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Green Bay Still A Hot Ticket For Live Entertainment
by Bob
Lowe
May 17, 2004
Even though the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center has stolen
some of the thunder from Green Bay’s Weidner Center
and other venues for live entertainment in that city, Titletown
still offers lots of great live entertainment.
This
week, for example, Riverdance, the Irish dance troupe, makes
a triumphant return to the Weidner Center May 18-23. On June
3 at 7:30 p.m., singer-songwriter John Gorka will appear with
guitarist and musical troubadour Patty Larkin. The two are
among the biggest names in folk music today. At 2 p.m. June
6, pianist Anthony de Mare and cellist Maya Beiser, two powerful
interpreters of Latin composers Astor Piazzolla and Joaquin
Nin come together for an afternoon of haunting and sensual
Tango music. The performance is part of the Weidner’s
Suite/Sweet Sunday Performance.
Other
big name artists appearing in the Green Bay area in the coming
weeks include Pat Benatar, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts,
who will be at the Oneida Casino at 7 p.m. June 29 as part
of the Pavilion Nights series. Tickets are $20 and are available
by calling 1-800-895-0071. Others on the Pavilion Nights lineup
include Brad Paisley, May 21, Live June 8, Kenny Wayne Shepherd
June 24, Boston July 22, George Thorogood and The Destroyers
Aug. 4, ZZ Top Aug. 26 Clint Black Sept. 4 and Journey Sept.
9.
Comedian
Rodney Carrington postponed his scheduled appearance at the
Brown County Arena in Green Bay on May 20 because of television
commitments. the date will be rescheduled. Tickets already
purchased will be honored for the rescheduled date, or they
can be refunded at the point of purchase.
On
May 21, the Cast of Beatlemania will perform in that same
venue. One of the biggest names in country music, Shania Twain,
will be performing in the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon at 7
p.m. June 3. Tickets for the concert sold out within hours.
Also appearing at the Resch are American Idols Live!, which
will feature 10 finalists from the popular Fox TV show, including
Amy Adams, Camile Velasco, Diana DeGarmo, Fantasia Barrino,
George Huff, Jasmine Trias, John Stevens, Jennifer Hudson,
Jon Peter Lewis and La Toya London. Tickets are $37 and $47
and go on sale at 10 a.m. May 22. On Sept. 18 and Metallica
and Godsmack will be at the Resch on Sept. 27. Tickets are
$77 and $57.
Meanwhile, the Weidner Center recently gave a sneak preview
of its 2004-2005 season. The Weidner is now announcing its
full season, instead of the bifurcated Act One and Act Two
components that it has presented throughout most of its 11-year
history. "The number of shows that are available for
Broadway touring no longer necessitates us dividing up the
book," said Joi Brown, general manager of the Weidner.
"There’s a smaller number available so the season
is a bit smaller.
The
following shows were listed in a recent brochure:
•
Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Sept.
12
•
Kenny Rogers, Oct. 3
• Peter, Paul and Mary, Oct. 24
• Tim Conway and Harvey Korman, Nov. 4
• "Smokey Joe’s Café," Oct. 15_17
• "Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,"
Nov. 9_14
• "The King and I" starring Sandy Duncan,
Nov. 29_Dec. 5
• Barrage, Dec. 17
• Mochrie and Sherwood, from TV’s "Whose
Line is it Anyway?" Jan. 2
• "Les Miserables," Jan. 18_23
• "Lord of the Dance," created by Michael
Flatley, Feb. 11_13
• Kodo, Japanese drummers, March 4
• "Triple Espresso," three man show for Fort
Howard Hall, March 8_May 29, 2005
• "Contact," three stories of love told through
dance, May 10_15, 2005
• "On the Record," Disney musical, July 5_10,
2005
"We
think they represent the range of programming that we have.
Including some of the newer Broadway titles that are available
and some of the big name artists that we’ve been seeking
for some time, like Kenny Rogers, who hasn’t been in
our venue before," Brown said. Other acts will be announced
on May 25. The season will run from September 2004 through
July 2005. More than 45 events and more than 172 performances
are booked.
The
sneak preview covers performances solely at the Weidner. Events
for the Meyer Theatre in downtown Green Bay will be announced
with the full season, Brown said. No tickets are on sale at
this time.
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