarly tribute to the writings of Anne Frank. The show will include verbal dialog from Hecht, readings of Franks writing, and with moving renditions of popular standards by Stoughton’s East Side Lutheran Junior Bell Choir. Free-will donations accepted at the door.

28

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

Opera for the Young:

Pirates of Penzance

Sun. Apr. 5 • 1:30 pm Enjoy Gilbert and Sullivan’s swashbuckling operetta! Opera for the Young’s adaptation of The Pirates of Penzance features elementary students playing pirates, constables, and wards alongside our professional artists: the stalwart Frederic, his sweetheart, Mabel, her garrulous father, the Major General, the robust Pirate King, and Ruth, Frederic’s loving nursemaid.

Audiences of all ages will be drawn into Gilbert and Sullivan’s world of clever word play, charming melodies, and the old-fashioned (but never out-of-date) values of loyalty and forgiveness.”

Opera for the Young brings live, professional opera to elementary school audiences. Each year, OFTY reaches over 75,000 school children throughout the Midwest to ignite an enthusiasm for opera. All productions are fully staged, sung in English and adapted especially for kids. www.operafortheyoung.com

Leo Kottke

Thur. Apr. 16 • 7:30 pm Acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke was born in Athens, Georgia, but left town after a year and a half. Raised in 12 different states, he absorbed a variety of musical influences as a child, flirting with both violin and trombone, before abandoning Stravinsky for the guitar at age 11. Kottke has been awarded two Grammy nominations, a Doctorate in Music Performance by the Peck School of Music at UW Milwaukee, and a Certificate of Significant Achievement in Not Playing the Trombone from the U of Texas at Brownsville with Texas Southmost College. www.leokottke.com

Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

Skaalen Skaalen RETIREMENT SERVICES

RETIREMENT SERVICES

Skaalen is located in a quiet residential neighborhood. The beautiful campus offers walking paths and comfortable outdoor spaces. Skaalen’s continuum of care provides residents a full menu of living options from which to choose.

VENNEVOLL, SKAALENDAL, SKAALEN VILLAGE & SKAALEN RIDGE – INDEPENDENT CONDOMINIUMS Low-maintenance residence designed for carefree living offering a wide variety of comforts and conveniences.

SKAALEN HEIGHTS – ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENTIAL CARE APARTMENT COMPLEX (RCAC) Featuring 33 one and two-bedroom assisted living apartments. Providing assistance with medication administration, personal cares, meals, bathing, laundry and housekeeping services.

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

Fri. Apr. 17 • 7:30 pm

When the Queen of Bluegrass comes to town, you don’t want to miss out! She 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, both believable and inspiring. www.rhondavincent.com

“Rhonda Vincent is one of the most powerful voices in bluegrass, finding fans amongst both die-hard traditionalists and lovers of today’s country music.”

—Folk Alley

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

SKAALEN NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER Rehabilitative and restorative care to meet each individual’s need for long-term or short-term residency.

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

29

The Gibson Brothers

Sat. Apr. 18 • 7:30 pm Bluegrass royalty Leigh and Eric Gibson step into what some might at first see as uncharted territory on their country-soul breakout Mockingbird. The celebrated bluegrass duo were named back-to-back Entertainers of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2012 and 2013. While the Gibson Brothers’ new sound is a mix of country, soul, and seventies rock, in the second half of the show, the Brothers dip back into their traditional Bluegrass roots, showcasing the best of their talents and creating a night fans won’t soon forget. www.gibsonbrothers.com

Rodney Crowell

Fri. Apr. 24 • 7:30 pm

Taj Mahal Trio Thur. Apr. 23 • 7:30 pm

In September 2014, some 50 years after moving to Los Angeles to form the band Rising Sons with fellow blues musician Ry Cooder and Jessie Lee Kincaid, Taj Mahal hightailed it to Nashville to receive an honor he called “one of the most powerful and wonderful things that could ever happen in my life.” Celebrating decades of recording and touring that have nearly singlehandedly reshaped the definition and scope of the blues via the infusion of exotic sounds from the Caribbean, Africa and South Pacific, the two-time Grammy winning singer, songwriter, film composer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist was feted with the Lifetime Achievement for Performance Award at the 13th Annual Americana Honors and Awards. www.tajblues.com

Classics can become cliches. And cliches, like whiskey, nostalgia, and orthodoxy, will deaden the mind. We can’t learn from what we know.

It doesn’t work that way. But if what we know morphs and changes, and whittles itself down to truthful essence, then we can find delight and inspiration. That’s what’s going on here, in Rodney Crowell’s most unusual of retrospectives.

Grammy winner Rodney Crowell explores his Lone Star roots with songs from his August, 2019 release Texas recorded with an eclectic cast of all-star friends--Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Ronnie Dunn, Billy F Gibbons, Randy Rogers, Vince Gill, Lee Ann Womack, Steve Earle, Ringo Starr and more. These are songs he wants to sing and play, performed as he wants to sing and play them.

We never know which friends Crowell will bring on tour with him, but history proves that you’ll be coming away renewed in your reverence for one of Country Music’s greatest songwriters, and a new fan of any artist he brings out on stage with him. www.rodneycrowell.com

“Rodney Crowell is one of our great songwriters. He can sing, he can play, and he usually has fantastic musicians on stage supporting him. Catch him if you can.”

—No Depression

30

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

MadFiddle & Hwy 151 Sun. Apr. 26 • 4:00 pm

With fiddles in hand, Madison’s premiere youth violin ensemble, MadFiddle, gears up for its annual Stoughton Opera House performance. Drawing on music extracted from Scandinavian folk, bluegrass, Celtic songs, Eastern and blues folk tunes, Appalachian, Brazilian, ragtime, as well as modern acoustic artists, MadFiddle brings students between the ages of six and seventeen together for a romping, stomping, good time.

MadFiddle is directed by the Madison Area Music Association’s 2016 “Teacher of the Year,” Shauncey Ali, and accompanied by the energetic adult backing band, Highway 151 which consists of Chris Powers on mandolin and bouzouki, Pat Spaay on upright bass, and Bruce Anderson on guitar. Thriving on its mad enthusiasm for the instrument, MadFiddle shows up with that blast of inherent joy that comes along with playing music with friends.

Madfiddle.shutterfly.com

Asleep at The Wheel -—TWO SHOWS Thur. Apr. 30, & Fri. May 1 • 7:30 pm

50 Years of Asleep at the Wheel! Founded in Paw Paw, West Virginia in 1970 by country legend Ray Benson, Asleep at the Wheel holds 10 Grammy awards, 20 studio albums, and 20 singles on the Country Billboard charts. Consistently, Benson has brought the best talents of Western Swing to the stage. Today he sings lead vocals and plays lead guitar alongside Katie Shore (fiddle, vocals), David Sanger (drums), Eddie Rivers (steel guitar, sax), Dennis Ludiker (fiddle, mandolin, vocals), Josh Hoag (bass), Connor Forsyth (piano, vocals), and Jay Reynolds (sax, clarinet). They began with a simple goal: to play and help revive American roots music—50 years later, they’re still going strong! www.asleepatthewheel.com

Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band

Sat. May 2 • 7:30 pm

In 1965, a young Peter Rowan joined Bill Monroe & The Blue Grass Boys, recording fourteen songs with Monroe before leaving the band in 1967.

Peter went on to become a Grammy-award winner and six-time Grammy nominee with a career spanning over five decades. From his early years playing under the tutelage of bluegrass patriarch Bill Monroe, and following his stint in Old & In the Way with Jerry Garcia and subsequent breakout as both a solo performer and bandleader, Rowan has built a devoted, international fan base through his continuous stream of original recordings, collaborative projects, and constant touring.

The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band consists of outstanding musicians with over 100 years of combined recording and performance experience. The ensemble has graced the stages of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Grey Fox, Merlefest, Rothbury Australia’s National Folk Festival, and numerous other festivals domestically and abroad, entertaining audiences with original and traditional songs executed in vibrant harmony. http://www.peter-rowan.com

Fox Prairie Elementary Performance

Tues & Weds, May 3 & 4 • 6:30 pm

A charming school musical treat for the whole family! Theme TBA Call Fox Prairie School for ticket information.

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

31

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.

• 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.

32

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

Kruger Brothers Sat. May 9 • 7:30 pm

Born and raised in Europe, brothers Jens and Uwe Kruger started singing and playing instruments at a very young age. Growing up in a family where music was an important part of life, they were exposed to a wide diversity of musical influences. The brothers were performing regularly by the time they were eleven and twelve years old, and they began their professional career in 1979. Since their formal introduction to American audiences in 1997, The Kruger Brothers’ remarkable discipline, creativity and their ability to infuse classical music into folk music has resulted in a unique sound that has made them a fixture within the world of acoustic music. In their ever-expanding body of work – Jens Kruger (banjo and vocals), Uwe Kruger (guitar and lead vocals), and Joel Landsberg (bass and vocals) – The Kruger Brothers personify the spirit of exploration and innovation that forms the core of the American musical tradition. www.krugerbrothers.com If you are looking for restaurants 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 Big Sky—608-205-6278, 176 E. Main Street, Stoughton, WI Culver’s—608-873-6635, 916 Nygaard Street, Stoughton, WI Farenheit 364—608-205-2763, 364 E. Main Street, Stoughton, WI Fosdal Home Bakery (lunch only)—608-873-3073, 243 E. Main Street, Stoughton, WI Nauti Norske —608-205-6601, 324 S. Water Street, Stoughton, WI Lon’s Tailgaters—608-205-531, 151 E. Main Street, Stoughton, WI Viking Brew Pub—719-5041, 211 E. Main Street, Stoughton, WI Wendigo—877-1544, 121 E. Main Street, Stoughton, WI

Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society Syttende Mai Events Sat. May 16, All Day

Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society presents the New England Ragtime Ensemble.

The Grammy-Award winning ensemble from Boston, credited with creating the Ragtime Revival in the 1970’s, has toured the world and delighted audiences with music by ragtime composers from Scott Joplin to Jelly Roll Morton. Come see what the fuss is all about, 100 years later, as you trace back the origins of American jazz with the virtuoso players of the New England Ragtime Ensemble.

Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society celebrates its 29th season of summer chamber music in south-central Wisconsin with “Riches to Ragtime”. It’s chamber music with a bang! www.bachdancinganddynamite.org

Ca Fri. May 29 • 7:30 pm

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 perious. Tickets will be available at the door, general admission. www.stoughtonchambersingers.org

River Music Fe

st

al

Stoughton Chamber Singers

sh

iv

fi

t

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. www.stoughtonfestivals.com

Fri. June 26 • 7:30 pm

St

ou

ght

on, WI • July

202

0

Watch for information on the

7th Annual Catfish River Festival July 2020 www.catfishrivermusicfest.com

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

33

19 20

FRIENDS OF STOUGHTON OPERA HOUSE PRODUCERS

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

In Memory of John Vordran 1935–2018 Joanne Holtan Larry & Julie Midtbo Leslie & Bryan Smith Mary-Carel & Henry Verden

Penny & Charles Billman Janis Little & Mark Brill Katherine Christenson

Peter & Lori Vogel CEBO Industries, Inc. IKI Manufacturing, Inc Thrivent Financial

Charles Green Richard Hammerstrom Hanson Electronics

Robert & Patricia Badeau Christine Baker Bob Batyko Phil & Kit Blake

James & Marsha Borling Burman Coffee Traders Jim Danky & Christine Schelshorn

DIRECTORS Jody McCann & Peg Carolyn Hegeler & Fred Smelser Newman Spence Miller Henry & Terri Jasen Bill & Teresa Rusch

Dan Fields & Jeanne Behrend DuWayne Kittleson Gordon & Anna Kopke Tom & Virginia Lunde

Lon McPherson Amy Moyer Savant Capital Management Scott Kaiser (Sarah McGinnis) Steven & Kristine Vaughn Peter Wallace Jahn & Jan Witzel

Greta Saari & Ralph Borzyczkowski Jeanne & John Shearer

AMBASSADORS

In Memory of Juliet (Johnson) Dooley Sheila & Tom Beatty John Beutel Anna Biermeier & Roger Hanson Jeanne & Jim Blachowicz Bill & Karen Bohn James Boyd Eric Brodsky Bryan Cawkins Jeanne & John Dilley Patricia Kokotailo & R. Lawrence DeRoo Myra Andreassen Richard & Alice Appen Nels Becker Emily & Chris Beebe Winfred Bold James Boyd Jeanette Bossingham David Boyer Trish Brehm Diane Bronson Katharine Buker Phil Caravello Michael Cardwell Holly Carver Michael Cauley Mike & Cheryl Connor Paul Deutsch & Sally Cunningham Mari & William Dahl Nancy Daly Dan Dettmann Richard & Carol Downer Mike Duren Marc Eisen

Julie DiPiazza Allan & Joyce Eggleson Jim & Jean Elvekrog Michael Engelberger Jon Erickson Gwen Feit Gary & Shelly Freiburger Jerry Griswold Steve & Elaine Hathaway Virginia & Kevin Hendricks Gil & Karen Herman Ron Hinz

John & Nancy Elvekrog Nathan Fagre Richard & Mary Fendrick Jeffrey Fosbinder John Fosdal Wilma Furseth Thomas Galetich Bruce Geiger Charles & Joyce Gelderman Michael George Susan Gimmestad Paul Goemans Mary Grace Constance Grogan Richard & Dolores Hall Richard & Diane Halom Linda & Tom Hanson Mary Harper William Hartje Pam Hatfield Dr. Perry & Pat Hellum Jaye Hess Bob Hill

H&R Block of Stoughton Cynthia & John Hurtenbach Roderick Jorgenson & Connie Peterson Kim & Ed King Tom & Judi Kinney Connie Kinsella & Marc Eisen Steven Landfried Jerry & Barb Langenecker Jack Zwieg & Suzanne Leimontas

Mallon Tree Service Tom McDermott Richard McLaughlin Stephanie Mikesell Dan & Erica Moeser Jim Moeser Brenda Mueller Laureen Mueller Kari Myrland David & Nancy Nedveck Jonathan Nunnemacher Mark & Lori Nussle Charles Peters

PARTNERS Barbara Hillison-Sather Mary Madigan Tom & Susanne Hotter Mary Manering Kirsten Houghton Paul & Sheila Manley Tara Icke McManus Veterinary Greg & Wendy Jenson Specialists LLC Dawn Johnson Robert Martin David Johnson Diane & Dan Matson Jaye Kemp Mark McCluskey Leslie Kemp Stanley McCord Robert Kendrick Georgiann & Pete John Klbler McDonald Kim Kieck Barry & Deborah Bob Knipschild McLeish Mary Lou Krase Gary Mecklenburg Connie & Richard Kraus Randall Mellenberger Beth Kubly Bruce Meyer Steven Landfried Virginia & Marilynn Miller Robert Larson Michael Minash Gerhard & Mary Lingk Rich Morris Anna Losacano Jennifer Myhre Scott Lovrine Richard Nawratil Mark Luetkehoelter Tim Reilley & Janet Jeff & Karen Lyon Nelson Mark & Patti Mackesey John Ogden

Jim Pofahl Jeff & Vicki Raymond John & Karen Robison Karen Reppen & Phil Saunders Jayne & Phillip Schauer Dean & Carol Schroeder Yvonne & Jim Schwalen Susan & Gary Shadof Dave & Peggy Sharpe James & Mercedes Stewart Margaret & Richard Straub Heidi Oliversen Deanne Olson Nancy Pederson Tom & Shai Pellett Bruce Penny Susan & John Petty Sandra & Chris Queram Stephanie Ramer Jerry Rekowski Candy Renard Robert Rice Jody Roberts Michael Rose Anne Rosin Lloyd Rowley Pete & Pat Sammataro Frank Schmitt Joe & Karen Schoeneman Sun Valley Christmas Trees, LLC Jim & Mary Severson Mary Spike & Bill Rieder Daniel Starosta Daniel Stier

Robin Stroebel Gail Tappen John & Myra Taylor Taylor’s Greenhouse Greg Tessier Ken & Marie Weyek Christopher Wiegman Mark & Kelli Wyatt Sharron Webster Mark & Kelli Wyatt

Gale Stone James Sundby Steven Surles Donna Tarpinian Gail & Michael Terrell Rolf Thienemann Scott & Cathy Thomas Pat & Carol Toler Kendra & Jerry Tutsch Sue & Steve Urban Jacob Valentine, III David & Pamela Van Doren David Walford Dale Wallerich Marcia Whelan Frank Willis John Woodman Douglas Woodworth Mike Zalewski Thomas Zaremba Chris Ziemba Bill & Mary Zimmerman Irene Zimmerman

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

34

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

We get by — with a little help from our Friends

W

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

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

35

Opera House Policies Box Office Information Contact: 608 877 4400 • boxoffice@ stoughtonoperahouse.com Hours: Tues‑Fri 9am–4:30pm 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 sold on the first floor; 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 5 at 9am for Stoughton Opera House Members.

General Public Ticket Sales Begin August 19!

36

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

= Obstructed Seat

Stoughton Opera House Order Form 19 20

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

Step One—Select Tickets PAGE

ARTIST

DATE

Order Online Donors start on Aug 5 General Public on Aug 19 www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

TIME

QTY

SINGLE

6

WORT Tribute to Bill Malone

Sun, Sept 15

5:30 pm

$20.00

6

Edgar Knecht Trio

Tue, Sept 17

7:30 pm

$15.00

7

Lee Ann Womack

Thur, Sept 26

7:30 pm

$50.00

7

Carsie Blanton

Fri, Sept 27

7:30 pm

$20.00

7

Shook Twins

Sat, Sept 28

7:30 pm

$20.00

9

Music Appreciation

Mon, Sept 30

3:00 pm

Free-will donation

8

The Accidentals

Thur, Oct 3

7:30 pm

$22.00

8

Madison Jazz Review Featuring: Barbacoa, Jon Hoel Trio, Gerri DiMaggio's World Jazz Unit

Fri, Oct 4

7:30 pm

$17.00

8

Susan Werner

Sat, Oct 5

7:30 pm

$25.00

9

Music Appreciation

Mon, Oct 7

3:00 pm

Free-will donation $25.00

9

Emo Philips (Guy Weatherspoon supports)

Thur, Oct 10

7:30 pm

9

Kaki King

Sat, Oct 12

7:30 pm

$35.00

9

Music Appreciation

Mon, Oct 14

3:00 pm

Free-will donation

12

Michael Hecht Tribute Jimmy Santiago Baca (with Bill Camplin)

Wed, Oct 16

1:00 pm

Free-will donation

12

Anaïs Mitchell

Thur, Oct 17

7:30 pm

$25.00

13

Harry Manx

Fri, Oct 18

7:30 pm

$25.00

14

Iris Dement (Pieta Brown supports)

Sat, Oct 19

7:30 pm

$35.00

9

Music Appreciation

Mon, Oct 21

3:00 pm

Free-will donation

TOTAL

15

Richard Thompson—Solo Acoustic

Wed, Oct 23

7:30 pm

$50.00

15

Richard Thompson—Solo Acoustic

Thur, Oct 24

7:30 pm

$50.00

15

Pokey LaFarge—Solo

Fri, Oct 25

7:30 pm

$25.00

15

Gina Chavez

Sat, Oct 26

7:30 pm

$25.00

15

Playtime Productions

TBD Nov/Dec

1:00 pm

$5 per family at the door

9

Music Appreciation

Mon, Oct 28

3:00 pm

Free-will donation

16

Suzy Bogguss

Fri, Nov 1

7:30 pm

$30.00

16

Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi

Sat, Nov 2

7:30 pm

$50.00

16

Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi

Sun, Nov 3

3:00 pm

$50.00

9

Music Appreciation

Mon, Nov 4

3:00 pm

Free-will donation

17

Livingston Taylor

Thur, Nov 7

7:30 pm

$30.00

17

Jena Friedman

Fri, Nov 8

7:30 pm

$25.00

18

The Flatlanders

Sat, Nov 9

7:30 pm

$45.00

18

Che Apalache

Wed, Nov 13

7:30 pm

$15.00

20

Tommy Castro & Tinsley Ellis

Thur, Nov 14

7:30 pm

$35.00

20

Steve Earle--Solo

Fri, Nov 15

7:30 pm

$60.00

20

Steve Earle--Solo

Sat, Nov 16

7:30 pm

$60.00

20

On A Winter's Night

Fri, Nov 22

7:30 pm

$35.00

20

Joan Shelley

Fri, Dec 6

7:30 pm

$20.00

21

Cherish The Ladies

Fri, Dec 7

7:30 pm

$40.00

21

Stoughton Festival Choir & City Band

Sun, Dec 8

4:00 pm

Free-will donation

21

Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra

Sun, Dec 15

7:30 pm

$20.00

22

Steely Dane

Sat, Feb 8

7:30 pm

$25.00

22

Michael Perry Presents "Half A Star"

Thur, Feb 27

7:30 pm

$20.00

22

Sierra Hull

Fri, Feb 28

7:30 pm

$27.00

23

David L. Harris

Sat, Feb 29

7:30 pm

$30.00

23

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Thur, Mar 5

7:30 pm

$40.00

23

BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet

Fri, Mar 6

7:30 pm

$37.00

24

The Travelin’ McCourys

Sat, Mar 7

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

7:30 pm (continued on reverse) Suggested kid-friendly events.

$35.00

A – Subtotal:

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

37

Stoughton Opera House Order Form 19 20

Order Online Donors start on Aug 5 General Public on Aug 19 www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

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

Step One—Select Tickets PAGE

ARTIST

DATE

TIME

QTY

SINGLE

TOTAL

24

Ruth Moody

Thur, Mar 12

7:30 pm

$25.00

24

The Subdudes

Fri, Mar 13

7:30 pm

$37.00

24

Albert Cummings

Sat, Mar 14

7:30 pm

$25.00

26

Ron Artis II & The Truth

Wed, Mar 18

7:30 pm

$27.00

26

The Steel Wheels

Thur, Mar 19

7:30 pm

$27.00

27

Aoife O'Donovan

Fri, Mar 20

7:30 pm

$35.00

27

Marty Stuart—TWO SHOWS!

Sat, Mar 21

3:00 pm & 7:00 pm

$45.00

28

Darrell Scott—Solo

Thur, Mar 26

7:30 pm

$25.00

28

Playtime Productions: The Princess and the Pea

TBD Mar/Apr

1:00 pm

$5 per family at the door Free-will donation

28

Michael Hecht Tribute to Anne Frank

Wed, Apr 1

7:30 pm

28

Harp Twins

Sat, Apr 4

7:30 pm

$20.00

28

Opera for the Young: Pirates of Penzance

Sun, Apr 5

1:30 pm

$5 at the door

29

Leo Kottke

Thur, Apr 16

7:30 pm

$35.00

29

Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

Fri, Apr 17

7:30 pm

$35.00

30

The Gibson Brothers

Sat, Apr 18

7:30 pm

$25.00

30

Taj Mahal Trio

Thur, Apr 23

7:30 pm

$65.00

30

Rodney Crowell

Fri, Apr 24

7:30 pm

$35.00

31

MadFiddle & Hwy 151

Sun, Apr 26

4:00 pm

$10.00

31

Asleep at The Wheel

Thur, Apr 30

7:30 pm

$45.00

31

Asleep at The Wheel

Fri, May 1

7:30 pm

$45.00

31

Peter Rowan

Sat, May 2

7:30 pm

$35.00

31

Fox Prairie Elementary Performance

Tue & Wed, May 4&5

6:30 pm

Free-will donation

7:30 pm all day

Free to public

32

Kruger Brothers

Sat, May 9

33

Syttende Mai

Sat, May 16

$30.00

33

Stoughton Chamber Singers

Fri, May 29

7:30 pm

$5 at the door

33

Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society

Fri, Jun 26

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.

Step Two— Your Seating Preference:

A&B – Ticket Total:

Step Three—Become a Friend of the Opera House: Donors buy tickets beginning Aug 5, 2019 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

Please add 5.5% Tax $ Ticket Service Fee $ Friend Donation Total (C) $

Exp. Date:

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:

38

5.00

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

* Include your email to receive important show updates. **Day of Show contact number.

We promise we will never sell your info to anyone.

Back cover Opera House photo courtesy Tim Erickson Photography

Opera House Policies: Page 36

Navigating your financial future.

1525 US HWY 51-138 | STOUGHTON

We have the services and products that guide you towards financial freedom.

Member-owned. Not-for-profit. Community driven.

• No monthly fee, no minimum balance on checking.

• No fee debit cards.

• No hidden fees.

Smart Advice. Friendly Service.

Community Owned.

608-755-6065 800-779-5555

Climb on board with us today!

Stoughton Opera House Box Office:www.bhccu.org (608) 877-4400

39

PRSRT STD

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

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Your seat is waiting.

Southern Wisconsin’s Most Charming Theatre

Ca

ll N OW

Ti c k A u o n S e t s gu a to st le be co 5t me h!

am em be r!

www.stoughtonoperahouse.com (608) 877-4400

RETIRE TO YOUR OWN BEAT Imagine the soundtrack to your retirement. What do you hear? When your savings and spending plans are in harmony, it could be music to your ears.

To achieve that balance, it’s important to plan ahead to help ensure your expenses will be covered and that your retirement savings last as long as you will.

This kind of planning can be complex, but you don’t have to go it alone. Thrivent Financial is here for you and can help you create a strategy in tune with your needs and goals—so you can retire to your own beat.

Let’s connect today!

Leslie L Smith, Financial FinancialProfessional Associate 248 W. Main St., Stoughton, WI 53589 608-873-0550 leslie.smith@thrivent.com

Bryan R Smith, FIC, Financial Consultant Greater Dane Financial Team Associates 248 W. Main St., Stoughton, WI 53589 608-873-0550 bryan.smith@thrivent.com

Insurance products issued or offered by Thrivent Financial, the marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Appleton, WI. Not all products are available in all states. 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. For additional important information, visit Thrivent.com/disclosures.

Thrivent.com • 800-847-4836

29410E R4-18