Menomonie Theater Guild presents

Divergence:
Double Bill

A Double Bill featuring
The Zoo Story
by Edward Albee
The Coming World
by Christopher Shinn

Friday, July 30
7:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 31
7:00 p.m.

Tickets Before July 24
$8.00 All Ages
After July 24
$10.00 Adults; $8.00 Seniors & Students

Both performances contain adult content and language and are not intended for young children.

The Zoo Story
Starring: Shane Leonard as Peter and Josh Salt as Jerry
Absurdity vs. realism, self vs.society, and human connection vs. apathy are just a few of the contrasting themes abundant in The Zoo Story by Edward Albee. Prepare to ask yourself thought provoking questions as you watch Peter and Jerry struggle to make contact with each other.

The Coming World
Starring: Annie Kjar as Dora and Taylor Johnson as Ed/Ty
How do we deal with love and loss? When we have no love in our lives Is it better to have something or nothing? In Christopher Shinn's The Coming World we explore life's most complicated struggle: relationships. When Dora and her ex-boyfriend Ed begin to argue his twin brother Ty becomes a vessel to explore what Dora's life could have been like.

These two thought-provoking one act plays will be performed one after another with a brief intermission in between. The event is produced by the Menomonie Theater Guild as a fundraiser for their performing arts scholarships. All profits raised will go directly to MTG scholarships for students pursuing a career in the performing arts. Due to the interpretational nature of the productions there will also be a brief talk-back with the cast and director following each performance on the stage. Also there will be a special art show based on each of the plays on sale in the public room before each performance and during intermission.

Ellen Whyte &
Sue Orfield Band

Friday, August 13
7:30 p.m.
$15 Adults; $13 Senior/Student;

To hear the music of Ellen Whyte click on this link: www.ellenwhyte.com

Ellen Whyte has just released her fourth album, appropriately titled: Four Way Stop, a soaring achievement from an accomplished singer songwriter. Long time Portland, Oregon KINK FM 102 Blues Show radio personality, Bob Ancheta raved that it gave him "goose bumps!"

Ellen has fronted bands continuously now for 30 years, as she has three critically acclaimed albums in addition to the latest effort. She was captivated by music since she was a child growing up in Fort Lauderdale Florida. Leaving the humidity and the taffeta dresses of her accordion marching band behind, Ellen branched out to blue grass, gospel, rock, blues and jazz. Her eclectic tastes in music include heroes such as Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Joni Mitchell, and Bonnie Raitt.

Ellen is known for her astonishing vocals, as she gracefully moves among genres from blues to jazz to funk and ballads. Her percussive rhythm guitar work is well suited to her voice, and she plays solo, in duos and trios, up to a full nine piece band complete with a horn section. She's won numerous awards for her work, including consideration for two Grammy Award nominations in 1999.

Speaking of such, Grammy award producer Dennis Walker had this to say after working on the third CD, Standing at the Sunrise: "She not only sings like an angel, but brings her own styling and phrasing to every song that is completely individual. Thank God for Ellen Whyte who is one of the last few who can still sing blues and pop and jazz, and still stand up on a stage and sing big band standards with the best of them."

Ellen, guitarist Garry Meziere, and her husband John Mullin, have collaborated with veteran musicians - "The 'A' List Commandos," as Ellen likes to refer to them - to produce a sophisticated, yet accessible sound that synchs up well with thoughtful and emotionally infused lyrics.

Juliana Schmidt's School of Music Student Recital

Saturday, August 14
7:00 p.m.
Free; suggested good will donation to support student scholarships

To learn more about Juliana Schmidt click on this link: www.anoldsweetsong.com

Juliana is always looking for a place to "play", as she calls it, and her varied performance background attests to that fact. She has performed in museums, churches, theaters, libraries, historical markers, university auditoriums, arts centers, tent shows, nursing homes, senior centers, and even at the top of a brewery! She has sung for Americana and heritage festivals, on concert and recital series, for fundraisers, as entertainment at conferences and dinners, as soloist at choral concerts, in many cities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Michigan and Arkansas.

Menomonie Theater Guild's
Red Cedar Youth Stage presents

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

August 20, 21, 27 & 28
7:30 p.m.

August 21 & 28
2:00 p.m.

$15.00 Adults; $11.00 Seniors & Students
Family Pack of 4 Tickets
purchased before August 14 ONLY $39.00!

To learn more about Menomonie Theater Guild and ReCYS click on this link: www.menomonietheaterguild.com

This summer, MTG's Red Cedar Youth Stage launches its exciting new summer youth mentorship program. Two casts (one comprised of high school/college age performers and the other comprised of elementary and middle school students) will spend the summer working together to prepare this beloved musical. A poignant and humorous show for the whole family!

A day in the life of Charlie Brown includes fun, laughter and musical numbers including My Blanket and Me, The Kite, The Baseball Game, Little Known Facts, Suppertime and Happiness. Join the Peanuts gang in this fast paced, lighthearted musical, guaranteed to please audiences of all ages!