The Weidner Reveals Fresh Look and Fresh Titles
A Brand-New Look, Website and Fall/Winter Events Just Announced at The Weidner
Green Bay, Wis.—Ready. Set. Makeover! After nearly 30-years enriching Northeastern Wisconsin – The Weidner is stepping out with its first ever re-brand and a host of new titles meant to celebrate and shine light on a broad spectrum of artistic forms and voices. We are for everyone. And we will be everywhere. Witness the transformation.
Starting Wednesday, June 22, 2022, The Weidner will look and feel fresher than ever before, including the unveiling of a brand-new logo, a redesigned website and a re-energized mission to provide access to the arts for all of the Greater Green Bay Area. Says UW-Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander:
“The Weidner is a cultural treasure for our community and through it, UW-Green Bay is fortunate to be able to offer stellar artistic and cultural programs for the region we serve. As our university works toward equitable access to education, The Weidner plays a key role in providing equitable access to the arts for all. With its first new logo in 30 years and a slate of fresh programs for this fall and winter, The Weidner at UW-Green Bay is on the rise!”
Executive and Artistic Director, Kelli Strickland adds:
“Many of us in the performing arts are operating with a much deeper sense of appreciation and joy heading into this next season. At The Weidner, there is a palpable energy and eagerness to get back to it at full speed. The rebrand is a great way to mark the important chapter in our history as we consider what it means to bring the arts to all. That is reflected not just in the programs that happen in our building, but what we can do outside of our building as well. Follow us on social media and subscribe to The Weidner Wire e-newsletter at WeidnerCenter.com to see The Weidner and its programming popping up in classrooms, in neighborhoods, The Weidner Downtown and more. A new logo is just the beginning.”
With this striking makeover comes the most diverse and surprising slate of events in The Weidner’s 30-year history. Alongside popular performances such as The Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays, The Weidner will welcome the indigenous musicians and performing artists Supaman, and Mike + Bone, and the internationally acclaimed African-American dance company Step Afrika!
Weidner Philharmonic kicks off its third concert season with a program dedicated to the work of women composers in a September season opening entitled Women’s Work. Northeastern Wisconsin Dance Company (NEWDO) will join the Weidner Philharmonic once again for Green Bay’s only The Nutcracker ballet with live symphony orchestra.
Patron’s will have the unprecedented experience of total access to the many corners of The Weidner’s building when Unhingedtakes over for two nights. An artisanal and performance experience that will awaken all of your senses.
List of Events Just Announced at The Weidner
Mike + Bone – Wednesday, September 7, 2022 | 7:30 PM
Lil’ Mike & Funnybone (a.k.a. Mike + Bone) are fresh off of Hulu’s critically acclaimed and award-winning series Reservation Dogs, where they are scene stealers and pot-stirrers as the bicycle riding eyes and ears of the neighborhood. Now they are bringing their special blend of rap, comedy and inspiration to The Weidner. These Pawnee/Choctaw performing artists made their world debut with an unforgettable performance on America’s Got Talent, don’t miss the chance to see them live in a performance followed by a Q&A with the audience. Sponsored by Oneida Nation Arts Program.
Weidner Philharmonic: Women’s Work – Saturday, September 24, 2022 | 7:30 PM
This special program is composed entirely by women with inspiration stemming from our own back yard to the farthest reaches of the globe. This surprising, eclectic and fun concert features a world premiere, a familiar piece with deep Wisconsin roots; a composition inspired by a faraway Indonesian volcano and a finale that is scored for full orchestra and audience members who are not passive listeners but are part of the score as active participants. We’re reimagining what a night at the symphony can be!
UW-Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander and Robert Nordling return to the Wei Phi podium and we will welcome internationally renowned viola soloist, Michael Hall.
Repertoire:
Jennifer Higdon: Light – Originally commissioned by the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra
Stacey Garrop: Krakatoa for solo viola, strings, and percussion
Michelle McQuade Dewhirst: Out of the Dark Comes This – A world premiere commissioned by the Weidner Philharmonic
Clarice Assad: É Gol – An Interactive Piece for Orchestra and Audience Members
Unhinged – October 21-22, 2022 | 7:00 PM
Unhinged is back! And this time the experiential art event is taking over The Weidner for two nights. Local, Regional and National artists from all disciplines combine forces to deliver an unforgettable evening. Interactive three-dimensional art installations in the loading docks, micro-performances in dressing rooms and elevators, culinary artists pulling out all the stops, dancers where you least expect them, films in the balconies, poetry and music around every corner. With a ticket to this unusual and immersive event, you will embark upon a self-guided experience, finding art in the most unusual places. You will have access to the Weidner like you’ve never had, an invitation to explore, to peek behind the curtains and under the stages. Enjoy creative bites, socializing and beverages as you wander The Weidner, pausing for performance or to try your hand at something new. Take the leap – you won’t regret it.
Supaman – Tuesday, November 1, 2022 | 7:30 PM
MTV Video Music Award winner, Supaman, is a one-of-a-kind performer, combining Native American culture, comedy, dance and urban hip-hop music to dazzle audiences and captivate listeners. Extensive talent and compassion exude from his music allowing him to connect with people from all walks of life. Supaman’s uncanny ability to motivate, encourage, and inspire keeps him at the forefront among his contemporaries, giving him a platform to educate on Indigenous issues.
Step Afrika! – Friday, November 4, 2022 | 7:30 PM
Ranking as one of the top ten African-American dance companies in the United States, Step Afrika! blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities; traditional West and Southern African dances; and an array of contemporary dance and art forms into a cohesive, compelling artistic experience. Performances are much more than dance shows; they integrate songs, storytelling, humor and audience participation. The blend of technique, agility, and pure energy makes each performance unique and leaves the audience with their hearts pounding.
Weidner Philharmonic & NEWDO’s The Nutcracker – November 25-27 | 7:30 PM and 2:00 PM
The spectacular holiday tradition returns to The Weidner! It’s Christmas Eve and unable to sleep, 15-year-old Clara creeps downstairs looking for the Nutcracker. As the clock strikes midnight, strange things begin to happen. Beautiful Arabian Princesses, Russian Cossacks, French ballet dancers, exotic flowers and of course the Sugar Plum Fairy with her Cavalier dance in her honor. Can it have all been just a dream? The Northeastern Wisconsin Dance Organization teams with the Weidner Philharmonic to present Green Bay’s only The Nutcracker ballet with live orchestra. Beautiful costumes, soaring music and of course, joyful dance create a memorable experience for the whole family.
The Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays – Friday, December 2 | 8:00 PM | On Sale in July
Celebrate the holidays with the entire family at The Illusionists – Magic of the Holidays, a mind-blowing showcase featuring jaw-dropping talents of the most incredible illusionists on earth. The Illusionists has shattered box office records across the globe and dazzles audiences of all ages with a powerful mix of the most outrageous and astonishing acts ever seen on stage. This non-stop show is packed with thrilling and sophisticated magic of unprecedented proportions.
Swing for the Holidays – Thursday, December 15, 2022 | 6:30 PM
The Weidner’s jazzy holiday tradition is back for a fourth, extra-festive year, headlined by Green Bay Jazz Orchestra performing swinging renditions of your favorite holiday tunes with guest crooners. Grab some jingle bells, a cocktail and join us for an evening that is a modernized mash up of a big band holiday concert and the Dean Martin Christmas Show.
Weidner Philharmonic: Power and Joy – Saturday, April 22, 2023 | 7:30 PM
Guest conductor Harvey Felder is no stranger to Wisconsin, having served as music director of the Fox Valley Symphony and assistant conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony. We are excited to welcome Maestro Felder to lead the Weidner Philharmonic with a program he curated especially for the group.
His conducting is characterized as having an affable and magnetic podium demeanor which helps audiences feel immediately welcomed, comfortable, and connected to his performances. Joining Maestro Felder are UW-Green Bay’s own internationally acclaimed piano soloists, Michael Rector and Sylvia Hong.
Repertoire:
Aldolphus Hailstork: Fanfare on Amazing Grace
W. A. Mozart: Concerto for Two Pianos in E-flat Major, K. 365
with Michael Rector and Sylvia Hong, soloists
Jean Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43
Tickets for events listed are on sale now through Ticket Star at WeidnerCenter.com, TicketStarOnline.com, and by calling Ticket Star at 800.895.0071. The Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays will go on-sale in July.
To stay up to date on The Weidner everywhere, visit the redesigned WeidnerCenter.com and sign-up for The Weidner Wire e-newsletter.
About The Weidner
The Weidner at UW-Green Bay is known for its elegant design and the acoustic excellence of its 2,000-seat main hall, Cofrin Family Hall. It also houses two smaller performance spaces, the Fort Howard recital hall and the Jean Weidner Theatre, along with a dance studio and Grand Foyer. The Weidner Center has a distinct benefit in being part of a leading institution of higher learning. The Weidner is home for UW-Green Bay Music and Theatre and Dance programs, community events and productions, and performances by visiting artists and touring companies. Beyond the large-scale touring productions that grace the stage, The Weidner also focuses on scholastic development, programming and an impactful education series — Stage Doors. For more information visit WeidnerCenter.com and sign-up to receive The Weidner Wire newsletter.
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About the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Established in 1965, UW-Green Bay is a public institution serving 9,276 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students and 79,604 continuing education enrollees each year across all campus locations. We educate students from pre-college through retirement and offer 200+ degrees, programs and certificates. UW-Green Bay graduates are resilient, inclusive, sustaining and engaged members of their communities, ready to rise to fearlessly face challenges, solve problems and embrace diverse ideas and people. With four campus locations, the University welcomes students from every corner of the world. UW-Green Bay is the fastest-growing UW school in Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.uwgb.edu.
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