24-25 Opera House Brochure

Yasmin Williams October 23

With state treasures around every corner and easy access to Interstate 39/90 and State Highway 51, Stoughton is a great place to settle in and explore the surroundings.

So Many Reasons to Stay VISIT STOUGHTON

Stoughton’s story starts with Norwegian heritage, but we’ve grown to include so much more. Explore boutique shopping, locally owned restaurants, and the Stoughton Opera House, known for its sublime acoustics. Come visit our new Norwegian Heritage Center, shop, have a bite to eat, and stay for an evening performance.

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

REASON #14 SPECIALTY STORES

You won’t see the same thing twice when you shop in Stoughton. You can shop for Scandinavian Imports, Handmade Soaps and Candles, Locally Made Pet Treats, Carefully Curated Home Goods, and Regional Artisan Jewelry, to name a few options.

DRIVING DISTANCE IN MILES

Madison 19 Milwaukee 81 Dubuque 99 Chicago 132 Green Bay 149 Wausau 155

Eau Claire 190 Springfield 249 St. Paul 272 Minneapolis 281 Des Moines 301 Indianapolis 317

REASON #54 FOOD AND DRINKS

If you are looking for an evening out, Stoughton has a spot to suit any vibe. Chill out on a patio by the water. Sip craft cocktails in a detail rich lounge. Chat at the bar over a pint and a game.

REASON #4 EVENTS

Home of the Syttende Mai Festival, Stoughton Fair, and Coffee Break Festival, but you should plan to visit again for: Taste of Stoughton, Catfish River Music Festival, Eugster’s Lavender Days, Gazebo Music, Art Walk Stoughton, and Victorian Holiday Weekend.

24 25 Event Calendar

6 Bizhiki: Unbound Fri. Sept. 13

10 Music Appreciation: Duo Penseur—Chantel Charis, Violin; Alex Fang, Piano Mon. Sept. 16

6 Carsie Blanton—Matt the Electrician supports Thur. Sept. 19

7 Hawktail & Väsen Fri. Sept 20

7 Sam Grisman Project

Sept. 21

10 Music Appreciation: The Yahara Strummers, Ann Sawyer, Director Mon. Sept. 23

7 Michael Hecht: A Tribute to Primo Levi and Ann Frank

7 Elephant Revival

7 Backyard Tire Fire

8 Art Walk Stoughton

Sept 25

Sept. 26

Sept 27

Sept 28

8 The Iowans Sat. Sept 28

10 Music Appreciation: The Avanti Piano Trio Mon. Sept. 30

8 Ruth Moody Band

8 Willie Watson

8 Matthew Sweet Acoustic Trio

Oct. 3

Oct. 4

Oct. 5

10 Music Appreciation: Kaleigh Accord, Violin; Thomas Kasdorf, Piano Mon. Oct. 7

9 Tommy Castro and the Painkillers Fri. Oct. 11

9 Davina & the Vagabonds

10 Music Appreciation Series: Trevor Stephenson, Piano Forte

12 Fareed Haque Group

12 Jake Xerxes Fussel

10 Music Appreciation: UW Whitewater Faculty Brass Quintet

12 Yasmin Williams

Oct. 12

Oct. 14

Oct. 18

Oct. 19

Oct. 21

Oct. 23

12 Harp Twins Rockin’ Halloween Concert! Fri. Oct. 25

13 The Travelin' McCourys

10 Music Appreciation Series: Eric Tran, Piano

13 Rhonda Vincent

13 Sue Foley and The Pistolas

10 Music Appreciation: Iason Giagtzoglon, Piano; Angelos Natais, Piano

14 Elizabeth Moen

10 Music Appreciation: The Rabin String Quartet

14 Amythyst Kiah

14 Suzy Boguss

15 Sierra Hull

10 Music Appreciation: The Eastern Shore Trio

Oct. 26

Oct. 28

Nov. 1

Nov. 2

Nov. 4

Nov. 8

Nov. 11

Nov. 14

Nov. 15

Nov. 16

Nov. 18

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Reflections

Welcome to Stoughton Opera House 2024-25 Season: The Book!

2023-24 was a season to remember. More of you came out to shows than have since 2019 and we were so pleased to see your smiling faces. Date nights, beer & cookies in the Ghostlight Lounge, lurking bats, a round of applause for the seat cushions and a ton of great shows.

It was our second full season of pre-show live acts on the small stage in the lounge, and the response from both the performers and the patrons was phenomenal. Expect even more great things in the lounge during the year to come.

There were so many great suggestions for future shows from audience members last season that it will take years to book them all. In the pages here you’ll find perennial favorites, eclectic new sounds, and well-known artists joining us for the first time. You’ll also find some open dates on the calendar – that is where the surprises go! As we add shows to our initial line-up, the very best way for you to stay in the loop is to head over to our website and get on our email list–don’t miss out on surprises! Seriously. All of the staff, crew, and volunteers at the Opera House are so thankful for your support and for the time you spend with us playing your part. We’ll be looking forward to seeing you at the show soon!

William Brehm, Director

Stoughton Opera House

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. If you would like to be considered for a board position please contact us, we are always looking for members who would like to help. For more information visit www.stoughtonoperahousefriends.org

We are always looking for great new shows to add to our schedule. Be sure to follow our Facebook Page and sign up on our website to receive e-mail on the latest news and shows.

HOURS: Check our Facebook page or website for the most up-to-date box office hours before coming by to visit. 90 minutes prior to showtime 30 minutes after performances

Guided tours available by appointment during business hours. email: boxoffice@stoughtonoperahouse.com

Summer Season 2024

Stoughton Chamber Music Festival

Thurs. Aug. 23 • 7:00 pm

Fri. Aug. 24 • 4:00 pm

PERSPECTIVE

Searching for the ability to better understand another’s perspective, this program centers around Thomas Adès’ extraordinary new clarinet quintet, Alchymia, pairing each movement with other short compositions that help develop context and deeper understanding of the music. This program features music for string quartet, clarinet and piano at the historical Stoughton Opera House.

The Stoughton Chamber Music Festival celebrates its 6th season, presenting chamber music experiences artfully programmed with compositions spanning 300 years, performed by brilliant early-career classical musicians gathering in Stoughton from near and far.

Tickets online or at the door www.stoughtonchambermusicfestival.com

SOGO Film Fest

Fri. Aug. 16 • 7:30 pm

https://sogo.film/

Offering a full spectrum of housing and care services to suit your needs

Skaalen is located in a quiet residential neighborhood in Stoughton. Our beautiful campus offers walking paths and relaxing outdoor spaces. Skaalen provides a variety of living options from which to choose –care free and comfortable independent living, supportive living apartments, assisted living, memory care, and skilled-nursing & rehabilitative services – Skaalen’s Continuum of Care retirement campus is here for you every step of the way.

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 skaalen.com/learn or call 608.975-5105 for additional information on our services.

400 N. Morris Street, Stoughton, WI 53589

Stoughton Opera House: 2024 25 Season

Your Seat is Waiting . . .

Fall Season 2024

Bizhiki: Unbound

Fri. Sept. 13 • 7:30pm

Unbound opens with a single, trembling chord that rises and descends before meeting a warm, beguiling voice, a voice singing in a tradition that’s been heard in this northern river country for millennia. On Unbound, the powwow style of singing is entwined with synthesized voice modulation, and hand drumming is accented with electronic samples and beats — the harmonies and resonances are equal parts cultural and musical.

Bizhiki is almost wholly a made-in-Wisconsin project, a collaboration between Dylan Bizhikiins Jennings, Joe Rainey and the multi-instrumentalist Sean Carey (S. Carey), who for years has been a secret weapon within the Bon Iver family. Bezhikiins Jennings grew up singing within the powwow tradition, around the Lac Du Flambeau and Lac Courte Oreilles reservations in Central Wisconsin. He now makes his home in Northern Wisconsin, on the Bad River reservation on the shores of Lake Superior. He’s joined on the album by his adopted brother, Rainey, a Red Lake Ojibwe powwow singer from Minneapolis who now makes his home within his wife’s Oneida Nation on the shores of Lake Michigan. www.bizhiki.org

“Love & Rage (by Carsie Blanton) is a reminder that the fight for racial and gender equity can — and should — have joyous moments.” - NOLA

Carsie Blanton with special guest

Matt the Electrician

Thur. Sept. 19

• 7:30pm

Carsie Blanton writes anthems for a world worth saving. Inspired by artists including Nina Simone and Randy Newman, her songs encompass a wide range of genres, from sultry pop to punk-tinged Americana. Whether alone with her electric guitar or fronting her four-piece “handsome band,” Carsie delivers every song with an equal dose of moxie and mischief, bringing her audience together in joyful celebration of everything worth fighting for.

www.carsieblanton.com

Matt the Electrician

Matt the Electrician is Matthew Sever, a quirky, sincere folk/pop singer songwriter based in Austin, TX. He has self-released 11 studio albums, and 2 live CDs since 1998. His most recent release, The Ocean Knocked Me Down came out on February 2nd, 2024.

For the new project, Matt returned to his “home studio”, The Aerie, in Austin, TX, (owned and operated by Mark Addison) where Matt had recorded 4 of his previous records, including 2009’s Animal Boy. Though mostly written during the pandemic, the vibe of the record is upbeat, and weird, and fun, and sometimes sad, but hopeful, and occasionally poignant, and silly, and hopeful, but ridiculous, and also hopeful. That’s a lot of vibes, but there are 16 songs on the record. We’ve all been through a lot, so Matt figured that everyone deserved a few more songs and a few more vibes than usual.

www.matttheelectrician.com

Hawktail & Väsen

Fri. Sept. 20 • 7:30pm

Hawktail + Väsen is the culmination of decades of influence and musical relation. Brittany, Jordan and Paul met while in college on the east coast, jamming on Väsen tunes and seeing their concerts whenever possible. “Their music was highly relatable, yet also felt strange and new,” says bassist Paul Kowert. “Meeting someone else who also knew their tunes was exciting. Playing them together: even better.”

There’s a strong tie between their respective fiddle traditions and each band’s approach to tune-writing that makes this collaboration a natural fit. The opportunity to perform together is something that both bands have been looking forward to for years.

“The members of Hawktail are brilliant musicians I met when they were teenagers coming to Väsen-gigs on our US tours.” says Väsen’s Nyckelharpa player, Olov Johansson. “It’s been amazing to follow their path and now we get to create new Hawktail-Väsen music together!” www.padiddlerecords.com/hawktail

Sam Grisman Project

Sat. Sept. 21 • 7:30pm

A Note From Sam-- The music that my father David Grisman and his close friend, Jerry Garcia, made in the early 90s (in the house that I grew up in) is not only some of the most timeless acoustic music ever recorded, it also triggers my oldest and fondest musical memories. What I find most inspiring about this material is the way their camaraderie and their love and joy for the music, simply oozes out of each recording. My goal in starting the Sam Grisman Project is to build a platform for my friends and me to showcase our genuine passion and appreciation for the legacy of Dawg and Jerry’s music. By playing some of their beloved repertoire and sharing the original music that our own collective has to offer, we will also show the impact that this music has had on our own individual musical voices. Ultimately, there is nothing that makes me happier than playing great songs with my best friends and my hope is to share that happiness with audiences all over!” www.samgrismanproject.net

Michael Hecht

A Tribute to Primo Levi and Ann Frank

Wed. Sept. 25 • 1:00pm

Utilizing the writings of Primo Levi and Ann Frank, Michael Hecht forms a personal dialogue intertwined with live music.

Elephant Revival

Thur. Sept. 26 • 7:30pm

Elephant Revival is a unique collection of multiinstrumentalists blending elements of Celtic, Americana, Folk and Indie Art Rock. The band consists of Bonnie Paine (vocals, cello, djembe, washboard and musical saw), Bridget Law (fiddle, vocals), Dango Rose (upright bass, mandolin, vocals), Charlie Rose (banjo, pedal steel, mandolin, vocals) Darren Garvey (drums, percussion, vocals) and Daniel Sproul (guitars, vocals) of Rose Hill Drive. The music they create together is like weather systems meeting in the sky, Bonnie’s warmly haunting voice either merging with the rhythms and melodies of the band or providing a counterpoint and transforming it.

www.elephantrevival.com

Backyard Tire Fire

Fri. Sept 27 • 7:30pm

The rebirth of Backyard Tire Fire springs forth with an undeniable burst of musical energy. The Midwestern guitar rock unit is back with Black Dirt Blue Sky, their first collection of new recordings in 10 years.

The music radiates a spirit of renewal, showing how much bandmates Edward David Anderson, Matt Anderson, Scott Tipping and John Ganser are happy to play new songs together after a decadelong hiatus.

BTF were darlings of radio stations like Chicago’s WXRT-FM in the early 2000s. Grammy Award-winning producer Steve Berlin of Los Lobos produced their 2010 album, Good To Be. Johnny Hickman of Cracker compared them to Wilco.

Black Dirt Blue Sky is loaded with moments that coax smiles and recall good memories. “Carefree Kids” inspires nostalgia, while “Alejandro Escovedo” is both a wry ode to the mystery of dreams and a nod to the iconic rocker. The band’s experience touring the USA and recording a series of timeless alt-country records in the early aughts informs the present-day energy of tunes like “Little Wren” and the music shines with beauty and joy, like light at the end of a long tunnel.

www.edwarddavidandreson.com/backyardtirefire

Art Walk Stoughton

Sat. Sept. 28

• 10:00 am—4:00 pm

Art Walk Stoughton 2024 returns for its seventh annual art event in Stoughton’s Downtown Arts & Entertainment District.

Rain or shine, Art Walk Stoughton takes place the last Saturday of September with fine artists, craftsmen, musicians, and more. Regional artisans are hosted by locally owned shops, showcasing their work and presenting an expansive gallery tour experience.

With a diversity of mediums and range of prices, art collectors as well as new art buyers are delighted with their finds. Enjoy a celebration of the senses with Art Walk Stoughton! www.artwalkstoughton.com

Ruth Moody Band

Thur. Oct. 3 • 7:30pm

Ruth Moody is a Juno Award winning songwriter from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Best known for her work with The Wailin’ Jennys, Ruth is an artist of exceptional depth and grace in her own right. Critics have lauded her ethereal vocals, impressive multi-instrumentalism and her talent as a songwriter. Her songs are timeless, universal, and exceptionally well-crafted, with an intimacy and honesty that is unmistakably hers.

Ruth released her highly-anticipated solo album The Garden on Red House Records in the Spring of 2010, produced by Juno nominee David Travers-Smith and featured an all-star cast including neo-bluegrass band Crooked Still, Kevin Breit, Luke Doucet, and a guest appearance by The Wailin’ Jennys. Travers-Smith produced her 2nd Red House CD, released in Spring of 2013, These Wilder Things, a much more personal and intense record with special guests Mark Knopfler and Jerry Douglas.

Ruth’s 4th original CD, Wanderer is available now. www.ruthmoody.com

The Iowans

Sat. Sept 28 • 7:30pm

The Iowans, led by first cousins Christina and Katie, creates a musical journey by combining their genetic harmonies and original songs with elements of folk, classical, old-timey and groovy jazz. This perfect storm delivers an adventurous journey into the Americana landscape. Celebrate the release of their long-anticipated debut album Time Won’t Wait and immerse yourself in the mysterious inbetween space where light meets dark and earth touches sky—a heart-holding, soul-filling experience awaits.

www.iowansmusic.com

“Sizzling,

slow-burning, gritty blues and rock...shimmering, swampy, downright funky vibes drenched with Castro’s stinging, pure and crisp lead runs and fluid, jet-fueled solos.” –Living Blues

Willie Watson Full Band Show!

Fri. Oct. 4 • 7:30pm

For over two decades, Willie Watson has made modern folk music rooted in older traditions. He’s a folksinger in the classic sense: a singer, storyteller, and traveler. From his early days as a founding member of the Old Crow Medicine Show to his current work as a solo artist, he is a celebrated musician with a rich vocal range, a top interpreter of the folk canon and a highly skilled multi-instrumentalist.

With his two solo albums, Folksinger Vol. 1, and Folksinger Vol. 2, both produced by David Rawlings at Acony Records, Watson has never sounded more commanding, more confident or more connected to the music that inspires him. His albums tap into the rich core of roots music and further the legacy of American folk. They show the full range of Willie Watson’s artistry, matching his instrumental and vocal chops with a strong appreciation for the songs that have shaped a genre. “I try to take songs I can relate to and that I can sing with urgency, that I can feel,” he says, humbly. “I’m just happy if people dig it.”

www.williewatson.com

Matthew Sweet Acoustic Trio

Sat. Oct. 5 • 7:30pm

Since finding the sweet spot between sensitive and swaggering on the 1991 album Girlfriend (his third, the title track of which was a big rock radio and MTV hit), Matthew Sweet has steadily added to his catalog of power pop gems. A new album is on the way this year— meanwhile, Sweet’s catalogue continues to be a source of inspiration for longtime fans and new converts. “When I meet young people and they ask for advice about a career in music, I always say, ‘Do music because it’s what you love to do, and because you’d do it no matter what happens,’” he concludes. “I’ve tried to keep that attitude about it, because that’s always worked for me. I just try to keep doing my thing and keep believing.”

www.matthewsweet.com

Tommy Castro and the Painkillers

Fri. Oct 11 • 7:30pm

“The hardest thing to do,” says internationally beloved soul-blues rocker Tommy Castro, “is be yourself, take some chances and bring your fans along with you.” Throughout his long, constantly evolving career, guitarist, singer and songwriter Tommy Castro has always remained true to himself while exploring, growing and creating new music, and he has taken his thousands of devoted fans right along with him. Since his solo debut in 1994, he’s made 16 albums— the last seven for Alligator—each its own unique chapter in the book of Tommy Castro. Ranging from horn-fueled R&B to piping hot blues to fiery, strippeddown rock ‘n’ roll, each release is solidly built upon Castro’s unshakable musical foundation—a dynamic mix of 1960sinfluenced guitar-fueled blues, testifying Memphis-soaked blue-eyed soul and Latin-tinged East San Jose funk, all driven by Castro’s grab-you-by the-collar vocals and passionate guitar work. Blues Revue declared, “Tommy Castro can do no wrong.”

For Castro’s new album, a roots music odyssey entitled Tommy Castro Presents A Bluesman Came To Town, he tells a timeless story. This special project was composed by Castro along with Grammy Award winning producer Tom Hambridge. Through its 13 songs, A Bluesman Came To Town tells the tale of a young man working on his family farm who gets bitten by the blues bug. He masters the guitar and heads out on the road seeking fame and fortune, only to find what he’s left behind is the treasure he’s been looking for. www.tommycastro.com

Davina & the Vagabonds

Sat. Oct. 12 • 7:30pm

Davina Sowers and the Vagabonds have created a stir on the national music scene with their high-energy live shows, level A musicianship, sharp-dressed professionalism, and Sowers’ commanding stage presence. With influences ranging from Fats Domino and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Aretha Franklin and Tom Waits, the band is converting audiences one show at a time, from Vancouver to Miami and across Europe.

Davina and the Vagabonds shine every time they play. They’ve earned feverish acclaim from the Chicago Tribune, NPR, and more in addition to performing on BBC’s international favorite late-night program Later… With Jools Holland and appearing on PBS’s Bluegrass Underground. www.davinaandthevagabonds.com

“Davina Sowers creates her own Americana mishmash — a little Amy Winehouse-worthy neo-soul here, a little Great American Songbook-influenced songcraft there.”

–Rolling Stone Magazine

MusicAppreciation eventswilltake

placeonlisted Mondays at3:00pm

Music Appreciation Series

Sept. 16

Duo Penseur–Chantel Charis, Violin; Alex Fang, Piano Duo Penseur, made of violinist Chantel Charis and pianist Alex Fang, is thrilled to present their first program “Minding the Gap” as a violin and piano duo. Since meeting during their master’s in 2021, the two have studied in close collaboration under the guidance of renowned chamber music faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the Icicle Creek Chamber Music Institute.

Sept. 23

The Yahara Strummers

Ann Sawyer, Director

Directed by Ann Sawyer, local ukulele group, The Yahara Strummers, have been playing together weekly on the second floor of the Stoughton Area Senior Center since their conception in May, 2018.

Sept. 30

The Avanti Piano Trio

The Avanti Piano Trio (Eric Tran, piano; Hillary Hempel, violin; Hannah Wolkstein, cello) are looking forward returning to the Stoughton Opera House.

Oct. 7

Kaleigh

Accord, Violin; Thomas Kasdorf, Piano Violinist Kaleigh Acord completed a Doctor of Musical Arts at University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Mead Witter School of Music in December 2020. As a performer, Kaleigh is passionate about developing relationships with living composers. She will be graciously joined by pianist Thomas Kasdorf in a preview performance of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s soulful and spirited Violin Concerto, Op. 80.

Oct. 14

Trevor Stephenson, Piano Forte

Trevor Stephenson–harpsichordist, fortepianist, and pianist–is the Artistic Director and founder of the Madison Bach Musicians. He received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Historical Performance of 18th-Century Music from Cornell University. With Norman Sheppard, he has made/refurbished historical keyboard instruments. He has released 16 recordings and tours throughout the United States as performer and lecturer. The harpsichord in today’s concert— modeled on a late 17th-century Flemish instrument by Couchet—was made in Madison in 1999 by Norman Sheppard.

Oct. 21

UW Whitewater Faculty Brass Quintet

The Whitewater Brass Quintet (WBQ) is the faculty brass quintet in residence at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Members include Matthew Onstad and Christopher Ramaekers, trumpet; Dafydd Bevil, horn; Carson King-Fournier, trombone; Joshua Biere, tuba. WBQ will also welcome Michael Hackett on trumpet and will feature works by Michael Tilson Thomas, Oskar Böhme, and others.

Oct. 28

Eric Tran, Piano

UW-Madison lecturer, pianist and composer, Eric Tran performs a piano concert with engaging commentary. His compositions have been reviewed by the SF Examiner as having “a tendency to thwart the usual expectations… fascinating”. His knack for designing an engaging program with relatable commentary has made him a Music Appreciation favorite. The concert will conclude with a brief Q&A session

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.

Nov. 4

Iason

Giagtzoglon, Piano; Angelos Natais, Piano

Iason Giagtzoglou, DMA from UW-Madison, and Angelos Ntais, DMA from UWMadison, are combining their artistries for solo piano and piano duet. They have been performing as a piano duo for over twelve years. They gained prizes and distinctions in competitions such as the annual Irvin Shain Beethoven Competition of the Mead Witter School of Music, and the Stecher and Horowitz Two Piano Competition organized by Music Teachers National Association.

Nov. 11

The Rabin String Quartet

The Rabin Quartet is the Graduate String Quartet at UW-Madison’s Mead Witter School of Music. Its members are working towards master’s and doctoral degrees and serve as teaching assistants, leading orchestral sectionals, teaching string fundamentals to music education students, and performing as representatives of UW-Madison. The group is funded by generous donors and named in honor of Dr. Marvin Rabin. Dr. Rabin was an acclaimed educator and Professor Emeritus at UW-Madison who inspired thousands of educators nationwide.

Nov. 18

The Eastern Shore Trio

The Eastern Shore Trio is: Sahada Buckley, a violinist and interdisciplinary artist whose diverse career has led to many meaningful collaborations. Kayla Patrick, a violist and active chamber music collaborator in Madison, WI. and Dr. Trace Johnson, a cellist known for his effortless musicality and fierce commitment to music-making of all styles and genres. Their extensive and combined collaborative musicianship come together for a delightful performance.

Visit www.stoughtonoperahouse.com for the Upcoming Event schedule.

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xOne of the last all-wooden buildings remaining in Stoughton — completely renovated and up-to-date.

Just steps away from the Opera House in the heart of Stoughton’s Downtown Historic District, “Bees on Main” is a lovingly renovated upstairs apartment airbnb. Book your stay NOW! www.airbnb.com/h/beesonmain

Norwegian Heritage Center

“Whereimmigrant storiescome alive”

Welcome to Livsreise where you can learn about Norwegian immigrants through many state of the art interactive elements: storybooks, cultural stations, map wall, genealogy lab, and an auditorium with a large selection of on-demand films. The Vesterheim gallery is hosting a display titled “Innovators and Inventors” featuring the significant contributions made by Norwegian immigrants such as Ole Evinrude, inventor of the outboard motor, John Tokheim, inventor of the gasoline pump and Earl Bakken, inventor of the first battery-operated and wearable pacemaker.

• Tues-Sat 9:30am-12:00 & 12:30-5:00pm • livsreise.org • 608.873.7567 • Free admission & parking • 277 W. Main St. Stoughton, WI • Please see our website or Facebook for upcoming events

Fareed Haque Group

Fri. Oct. 18

• 7:30pm

Fareed Haque is a modern guitar virtuoso. Steeped in classical and jazz traditions, his unique command of the guitar and different musical styles inspire his musical ventures with tradition and fearless innovation. Haque has toured and recorded with Joe Zawinul, Billy Cobham, Dave Holland, Paquito D’Rivera, Sting, Zakir Hussain, Bob James, Joe Henderson and many others, in addition to co-leading groups with Tony Monaco, Paul Wertico, Goran Ivanovic, Garaj Mahal, and The Chicago Immigrant Orchestra. Haque has released numerous albums as a leader in jazz, classical, world music and fusion styles, and is the recipient of numerous accolades and awards including Best World Guitarist, Guitar Player Magazine 2009, 2004 Acoustic Album of the Year, 2007 Independent Music Award, and Best New World Music Group in Chicago Reader Poll 2020.

In addition to a busy touring schedule, Haque is Professor Emeritus of jazz and classical guitar at Northern Illinois University, where he taught for 30 years, and has released 13 best selling video courses through Trufire. www.fareed.com

Jake Xerxes Fussel

Sat. Oct. 19

• 7:30pm

Reared in Georgia and now settled in North Carolina, Jake Xerxes Fussell has established himself as a devoted listener and contemplative interpreter of a vast array of so-called folk songs, lovingly sourced from a personal store of favorites. On his latest album, When I’m Called—his first LP for Fat Possum, and his first as a parent—Fussell returns to a well of music that holds lifelong sentimental meaning, loosely contemplating the passage of time and the procession of life’ s unexpected offerings.

The album was produced by James Elkington and mixed by Tucker Martine. In addition to Elkington, it features the playing of Ben Whiteley (The Weather Station), Joe Westerlund (Bon Iver, Califone), and others. Blake Mills contributes guitars on several tracks. Joan Shelley and Robin Holcomb provide backing vocals. www.jakexerxesfussell.com

“…maybe the leading interpreter of American folk music right now.”

– Ann Powers, NPR

Yasmin Williams

Wed. Oct. 23 • 7:30pm

Yasmin Williams sits on her leather couch, her guitar stretched across her lap. She taps the fretboard with her left hand as her right hand plucks a kalimba placed on the guitar’s body. Her feet, clad in tap shoes, keep rhythm on a mic’d wooden board. Even with all limbs in play, it’s mind boggling that the melodic and percussive sounds that emerge are made by just one musician. With her unique ambidextrous and pedidextrous, multi-instrumental techniques, and influences ranging from video games to West African griots, Yasmin Williams is truly a guitarist for the new century. So too is her stunning sophomore release, Urban Driftwood, an album for and of these times. Though the record is instrumental, its songs follow a narrative arc of 2020, illustrating both a personal journey and a national reckoning. Urban Driftwood has been praised by publications such as Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, NPR Music, No Depression, and Paste Magazine. www.yasminwilliamsmusic.com

“Urban Driftwood is as dizzyingly magnificent as staring up at the night sky on a clear night and seeing the universe unfold before your very eyes.” –Laura Stanley – No Depression

Fri. Oct. 25 • 7:30pm

You won’t want to miss this allages concert full of spooky songs, tantalizing tunes, comedy, and classic rock favorites! The Volfgang Twins will join the Harp Twins on double drums for the exciting finale of the concert! Free meet & greet with the twins immediately following the show.

Identical twin 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. Their stunning live show features virtuoso harp arrangements of classic rock, metal, and their own Nordic Celtic originals with the Harp Twins own exciting, comedic, and interactive performance audiences cannot forget! www.harptwins.com

The Travelin’ McCourys

Sat. Oct. 26 • 7:30pm

The McCoury brothers- Ronnie (mandolin) and Rob (banjo) - were born into the bluegrass tradition. Talk about a source abundant and pure: their father, Del, is among the most influential 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. With fiddler Jason Carter, bassist Alan Bartram, and latest recruit Cody Kilby on guitar, they assembled a group that could take what they had in their DNA, and push the music forward.

Their 2019 self-titled debut album is a brilliantly executed set overflowing with inventive style, stellar musicianship, and, of course, plenty of burnin’ grass, a culmination of their decades-long journey. From the headwaters of Bill Monroe and the waves of Jerry Garcia to a sound both rooted and revolutionary, soulful and transcending that belongs only to the Travelin’ McCourys. www.thetravelinmccourys.com

Rhonda Vincent

Fri. Nov. 1 • 7:30pm

Rhonda Vincent is a firecracker of talent that powers one of the hottest bands in any genre of music today. From humble beginnings in the tiny town of Greentop, Missouri, Rhonda’s musical heritage traces back 5 generations of the Vincent family. Her life of music evolved into a successful career in bluegrass music; after being discovered by Grand Ole Opry Star “Jim Ed Brown,” later spending what she calls her musical college years recording for Giant Records; and learning about the music business from Nashville’s best like James Stroud, Jack McFadden, and Stan Barnett.

It was her pivotal bluegrass album Back Home Again that transformed Rhonda Vincent into the All American Bluegrass Girl, and crowned her the New Queen of Bluegrass by “The Wall Street Journal” in 2000. Her lifelong dream came true when she was invited to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry on February 28, 2020. Rhonda waited an unprecedented 345 days and was officially inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on February 6, 2021.

Her powerful vocal style transcends the boundaries of bluegrass music, as evidenced in her collaboration with Dolly Parton on the Elton John / Bernie Taupin Tribute Project Restoration 2018.

www.rhondavincent.com

Sue Foley and The Pistolas

Sat. Nov. 2 • 7:30pm

The Canadian blues ingénue, turned Texas axe slinger brings over 35 years of professional talent to the Stoughton Opera House stage.

Sue Foley delivers her own brand of high energy, guitar-driven Texas blues while premiering her new band, The Pistolas. Foley’s seasoned rhythm section responds to her every move as she sways, rocks, and digs in deep with equal parts ease and intensity. In May 2024, Foley was awarded the Blues Music Award for Traditional Blues Female Artist (Koko Taylor Award) in Memphis - an award she also won consecutively in 2023, 2022 and 2020. She was also recently honored with Guitarist of the Year and Blues Act of the Year at the 2023 Austin Music Awards, and Guitarist of the Year at the 2023 Maple Blues Awards. Her last album, Pinky’s Blues, took home Best Traditional Blues Album at the 2022 Blues Music Awards. www.suefoley.com

“Lively it is!... Straight from the hip and from the heart groovaliciousness. Rock on!”

–Billy F Gibbons, ZZ TOP

Elizabeth Moen

Fri. Nov. 8 • 7:30pm

Elizabeth Moen is a guitarist, singer-songwriter based in Chicago, IL. Moen blends fierce, massive vocals and raw bluesy guitar with introspective lyrics and electronic textures.

From her life to the studio, Elizabeth Moen carries with her a certain kind of street-smart wisdom. Moen channels life’s turmoil into a constant process of growth–as a songwriter, an arranger, and powerful lyricist.

Emerging from the introductory stage of her career, Moen is now cementing her commitment to craft: Making Wherever You Aren’t wasn’t just an impassioned way to pass time, it was a calling and an opportunity to reflect life’s lessons into a gripping statement of art. The record teases sounds from alt. country, contemporary Nashville, and indie soul but mostly settles into the tone of early 20’s weariness. Wherever You Aren’t finds its spirit in guitar twangs and robust rhythms; though something ethereal and haunting is always there in the mix–it’s Moen’s nuanced understanding of space, knowing when to flood a track with catharsis and when to let her voice guide us through eerie minimalism. As evidenced across her catalog, Moen can bend any genre to her unique mix of sorrow, hope, and endurance. www.elizabethmoen.com

Amythyst Kiah

Thur. Nov. 14 • 7:30pm

The Rounder Records debut from Amythyst Kiah, Wary + Strange marks the glorious collision of two vastly different worlds: the iconoclastic alt-rock that first sparked her musical passion, and the roots/ old-time-music scene where she’s found breakout success in recent years. Tapping into the vibrant musicality she honed through at East Tennessee State University’s Bluegrass, Old Time, Country Music program, the Chattanooga-bred singer/songwriter expands on the uncompromising artistry she’s displayed as a member of Our Native Daughters—an all-women-of-color supergroup whose Kiah-penned standout “Black Myself” earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best American Roots Song and won Song of the Year at the Folk Alliance International Awards. With an unforgettable voice that’s both unfettered and exquisitely controlled, Kiah gracefully interlaces potent vulnerability and personal revelation, ultimately offering a raw yet nuanced examination of grief, alienation, and the hard-won triumph of total self-acceptance. www.amythystkiah.com

Suzy Boguss

Fri. Nov. 15 • 7:30pm

During the creative explosion that was country music in the 1990s Suzy Bogguss sold 4 million records with sparkling radio hits like “Outbound Plane”, “Someday Soon”, “Letting Go”, “Drive South”, and “Hey Cinderella”. But you can’t peg Suzy that easily…In the midst of her country popularity she took time off to make a duets album with the legendary Chet Atkins. In 2003 she made an album of modern swing music with Ray Benson of Asleep At The Wheel. An album of original music in 2007 landed her at number 4 on the jazz charts. Her folk music roots show through in her frequent appearances on public radio’s A Prairie Home Companion, in the Grammy she earned for her work on Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster, and in her critically acclaimed album and book project from 2011, American Folk Songbook. In 2014 she released Lucky, a collection of songs written by Merle Haggard and interpreted through Suzy’s crystal vocals from the female point of view. Her latest offering, Prayin’ For Sunshine, is an Americana tour de force with all songs written by Bogguss. She continues to tour the world, both on her own and with fellow country radio divas Terri Clark and Pam Tills as “Chicks With Hits” and more recently, with Kathy Mattea on their Together At Last tour. So yes, you can call her a country singer if you want, but really that’s just the beginning. www.suzybogguss.com

Sierra Hull

Sat. Nov. 16 • 7:30pm

Sierra Hull is widely regarded to be a as a master of her instrument; A two-time Grammy Nominated artist and songwriter, recognized for both her most recent projects, 25 Trips (2020) and Weighted Mind (2016), she is also the 4x recipient of IBMA’s Mandolin Player of the Year, the first woman to ever receive this distinction. A pioneer for acoustic music throughout her already impressive multi-decade career, she has graced the country’s most iconic stages, including Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry, and the White House. Her virtuosic abilities have garnered respect from genre-defining trailblazers, friends, and collaborators such as Alison Krauss, Sturgill Simpson, Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Bela Fleck, Bobby McFerrin, and Brandi Carlile. Originally hailing from Byrdstown, Tennessee, her unique sound is rooted in bluegrass, and she is widely considered one of acoustic music’s most inventive artists.

www.sierrahull.com

SistaStrings

Thur. Nov. 21 • 7:30pm

Born and raised in a musically inclined family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Chauntee and Monique discovered their love for music at a young age. Despite the social imprinting that told them string instruments were within the purview of white people only, they embarked on a remarkable journey, fusing their classical training with their deep-rooted love for R&B, hip-hop, and gospel. In one performance, SistaStrings can cover a classical arrangement, create a mashup of pop songs, and spin their own genre defying originals. This fluidity and sheer talent has secured them spots in Brandi Carlile’s touring band, as well as supporting Ed Sheeran, Maggie Rogers, Margo Price, Allison Russell and Jason Isbell.

Recently appearing with the legendary Joni Mitchell at the Grammy Awards, Andrea Bocelli at the 2024 Oscars and with Elton John, Annie Lennox, Garth Brooks, and Charlie Puth at The 2024 Gershwin Honors. In September, they took home the title of “best instrumentalist” for the Americana Music Association’s 2023 honors. Their eagerly anticipated debut record, produced by friend and collaborator Brandi Carlile, is in the works. www.sistastrings.com

Enjoy the show.

Thomas M Fendrick Financial Advisor

1609 Hwy 51/138 Ste 102 Stoughton, WI 53589

608-873-8502

www.edwardjones.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

Argo Craft Tavern— 317 S. Division Street, Stoughton

Culvers 608-873-6635, 916 Nygaard Street, Stoughton

Dairyland 608-886-6226, 176 E. Main Street, Stoughton

Farenheit 364—608-205-2763, 364 E. Main Street, Stoughton

Viking Brew Pub—719-5041, 211 E. Main Street, Stoughton

Water Street Tavern—608-480-4001, 324 S. Water Street, Stoughton

Wendigo—877-1544, 121 E. Main Street, Stoughton

Los Lobos

Fri. Nov. 22 • 7:30pm

Sat. Nov. 23 • 7:30pm

It’s a matter of time. 50 years to be exact. And in that time Los Lobos have created an unprecedented body of work, a legacy of greatness. They’ve recorded prolifically, garnering 5 Grammys, an Austin City Limits Hall of Fame induction, the ALMA Richie Valens Pioneer Award, NEA and Hispanic Heritage Foundation Honors, Congressional recognitions, countless “Keys to the City’’ and “Los Lobos Day’’ celebrations. And those are just a few of the highlights. But beyond all the hoopla is the tremendous heart. Rather, hearts. Cinco corazones. Five blood brothers who have dedicated their off-stage time to helping others, working for peace and justice. As proud Chicanos, their songs have always glistened with the distillation from their Mexican and Latin American roots — nourished by Norteña and rancheras, buoyed by bolero and cumbias, soaring on the rhythms of son huasteco and son jarocho. Los Lobos have helped spread the rich diversity of cultures across every continent, throughout the global community. Talk about a living legacy. Talk about a productive half century. And in the true rebel spirit, they did it all on their own terms, against formula. For the ages. To our delight. Quite simply, they are one of the tightest, one of the best, one of the most prolific bands ever.

www.loslobos.org

An Acoustic Christmas with Over the Rhine

Fri. Dec. 6 • 7:30pm

One December, not long after Over the Rhine began recording and touring, we were invited to perform some seasonal songs on a public radio station in Cincinnati. It was Christmastime and apparently they thought we were up to the task. In December of 1996 we released our first song cycle of Christmas carols that still haunted us, along with a few original tunes and called it The Darkest Night Of The Year. After a special sold out release concert on winter solstice in Cincinnati, folks began snatching up copies and seemed to agree that they hadn’t heard anything quite like it.

By the time we released our third holiday album of original songs, Karin suggested we had discovered a new genre of music: Reality Christmas.

This year, we will be leaning into some harmonies, making an intimate but hopefully holy ruckus. It won’t be all Christmas music: we’ll certainly mix in tunes from many of our records along the way. But hopefully it’s still true: hopefully you haven’t heard anything quite like it.

Maybe, regardless of whatever reality Christmas brings, we’ll hear a faint echo of a song once rumored to have been sung by angels, a song of peace on earth, goodwill toward all…We’ve never heard anything quite like it.

www.overtherhine.com

Member SIPC

Susan Werner

Sat. Dec. 7 • 7:30pm

Susan Werner composes skillful songs that effortlessly slide between folk, jazz, and pop, all delivered with sassy wit and classic Midwestern charm. Throughout her expansive career, boundless versatility has emerged as a hallmark of Werner’s talent, and has proven to be a quintessential ingredient of her engrossing musical personae. Known for her engaging and energetic live show, Susan Werner continues her reign asone of the most bold and creative forces on the acoustic music scene today. Dubbed by NPR as the “Empress of the Unexpected”, Werner’s album projects cover the genres of folk, rock, pop, gospel, blues and Americana.

www.susanwerner.com

“Always an impressive songwriter, Werner continues to compose sharp, funny, compassionate lyrics, a gift rare enough to set her apart”

–Washington Post

City Band & Festival Choir

Sun. Dec. 8 • 4:00pm

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

www.stoughtonfestivalchoir.wordpress.com

For Your Special Celebrations

Foucault (Full Band)

Erik Koskinen supports

Thur. Dec. 12 • 7:30pm

In two decades on the road Jeffrey Foucault has become one of the most distinctive voices in American music, refining a sound instantly recognizable for its simplicity and emotional power, a decidedly Midwestern amalgam of blues, country, rock’n’roll, and folk. In two decades on the road Jeffrey Foucault has become one of the most distinctive voices in American music, refining a sound instantly recognizable for its simplicity and emotional power. The Universal Fire, his first album of entirely new material since 2018 is a series of high-voltage performances cut live in one room, the album is both a working wake– Foucault lost his best friend and drummer Billy Conway, to cancer in 2021– and a meditation on the nature of beauty, artifact, and loss. Augmenting Foucault’s all-star band with members of Calexico and Bon Iver (drummer John Convertino and producer/saxophonist Mike Lewis) The Universal Fire sets Conway’s death against the massive 2008 fire at the Universal Studios lot in California that destroyed the master recordings of some of our bedrock American music, to interrogate ideas about mortality, legacy, meaning, and calling.

www.jeffreyfoucault.com

“Immaculately tailored… Sometimes his songs run right up to the edge of the grandiose and hold still, and that’s when he’s best… Close to perfection”

–New York Times

“A country plea, a blues reach for facts beyond sound, the sense of immediate doom that only a slide guitar can make in its hesitations, its sense of suspension that seems to hold everything a step behind where it ought to be... scary in the bend of the first note”

–Greil

Marcus

The New Standards Holiday Show

Fri. Dec. 13 • 7:30pm

Celebrating its 16th anniversary season in 2023, The New Standards Holiday Show rings in the yule with a unique twist on traditional holiday concerts—one part variety show, one part homage to the season, one part irreverent, free-wheeling spectacle. The trio is joined by a supporting cast replete with vocalists, instrumentalists, dancers, and as always, a dazzling lineup of special surprise guests. You won’t soon forget this show that has become a beloved annual tradition in the Twin Cities and beyond. www.thenewstandards.com

YVolunteering at the 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 becky@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!

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.

Abel Contemporary Gallery

Mr. Sun Plays Ellington’s Nutcracker

Sat. Dec. 14 • 7:30pm

Mr Sun has seized upon the inspiration of Duke Ellington’s brilliant, sly, & urbane re-interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite as an opportunity to salute and re-invent this wildly multi-faceted work anew through the lens of the American String Band. On the recording, Mr Sun generally played original improvised solos, though some crucial musical statements by giants such as Johnny Hodges and Paul Gonsalves were transcribed directly and played in their spirit. Most of Strayhorn’s startling original horn voicings have been preserved in bowed strings, with multi-mandolin parts adding a punchy edge. Now the band is touring nationally, recreating the sounds of the album – their core quartet is joined by additional regional string players to re-create a full orchestra of sound.

www.mrsunband.com

JD McPherson

SOCKS A Rock N’ Roll Christmas Tour

Wed. Dec. 18 • 7:30pm

Hailing from Broken Arrow, OK, JD McPherson has recorded four studio albums and toured extensively at venues worldwide, including festival sets at Glastonbury, Bonnaroo and Newport Folk Festival, among many others. Rolling Stone has described his music as “Timeless, forward-thinking rock & roll.” His 2017 LP, Undivided Heart & Soul, was released to widespread critical acclaim with NPR praising, “McPherson’s mastery of rock and soul fundamentals is beyond question, but his voice moves in wild ways on these songs, and the band exudes a new kind of risky energy.”

Squirrel Nut Zippers

Christmas Caravan

Thur. Dec. 19 • 7:30pm

The Squirrel Nut Zippers bring their joyous, raucous Christmas Caravan Tour back again performing all of the hits from Holidays past. From heartwarming ballads to boisterous dance tunes, the band conjures an atmosphere nestled somewhere between the wondrous lights of Christmas and the backroom din of a speakeasy. This show is a must-see for any true music lover. The Christmas Caravan features holiday hits and classics, selections from the Squirrel Nut Zippers’ holiday album Christmas Caravan, and the finest new and old Squirrel Nut Zippers catalog music. Inspired by 1920s jazz, klezmer and old time music, SNZ’s endlessly curious and innovative leader Jimbo Mathus has concocted a show truly unique and original. This unique blend is on full display with the Holiday Caravan show, which has increasingly grown in popularity, selling out venues throughout the United States. www.snzippers.com

“There is of course jazz of various stripes (mainly pre-WWII varieties) on this deliciously wide ranging night of entertainment, but there’s so much more: sounds, identifiable and not, emanating from mysterious times and places, not the least of which is New Orleans, their home base, a land that, forever and still, has a mind of its own.”

– Relix

Stoughton Opera House: Spring 2025

Sister Sadie

Sat. Feb 1 • 7:30pm

Sister Sadie is a wildfire: raging hot bluegrass combined with breathtaking instrumental drive and awe-inspiring vocals. Comprised of original members Deanie Richardson (fiddle), Gena Britt (banjo & vocals) and newcomers Jaelee Roberts (guitar & vocals), Dani Flowers (guitar & vocals), and Maddie Dalton (acoustic bass & vocals). Sister Sadie has combined the varied talents of each of the individual women to create something that is far more than the sum of its parts. It is a sound uniquely their own. Rooted in forceful and tight vocal harmonies, this isn’t your granddaddy’s Appalachian high lonesome sound. This is something far more powerful than that—it’s the sound of the mountains themselves.

www.sistersadieband.com

“Sister Sadie is an inspiring musical collaboration bringing together some of the best women bluegrass music has ever claimed.”

–Alison Krauss

“These bluegrass chart-toppers are finished with heartbreak, ready to embrace a future filled with brighter horizons.”

–Rolling Stone

Michael Perry

Thur. Feb. 20 • 7:30pm

Michael Perry returns to the Stoughton Opera House with fresh stories, a few favorites, and the same relaxed roughneck vibe that has steadily grown his fanbase for two decades. If you’ve ever seen Perry live, you know to expect an evening of laughter punctuated with soulful moments, surprise tangents, and steel-toed boots.

www.sneezingcow.com

On A Winter’s Night

Fri. Feb 21 • 7:30pm

Presenting the Reunion Tour of “On A Winter’s Night” from veteran singer/songwriters that remain 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. Patty Larkin, Cliff Eberhardt, John Gorka, and Lucy Kaplansky have released dozens of recordings and toured steadily through the decades, with fond memories of their touring days together. Back together by popular demand, the winter season is again celebrated by these unique performers www.sroartists.com/artists/on-a-winters-night

“Wild Perfection. Patty Larkin Transmits with eccentric magic.”

–BOSTON GLOBE

Eilen Jewell

Thur. Mar. 6 • 7:30pm

Hailed by American Songwriter as “one of America’s most intriguing, creative, and idiosyncratic voices,” Eilen Jewell rises from the ashes on her captivating new album, Get Behind The Wheel, picking up the pieces of her shattered world and finding new purpose and meaning after watching her marriage, her band, and what felt like her entire career fall apart in a series of spectacular, heartbreaking implosions. Co-produced by multi-instrumental wizard Will Kimbrough (Todd Snider, Hayes Carll), the collection pushes her trademark blend of vintage roots-noir into more psychedelic territory, with spacious, cinematic arrangements complementing her revelatory explorations of grief, loss, resilience, and redemption.

Jewell built her career touring relentlessly with the kind of undeniable live show that converts the uninitiated into acolytes. Over the course of nine albums, she’s crisscrossed the globe countless times and shared bills with the likes of Lucinda Williams, Loretta Lynn, Mavis Staples, Wanda Jackson, George Jones, and Emmylou Harris.

www.eilenjewell.com

Charlie Parr

Sat. Mar. 8 • 7:30pm

Charlie Parr is an incorruptible outsider who writes novelistic, multi-layered stories that shine a kaleidoscopic light on defiant, unseen characters thriving in the shadows all around us. Parr has a new record with only his name on it, and it isn’t shiny and perfect and commercial and catchy. It’s him. It’s pure Charlie Parr and that’s enough. He hasn’t moved to LA or Nashville; he’s stayed in the cold gray north of Minnesota, because that’s his home.

www.charlieparr.com

“If Neko Case, Madeleine Peyroux and Billie Holiday had a baby girl who grew up to front a rockabilly band, she’d probably sound a lot like Eilen Jewell.”

–Washington Post

The Steel Wheels

Thur. Mar. 13 • 7:30pm

The Steel Wheels have long been at home in the creative space between tradition and innovation, informed by the familiar sounds of the Virginia mountains where the band was formed, but always moving forward with insightful lyrics and an evolving sound. In 2005, Jay Lapp (vocals, guitars, mandolin) and Eric Brubaker (vocals, fiddle) joined lead singer Trent Wagler (guitar, banjo) as a vehicle for Wagler’s songwriting. They released several albums before officially adopting the The Steel Wheels name with the 2010 release of Red Wing. Quickly staking their claim as independent upstarts in the burgeoning Americana scene, The Steel Wheels followed up this release with three more self-produced albums before joining forces with producer Sam Kassirer for Wild As We Came Here (2017) and Over The Trees (2019). Kevin Garcia (drums, percussion, keys) joined in 2017, bringing sonic depth and polish to the outfit, while newest member, Jeremy Darrow, rounds out the rhythm section as the band explores deeply rooted, yet fresh, folk rock sounds. Thousands of shows, festivals and many miles on the road, have formed deep bonds within the stubbornly independent band and with the audience that sustains them. www.thesteelwheels.com

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.

Spring 2025

All Music Appreciation events are free and open to the public.

Spring 2024 Music Appreciation events will take place on the following Mondays at 3:00 pm: March 17, 24, 31 April 7, 14, 21, 28 May 5, 12

Steely Dane

Sat. Mar. 15 • 7:30pm

Winner of the MAMA award for best cover band and Madison Magazine’s 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. Fifteen of Dane County’s best jazz and rock musicians have banded together around their passion for Steely Dan music, playing in the same configuration as the Steely Dan touring band including a four piece horn section and three background singers. Shows consist of hits and deep cuts and sometimes even complete albums and are sure to have you out of your seats singing along.

www.steelydane.com

Sonny Landreth with Cindy Cashdollar

Fri. Mar. 21 • 7:30pm

Sonny Landreth and Cindy Cashdollar return for a rare duo appearance. The Louisiana slide guitar wizard’s trademark bottleneck chops and Cashdollar’s dobro and steel string talents culminate in world renowned showcases of guitar virtuosity.

Revered for his unique slide guitar technique, Sonny Landreth has collaborated with many legendary performers including John Hiatt, Jimmy Buffett, Mark Knopfler and Eric Clapton. Cindy Cashdollar’s expertise is in great demand on both steel guitar and dobro. With the iconic western swing group Asleep At The Wheel, she garnered 5 Grammy awards and was the first woman to be inducted into the Texas Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 2011. Performing a mix of original songs with contemporary and traditional blues and roots music, the show is electric, virtuosic, and tastefully delivered by these two great instrumental masters.

www.sonnylandreth.com www.cindycashdollar.com

Steep Canyon Rangers

Thur. Mar. 27

• 7:30pm

Hailing from North Carolina, the Rangers have long held traditional bluegrass paramount, while possessing an exceptional ability to bring it down the mountain, and to incorporate accessible influence from all walks of the region. They have gained recognition from beyond the world of bluegrass as some of the most influential songwriters in Americana today.

Steep Canyon Rangers is Graham Sharp on banjo and vocals, Mike Guggino on mandolin/mandola and vocals, Aaron Burdett on guitar and vocals, Nicky Sanders on fiddle and vocals, Mike Ashworth on drums and vocals, and Barrett Smith on bass, guitar, and vocals.

Newcomer Aaron Burdett brings a fresh, emotional context to the songbook, which “can reach out and touch your heart or slap you in the face.”

Over the band’s esteemed career, the three-time Grammy nominees have released 14 studio albums, three collaborative albums with actor and banjoist Steve Martin, been inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, and appeared on some of music’s biggest stages. In 2013, Nobody Knows You won the GRAMMY Award for Best Bluegrass Album, while 2012’s Rare Bird and 2020’s North Carolina Songbook garnered nominations in the same category.

www.steepcanyon.com

The Arcadian Wild

Fri. Mar. 28 • 7:30pm

The Arcadian Wild is a four-piece indie folk/pop group from Nashville, TN. Led by songwriters Isaac Horn and Lincoln Mick with Bailey Warren on fiddle. Combining progressive bluegrass, folk, and formal vocal music, The Arcadian Wild offer songs of invitation; calls to come and see, to find refuge and rest, to journey and wonder, to laugh and cry, to share joy and community.

The band’s 2023 album Welcome marks the start of a captivating chapter for the genre-bending trio. Like much of the band’s catalog, it blurs the lines between chamber folk and progressive bluegrass, drawing on country and classical, pop and choral music, with lush harmonies and dazzling fretwork. But this time around there’s a rawness to the writing that cuts straight to the heart of things. It is perhaps the most arresting collection yet from a band known for its ability to stop listeners dead in their tracks, an exquisitely beautiful celebration of community, connection, and the power of belonging.

www.thearcadianwild.com

Opera For the Young

Mozart’s The Magic Flute

Sun. Apr. 6 • 1:30pm

Step into the enchanting world of Mozart’s beloved opera with Opera for the Young. Follow Prince Tamino as he embarks on a daring quest to find the heroic Princess Pamina aided by the delightful birdman, Papageno, and a chorus of sixteen local elementary students. Transformed into whimsical space creatures, the students play Sarastro and his “Alien Council of Wisdom” in a fantastical interplanetary adaptation. (But beware the sinister Queen of the Night and her assistant, the Three-headed Lady, who stand in their way!)

Beautiful melodies and comical characters delight youngsters, while themes of resilience and forgiveness generate thoughtful discussion. Don’t miss this magical journey filled with music, laughter, and valuable life lessons! www.operafortheyoung.org

Della Mae

Sat. April 12 • 7:30pm

Della Mae is a GRAMMY-nominated all-woman string band founded by lead vocalist/guitarist Celia Woodsmith and 2-time Grand National champion fiddle player Kimber Ludiker. Rounding out the current touring lineup are guitarist Avril Smith, and bassist Vickie Vaughn. Hailing from across North America, and reared in diverse musical styles, Della Mae is one of the most charismatic and engaging roots bands touring today. They have traveled to over 30 countries spreading peace and understanding through music. Their mission as a band is to showcase top female musicians, and to improve opportunities for women and girls through advocacy, mentorship, programming, and performance.

Following up 2020’s Headlight, their new album Family Reunion features founding members Celia Woodsmith, and Kimber Ludiker as well as Avril Smith, Maddie Witler and Vickie Vaughn. The recording captures the joy of the band reuniting after more than a year of virtual collaboration, Zooms and group texts.

www.dellamae.com

Leftover Salmon

Thur. April 24

• 7:30pm

Few bands stick around for thirty years. Even fewer bands leave a legacy that marks them as a truly special, oncein-lifetime band. And no band has done all that and had as much fun as Leftover Salmon. Since their earliest days as a forward thinking, progressive bluegrass band who had the guts to add drums to the mix, stirring any number of highly combustible styles into their sound, to their role as a pioneer of the modern jamband scene, to elder-statesmen of the scene, casting a huge influential shadow over every festival they play, Leftover Salmon is a crucial link in keeping alive the traditional music of the past while pushing that sound forward with their own weirdly unique style.

The band now features a lineup that has been together longer than any other in Salmon history and is one of the strongest ever assembled. Built around the core of founding members Drew Emmitt and Vince Herman, the band is now powered by banjo-wiz Andy Thorn, and driven by the steady rhythm section of bassist Greg Garrison, drummer Alwyn Robinson, and dobro player & keyboardist Jay Starling.

They continue the storied history of Salmon, which found them first emerging from the progressive bluegrass world, coming of age as one the original jam bands, rising to become architects of what has become known as Jamgrass.

www.leftoversalmon.com

Keller Williams

Fri. April 25 • 7:30pm

Virginian, Keller Williams, released his first album in 1994, FREEK, and has since given each of his albums a single syllable title: Buzz, Spun, Breathe, Loop, Laugh, Home, Dance, Stage, Grass, Dream, Twelve, Live, Odd, Thief, Kids, Bass, Pick, Funk, Vape, Sync, Raw, Sans, Add, Speed, Cell and Droll. Un-beholden to conventionalism, he seamlessly crosses genre boundaries. The end product is music that encompasses rock, jazz, funk and bluegrass, and keeps the audience on their feet. Keller built his reputation on his unique engaging live performances. His stage shows are rooted around Keller singing his compositions and choice cover songs, while accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, bass, guitar synthesizer and drum samples; a technique called live phrase sampling or “looping.” The end result leans toward a hybrid of alternative folk and groovy electronica, a genre Keller jokingly calls “acoustic dance music” or ADM.” Keller’s constant evolution has led to numerous band projects; Keller & The Keels, Grateful Grass, KWahtro, Keller and the Travelin’ McCourys, Grateful Gospel and More Than A Little to name a few. www.kellerwilliams.net

The Jimmys

Sat. April 26 • 7:30pm

The Jimmys are an award winning, high energy 7-piece blues band featuring Jimmy Voegeli on keyboard and organ, Perry Weber on guitar, Chris Sandoval on drums, John Wartenweiler on bass and an amazing 3-piece horn section. They are sure to get you dancing!! www.thejimmys.net

“Some bands grab the crowd on the first number. Such a band is The Jimmys. They are incredibly tight for a seven piece and have an infectious enthusiasm.”

–Dennis Massingill, Kalamazoo Blues Festival

MadFiddle & Hwy. 151

Sun. Apr. 27 • 4:00pm

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. www.Madfiddle.shutterfly.com

Chris Smither

Fri. May 2 • 7:30pm

The sound and imagery of the 20th release by Chris Smither, All About the Bones, is as elemental as the inky black shadows cast by a shockingly bright moon. The listener is welcomed into some gothic mansion on an imaginary New Orleans street, and there in the lamplit parlor confronts the band, a minimalist skeleton crew: Smither’s inimitable propulsive guitar and rumbling baritone are joined seamlessly to producer David Goodrich’s carpetbag of instruments, Zak Trojano’s rock-steady, primal drumming, BettySoo’s diaphanous harmony vocals, and the flat, mournful flood of Jazz legend Chris Cheek’s saxophone.

As noted by the New York Times, Rolling Stone, MOJO, NPR, and others, in the decades of travels to All About the Bones, Chris Smither has gone from up-and-comer to journeyman to veteran to icon, and yet the whole time his path has more closely resembled Joseph Campbell’s “Hero with a Thousand Faces”- an unblinking, fearless trek into the depths of struggle and revelation, and a return back to the land of the living, to share the hard-won treasures found along the way. His restlessness is long gone, and his eyes are fixed “where the moonlight falls on some never-to-be-seen horizon” (“Still Believe in You”). The light given off from his music casts our own lives into a sublime and welcome clarity.

www.smither.com

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Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives

Sat. May 3

• 3:00pm and 7:30pm

Country Music Hall of Famer, five-time Grammy-winner, and AMA Lifetime Achievement honoree Marty Stuart picks up where he left off on Altitude. There’s a desert flare to the music here, a sweeping, spacious feel that conjures up wide-open horizons and endless stretches of two-lane highway. While it would be easy for an artist as accomplished as Stuart to rest on his laurels, Altitude instead showcases the work of a searcher with an insatiable appetite for growth and reflection, one whose ambition, much like his keen wit and rich imagination, only seems to grow with each and every release.

Stuart got his start in bluegrass legend Lester Flatts’ band at the tender age of thirteen. By twenty-one, he was working in the studio and on the road with Johnny Cash. Though Stuart built his early reputation backing up royalty, it wasn’t long before Nashville recognized him as a star in his own right. Over the course of forty-plus years, he would go on to release more than twenty albums, scoring platinum sales, hit singles, and just about every honor the industry could bestow along the way. www.martystuart.net

Syttende Mai

Sat. May 17 • All Day

Open House Tours, Norwegian Music. 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

Asleep at the Wheel

Thurs., Fri. & Sat. May 8, 9 & 10 • 7:30pm

After many visits, these will be the band’s final performances at the Opera House!

For over fifty years, Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson has been traversing the globe as an ambassador of Western swing music. More than 100 musicians have passed through the Wheel, but Benson remains the front man and the keeper of the vision, in the process racking up more than 30 albums, ten Grammy awards and literally millions of miles on the road.

“I’m the reason it’s still together, but the reason it’s popular is because we’ve had the greatest singers and players,” Benson explains. “When someone joins the band, I say, ‘Learn everything that’s ever been done, then put your own stamp on it.’ I love to hear how they interpret what we do. I’m just a singer and a songwriter, and a pretty good guitar player, but my best talent is convincing people to jump on board and play this Music.” Asleep at the Wheel represents an important cornerstone of American roots music, even though some of its members and audiences represent a new generation. That far-reaching appeal remains a testament to Benson’s initial vision. www.asleepatthewheel.com

For more information contact our Development Coordinator, Christina Dollhausen, at christina@stoughtonoperahouse.com. HELP

Fund a special project or contribute to the endowment fund—there are many options that can be custom tailored to fit your budget and wishes!

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EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS PRODUCERS

In Memory of John Vordran 1935–2018

Scott Haumersen & Jessica Ace

CEBO Industries, Inc.

Jeanne Behrend & Dan Fields

Joanne Holtan

IKI Manufacturing, Inc.

Gordy & Anna Kopke

Tom & Mary Kay McDermott

John Beutel

Greta Saari & Ralph

Borzyczkowski

Scott Travis & Colleen Carroll

Jill Wheeler & Peg Close

In Memory of Juliet (Johnson) Dooley

In Memory of Mike Opager

In Memory of Elaine Severson

Alex Alcocer

Robin Stroebel & Allan Bachmann

Sheila Beatty

Amanda Beatty

Peter Bernhagen

Jim & Jeanne Blachowicz

James & Kathryn Boyd

Brad Schwartz & Karol Castle

David & Linda Cevene

Karla Simpson & Steve Chambliss

Janet Aaberg

Jeffrey Adee

Myra Andreassen

Richard & Alice Appen

Attilio

Robert & Patricia Badeau

Torrey Bahr

Kurt Barth

Mary Beardmore

Emily & Chris Beebe

Melissa Beegle

Scott Bentley

Ed Binkley

Justin Birnbaum

Robert Black

Margaret Blaska

Bluegrass Chicken Man

Karen Boettner

Winfred Bold

Mary Jane Bos

Gary Bridges

Scott & KIm Brix

Tamara Brown

George Buehl

Katharine Buker

Jane Carlson

Holly Carver

Michael Cauley

Cheryl Connor

Susan Cook

Randy Knickmeier & Myra

Larry & Julie Midtbo

Bill & Theresa Rusch

LaRynda Thoen & Neil

Salyapongse

Leslie & Bryan Smith

Thrivent Financial

Mary-Carel & Henry Verden

Mari Schmidt & Dan Dettmann

Jim & Jean Elvekrog Elizabeth Annen & Scott Fradkin

Paul Crawford

Nancy Daly

Andreassen

Phil & Kit Blake

James & Marsha Borling

Freddi Adelson & Eric Brodsky

Joni Dean

Bob Batyko & Lorie Docken

Ken Martin & Roxanne Gorbach

Gary & Shelly Freiburger

John Guinn

Richard Hammerstrom

Anna Biermeier & Roger Hanson

Marc Eisen & Connie Kinsella

Carl & Cathy Chenoweth

Patricia Kokotailo & R.

Lawrence DeRoo

Donna DeWitt

Jean & Jim Dilley

John & Nancy Elvekrog

Lynn & Tom Fordonski

David Radcliffe & Nancy Froncek

Wilma Furseth

Michael George & Susan Gardels

Bonnie & Chris Garver

Margaret Cousin

Brent Nicastro & Nora Cusack

Ted Christman & Becky Dakin

Laura Davis

Deb Dawson

Jonathan de Fiebre

Larry Debbert

Kim Donovan

John Dorsey

Richard & Carol Downer

Mike Duesing

David Dunn

Scott Dwyer

Joseph Ehmann

Ron & Lou Ann Ellingson

Heidi Elmer-Beck

Betty Elsner

Beth Kubly & Peter Englert

Brent English

Shirley & Ervin Erdahl

Tim Facto

Joanna Fanney

Marshall Flax

Susan Fox

Sean Fulkerson

Stephen Gavin

Bruce Gee

Charles & Joyce Gelderman

Joe Geraghty

Susan & Gary Gimmestad

Paul Goemans

M T Grace

Claude Greene

Virginia & Kevin Hendricks

Henry & Terri Jasen

Scott Kaiser

Sherrie Albrecht & Roger Kim

DuWayne Kittleson

Virginia Lunde

Mark & Patti Mackesey

Jim & Lorel Maple

DIRECTORS

Scott Lovrine

Keith Daniels & Alison Mader

Mark & Jana McCluskey

Stephanie Mikesell & Terry McFaul

AMBASSADORS

Elizabeth Lawrence

Jerry & Jean Griswold/Grube

Anita Halverson

Gil & Karen Herman

Linda J Hill

Rodney Huebner

Scott & Jennifer Hull

Cynthia & John Hurtenbach

Gary & Mae Knowles

Connie & Richard Kraus

Jerry & Barb Langenecker

Patrick Slavens & Dr. Laurie

Larson

Diane Lauver

David & Margaret Gohn

Richard Gotz

Tamlynn Graupner

Karen Grede

Andrew Gussert

Diane Haas

Tricia Hagen

James Haggerty

Bob & Bevi Haimerl

Richard & Dolores Hall

Mark Hanson

David Harried

Linda Harrison

Bill Hartje

Diana Harvey

Dan Herdeman

Edward Hermann

Martha Hitt-Buettner

Michael Hogan

Larry & Susana Holland

David Hoppenrath

David Hubanks

Brad Hughes

Mark Johnson

Susan Johnson

Rita Jones

Melissa Jones

Jim Jordan

John Kaiser

FRIENDS OF STOUGHTON OPERA HOUSE

Duane & Peggy Marxen

Leslie Hearn & Charlie Peters

Savant Wealth Management

Jim Danky & Christine

Schelshorn

Carolyn & Jay Scott

Paul Manley & Dr. Sheila McGuirk

Richard McLaughlin Nathaniel & Mischelle Johnson

Bonnie & Dave M. Liebmann

Kathy & Mike Lipp

Deborah & Greg Lofgren

Mary Kay & John Lyons

Gary Messinger

M.L.Krase & Al Michels

Martha Nawratil in memory of Richard Nawratil

Jane Nee

Robert Rice & Kay O’Connell

Joan Lerman & Ken O’Neill

Dave & Cathy Olig

PARTNERS

Russ & Joyce Kaping

Dan & Leslie Kemp

William Kerwin

Jane Kindlon

Tom & Judi Kinney

Gloria & Bob Knipschild

Terry Korsky

Kenneth Krajcik

John & Gail Kuech

Michael Ladish

Linda Lane

Robert Lang

Kathy & Mark Larson

Richard Larson

Paul & Laurie Lata

Tami Lax

Roland Lee

Teresa West-Lentz & Kevin Lentz

David Luepke

Mark Luetkehoelter

Jeff & Karen Lyon

Del & Tammy Madsen

Douglas Marklein

Mark Marko

Jason Mascitti

Ronald Matthew

Craig & Kathy Mayer

Stanley McCord

Georgiann & Pete McDonald

Tom McGregor

William & Julia Shippee

Jody McCann & Peg Smelser

Dale & Christine Verstegen

Peter & Lori Vogel

Suzanne Leimontas & Jack Zwieg

Burman Coffee Traders

H&R Block

Vickie & Steve Richter

Jayne & Phillip Schauer

Polly Schnese

Jeanne & John Shearer

Eric & Heidi Smedal

Robin Marohn & Pamela Pennington

Roderick C Jorgenson & Connie R Peterson

John Peterson

Patrick Pfeiffer

Jim & Suzy Pofahl

Douglas & Mary Quaak

Candy Renard & Mike Rein

Rockne & Diane Rodenberg

Paul & Kate Rogers

Robert & Barbara Rottman

Tim Kreft & Sarah Rowe

Karen Reppen & Phil Saunders

James McMillan

Bruce & Elsa Meyer

Susan Millar

Jeffrey Millard

Virginia & Marilynn Miller

Jim Moeser

Teresa Morowczynski

Michael Morrissey

Peter Mulligan

Suzette & Bert Mullooly

Jennifer Myhre

Gretchen & Dave Navarro

Nancy & David Nedveck

Karen & Jim Nemke

Richard Nora

Brian O’Day

Steve & JoMarie Oakeson

Patrice OConnor-Wahl

Patricia Ogren

Steve & Deanne Olson

Kay Palmer

Burt Palmer

Daniel & Carol Paretsky

Deborah Parker

Doreen Patterson

Bob Pellegrino

Tom & Shai Pellett

Ernest Peterson

David Petrashek

Bob & Chris Phillips

David Pluymers

Victor Pohl

Teresa Presser

David Puglielli

John Purcell

Sharon & Richard Quale

Sandra & Chris Queram

Stephanie Ramer

Jeff & Vicki Raymond

Greg Boris & Joan Reddy

Margaret & Richard Straub

Steven & Kristine

Vaughn Wildwood Cafe

Christopher Yensan & Michelle Scarborough

Frank & Rhonda Schmitt

Laura Keith-Shwartz & Mel Schwartz

David & Margaret Sharpe

Craig Shelton

Alfred Skerpan

Gale Stone

Carmen & Elizabeth Stout

Josh Sveom

Michael & Tracy Swanson

Peter & Mary Wallace

Barbara & Daniel Williams

Janice Witzel

Gary & Terri Wunder

Sue Stark

Fred Stenman

Daniel Stier

Jason Stolte

Elaine Strassburg

Steve Suleski

Anne Sullivan

Taylor’s Greenhouses

Gail & Michael Terrell

Kendra & Jerry Tutsch

Jonathan Cooper & Jane Richard

David Falk & JoAnne Robbins

David Robertson

Michael Rose

Nita Rosenblum

Ellen Rosner

Lloyd Rowley

Ricki Sajbel

Margie Hagene & Dave Saksewski

Pete & Pat Sammataro

Barbara Sather

Jerry Schremp

Jim & Mary Severson

Joe Siefkes

Mary Silberschmidt

Matt & Barbara Smith

Charles Smith

Ray & Linda Spatt

Sprouting Acres Farm

Marcia Standiford

Tim Tyson

Jacob Valentine, III

Pamela Van Doren

Dan Vedvig

Dave Verban

Luigi Vitiritti

Leon Wagner

Dale Wallerich

Jon & Linda Walters

Tom & Kim Walz

Bruce Weber

John Weber

George Zahora

Mike & Shelley Zalewski

Joey Zarda

Thomas Zaremba

Chris Ziemba

Richard Zietko

Irene Zimmerman

Bill & Mary Zimmerman

When 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

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 ticketbuying privileges for all added shows throughout the season.

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.

Ambassador–$250–$499

Director–$500–$999

In addition to enjoying all the benefits of Partners, Ambassadors receive two complimentary tickets to any show in the regular Opera House series, and Directors receive four.

Producer–$1,000–$1,999

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

Executive Producer– $2,000+

As well as all other member benefits, 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.

S toughton o pera h ou S e B oard M e MB er S

S toughton o pera h ou S e B oard M e MB er S

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

John Beutel Jim Borling Pat O’Conner Jill Patterson Jonathan Schroerlucke

Opera House Policies

Box Office Information

Contact: 608-877-4400 • boxoffice@ stoughtonoperahouse.com

Hours: Check our Facebook page or website for the most up-to-date box office hours before coming by to visit.

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 arriving 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 availability for regular seats becomes limited. Obstructed seats are sold at a rate of 25% off regular ticket price.

Tickets on sale August 5 at 9 am for Stoughton Opera House Members. General Public Ticket Sales Begin August 19!

= Obstructed Seat

Stoughton Opera House Order Form

Stoughton Opera House Order Form

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.