Wabeno Area Players

Join us today, October 4th-7th, for an unforgettable performance of “Mom’s Gift!”

Tickets are available at the door or by clicking here.

Wabeno Area Players Present the Heart-Warming Comedy, Mom’s Gift

October is a great month to attend a feel good, uplifting comedy! The Wabeno Area Players are eager to fill that need! On Friday, October 4, and Saturday, October 5, at 7:00pm and Sunday, October 6, at 2:00pm, the Players proudly present Mom’s Gift at the Nancy Volk Auditorium, at 4325 Branch Street in Wabeno.

This hilarious heartfelt comedy, written by Phil Olson, is set in a suburb of Minneapolis during a Vikings-Packers game. As the game progresses in the den and a birthday party in the dining room, we are introduced to a family with relationships that are a bit dysfunctional. The show opens with “Kat” (Maline Enders), the adult daughter of “Dad” (Josh Jameson), attending his 60th birthday party, by court order, as part of an anger management program to avoid criminal charges. They last saw each other 11 months ago at Mom’s funeral. Also attending the party are Kat’s younger sister “Brittney” (Katie Esserman), a Hooter’s waitress, neighbors “Kevin” (RJ Chickey) and naughty Mrs. Norquist (Linda Harter), and “Trish” (Lori Mattern), who was Mom’s nurse for the few weeks before she died.

Aside from Kat’s court-ordered therapy, the most unusual thing about the party is that it is also attended by “Mom’s Ghost” (Margi Diny). Mom, who has a wonderful sense of humor even in stressful family times, can only be seen and heard by Kat, who understandably thinks she’s losing it. Mom has been sent to fulfill a “mission” before she can earn her wings, but how she is to do it is a mystery Mom has to figure out.. Further surprises are revealed through family secrets.

Mom’s Gift is influenced by the play, It’s a Wonderful Life, in which Clarence earns his wings. It is filled with witty and hilarious dialogue, concerning numerous family themes. The play is under the direction of Carol Bartlein. Clare Huisman is dialogue assistant. Jan Volk and Vicki Delaski are lighting technicians. Sound technicians is Jessica Maass . Dave Zuleger designed and constructed the set. Linda Boatright is the stage manager. Linda Zuleger is the manager of volunteers.

Tickets are available online, at www.wabenoareaplayers.org. Follow the prompts to buy tickets. Tickets will also be available at the door beginning one hour before each show. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for adults. Theater doors open 30 minutes before the show. The show is PG-13. Come and enjoy another Wabeno Area Players comedy; it is sure to leave you planning on attending their next production!

The Wabeno Area Players are looking for actors to fill our Tall Tales Readers Theater cast for “Paul Bunyan” and also “Pecos Bill with Sluefoot Sue”, which we will perform at Wabeno’s WamFest. Are you an articulate and expressive reader? Do you want a low-risk introduction to being on the stage? Readers Theater might be a great way to join The Players.

Tryouts are June 4 and 5 at 6:00pm at the Wabeno Public Library. Scripts are available to check out for two days at a time at the Wabeno Public Library. If you have questions, please call Carol Bartlein @ 715-473-5466. Leave a message and she will return your call.

Please join us for the fun theater has to offer!

Join us for a live performance of two time Grammy nominated bluegrass band “The Special Consensus.” Tickets still available, but going fast! Click here to purchase.

The internationally recognized bluegrass band, The Special Consensus, is coming to the Northwoods. The band is hoping to play to a sell-out crowd at the Nancy Volk Auditorium, in Wabeno High School, on Saturday, May 4, at 7:00PM. Don’t miss this great evening of music!

The Special Consensus is a bluegrass band that has achieved a contemporary sound in their four decades of performing, making their music a modern classic. Special Consensus has received seven awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association and two Grammy nominations (Scratch Gravel Road in 2012 and Rivers and Roads in 2018). The band is led by Greg Cahill, banjo player and recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Achievement Award from the IBMA, and includes Dan Eubanks (bass), Greg Blake, the 2023 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year (guitar) and Michael Prewitt (mandolin). See more information and listen to their music at https://specialc.com

The repertoire of these four talented vocalists and instrumentalists primarily includes songs from band recordings that incorporate the traditional bluegrass music sound, as well as an occasional swing song or gospel quartet or even a well-known country or rock and roll selection performed in the bluegrass format. This performance will especially feature songs from their most recent albums Chicago Barn Dance and Great Blue North.

Chicago Barn Dance (Compass Records, 2020) is the 20th Special Consensus recording that celebrates both the 45th band anniversary and the long-standing connection of country and bluegrass music with Chicago. The title song “Chicago Barn Dance” received the 2020 IBMA Song of the Year award.

Great Blue North (Compass Records, 2023), the 21st Special Consensus recording, is a tip of the hat to their Canadian friends and fans made throughout nearly four decades of touring throughout the country. All songs included on the recording were written by Canadian writers and numerous Canadian musician friends of the band made guest appearances. The Gordon Lightfoot song “Alberta Bound” received the 2023 IBMA Collaborative Recording of the Year award.

Advance tickets are available online by clicking here. The online tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets at the door are $20 and will go on sale starting one hour before the event. For more information call 715-473-5466.