Ralph Nader, America’s most renowned consumer rights crusader, closed Lawrence University’s celebration of Earth Week with the address “The Great Conversion: Environmentalism over Corporatism.” The Appleton Post-Crescent wrote a nice story about the visit and posted a video of Maureen Wallenfang’s interview with Nader.
APPLETON, WIS. – The words of some of America’s most uncommon, and unsung, heroes come to life as Lawrence University stages Working, a musical based on real life interviews of working Americans. This student-produced musical takes place at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, April 12 and Friday, April 13 and at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, April 14 in Cloak Theatre, located in the Music-Drama Center. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for senior citizens and students. Tickets are available beginning April 3 at the Lawrence University Box Office or by phone at 920-832-6749. If available, tickets will be on sale beginning one hour before each performance at the box office.
Adapted from the book of the same title by Studs Terkel, Working explores the American workday from the Monday morning blues to the second shift blahs using the original words of some uncommon men and women. Twenty-six workers, including a parking lot attendant, corporate executive, newsboy, schoolteacher, housewife, fireman, waitress, and more sing about their jobs and their hopes and dreams.
“Working is a piece that weaves together the plights of nearly 30 different and completely unrelated American workers, but does so to show how they all work together to keep America’s proverbial heartbeat pulsing. Lawrence’s production accomplishes this by having a cast of nine split the many roles amongst them, with each person playing at least three of the characters, sometimes more. Thus, the audience is more cognizant of the fact that there’s a unifying life force, of sorts, passing through all of these blue-collar characters,” explains Matthew Murphy ’07, stage and musical director for the show.
Adapted by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, this show features music by Schwartz, James Taylor, Micki Grant, Craig Carnelia, and Mary Rodgers, and lyrics by Schwartz, Grant, Carnelia, Taylor, and Susan Birkenhead.
The cast includes Jessie Arlen ’10, Michael Axtell ’09, Zachary Becker ’10, Nicholas Benson ’11, Lacey Jo Benter ’10, George Evan Bravos ’10, Megan Flod ’07, Kaitlin Hawkinson ’09, and Jesse Weinberg ’07.
APPLETON, WIS. – “The International Difference” is the theme for the 31st Annual Lawrence International Cabaret. Cabaret, an occasion to celebrate life through music, dance, and cuisine from around the world, takes place at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 15 in the Lawrence Memorial Chapel.
The 2007 Cabaret is set to be one of the biggest Cabarets with over 80 performers and 17 performances from every continent. Popular dances such as the Sub-Continental dance, the belly dance from the Middle East, the Tango, and Japanese Taiko Drumming are back, while new dances such as the Daizu dance from China and the Ganh Lua (Vietnamese Harvest Dance) will make their Cabaret debut.
A dinner at Lucinda’s, located in Colman Hall, follows the performance. The dinner menu presents a variety of delicious dishes from around the world including delicacies from the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Tickets to the Cabaret performance are $6 for adults and children under 6 are free. Dinner and Cabaret tickets are $13 for adults, and children under 6 are free. Tickets are available beginning April 6 at the Lawrence University Box Office, located in the Music-Drama Center, or by phone at 920-832-6749.
APPLETON, WIS. – The Lawrence Academy of Music is accepting registrations now for its three annual summer camps that are scheduled for July.
The first camp of the summer is the Academy’s Jazz Odyssey, scheduled for July 15-20 in the Music-Drama Center on the Lawrence University campus. This camp is open to middle and high school students who are actively playing any instrument or singing. The camp provides a hands-on experience with jazz improvisation in small group settings. Sessions focus on developing aural, theory, and compositional skills, in addition to, participating in master classes in jazz history and jazz performance. Special topics to be covered during this camp include world percussion, playing with a rhythm section, transcribing solos, and a session highlighting instruments not typically associated with jazz. Students will be grouped according to age, instrument, and experience for the camp. Jazz Odyssey will be held 2:30-5:30 p.m. Sunday, July 15, 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, July 16-19, and 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Friday, July 20. A concert on Friday, which is open to families, takes place at 6:30 p.m. Daily lunch and dinner on Sunday and Friday are included in the fees. The fee for attending Jazz Odyssey is $250 or $225, if paid by May 15.
The second summer camp is a Music Camp for middle and high school wind and percussion instrumentalists, which is scheduled for July 22-28 on the Lawrence University campus. This camp gives instrumentalists a chance to perform in a band, study with faculty from the Lawrence Conservatory of Music and Academy of Music, attend concerts and recitals, and enjoy a week of recreational activities. The camp includes band and sectional rehearsals, music theory, an elective arts-related class, a rehearsal with the camp choir, and a recreation period. Elective classes may include sessions on instrumental arranging, percussion for non-percussionists, voice, piano, conducting, humor in music, a performance master class, and musical theatre. An auditioned jazz ensemble with an emphasis on big band jazz will meet during one of the class hours. Each evening brings a concert in Harper Hall and a finale concert in the Lawrence Memorial Chapel will feature all bands plus the camp choir. During the week, students are housed in campus residence halls and meals are provided at Downer Commons. The fee for this weeklong camp is $450 or $425, if paid by May 15.
Piano Odyssey ends the summer camp series for the Academy of Music. Piano Odyssey is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. July 30-August 3 at the Music-Drama Center. This day camp for motivated piano students, ages 8-15 who have studied piano for at least two years, looks to explore the piano in greater depth. A special feature for this year of the camp is a focus on composing. Students will have the opportunity to meet a composer, and duets composed especially for the camp will be premiered by campers and coached by the composer. All classes are taught by skilled, enthusiastic, and widely-respected teachers in a setting designed to foster self-confidence, creativity, and understanding of the piano. Daily sessions include improvisation, music history from a piano perspective, music fundamentals, the physics of sound production, piano accompanying, and the evolution of the keyboard. Students are age-grouped for specialized work in the electronic keyboard lab, piano master classes, and supervised practice. Snacks and lunch are included each day. The fee for Piano Odyssey is $225 or $200, if paid by May 15.
For more information or to register for any of these summer camps, please call 920-832-6632 or visit www.lawrence.edu/dept/acad_music/camps.shtml.
APPLETON, WIS. – The Lawrence Academy of Music is getting ready to hold auditions for the 2007-08 school year programs. The Academy is holding auditions for its Girl Choir program, the Symphonic Band, the Wind Ensemble, and the Academy String Orchestra.
The Girl Choir holds auditions for girls currently in second through 11th grade as follows:
Auditions for Bel Canto, for girls currently in grades eight through 11, are on May 15 and 17.
Auditions for Cantabile, for girls currently in grades six through eight, are on May 15 and 17.
Auditions for Intermezzo, for girls currently in grades four through six, are on May 2 and 3.
Auditions for Allegretto, for girls currently in grades three and four, are on April 25 and 26.
Auditions for Primo, for girls currently in grades two and three, are on April 25 and 26.
Ragazze for girls currently in grades two through four is a new training choir this year. It is open to any girl who wishes to sing. No audition is required but space is limited. Registration for this new program will be accepted until May 25.
The Girl Choir program seeks to provide quality choral opportunities for girls in the Fox Valley region. Through the study and performance of the highest quality music, the girls develop vocal technique, music reading skills, creativity, expressive artistry, and an awareness of various cultures. The program strives to create an atmosphere that encourages girls to respect the uniqueness of others, to take risks that foster individual growth, and to continue their development into self-assured young women. Currently there are over 270 girls singing in the Girl Choir program representing over 50 schools from throughout Northeastern Wisconsin.
For more information on the Girl Choir program, call 920-832-7038 or visit www.lawrence.edu/dept/acad_music/girl_choir.shtml.
The Symphonic Band, formerly the Honors Band, is open to talented band students currently in grades six through eight. The band holds auditions on April 29. The Honors Band provides experience with advanced music for middle school band students. Two 10-week semesters, two concerts, and a local tour are all part of the program. The deadline to apply for an audition is April 20.
The Wind Ensemble, open to talented wind, brass, and percussion band students currently in grades eight through 11, holds auditions on April 29. The Wind Ensemble provides advanced high school band students with opportunities to become acquainted with music specifically composed and arranged for the soloistic possibilities of wind ensembles. The program includes two 10-week semesters, two concerts, and tour opportunities. The deadline to apply for an audition is April 20.
The Academy String Orchestra (ASTRO) holds auditions for students in grades five through eight on May 6. This program is open to string players interested in preparing and performing music at a high level. The program emphasizes the development of reading music and beginning ensemble skills. The program includes two 10-week sessions, two performances, and a local tour. The deadline to apply for an audition is April 27.
Details and application forms for these ensembles are available from local school music teachers, by contacting the Academy of Music at 920-832-6632, by visiting the Academy’s website at www.lawrence.edu/dept/acad_music, or by visiting the Academy at 100 Water St., Appleton.
