Daily Pioneer News

Actor/singer/songwriter Jeff Daniels.

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Center for the Arts presented "An evening with Jeff Daniels" on Nov. 3 as part of their Performing Arts Series.

To begin the concert, actor/singer/songwriter Jeff Daniels stepped onto the CFA stage and took a bow with his acoustic guitar in hand.

Michigan native Daniels had the crowd roaring with laughter during his first song, "Platteville on a Saturday night," changing the lyrics around to fit the community of Platteville.

The selection "Grandfather's Hat," also the title of Daniels' second album, hit home with UWP senior Benjamin Halls. "I could definitely relate to that song because I always wear my grandfather's hat," Halls said.

"Blue Valiant" was a piece Daniels played about his first car, a Blue Valiant; UWP mathematics professor James Williamson enjoyed the selection because he can still remember his first car.

Audience participation was encouraged with a couple of Daniels' songs. He had the crowd stand up and dance to the selection, "Big Bay Shuffle," about a small town in Michigan. Daniels also invited an audience member to play a train whistle along with him during his song about the Detroit train.

"We didn't rehearse that," Daniels said, after the song was over.

Platteville residents Jim and Elaine Stoffregen were in attendance at the Daniels concert. "We haven't been to the CFA in 20 years," Elaine said. "We always hear great things about the CFA performances and after attending this concert we should have come sooner."

After Daniels took his last bow, the crowd was quick to jump up for a standing ovation, causing Daniels to come back for an encore performance of the song, "Mile 416," about a sentimental road trip.

Scott Nikolai, UWP political science professor, was thoroughly impressed with Daniels' performance. "This was one of the most entertaining shows I have ever seen," Nikolai said, "It was everything I thought it would be and more."

John Hassig, director of Performing and Visual Arts Progrms and Facilities, started working on the Jeff Daniels show last year in September.

"I have always been a fan of his movies and was intrigued when I saw he was being represented as a concert artist," Hassig said. "After listening to his CD, I knew he was someone I had to bring to campus."

A concert event requires many hands to pull off and Hassig cited box office manager Tianna Conway and student assistant Ryan Odorizzi for their hard work on the concert. Additionally, eight students worked in the box office or on technical crew and three students worked security.

"They all performed amazingly well and acted very professionally," Hassig said. "Jeff let me know he was impressed with how we handled the event and said the CFA was a beautiful facility."

For more information on the Jeff Daniels concert or other CFA events, call the box office at (608) 342-1298 or visit the CFA website athttp://www.uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa.

Contact: John Hassig, director of Performing and Visual Arts Programs and Facilities, (608) 342-1267, hassigj@uwplatt.edu Written by: Anne Killian, UWP Error! Contact not defined., (608) 342-1194, killiana@uwplatt.edu