Heartland Festival News

Heartland Festival Final Weekend

2009-08-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

PLATTEVILLE: The 2009 Heartland Festival closes on Sunday August 9. Final performances include The Producers, Forever Plaid, And The Killer Is…, and You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown.

“Audiences have been extremely enthusiastic,” according to John Hassig, Executive Director for the Heartland Festival. “I’ve been getting lots of phone calls, emails and have been stopped on the street by well wishers. People are absolutely thrilled with all the shows in this season. In fact, a few people have declared our production of The Producers as good as some of the national Broadway tours we have had in the CFA during the Performing Arts Series.”

“I’m very proud of the season we have this year. Each show has its own challenges, but we have an extremely talented group of people assembled here and it will be sad when the season ends. Our ninth season has certainly been an artistic success and I hope people don’t let these shows slip by without seeing them,” Hassig added.

Tickets remain for all shows. Tickets are available through the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or tickets.uwplatt.edu.

Heartland presents 'Godspell Jr.'

2009-08-01T11:46:00.000-07:00

PLATTEVILLE– The biblical musical “Godspell Jr.” was performed on July 24 and 25 at the Center for Arts on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus. The performance is part of the Heartland Festival, which is in its ninth year of bringing theatrical productions to summertime Platteville. A cast of middle and high school-aged actors sprinkled the teachings of Jesus with singing, choreography and humor to provide a charming and entertaining version of the Gospel according to Matthew.

“Godspell Jr.” featured retellings of familiar parables followed by musical numbers. The tale of the Prodigal Son, the Sermon on the Mount and the Last Supper were among the biblical scenes recreated in the production. During many scenes, cast members often found themselves at odds with each other, arguing and hitting each other. The character of Jesus, played by David Schoonover, quelled the discord with a parable or declaration. Cast members also occasionally took turns retelling Jesus’ lessons and quieting the arguing cast members. The musical numbers that followed each parable scene drew from a wide variety of influences; hints of rock and roll, blues and show tunes could be heard throughout the performances. The play concluded with a depiction of Jesus’ crucifixion, before cast members joined for a final song.

During the play’s final song, a second performance of “Day by Day,” the audience was clapping and singing with the cast. Joie Schoonover, of Platteville, came to opening night to watch her son’s performance as Jesus. “The whole ensemble did a great job, and everyone worked really well together.” said Schoonover. “I think that’s very important in a show that involved a bunch of kids.”

Peter Melby of Montfort also had kind words for the performance and the Heartland Festival in general. “We come every year, and we’ve seen every show this year except ‘And The Killer Is…’. I thought this was an excellent play, especially considering the age of the actors. The singing and choreography were phenomenal.” said Melby.

The Heartland Festival is running through the first week of August. Visit www.uwplatt.edu/arts/heartland for more information. Tickets are available through the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or www.uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa/information/office.html

MCT Pied Piper

2009-08-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

The citizens of Hamelin town paid a visit to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville this weekend with performances of “The Pied Piper.” The performances, facilitated by the Missoula Children’s Theatre, were part of the Heartland Festival’s summer line-up.

The musical was performed on Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18 in the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall, located in the Center for the Arts on the UWP campus.

“The Pied Piper” musical is based on the century-old children’s tale of Sara, an orphan girl, and the other citizens of Hamelin town. They turn to the mayor and his council when their town is threatened by a rat infestation. The mayor then calls upon the Pied Piper to save the town from the troublesome creatures. When the town is unable to pay the Piper, he leads the children away from Hamelin town, along with the rats.

The Missoula Children’s Theatre is headquartered in Missoula, Mont. It consists of directors who travel across the United States and work with children in selected areas to practice and give performances.

The Heartland Festival pre-registered children for the Missoula Children’s Theatre’s “Pied Piper” performance beginning in March. Directors worked with 60 children from the communities of Baraboo, Barneveld, Belmont, Blanchardville, Boscobel, Cuba City, Dodgeville, Fennimore, La Crosse, Lancaster, Montfort, Platteville, Rewey and Spring Green.

The children, ages 6 to 18, attended rehearsals at UWP for a week before the performances. In addition to the rehearsals and workshops, the children attended a performance of Heartland Festival’s, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”
For more information, or to purchase tickets for other Heartland shows, contact the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu.

UWP Heartland’s 'Godspell Jr.' features cast of local middle and high school talent

2009-07-22T06:42:00.000-07:00

PLATTEVILLE — In March, auditions were held on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus for the Heartland Festival’s production of “Godspell Jr.” Area middle and high school students auditioned for roles in the bible-based musical. Four months later, the 27-member cast and crew have started preparations for performances of “Godspell Jr., which will be held on Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25.

Directing “Godspell Jr.” is Ann Farrelly, UWP theater department faculty member. The musical director for the show is Lori Hillery-Hassig, K-12 music instructor in the Cuba City school district.

"Godspell Jr." is based on the gospel of St. Matthew and is a celebration of the life and teachings of Jesus, from his baptism to his death on the cross. It has been produced thousands of times since it was written in 1970. “With a nation at war, and a generation attempting to make sense of that war, ‘Godspell’ offered a message of peace and hope,” said Farrelly.

According to Farrelly, "Godspell Jr." creates an entertaining and powerful story of a teacher who implores his friends to "love one another", "judge not lest you be judged," and "be the light of the world."

The musical will be held in the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall in the Center for the Arts, located on the UWP campus. All performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for UWP students with a valid ID or individuals under the age of 18. Tickets are available through the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu.

UWP's Heartland cast brings Mel Brooks musical to life during opening night of ‘The Producers’

2009-07-17T07:44:00.000-07:00

PLATTEVILLE – The curtain opened on the evening of Friday, July 10 as the audience awaited the first performance of University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Heartland Festival show “The Producers.” Audience members were greeted with an intricate set design and a 20-member cast of Heartland performers ready to bring the Mel Brooks musical to life.

“The Producers” is adapted from a 1968 film by Brooks with the same name. The original production opened on Broadway in 2001, starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. It won 12 Tony Awards and was turned into a film in 2005.

The story concerns two theatrical producers, Max Bialystock (played by Paul Helm) and Leo Bloom (Joe Klinebriel), who scheme to get rich by producing a Broadway flop. Complications arise when the show unexpectedly turns out to be successful.

John Putnam, a UWP graduate and former Heartland performer, thought “The Producers” had an interesting combination of elements. “This show is really a throw-back to the 1950s style of big dance numbers and classic songs but the content is modern,” Putnam said. “The dancing, singing, acting, set design, I think, is the best the Heartland has ever done,” he added.
“The Heartland Festival really pulled this performance off,” said Val Wetzel, assistant director for UWP’s Pioneer Student Center. “It was exciting to see the skills and abilities of local hometown stars making this performance their own.”

This summer, Vivienne Elborne directed “The Producers” and “Forever Plaid” and celebrated her final night with Heartland Festival on Friday, with the opening night of “The Producers.” John Hassig, director of the Heartland Festival, gave a special thanks to Elborne for her involvement with Heartland this year.

Performances of "The Producers" will take place July 26 and Aug. 2 and 5 at 2 p.m and July 15, 19, 22, 31 and Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m. All performances will be held in the Center for the Arts Theatre on the UWP campus. Ticket prices are $18 for adults and $9 for UWP students with a valid ID and individuals under the age of 18. Tickets are available through the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or www.uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa/information/office.html.

UWP’s Heartland brings sounds of the ‘50s to opening night audience of ‘Forever Plaid’

2009-07-04T09:42:00.000-07:00

PLATTEVILLE — The University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Heartland Festival brought audience members back to the nostalgic days of the ‘50s with the opening performance of “Forever Plaid” on June 26.

Paul Helm, Ryan Odorizzi, Jason Slattery and John Hassig used their perfectly harmonic voices to tell the story of a semi-professional harmony group who were killed in 1964, while driving their cherry red mercury camaro to a performance. The show centered around the harmony group, called “The Plaids,” who, now in heaven, gave the audience a chance to see the show they never got to perform.

With assistance from Terry Dillon on the piano and Nadine Enberg on Bass, The Plaids mixed humor with classic songs from the 50’s. Songs included “Three Coins In the Fountain,” “Gotta Be This or That,” “Crazy ‘Bout Ya Baby,” “Catch a Falling Star,” and “Heart and Soul.” The Plaids had audience members playing the bongos in “Caribbean Plaid,” and got audience members involved during “Heart and Soul” by inviting them on stage to assist with piano playing and a little dancing.

Amanda and Alyssa Zasada, twins from Platteville, are big fans of Heartland Festival and Amanda can be seen in the upcoming performance of “Godspell Jr.” They thought “Forever Plaid” was “amazing and hilarious.” “The harmony and barbershop style was so fun to listen to,” they said. “The four ‘Plaids’ had a powerful range and there was such a variety between songs.”

Lori Hillery-Hassig is the musical director of “Godspell Jr.” and came to support her fellow Heartland members, including her husband, John Hassig, who played one of the Plaids and directs the Heartland Festival. “This is the first time I heard the entire group perform together, and they did an unbelievable job,” said Hillery-Hassig. “The harmonies were tight and no one was out of tune.”

There will be more opportunities to enjoy sounds of the ‘50s throughout the summer. Performances of “Forever Plaid” will take place July 5 and 19 at 2 p.m. and July 11,15,16, 23, 25 and 28 at 7:30 p.m., Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. and Aug. 7 at 7:30 p.m. All performances will be held in the Center for the Arts theatre on the UWP campus. Ticket are $19 for adults and $9 for UWP students with a valid ID and individuals under the age of 18. Tickets are available through the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or www.uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa/information/office.html.

Contact: John Hassig, director of UWP Performing and Visual Arts Programs and Facilities, (608) 342-1267, hassigj@uwplatt.edu
Written by: Anne Killian, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, killiana@uwplatt.edu

Producers preview (TH)

2009-07-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

Article Originally Appeared in the Telegraph Herald

Play: "The Producers," musical comedy

Performers: The Heartland Festival at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Times/dates: 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 10; Wednesday, July 15; Sunday, July 19; Wednesday, July 22; Friday, July 31; Sunday, Aug. 2 and Wednesday, Aug. 5. 2 p.m. Sunday, July 26 and Aug. 9

Site: Center for the Arts, UW-P

Cost: $18 adults, $9 for students younger than 18; show is for mature audiences

synopsis

What it's about: Adapted from Mel Brooks' cult classic comedy film, the story centers on Max Bialystock (Paul Helm) and Leo Bloom (Joe Klinebriel), two theatrical producers who scheme to get rich by overselling interests in a Broadway flop. But their show, "Springtime for Hitler," is an unexpected success.

Quotable: From director Vivienne Elborne, "If you're looking for thoughtful drama, this isn't it. It has Mel Brooks' zany humor at its heart."

"It's a large show to put on with a huge number of costumes and a large set with a lot of set changes."

"It's a different direction for Heartland. This is not a family show, but for adults, it's hilarious. It makes fun of every ethnic and social group, but it's very tastefully done."

"It's a huge team effort, on stage and behind the scenes. The audience will pick up on it."

Tidbits

* Except for the six principal characters, everyone else in the cast of 20 has at least four roles to play.

* The Broadway production starred Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick.

* It opened on Broadway April 19, 2001 and ran for 2,502 performances, winning a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards.

By Sandye Voight

UWP's Heartland to showcase children's tale of 'The Pied Piper'

2009-07-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Heartland Festival will welcome the Missoula Children's Theatre on Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18 as they present the classic children's tale of "The Pied Piper." Children from surrounding communities will showcase their acting skills during the performances.

The Missoula Children's Theatre is headquartered in Missoula, Mont. It consists of directors who travel across the United States and work with children in selected areas to practice and give final performances.

The Heartland Festival pre-registered children for the Missoula Children's Theatre's "Pied Piper" performance beginning in March. Directors will work with 60 children from the communities of Baraboo, Barneveld, Belmont, Blanchardville, Boscobel, Cuba City, Dodgeville, Fennimore, La Crosse, Lancaster, Monfort, Platteville, Rewey and Spring Green. The children, ages 6 to 18, will attend rehearsals at UWP for a week before the performances. In addition to the rehearsals and workshops, the children will attend a performance of the Heartland Festival's, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown."

"The Pied Piper" features Sara, an orphan girl, and the townspeople of Hamelin, whose town becomes overrun with ravenous rats. They call upon the Pied Piper to save them from the troublesome creatures but more problems occur when the town is unable to pay the Pied Piper.

Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. on July 17 and 2 p.m. on July 18. Ticket prices are $6 for adults and $3 for UWP students with a valid ID or individuals under the age of 18. Tickets are available through the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu. "The Pied Piper" will be held in the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall located in the Center for the Arts on the UWP campus.

UWP's Heartland Festival prepares for opening night of 'The Producers'

2009-06-26T08:52:00.001-07:00

The Heartland Festival, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Center for the Arts, will present the Broadway musical "The Producers" beginning on July 10. Performances will be held in the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall in the Center for the Arts on the UWP campus. The musical is adapted from Mel Brooks' classic cult comedy film and sets the standard for modern, outrageous, in-your-face humor, centered on characters Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom played by Paul Helm of Wind Lake and Joesph Klinebriel from Dubuque, Iowa.

The story concerns two theatrical producers who scheme to get rich by overselling interests in a Broadway flop. Complications arise when the show they produce, "Springtime for Hitler," unexpectedly turns out to be successful.

The original production opened on Broadway on April 19, 2001, starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, and ran for 2,502 performances, winning a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards.

The Heartland Festival production features direction and music direction by Vivienne Elborne, assistant music director Helm, orchestra direction by Barry Ellis and choreography by Connie SaLoutos Furlan. Sets are by Matthew Evans, lights by Michel Kimmel and Lisa Weinshrott.

Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on July 10, 15, 19, 22, 31 and Aug. 2 and 5. Performances will be at 2 p.m. on July 26 and Aug. 9. Ticket prices are $18 for adults and $9 for UWP students with a valid ID and individuals under the age of 18. The show is for mature audiences only. Tickets are available through the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or tickets.uwplatt.edu.

Contact: John Hassig, director, UWP Performing and Visual Arts, Programs and Facilities, (608) 342-1267, hassigj@uwplatt.edu Written by: Anne Killian, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, killiana@uwplatt.edu

UWP alumnus shares images of Korean conflict at reception on July 10

2009-06-26T08:46:00.000-07:00

PLATTEVILLE - The city of Platteville will host the Moving Wall memorial in July and the Heartland Festival welcomes the memorial with an event that will showcase the work of University of Wisconsin-Platteville alumnus Lyle Novinski. A photography exhibit titled "Korea Remembered, Then and Now" will be displayed at the Harry and Laura Nohr Gallery on the UWP campus from Monday, July 6 through Friday, Sept. 18, with an opening reception on July 10 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Half of Novinski's exhibit will show 20 by 30 color images from Korea during the time of the Korean conflict and the other half will show Korea as it is today. "Some of the images are shot from the same location, showing the enormous economic growth and restoration over 50 years," said Novinski.

These haunting images by Novinski capture the face of a nation, its land and its people. The photographs carry their own story apart from personal memories of time and place. In the long 50 year view, the content emerges on its own, supported by the consciously composed images - a soldier's view, but an artist's camera.

Novinski graduated from UWP in 1956 with majors in English and Industrial Arts. He was in the military from 1953 to 1955 where he served during the Korean conflict. He was a professor of art at the University of Dallas Constantin College of Liberal Arts for 40 years, specializing in sacred art, and has been nominated for Piper Professor twice and awarded sabbaticals. Novinski retired two years ago and is named Emeritus Professor. He was honored with the UWP Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1992.

The reception and exhibition are free to attend and all are welcome to experience "Korea Remembered, Then and Now." Novinski will be present at the reception. For more information, contact Denee Hirsch, director of development, major gifts, UWP Foundation, at (608) 342-1969 or hirschd@uwplatt.edu.

UWP’s Heartland Festival presents ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’

2009-06-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Heartland Festival brought the comic strip, Peanuts, to life on Friday, June 18 with the opening night of the musical comedy, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” The comedy, which opened on Broadway in 1999, is a fresh approach to the comic strip by Charles M. Schulz and incorporates song and dance routines into cut-and-pasted scenes of the actual comic strip. Sally Brown, Linus, Lucy, Schroeder and Snoopy all joined Charlie Brown in the revival version presented at the Heartland Festival.

The show began with the entire company coming to the stage to sing ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.’ The cast then broke down and performed many memorable scenes from the Peanuts comic strip, such as Charlie Brown and his team losing a baseball game – complete with helpful tips from Lucy – Snoopy attacking the Red Baron, Linus’s blanket and Lucy’s psychological advice booth where Charlie Brown frequented quite often. The show ended with the entire cast again, who sang a song about happiness.

After the show, the cast members remained on stage for a short talkback during which they answered questions about the show from members of the audience. Following the talkback, the audience was invited to the lobby to meet the cast members and enjoy a piece of Dairy Queen ice cream cake – an opening night tradition.

The audience for opening night included both adults and children of all ages. Barb LaGrande, a resident of Platteville who has attended many performances on the UWP campus, brought her three grandchildren to see the musical.

“I thought it would be a fun experience,” said LaGrande. “Musicals like ‘Charlie Brown’ are not only entertaining, but they expand knowledge. In the car, my grandchildren were asking, ‘Who is Charlie Brown?’ This musical was a fun way for them to be exposed to new things.”

Bryan Kerian, a UWP theatre student and an ensemble cast member of “The Producers,” a Heartland Festival show premiering on Friday, July 10, also came to see the show and support his fellow cast mates.

“It’s is really nice to see what the people working on ‘The Producers’ with me are doing and to see the final result of what else they are working on,” said Kerian. “The cast of the musical brought a blend of humor to it that everyone was able to enjoy.”

Not just the audience members, but the actors in the musical equally enjoyed the performance.

“Our nerves were running high,” said Jillian Kates, and Ohio native who played Sally Brown in the play. “We’ve been rehearsing together and laughing at our own jokes and we thought they were getting old. But we had such an excellent audience for opening night, so the performance went great.”

The director and musical director, Paul Helm, and the cast also had fun using their creative juices to make additions to the original Charlie Brown material. They added a reference to the musical, “Wicked,” added a James Bond move to the rabbit-chasing scene and also paid tribute to the Platteville Dairy Queen, a sponsor of the UWP Heartland Festival, by adding the Dairy Queen logo in the play.

“The opening of Charlie Brown was excellent!" Said John Hassig Executive Director of the Heartland Festival. "Great cast, great music, beautiful lights, set and costumes – a great evening for the whole family to enjoy. Schultz had many life lessons in his work that continue to ring true. People should not miss this show.”

There will be more opportunities to see Charlie Brown and the gang this summer. Shows will be held on June 20 and 27, July 11 and 45 and Aug. 2 and 8 at 2 p.m.; July 5, 21 and 29 and Aug. 4 at 7:30 p.m.; and July 18 at 10 a.m. Ticket prices are $18 for adults and $9 for UWP students with a valid ID and individuals under the age of 18. Tickets are available through the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or at www.uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa/information/office.html.

The Arts Come Alive In Platteville-365 INK

2009-06-19T05:33:00.000-07:00

by Tim Brechlin
Originally Appeared in 365 Ink

Without a doubt, one of the most defining aspects of our Tri-State area is its endlessly vibrant artistic scene, from visual arts like painting to filmmaking to music to theatre, so on and so forth, it’s safe to say that no matter the time of year, there’s always something going on. (Heck, that’s the entire reason that this fine publication you’re reading exists in the first place!) But while there’s always something happening during throughout the year, it goes without saying that for us Tri-State residents, the summer is something of a special time of year. The weather’s great, we’re out on the river, we’re enjoying festivals, what have you. One such festival happens to take place up in the wild green yonder of Platteville, Wisconsin, and it’s quietly become one of the biggest annual celebrations of art, music and theatre in the Tri-States. I speak, of course, of the University of Wisconsin - Platteville’s annual Heartland Festival.

The Heartland Festival, now in its ninth season, traces its roots back to 2001, according to festival director and UW-P Center for the Arts director John Hassig, who was gracious enough to take some time out of a hectic rehearsal schedule to speak with 365 about the festival.

“I think the real impetus behind the creation of the Heartland Festival was the annual Shakespeare festival that had been run yearly here at the University,” Hassig explains. “There was a feeling that the festival had run its course, but without it, the summer here at the University was idle. There was kind of an outcry of need for something to be happening here on campus. Some summer concerts were held, and they got a good response, and after that, the music department was asked by the Chancellor (David Markee, who retired after the just-completed school year) to develop a new event building on that idea.”

The first Heartland Festival comprised a wide variety of the arts, including a play, an art exhibit and a few other concerts. It steadily grew from there, though Hassig didn’t join the festival until the second season, when he became the director of the Center for the Arts, and didn’t become the director of the Heartland Festival until the original director stepped down prior to the fourth season.

When he took over the festival in 2004, Hassig had a clear idea of what he wanted to do with it in order to move it forward.

“I’ve always envisioned the Heartland Festival to be a kind of mini-summer stock theatre event,” he says. (Summer stock theatre is pretty much what the name suggests -- a theatrical production, or series of productions, presented only during the summertime.) “I really felt we could do a pseudo-summer stock, utilizing the cream of the crop of local talent, pairing them with regional and national professionals, and doing it all while keeping it reasonably priced.”

Summer stock theatre has seen its heyday come and go, of course, with the advent of television, movies, and seemingly every other entertainment medium we see today. But Hassig isn’t daunted by that. “With summer theatre, if you’re going to bring someone inside on a beautiful summer day -- and here in the Tri-States, we definitely have beautiful summer days -- you’d better have a good reason to do it,” he says. “That’s why we focus not necessarily on high art or the most deep-thinking shows you’ll ever see, but we’re telling great stories, and offering a bit of an escape for the audience. Really, that’s a big part of what theatre is, the escapism.”

Over the years, UW-Platteville has seen the success of the Heartland Festival grow “exponentially,” in Hassig’s words.

“In 2003, we drew around 3,000 people to the festival through the summer,” he says. “In 2008, we drew 6,000. When you keep in mind that we can only fit just a few hundred people, at most, in our theaters... well, that’s a lot of people, and that continued success allows us to continue increasing the quality of our shows. For example, last year, we did a production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, and that’s a show whose national touring company we brought in a few years ago for a performance. Without a doubt, I would have put our production of it up against that professional tour.”

This year, the Heartland Festival is continuing last year’s mix of shows, including a children’s show (You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown), a murder mystery (And the Killer Is...), a musical (Forever Plaid) ... as well as the hit Broadway spectacle that took home more Tony awards than any other show in history: The Producers.

“I always try for a little bit of growth every year, but not too much,” says Hassig. “We don’t want to bite off more than we can chew. This year, with The Producers ... well, that’s a big Broadway show, it’s huge, it has to be big by definition. We’re sparing no expense on it, ensuring that we put on the spectacle that it deserves.”

The Producers, of course, is the musical based on Mel Brooks’ 1970s movie of the same name and premise, wherein a struggling Broadway producer and an ambitious accountant embark on a scheme to shock Broadway and laugh all the way to the bank. (To say anything more would ruin the surprise, now, wouldn’t it?)

“For this show, we’ve gone to some longterm, core crew members, lighting and set people who have been with us for a long time,” Hassig says. “They’re go-to people, really, just a great crew. And the show is just so funny.”

(Oh, and please don’t take the recent film adaptation of The Producers as your baseline on whether or not to see the play. That movie was an abomination. Trust me.)

Of And the Killer Is..., a play revolving garound an awards show for actors in bit roles who would kill, literally, for a moment in the spotlight, Hassig says audiences can expect to just enjoy themselves.

“It’s an audience-participation murder mystery, and it’s a very intimate setting,” he says. “It’s got just a ridiculous script, and it’s a great time.”

Regarding Forever Plaid, Hassig says it’s a “charming standard,” and also notes with a laugh that it’s the one play of the year where he has a chance to sneak himself into the cast. The Heartland Festival is also showing a by-kids, for-kids production of Stephen Schwartz’s Godspell Junior (the show that launched the Top 40 hit, “Day by Day”) ... and then, of course, there’s the old classic, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

“It’s the classic story of Charlie Brown, you can’t go wrong with that,” says Hassig. “This is the updated and revised version that premiered in 1999. It’s a great standard of theatre. And it’s geared towards keeping the attention of both adults and kids ... it’s very layered ... like the Shrek movies, in a way, where there are jokes aimed for adults that will fly over the heads of the kids, but help grown-ups have a good time. We have a great director on that who’s adding some nice little touches to ensure that everyone has fun.”

It’s undeniably a big season for Hassig, who is clearly enjoying his work with the festival and showing no signs of being any worse for wear.

“I started at UW-Platteville after leaving Chicago in the mid-summer of 2001, when I took over the CFA, and at that point, marketing the festival was part of my duties,” the Davenport, Iowa, native explains. “It was just a natural extension for me ... I originally went to school to be an actor, but I dropped that after deciding that I couldn’t really live that nomadic lifestyle. I love the Midwest, though, so I know I made the right decision.”

With a true Midwest native at the helm and a cycle of growth that can only continue to go forward, it’s clear that the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Heartland Festival is in good hands. The shows will run all summer long, beginning on Friday, June 12, and ending on August 5 -- it’s definitely a summer full of fun! For a full schedule of events (it’s seriously WAY too long for us to print here!), visit www.uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa, or call 608-342-1298.

Heartland Festival musical opens

2009-06-19T05:14:00.000-07:00

Originally appeared in the Telegraph Herald
Reprinted with permission

"Forever Plaid," musical

Performing group: Heartland Festival

Times/dates: 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 26; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 28; 2 p.m. Sunday, July 5; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 11 and Thursday, July 16; 2 p.m. Sunday, July 19; 7:30 p.m. July 23, Saturday, July 25 and Tuesday, July 28; 2 p.m. Saturday Aug. 1; and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7.

Site: Center for the Arts, University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Cost: $18 for adults and $9 for children younger than 18. Tickets are available through the University Box Office at 608-342-1298 or http://tickets.uwplatt.edu

synopsis

What it's about: Four eager, young singers are killed in a car crash in the 1950s, on the way to their first big concert. They are miraculously revived for one more performance. Each audience has the honor of being their "last" audience.

The performers: Paul Helm, Jason Slattery, John Hassig and Ryan Odorizzi.

The director: Vivienne Elborne

Quotes from the director:

* "It's a lot of close-harmony singing of lots of old songs that the older generation will know and the younger generation should get to know, because it's such good music."

* "This show has run forever in New York and Las Vegas and Chicago. I've done several productions. One interesting thing about audiences is that you find so many repeats. They come back again and again, because no two shows are alike. It develops sort of a cult following."

* "It's my first opportunity to work with John (Hassig, Heartland Festival director and director of the Center for the Arts). I don't know where he gets the time to do it. I've worked with Paul and Jason before (in previous Heartland Festivals). It's the first time with Ryan. These four seem to know it well. We're in for a good run."

Sandye Voight

Actors interact with audience members in Heartland’s ‘And The Killer Is …’

2009-06-17T09:52:00.000-07:00

PLATTEVILLE — The Center for the Arts on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus was set for an evening of mystery, entertainment and fine dining on June 12. It was the Heartland Festival’s opening night of “And The Killer Is …,” a murder-mystery dinner show. Audience members were welcomed to an awards show setting as they entered a rehearsal room turned dinner theater in the CFA.

Tables were set up throughout the room for audience members to sit at for the four-course meal served during the show. The menu consisted of award-winning cream of carrot soup, V.I.P. mesclun green salad with honey dijon vinaigrette, two-bit chicken oscar (chicken breast with crab meat), rice pilaf, killer focaccia bread and a red-carpet gallery of desserts that included strawberry devonshire tart, chocolate peanut butter bon-bons and carrot cake cupcakes. Actors from “And The Killer Is …” came out to greet audience members before the show, getting everyone in the mood before the lights dimmed. Actors also interacted with audience members throughout the performance, from requesting them to write clues on the “clue board” to asking them how their dinner tasted.

The show begins with Donnie Nowell, an actor desperate to get discovered. He and fellow actor Britanni, come up with a scheme to create an awards show and air it on a local cable access station. They call their awards show the Bit-players and Extras Academy Targets Movie Excellence (B.E.A.T.M.E.) awards, for all the often overlooked actors who stand in the backgrounds of the movies. Nowell decides that every big star became famous after winning a prestigious award and the only way to become discovered is for him to win a B.E.A.T.M.E. award.
Nowell and Britanni call upon Nowell’s cousin, the not-entirely-unknown soap opera actor, Jonathan Wayne Barrington, to host the show. When characters Justin Reeves, Margaret Whuha and Bob Schmegley are introduced, the camera starts rolling and the awards show begins.

The deal is sweetened for the actors of the B.E.A.T.M.E. awards when it is discovered that one of the actors will get an offer to play in an upcoming Stephen Spielberg film. The awards show continues until one of the actors dropped dead. With the help of the audience members and a detective, the actors put clues together to figure out who the killer was, creating a humorous and interactive experience for all involved.

John Hassig, Executive Director of the Heartland was pleased with the opening night of the Heartland Festival and described “And The Killer Is …” as a very funny show.

Kady Beekman, who acts in “The Producers” ensemble, attended the show to support her fellow Heartland actors. “I absolutely loved it,” said Beekman. “It was hilarious, every character was well developed and so entertaining.”
Pat Loeffelholz, Carol Weber and Mary Jean Stephens, friends from Cuba City, have attended performances at UWP for many years. They like the quality of Heartland Festival shows, and “And The Killer Is …” was no exception. “It was excellent acting, the food was great and the actors kept the audience involved and in suspense. Everyone around us really seemed to enjoy it too,” said Stephens.

Not just the audience members, but the actors equally enjoyed the performance, “The audience was amazing,” said Ben Barlow, who played Nowell. “Their enthusiasm filled the room; they brought so much energy that it was easy and fun to perform.”

It is UWP professor of performing and visual arts Ann Dillon Farrelly’s second year directing for the Heartland Festival. She is the director for both “And The Killer Is …” and “Godspell Jr.” Farrelly was very happy with how the first performance went. “This was the first time we had an actual audience to perform for and we didn’t know what to expect,” Farrelly said. “The audience made the show work, they were very responsive and made our first performance a success.”

There will be more opportunities this summer to figure out who the killer is. Shows will be held June 20, 27; July 3, 14, 18, 24, 26, 30 and Aug. 1, 6 and 8. All performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the CFA.

Ticket prices include dinner and are $27 for adults and $17 for UWP students with a valid ID and individuals under the age of 18. Tickets are available through the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or www.uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa/information/office.html.
###

UWP’s Heartland Festival presents the ‘heavenly’ hit musical, ‘Forever Plaid’

2009-06-16T06:51:00.000-07:00

PLATTEVILLE — The Heartland Festival, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Center for the Arts, will present “Forever Plaid” beginning on June 26. The “heavenly” hit musical began as an off-Broadway production in 1990 and is now performed around the world.

The critically acclaimed show “Forever Plaid” is an affectionate revue of the close-harmony guy-groups that reached the height of their popularity during the 1950s. The show centers on four young, eager male singers killed in a car crash in the 1950s on the way to their first big concert. They are miraculously revived for the chance to fulfill their dreams and perform the show that never was.
During the performance, the “Plaids” present a program of beloved songs and delightful patter that keeps audiences rolling in the aisles when they’re not humming along to some of the great nostalgic pop hits of the ‘50s.

The cast includes Ryan Odorizzi and John Hassig of Platteville, Paul Helm of Wind Lake and Jason Slattery of Berea, Ohio.

Performances are June 26, July 11, 16, 23, 25, 28 and August 7 at 7:30 p.m., June 28 at 2:30 p.m. and July 5, 19 and Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $18 for adults and $9 for UWP students with a valid ID and individuals under the age of 18. Tickets are available through the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or tickets.uwplatt.edu “Forever Plaid” will be held in the Theatre Hall located in the Center for the Arts on the UWP campus.

UWP’s Heartland Festival welcomes ‘You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown’

2009-06-12T06:33:00.001-07:00

PLATTEVILLE — The Heartland Festival, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Center for the Arts, welcomes, “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” to the lineup, premiering on June 19.

“You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown,” opened on Broadway in 1999. It is a fresh approach to the all-time 1967 classic, based on the ever-popular Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schulz. Heartland will present the updated 1999 revival version where Sally Brown joins Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Schroeder and Snoopy. New songs have been added to the original version as well.

The cast for “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown,” includes Jason Slattery from Berea, Ohio; Kelsey Klug from Sun Prairie; Alexander Mersman from Naperville, Ill.; James Hansen of Waunakee; Sean Hanson from Omaha, Neb.; and Jillian Kates from Berea, Ohio.

Performances will be held on June 19, July 5, 21, 29 and Aug. 4 at 7:30 p.m., June 20, 27, July 11, 25 and Aug. 2 and 8 at 2 p.m. and July 18 at 10 a.m. Ticket prices are $18 for adults and $9 for UWP students with a valid ID and individuals under the age of 18. Tickets are available through the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or tickets.uwplatt.edu “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” will be held in the Theatre located in the Center for the Arts on the UWP campus.

UWP's Heartland Festival begins season with evening of mystery, food and fun

2009-06-12T06:27:00.000-07:00

PLATTEVILLE - The Heartland Festival, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Center for the Arts, will kick off its 2009 season with "And The Killer Is ..." a murder mystery, dinner theater production.

"And The Killer Is ..." comes from the same writing team as last year's production, "Wake Me When I'm Dead." It is described as an audaciously funny "Awards Show" murder mystery. This time, the action is set at an award show for actors who have bit parts (very little speaking parts) in movies. It's not the Oscars, the Emmy's or the SAG Awards; these actors have never been heard of but are dying to be discovered.

The performance centers around an award show produced by the Bit-players and Extras Academy. The actors in the academy must make their mark in a few brief seconds on the screen without the benefit of dialogue. They would practically kill to have their names on the card in that envelope.

The cast for this show includes: Kelsey Klug, Ben Barlow, James Hansen, Joe Klinebriel, Abby Schultz, Sean Hanson and Jillian Kates.

Dinner will be served during the performance, with a menu of award-winning cream of carrot soup, V.I.P. mesclun green salad with honey dijon vinaigrette, two-bit chicken oscar (chicken breast with crab meat), rice pilaf, killer focaccia bread and a red-carpet gallery of desserts that include strawberry devonshire tart, chocolate peanut butter bon-bons and carrot cake cupcakes.

The first performance is June 12 with performances following on June 13, 20 and 27, July 3, 14, 18, 24, 26 and 30 and Aug. 1, 6 and 8. All performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Center for the Arts on the UWP campus. Ticket prices include dinner and are $27 for adults and $17 for individuals under 18 or UWP students with a current ID. Tickets are available through the University Box Office, located on the ground floor of Ullsvik Hall, or at (608) 342-1298 or www.uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa/information/office.html.

TH Article - And The Killer Is...

2009-06-04T11:23:00.000-07:00

'... and the killer is'

Performing group: Heartland Festival

Play: "... and the Killer Is," a murder mystery/dinner theater production

Times/dates: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, June 12-13; Saturday, June 27; Friday, July 3; Tuesday, July 14; Saturday, July 18; Friday, July 24; Sunday, July 26; Thursday, July 30; Saturday, Aug. 1; Thursday, Aug. 6; and Saturday, Aug. 8.

Estimated duration: 2 hours, with dinner and show

Site: Center for the Arts, University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Cost: $27 adults, $17 for children 17 and younger, includes dinner; all tickets for this show must be purchased one business day in advance, at the box office in Ullsvik Hall, 608-342-1298, tickets.uwplatt.edu/public

synopsis

What it's about: It's not the Oscars, the Emmys or the Grammys. The Bit-players and Extras Academy Targets Movie Excellence (BEAT ME) awards is for actors who are only on screen for a few seconds. Actors who aren't good enough to get lines in the first place still want an award ceremony. It's the occasion for a murder mystery.

Quote: "I like these kind of plays because they allow the actors to really get into their parts. There's a sense of an exaggerated character, and it's really fun. It also allows actors to perform very close to the audience and to interact -- not that we want to freak people out -- but it's an experience that everybody is sharing. Plus, the dinner theater pairing is enjoyable and is a good marriage for audiences." -- Ann Farrelly, director

Originally Appeared in the Telegraph Herald
Reprinted with permission

Heartland Festival casting for main stage shows announced

2009-04-21T13:07:00.000-07:00

PLATTEVILLE – The Heartland Festival has announced casting for the 2009 season.

Opening this season is And The Killer Is…a murder mystery, dinner theatre production. The cast for this show include: Kelsey Klug from Sun Prairie, Ben Barlow from Soldiers Grove, James Hansen of Waunakee, Joe Klinebriel and Abby Schultz from Dubuque, Sean Hanson from Omaha, NE and Jillian Kates from Berea OH.

The second performance is the classic family musical You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown. The cast includes: Jason Slattery from Berea, OH, Kelsey Klug from Sun Prairie, Alexander Mersman from Naperville, IL, Hansen, Hanson and Kates.

The critically acclaimed show Forever Plaid is an affectionate revue of the close-harmony "guy groups" that reached the height of their popularity during the 1950s. The cast includes Ryan Odorizzi and John Hassig of Platteville, Paul Helm of Wind Lake, WI and Jason Slattery.

The Producers, the musical comedy, based on the hit Mel Brooks movie of the same name, is the story of a down on his luck Broadway producer and an accountant with dreams of his name in lights. The cast includes: Tiffany Lange, Ryan Odorizzi, Brandon Pink, Kady Beekman, David Schoonover and Tianna Conway of Platteville, Matt Finkenbinder of Monroe, Bryan Kerian of Dodgeville, Ben Barlow from Soldiers Grove, James Hansen of Waunakee, Kelsey Klug from Sun Prairie, Paul Helm of Wind Lake, Joe Klinebriel, Abby Schultz, Joey Stamp of Dubuque, Kayla Holder and Rachel McIntyre of Galena, Alexander Mersman from Naperville, IL, Jillian Kates and Jason Slattery of Berea, OH and Sean Hanson of Omaha.

A downloadable calendar of all performances is posted on the Heartland Festival Website.

Tickets for events will be available beginning April 27 from the University Box Office. The University Box Office is located in newly renovated Ullsvik Hall located at the intersection of Hickory and Main Streets in Platteville. The Box Office is open Monday 8am-5pm, Tuesday 8am-8pm, Wednesday through Friday 8am-5pm and Saturday 10am-2pm. The Office can also be reached by phone by calling (608)-342-1298. Tickets are now available online 24/7 at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu.

For the most up to date information visit Heartland on the web at www.uwplatt.edu/arts/heartland.

Ticket Order Form Posted

2009-04-16T08:44:00.000-07:00

The order form for 2009 has been posted! Sales open officially on April 27.
DOWNLOAD ORDER FORM

Heartland Festival Schedule Announced

2009-04-08T12:45:00.000-07:00

PLATTEVILLE – The Heartland Festival has announced the final performance schedule for the 2009 season.

Opening this season is And The Killer Is…a murder mystery, dinner theatre production. After the runaway success of the 2008 production of Wake Me When I’m Dead audiences were demanding more! More great food, more fun, more mystery and more MURDERS! And The Killer Is… comes from the same writing team as last year’s hit production. This time the action is set at an award show for actors who have bit parts in movies. It is not the Oscars, the Emmy’s or even the SAG Awards – these are the actors you’ve never heard of – but they are dying to be discovered! Performances are June 12, 13, 20 and 27, July 3, 14, 18, 24, 26 and 30, August 1, 6 and 8. All performances of And The Killer Is are at 7:30pm.

The second performance is the classic family musical You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown. Based on the legendary comic strip by Charles Schultz, Peanuts, this show is fun for the whole family. Filled with catchy songs and Schultz’s clever humor includes all your favorite Peanuts gang – Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, Sally and of course, Snoopy. Performances are June 19, July 5, 21, 29 and August 4 at 7:30pm, June 20, 27, July 11, 25, August 2 and 8 at 2pm and July 18 at 10am.

The critically acclaimed show Forever Plaid is an affectionate revue of the close-harmony "guy groups" that reached the height of their popularity during the 1950s. The boys of Forever Plaid dreams of recording an album ended in a collision with a bus filled with Catholic schoolgirls on their way to see the Beatles' American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. The boys are brought back for their final chance to perform and achieve musical glory! Performances are June 26 at 7:30pm, June 28 at 2:30pm, July 11, 16, 23, 25, 28 and August 7 at 7:30pm and July 5, 19 and August 1 at 2pm

Next Heartland tackles the Broadway smash that won more TONY awards than any other show in history – The Producers! The musical comedy, based on the hit Mel Brooks movie of the same name, is the story of a down on his luck Broadway producer and an accountant with dreams of his name in lights. Their dream of riches hatches a simple plan – get the worst script ever, hire the worst actors and directors, raise $2 million dollars and keep all the cash when the show flops! The only problem is that the show they choose “Springtime For Hitler” is an unexpected smash! Performances are July 10, 15, 19, 22, 31, August 2 and 5 at 7:30pm July 26 and August 9 at 2pm

Additionally this season, the Festival will welcome back Missoula Children’s Theatre with a production of The Pied Piper. This will feature over 60 area kids with performances on July 17 at 7:30pm and July 18 at 2pm.

Heartland will also produce a kid’s only production of Godspell Jr. One of the biggest off-Broadway and Broadway successes of all time, Godspell is based primarily on the Gospel According to St. Matthew. Performances on July 24 and 25 at 7:30pm.

Platteville will host the Moving Wall memorial in July and Heartland welcomes the memorial with two events. The first is a photography exhibit by Lyle Novinski titled Korea, Then and Now. These haunting images by Lyle Novinski capture the face of a nation, its land and its people, and the life of the military at the end of the Korean Conflict. The photographs carry their own story apart from personal memories of time and place. In the long fifty year view the content emerges on its own, supported by the consciously composed images—a soldier’s view, but an artist’s camera. The exhibit runs July 6 through September and will have an opening reception on July 10 at 5pm. The exhibit is free and will be presented in the Harry & Laura Nohr Gallery in Ullsvik Hall on the UWP campus.

The second event will be a play by Mike Willis entitled M.I.A. M.I.A. is the story of eighteen year old Billy, who enlisted in the military in 1967. Through his letters, sent from Vietnam, we can only hope to achieve a better appreciation for those who made the supreme sacrifice for all of us. The play is co-presented with the Platteville Community Theatre and will be on July 11 at noon, 1pm, 5pm and 6pm. The play is free and will also take place in the Harry & Laura Nohr Gallery in Ullsvik Hall.

A downloadable calendar is posted on the Heartland Festival Website.

Tickets for events will be available beginning April 27 from the University Box Office. The University Box Office is located in newly renovated Ullsvik Hall located at the intersection of Hickory and Main Streets in Platteville. The Box Office is open Monday 8am-5pm, Tuesday 8am-8pm, Wednesday through Friday 8am-5pm and Saturday 10am-2pm. The Office can also be reached by phone by calling (608)-342-1298. Tickets are now available online 24/7 at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu.

For the most up to date information visit Heartland on the web at www.uwplatt.edu/arts/heartland.

2009 Heartland youth auditions planned

2009-02-27T13:15:00.001-08:00

PLATTEVILLE- The Heartland Festival at the University of Wisconsin Platteville has
scheduled auditions for its youth production for the 2009 season. This year is the ninth outing for the annual Festival.

On March 10 at 6:30pm the Festival will hold auditions for its production of Godspell Junior. Godspell Junior boasts a string of recognizable songs, led by the international hit, "Day By Day." Based on the gospel of St. Matthew, Godspell Junior is a celebration of the life and teachings of Jesus. The audition will be open to individuals in middle and high school. Individuals will be taught a song from the show at the audition. No prepared song or reading is required, however, those audition should bring a list of conflicts from June 29 until July 25. Godspell Junior will be directed by UWP Theatre Department faculty member Ann Farrelly, and will rehearse for four weeks with performances the weekend of July 25.

Those interested in auditioning are asked to sign up in advance by calling 608-342-1398 or sending an email to cfa@uwplatt.edu.

For the most up to date information visit Heartland on the web at www.uwplatt.edu/arts/heartland

Complete Audition Schedule

2009-02-17T13:33:00.000-08:00

The Heartland Festival will be at the following regional auditions:

Madison, WI: Wisconsin Theatre Auditions
St. Louis, MO: Midwest Theatre Auditions

MORE INFO:

2009 Heartland Auditions Announced

2009-02-16T13:22:00.000-08:00

Final youth performance also announced

PLATTEVILLE- The Heartland Festival at the University of Wisconsin Platteville has
announced the audition date for adult roles in the 2009 season. This year is the ninth outing for the annual Festival.

Two sets of auditions are planned. Auditions for roles in productions of And The Killer Is…, Forever Plaid, Good Man Charlie Brown and The Producers will be on March 1 and 2 from 6pm-10pm. Auditions will be held in the Center for the Arts on the UWP campus. For this season, these four shows will have parts available to individuals who are entering 9th grade in fall 2008 and older. Participants are asked to prepare a short musical theatre selection, and a short comic reading of no more than 60 seconds each.

“While we ask for a musical theatre selection, any song you feel comfortable singing is ok with us,” according to John Hassig, Executive Director for the Festival. Those auditioning should bring the sheet music in the correct key for their song. An accompanist will be provided.

Those auditioning should also bring a resume outlining any previous theatre or performance experience as well as a photograph. A sample resume can be found on the Heartland website at www.uwplatt.edu/arts/heartland.

On March 10 at 6:30pm the Festival will hold auditions for its production of Godspell Junior. Godspell Junior boasts a string of recognizable songs, led by the international hit, "Day By Day." Based on the gospel of St. Matthew, Godspell Junior is a celebration of the life and teachings of Jesus. The audition will be open to individuals in middle and high school. Individuals will be taught a song from the show at the audition. No prepared song or reading is required, however, those audition should bring a list of conflicts from June 29 until July 25. Godspell Junior will be directed by UWP Theatre Department faculty member Ann Farrelly, and will rehearse for four weeks with performances the weekend of July 25.

Though many who have performed in the Heartland Festival have past theatrical experience and many return year after year, Hassig noted they love to see new people audition.

“We have many, many parts to fill this season, and we love to discover what new talent shows up to audition. I encourage anyone who has thought about getting on stage to come on out and give it a try” said Hassig. “Last year we had over 175 people participate in the Festival and we enjoy getting new people involved.”

Those interested in auditioning are asked to sign up in advance for an audition time by calling 608-342-1398 or sending an email to cfa@uwplatt.edu.

For the most up to date information visit Heartland on the web at www.uwplatt.edu/arts/heartland