Riverfront Jazz Festival Raises Scholarship Funds

Stevens Point, WI – The Riverfront Jazz Festival, held on Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, September 1st and Sunday, September 2nd will run from 3:00 pm until 9:00 pm daily with live jazz music and food in a family friendly environment.  The line-up includes a variety of styles from vocal jazz to fusion.

Through the generosity of area businesses and individual sponsors, general admission to the Festival is totally FREE.  Attendees have the opportunity to help keep the festival free for everyone and to also raise student scholarship money by becoming a “Supporter”. You can sign up to be a Supporter prior to, or at the festival; the cost is $35.00.  You will not only be supporting the festival, but you will also receive a festival t-shirt and a free cover charge pass to see John Greiner’s Trio perform at Kristin’s Riverwalk 9pm-midnight on Saturday, September 1^st.

The Riverfront Jazz Festival is a non-profit LLC that raises scholarship money for UW-Stevens Point Jazz Music Students and promoting the involvement, advancement, and enjoyment of jazz-based music in the community.  For more information on how to become a Supporter, please visit www.riverfrontjazzfestival.com, e-mail at riverfrontjazzfestival@gmail.com, or call  the festival office at 715.544.450.

Riverfront Jazz Festival Announces Line-Up for Labor Day Weekend

Stevens Point, WI- Central Wisconsin’s largest jazz festival is back again this coming Labor Day Weekend providing family friendly entertainment. Taking place at Pfiffner Pioneer Park along the scenic Wisconsin River, in downtown Stevens Point, the festival is free and open to the public.

The festival begins at 3:00pm on Saturday September 1st with Story City from Minnesota, known for their Pat Metheny, Michael Brecker, fusion sound influence. At 5:00pm the Bill Carrothers Trio from Michigan, will perform traditional jazz piano music. Internationally known jazz vocalist, Sachal Vasandani from New York City will close Saturday’s performances starting at 7:00pm. On Sunday September 2nd, Randal Harrison from Madison will start the evening out at 3:00pm with his New String Trio. At 5:00pm We Six from Milwaukee, will be performing in the standard jazz sextet set-up. The last performance of the festival will begin at 7:00pm on Sunday with local favorite, jazz vocalist, Janet Planet.

The Riverfront Jazz Festival debuted on Labor Day weekend in 2004. Its goals were to promote local jazz musicians, nationally renowned acts, tourism and a family friendly atmosphere. In its first year it had an attendance of almost 2,000 people for the one-day event. In 2005 the festival expanded to a two-day event with attendance being over 3,000 each day making this event the largest Jazz Festival in Central Wisconsin in just two years! In 2007, the Festival gained new management of Riverfront Jazz Festival LLC, a 501-C3 non-profit designation and a new focus was added: to generate scholarship funds for local college music students. Under the first year of new management over $4000 was split amongst the recipients. In 2011, Riverfront Jazz Festival plans on raising the scholarship funds for UW-Stevens Point Jazz Music Students.

If you’re thinking about coming down to Pfiffner Park over the weekend, feel free to bring blankets and chairs; there’ll be plenty of food from local vendors for purchase. This Labor Day weekend make your plans to bring your family to the Riverfront Jazz Festival, and just kick back and enjoy what you hear. It’ll be a special treat that you won’t need to drive far for, and it’s FREE!

Common Threads Exhibit at the Riverfront Arts Center

“Common Threads – stories and visions in fiber” is an invitational exhibition featuring fiber as art from Friday, April 20 until Sunday, May 27. Opening Reception will be held Friday, April 20, from 5 to 7 pm.

Telling a story, painting and sculpting with fiber will be shown. Fiber Artists Marilyn Annin, Donna Kallner, Susan Leschke, Ann Phillip, and 8 members of The Fiber Arts Coalition; Pat Bishop, Kathie Briggs, Clairan Ferrono, Linda Witt Henke, Pat Kroth, Casey Puetz, Maggie Weiss, and Trish Williams work in the Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Illinois. Their individual work has been shown in many parts of the U.S.

These artists were brought together to display their collective creative talents depicting their inspiration and journey to this point in time. They have traveled separate journeys using common threads to express their vision and inspiration, using various traditional and non-traditional techniques, materials, creativity, color and design to tell a story.

They come from multiple perspectives and speak in many voices. Their work holds a wealth of expression and variation as different as the artists themselves.

Peeps Art Exhibit Reception March 24, Show through April 7

Peeps Art Exhibit Reception March 24, Show through April 7

The fourth annual Peeps Art exhibit at the Riverfront Arts Center will tickle your sense of humor. Come and see what fun can look like when using this common marshmallow confection in so many unique and creative ways. The Peeps exhibit opens on Saturday, March 24, with a reception from 1-3 pm and runs through Saturday, April 7 at pm.

Juried Call for Outdoor Public Sculpture

The Stevens Point Sculpture Park is accepting submissions of sculpture work for their third annual, three-year outdoor sculpture exhibition. A local jury will choose pieces for display from April 15, 2012 through April 15, 2015.

Application Deadline: February 1, 2012
Artist Award: $750 per piece for 3-year exhibition loan

A wide variety of work and/or proposals will be considered, including: site specific work, ephemeral and/or permanent work, work in a variety of scales, art with a performance component, etc. Materials and scale must be appropriate for outdoor environmental location.

Foundations or bases are not provided. Delivery, installation, and return of work are the artist’s responsibility (please note in project description if any special installation needs are expected).

Artist submissions that are selected will receive $750 for a three-year exhibition loan of their work.

For more information about the park or visitation requests, please contact Elizabeth or Paul at pointsculpturepark@hotmail.com.

O’DELL IRISH DANCERS HOLD SECOND ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE

Central Wisconsin’s first school of Irish dance will hold their second annual Open House on Tuesday, August 23rd, from 5:30-6:30 PM at Adventure 212 Fitness in Stevens Point.

We will be introducing everybody to some basic Irish dance steps, as well as learning an Irish jig! Everybody is welcome. We’d like to give everybody a chance to try it out before they sign up for classes. Fall classes start on Tuesday, September 6th. All ages and abilities are welcome, including adults!

The O’Dell Irish Dancers had a GREAT first year, performing all over Central Wisconsin at St. Patrick’s Day events, Stratford Heritage Days, Oshkosh Irish Fest and more. They won the Director’s Choice Award for their participation in the Milwaukee St. Patrick’s Day parade as well. We are looking forward to another great year with new dancers, returning dancers and their families!
For more information, please check out our website at http://www.odellirishdancers.com. You can contact us at info@odellirishdancers.com

Riverfront Jazz Festival Features Big Name Artists with Small Town Sponsors

Stevens Point, WI – The Riverfront Jazz Festival, held Labor Day Weekend at Pfiffner Park along the beautiful Wisconsin River in Stevens Point, is eager to share the musical line-up for September 3rd and 4th. The Festival will run from 4:00 pm until 10:00 pm daily featuring live jazz music and food from local vendors. The event has a family friendly environment and is FREE to the public!

The saxophone genius and festival veteran, Tom Guillion, will kick off the festival at 4pm on Saturday the 3rd. Lee Ayers Jewelers will sponsor UWSP alum, Wayne Salzmann and his group the Gabriel Santiago Trio, who will share their Brazilian based compositions during the second performance. Internationally known jazz vocalist, Typhanie Monique, sponsored by Delta Dental, will close on Saturday evening.

On Sunday September 4th, contemporary ensemble Jeru will open the evening. Bay City Swing, the ever-popular Big Band sponsored by Ministry Healthcare will have the audience swing dancing during the middle act. The festival’s final performance of the weekend will be by the legendary bassist, Eddie Gomez, who will be sponsored by Sentry Insurance.

The Riverfront Jazz Festival is a non-profit LLC that raises music student scholarship funds for UW-Stevens Point Jazz Music Students, along with promoting the involvement, advancement, and enjoyment of jazz based music in a community setting. Admission is free, however attendees have the opportunity to pay an additional “Supporter” fee to support the scholarship funds and to help keep the festival free for everyone. By becoming a Supporter, you also receive a $10.00 food voucher good at Michele’s Restaurant, and a V.I.P. badge to wear at the fest, giving you access to reserved seating. For more information on how to become a Supporter, visit http://www.riverfrontjazzfestival.com or call 715.544.4504.

Why not come down to the river for Labor Day Weekend for some entertainment! The festival is family friendly and FREE!

Riverfront Jazz Festival Raises Scholarship Funds

Stevens Point, WI – The Riverfront Jazz Festival, held on Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, September 3rd and Sunday, September 4th will run from 4:00 pm until 10:00 pm daily with live jazz music and food in a family friendly environment.  The line-up includes a variety of styles from Big Band to Brazilian.

Through the generosity of area businesses and individual sponsors, general admission to the Festival is totally FREE.  Attendees have the opportunity to help keep the festival free and to also raise student scholarship money by purchasing a “Supporter Pass”. The passes can be purchased prior to, or at the festival.  The cost is $25.00 for one day, $50.00 for the weekend.  By becoming a Supporter, you are not only supporting the festival, but you will also receive a $10.00 food voucher, (for each day), good at Michele’s Restaurant, and a V.I.P. Badge to wear during the festival which will allow you access to reserved seating.

The Riverfront Jazz Festival is a non-profit LLC that raises scholarship money for UW-Stevens Point Jazz Music Students and promoting the involvement, advancement, and enjoyment of jazz-based music in the community.  For more information on how to become a Supporter, please visit www.riverfrontjazzfestival.com, e-mail at riverfrontjazzfestival@gmail.com , or call  the festival office at 715.544.450.

Riverfront Jazz Festival is Set for Labor Day Weekend

Stevens Point, WI-  Once again, central Wisconsin’s largest jazz festival will be providing family friendly entertainment this coming Labor Day Weekend.  It will take place at Pfiffner Pioneer Park along the scenic Wisconsin River, in downtown Stevens Point.  The festival is free and open to the public.

The Riverfront Jazz Festival debuted on Labor Day weekend in 2004.  Its goals were to promote local and nationally renowned musicians in a family friendly atmosphere.  In its first year the Festival had an attendance of almost 2,000 people for the one-day event.  In 2005 the festival expanded to a two-day event with attendance being over 3,000 each day making this event the largest Jazz Festival in Central Wisconsin in just two years!  In 2007, the Festival gained new management and became Riverfront Jazz Festival LLC, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a new focus: to generate scholarship funds for local college music students.  Under the first year of new management over $4000 was split amongst the scholarship recipients.  In 2011, Riverfront Jazz Festival plans on supporting scholarships for the UW-Stevens Point Jazz Music Department.

The festival begins at 4:00pm on Saturday, September 3^rd, with Festival veteran, Tom Guillon, the saxophone extraordinaire from La Crosse.  At 6:00pm Wayne Salzmann, UWSP alum, will showcase his new group from Austin TX, the Gabriel Santiago Trio, who will share their Brazilian based compositions.  Internationally known jazz vocalist, Typhanie Monique, from Chicago will close Saturday’s performances starting at 8:00pm.  On Sunday, September 4^th, the cool, contemporary ensemble from Chicago, Jeru, will start the evening off at 4:00pm.  Bay City Swing, the ever-popular Green Bay Area Big Band will have you swing dancing starting at 6:00pm.  The festival’s final performance will begin at 8:00pm on Sunday with the legendary bassist, Eddie Gomez.

If you’re thinking about coming down to Pfiffner Park over the weekend, feel free to bring blankets and chairs; there’ll be plenty of food from local vendors for purchase. This Labor Day weekend make your plans to bring your family to the Riverfront Jazz Festival, and just kick back and enjoy what you hear.  It’ll be a special treat that you won’t need to drive far for, and it’s totally FREE!

Calling All Dancers and Singers!!!

WE WANT YOU FOR THE BOOP REVUE!

WHAT IS THE BOOP REVUE?
The Betty Boop Festival Revue is a musical revue set to be presented during the Betty Boop Festival running July 28^th, 29^th, 30^th & 31^st  2011

WHERE WILL IT BE?
The show will be presented at the Gilbert & Jaylee Mead Auditorium/Wisconsin Rapids Community Theater  in the Centralia Center – 220 Third Ave. So.  Wisconsin Rapids, WI. 54494

 AUDITIONS:

Auditions are slated for
Wednesday, May 25^th, 2011
Thursday, May 26^th, 2011

with call backs on Friday, May 27^th, 2011
starting time will be at 6pm each night.

Rehearsal would start June 1^st, 2011 – most evenings with no more than 3 hours

WHAT TO BRING/PREPARE:

Singers: prepare a song that shows off your vocal range. Bring your sheet music and have ready.  If you have recorded music, please bring your own player,  etc.

Dancers:  be prepared to learn a small combo if you have tap shoes, bring them…if not, have proper shoes for moving..

Singer/Dancers: if you can and want to do both, please read above and plan accordingly.

WHO YOU WILL BE AUDITIONING FOR:
Joel Goodness – Director/Choreographer/Producer

Joel has been working professionally for over 20+ years in theater…from Broadway – original cast of Crazy For You, Television, Film, etc. dancing in the Tony Awards, Kennedy Center Honors and the Academy Awards shows to name a few. Originally from Wisconsin Rapids, WI., Joel attended Assumption High School and  graduated from the UW-Stevens Point receiving one of the first self-made degrees in Musical Theater.