From Tony Winners to Grammy Winners, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers to the best of the world stage and much more, The Grand Theater proudly presents 21 shows sure to have audiences filled with awe, laughter, and excitement.
“We are extremely excited to share our 2016-17 season,” said Sean Wright, Executive Director of The Grand Theater. “We had a record-breaking 2015-16 season and we think that this season is the perfect follow-up, with a wide variety of amazing performances coming to town.”
As always, The Grand is Central Wisconsin’s home for Broadway and this season, four outstanding shows come to town. Winner of four 2013 Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival, Pippin is a high-flying, death-defying musical. Still featuring its signature songs, this classic has been reinvented as “Pippin for the 21st Century” (New York Times). It’s your last chance to see Mamma Mia, as the hit musical comes to The Grand on its farewell tour. It’s your chance to fall in love with the music, the story, and the characters one last time in the ultimate feel good show! From Ed Sullivan to Abbey Road, RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles, takes you in a musical journey through the life and times of the world’s most celebrated band in this live multi-media spectacular! Adam Trent: The Futurist, star of the Broadway hit The Illusionists, melds classic techniques, dancing, comedy, and innovative stage illusions in a show that shatters stereotypes for those who think they’ve seen it all!
“These four shows are sure to be audience favorites,” said Wright. “Pippin is Broadway meets Cirque in one of the best Broadway shows of the last half-decade. We are certainly thrilled to be a part of Mamma Mia’s farewell tour, and RAIN is always one of the most spectacular shows touring today. Adam Trent is a star in the making—you’ll remember seeing him at The Grand one day in the not too distant future as he becomes one of the biggest stars in the world of magic. Think Justin Timberlake meets David Copperfield.”
Four fantastic shows featuring artists from across the globe will come to The Grand this season. Come see the awe-inspiring feats of acrobatics with the Shanghai Acrobats brand new show, “Shanghai Nights”. Share an experience with the whole family as this award-winning group cleverly uses acrobatics to tell a magical story of a young man and his dream to find love. Experience the joy and vibrancy of the Caribbean as The Havana Cuba All-Stars bring their tour to the US for the very first time! From the Rumba to the Cha-Cha-Cha, this band brings authentic Cuban music right to Wausau. From Cuba to Ireland, The Five Irish Tenors will provide the sounds of Ireland from yesterday and today in a thrilling, dynamic program filled with classics like, “Danny Boy,” to more contemporary pieces like Bono’s “In a Lifetime.” Complete your artistic trip around the globe with the elegance and grace of the Russian National Ballet Theatre’s Swan Lake. Standing the test of time, Swan Lake continues to amaze audiences with its majestic choreography, unforgettable score, and exquisite costumes and sets.
“Part of our mission is to bring the best in the world to Wausau and these four performances certainly do that,” said Wright. “Two groups on their first-ever US tours and two shows that are always audience favorites create an outstanding world lineup.”
A great mix of classic and new country comes to The Grand to get your feet tappin’. Enjoy an evening with Grammy Award winner and country music legend when Travis Tritt takes the stage. You’ll hear the soulful sounds of beloved songs like, “Anymore,” and “It’s A Great Day To Be Alive.” Country sensations and champions of NBC’s ‘The Sing Off’, Home Free is the world’s first all vocal country band. The most requested show by our patrons, Home Free will bring a high-energy and quick witted performance mashing Nashville standards with country-dipped pop hits! You’ll be transported to Nashville when multiple award-winning, Vince Gill and the Time Jumpers comes to The Grand! It’s a not-to-be-missed, best-of-the-best night of country direct from the Music City!
“Wausau is a great country music market and this is a great mix of incredible talent,” said Wright. “When you have the chance to see Grammy-award winners and country legends like Travis Tritt and Vince Gill, as well as the dynamic Home Free, these are shows not to be missed!”
Bringing vocal styles for every taste this season are three groups that are as impressive as they are diverse. The season begins with an aca-perfect concert experience when Vocalosity hits the stage. In this Pitch Perfect meets Broadway spectacle this concert event takes a capella to a whole new level, featuring 12 dynamic voices singing today’s chart-topping hits! In conjunction with the Wisconsin Choral Directors Assocation, the premier men’s vocal ensemble in the United States, Cantus brings their unforgettable sound to present their, “No Greater Love Than This” Tour, Unlike any other touring group today, The Company Men uniquely interweave today’s Top 40 hits with re-imagines classics of the last six decades by blending songs by your favorite artists! See the group that brings an all-star band, throwback sounds, contemporary look, and over 60 years of music all in one night!
“Vocalosity is one of the hottest shows in America, so we are thrilled to open our season with them,” said Wright. “We are also very excited to welcome over 600 of the state’s best vocal students to town in January for the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association Convention, which will be headlined by Cantus. It’s a great example of the community collaborations and opportunities to showcase Wausau that we work hard to identify and execute.”
To help you escape the winter blues The Grand presents four shows celebrating the holidays and ski season. The annual Warren Miller Ski Film, this year the 67th installment, comes back to The Grand to kick off ski season in Wausau! Enjoy an entire evening celebrating the winter sports season with the world’s preeminent ski and snowboarding film! According to David Letterman, “Christmas doesn’t start until Darlene Love sings Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”, so you’ll want to start your holiday season the right way and come hear the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer bring her thunderbolt voice to that classic right along with her hits “He’s a Rebel, and “He’s Sure the Boy I Love,” along with all your holiday favorites. Enjoy a holiday celebration with harmonies fit for a king with The King’s Singers Christmas! With a variety of music from Tchaikovsky to Lawson, to all your holiday favorites, their ability to create a full choir sound will leave you breathless. After decades of sold-out performances, The John Altenburgh Christmas Extravaganza returns to The Grand with an all-new show! A true Wisconsin Christmas tradition, this has long been the hottest ticket in town.
“Holiday programming is one of my favorite things to do,” said Wright, “and this year, I think we have a fantastic lineup. Darlene Love is truly one of the greatest singers of all-time, a Hall of Famer who sounds incredible today. The King’s Singers are a legendary group and a perfect follow-up to last year’s sold-out Vienna Boys Choir show. The John Altenburgh Christmas Extravaganza needs no introduction—it’s as much a holiday tradition in town as the parade and lighting of the tree!”
The Grand presents three groups of emerging artists bringing fresh sounds and sights to the season. The Second City brings their newest show, Free Speech! (While Supplies Last), for a hysterical evening of topical political satire featuring brand new scenes, songs, and improv straight from their sold out shows in Chicago and Toronto! Fresh, fast and always funny, The Second City has produced some of the biggest and funniest names in comedy, including Jim Belushi, Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and many more! Finalists of the hit NBC show, America’s Got Talent, Sons of Serendip, combine dynamic instrumentation and their classical training to recreate songs like you’ve never heard them before! Don’t miss this amazing quartet as they transform some of today’s top hits in “classical” arrangements! Plan for an exciting St. Patrick’s Day when The Young Irelanders transport you to Ireland with a full Irish experience! Fusing old world traditions with contemporary flare, The Young Irelanders create a distinctive sound for everyone to enjoy!
“We are devoted each year to bringing the best in emerging talent to The Grand,” said Wright. We’ll certainly need a respite from electoral insanity in October and Second City will help provide that. Sons of Serendip are incredible musicians and teachers. They mesh the classical and pop worlds for a sound unlike anything you’ve heard before. The Young Irelanders help make your St. Patrick’s Day planning easy—you don’t want to miss this group of rising stars.”
Season subscriptions are on sale now. Season packages start at just four shows and feature a discount up to 15% depending on subscription level. Subscribers also receive priority seating, free ticket exchanges, and an invitation to exclusive events. Contact the ticket office at 715.842.0988, online at www.grandtheater.org, or stop in to the Ticket Office at 401 4th Street. Wausau, WI. 54403. Single-show tickets go on sale on July 12, 2016.
