Autumn arts lineup offers art, music, theater and more By BILL BERRY of the Gazette So here we are, at the cusp of the seasons, with summer not quite spent, and autumn not yet served. Still, there's no denying the general trends. Nights are longer and cooler, schools are opening, and footballs are flying. Autumn brings new schedules and routines. It also brings changes to the area entertainment scene. The outdoor musical events of the summer give way to indoor shows. Community performing arts groups and their counterparts at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UW-SP) are pretty much dormant in the summer, but they quickly swing into gear in the fall. The return of UW-SP students not only pulls down the average age of the community, but it adds excitement and a whole lot of events to community calendars. Nightclubs that provide live entertainment respond in kind, and they offer up plenty of musical options for the young people looking to be entertained. Here's a bit of a summary of what some area groups have planned as they gear up for autumn and beyond. If your group isn't listed here, don't despair. Contact us at The Gazette and we'll make sure you get a mention in a later edition. Well, before frost kisses the pumpkins, best to get on with this. Here goes… Monteverdi Master Chorale The Chorale is an acclaimed regional ensemble with more than 70 singers from four counties in central Wisconsin. Rehearsals are held on Sunday evenings in Stevens Point. The Chorale is gearing up for its 14th season. Performances will include a Christmas concert, "Christmas with the Monteverdi Master Chorale," on Dec. 8-10. It will feature "Wachet Auf," by Bach. A spring concert, "Americana," will celebrate the country's history with hymns, folk songs and work songs. It will be held April 28-29. For more information about the Chorale, or to schedule an audition, call Sarah at 343-0183. Central Wisconsin Area Community Theater "Making entertainment a part of life!" proclaims one of the Central Wisconsin Area Community Theater's (cwACT) brochures. That's what this community theater group does, too. The upcoming season offers three performances. The 2000-01 season opens with "The Boyfriend," Oct. 27-29. All cwACT performances are at Sentry Theater. "The Boyfriend" is described as a witty and stylish cartoon of the Jazz Age and "a good-humored, tuneful and affectionate valentine to the Charleston, cloche hat and short skirt days of the roaring '20s." Other shows in the coming season will be Bernard Shaw's "Arms and the Man," Feb. 16-19, and "Moon Over Buffalo," May 18-20. The mission of cwACT is "To provide quality theater entertainment for the community to provide as many people as possible the opportunity to participate in theater, produce shows the public wants to see and promote community involvement. We aim to be educating to participants and audiences alike. We aim to put on good plays and musicals, and we try to choose good family entertainment." The group welcomes participation in a variety of areas. For more information, call 341-6744, or write cwACT, P.O. Box 584, Stevens Point, Wis., 54481. Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra "I never leave a performance without feeling like I have experienced music" says Stevens Point educator Sharon Morell in a testimonial for the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra (CWSO). Music Director Eric Townell and the CWSO will usher in the group's 52nd season with a program titled "Bach and Harbach" on Oct. 14-15, at Sentry Theater. Shows begin at 7:30. This performance will feature the symphony and Barbara Harbach on harpsichord. Harbach is a world-class performer who joins the music faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point this fall. Her collaboration with the symphony orchestra will include works by Dittersdorf, Bach and Schumann. Four other programs will be offered. They include "Rags to Riches…On His Own," featuring pianist Rich Ridenour, Nov. 4-5; Celebrate the Season," with violinist Frank Almond, Dec. 2-3; "Wildly Wonderful," with Molly Roseman and Matt Hill on piano and Pam Corcoran, puppeteer, March 10-11; and "Music for Stage and Screen," the annual choral event, with the Central Wisconsin Symphony Chorus, April 21-22. Sponsors for this year's programs include The Worth Co., The CWSO Guild, The Holiday Inn, St. Michael's Hospital and Rice Medical Center, Bank One, Judge's Cleaner's, Consolidated Papers Foundation and Sentry Insurance. More information on CWSO is available by calling 345-2976. The e-mail address is cwso@pointonline.net. UW-SP Performing Arts "The World Is Ours" is the title of Justus Paul's 1994 history of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Those were also the first words on the telegram from Madison that announced the selection of Stevens Point as the site of the state's sixth normal school in July 1893. The university's Performing Arts Series is one of many examples of why those words are true to this day. The series offers eight performances this year, four each in the concert and fine arts programs. Four fall events will kick off the series for 2000-01. Dan Ebbers, tenor, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25, at Michelsen Concert Hall in the Fine Arts Center at UW-SP. Ebbers is a UW-SP graduate who has gone on to gain critical acclaim in the opera world. "Steel Pier" at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at Sentry Theater will bring to life the glittering romance and desperation of the dance marathon craze in the 1930s. An array of period dances will be performed, including the Charleston, Lindy, Castle Walk, Susie Q, Turkey Trot, Black Bottom Sugar, Rhumba, Castle Polka, Shimmy and the Waltz. Robert Shannon, a pianist noted for his performances of 20th century American works, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21, at Michelsen Hall. Chamber music by a world-renowned orchestra visits on Nov. 16. The Berlin Chamber Orchestra will visit Stevens Point for a 7:30 p.m. show at Sentry Theater. Four more shows are scheduled in March and April 2001. Tickets for performances can be ordered by phone or mail, and you can charge your tickets over the phone. Tickets can also be held for pick up at the event. Call 346-4100 or 800-838-3378 for further details. UW-SP Theater and Dance Five major presentations highlight the Mainstage 2000-01 series presented by University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Theater and Dance in the Fine Arts Center. Two presentations take place this autumn. "Reckless" will be presented Oct. 6-8 and 12-14. The Craig Lucas play will be directed by Ellen Margolis. "Sweet Charity," a musical by Cy Coleman based on a book by Neil Simon, will be presented Nov. 10-12 and 15-18. The play will be directed by Kenneth Risch with musical direction by Roger Nelson. In addition, "After Images," a student-directed and choreographed dance concert, will be presented Dec. 7-9. Other shows this season will include "The Doctor In Spite of Himself," a Moliere play directed by Stephen Smith, on Feb. 23-25 and March 1-3; "Weird Romance, " a musical directed by Stephen Sherman with musical direction by Roger Nelson, on April 6-8 and 19-21; and the annual "Danstage," featuring performances by UW-SP students, on May 4-6 and 10-12. Season and individual tickets are available. Call 346-4100 or 800-838-3378 to order tickets. More UW-SP Entertainment An array of events presented by UW-SP Campus Activities and Recreation aims at entertaining UW-SP students and the general public. It's a full schedule with many events taking place at The Encore in the University Center. Here's a sampler of some of the fall events at The Encore: "Fade To Shade" plays electric rock, jazz and funk at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7; Comedy Sportz, an improvisational comedy troupe, will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8; Schrodinger's Cat performs big beat a cappella at 8 p.m. Sept. 12; comedienne Renee Hicks will perform at 8 p.m. Sept. 15; and the Willy Porter Band performs at 8 p.m. Sept. 16. You get the idea, right? Shows and concerts will continue throughout the year. Keep track of them weekly in The Gazette. Portage County Library The Portage County Public Library offers a variety of events throughout the year. A couple of events in September will help get things cooking. Especially since cooking is the theme. The first program will feature Wisconsin food columnist and cookbook author Grace Howaniec. "A Food Writer: Is It Really the Best Job in the World … From Farm Kitchen to Freelance Writer," will be presented at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, in the Pinery Room at the Charles M. White Library Building. The free program is sponsored by the Wisconsin Academy's Center for the Book and is made possible with funding from the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, with additional support from the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress. Area award-winning cooks will be featured at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, also in the Pinery Room. Shelly Platten, Kathy Groshek and Bernice Janowski will present a program titled "How to Enter, Prepare for and Win Cooking Contests." Favorite recipes and food samples will be provided. Fall Bazaars, Dinners Ah, the warmth, aroma and old-fashioned fun at fall bazaars and dinners. The first announcement to come in the door is from St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1919 Wyatt Ave. St. Paul will host a Fall Bazaar from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9. It will include a rummage sale, craft items and home-baked goods. Vendors will also be on hand to display their wares. Proceeds go to the St. Paul Youth ICMS National Youth Gathering 2001. More information is available at 344-5664. The Gazette looks forward to letting people know about those events. Send the information along to us, and we'll get the word out.