The Grand Opera House in Downtown Oshkosh has announced its 26th performance season at the beautifully restored 1883 venue. Representatives from the Oshkosh Opera House Foundation, Oshkosh Community Players, and Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra announced their seasons Friday, August 3.
The Grand’s season features a mix of comedy, nostalgia, and music, and is highlighted by the first appearance by Wisconsin humorist John McGivern. McGivern’s “Summer Stories” is the season finale. Rising country star Katie Armiger opens the performance season with her trio in November. Lamb Chop, the world’s most famous sock puppet thanks to the late ventriloquist and television star Shari Lewis, is the star of a holiday show. Lamb Chop is now voiced by her “sister” and Shari Lewis’ daughter, Mallory Lewis. Other highlights include the return of the Second City comedy/improve troupe, this time with their “Dysfunctional Holiday Revue”; the return of last year’s favorite Jim Witter with It’s Still Rock ‘n Roll to Me, his popular sequel to his tribute concert to the music of Billy Joel and Elton John. New to The Grand in 2012-13 are the Barley Jacks, who mix blues, bluegrass, celtic and classical into their music; and the Harmonious Wail, who combine jazz, swing and gypsy music into their performance. Rounding out the season is a return of the popular Missoula Children’s Theater which gives 60 local students the chance to perform. This season, MCT will present “Blackbeard the Pirate”. The Oshkosh Community Players will present a three-production season which opens in October with the thriller The Woman in Black. Valentine’s Day weekend brings the popular musical I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, and the season closes in May with the award-winning farce Lend Me a Tenor. The Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra will also present three concerts in the subscription series. The orchestra will ring in the holiday season in late November with “Sounds of the Season”, will once again present it’s popular New Year’s Eve gala, this season at Becket’s City Center Court, and will close the season in early June with “Theater Music at The Grand”. The season announcement also spotlighted some non-subscription highlights like The Grand’s SPIRITS OF THE GRAND tours and OSHKOSH ON BROADWAY fundraiser, a visit by the legendary Arlo Guthrie, and the Symphony’s “Brunch with Santa” and “Remembering 9/11” events. A new series in the Grand Lounge was announced as well. The AFTERWALKseries will take place on Gallery Walk nights in Downtown Oshkosh, and feature regional artists in a cabaret setting.
Oct. 6 Grand Opera House AFTERWALK series debuts- Rob Anthony
Oct. 11-13 Community Players THE WOMAN IN BLACK
Oct. 18 Grand Opera House SPIRITS OF THE GRAND tours open
Oct. 25 Grand Opera House U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors
Nov. 17 Oshkosh Symphony “Sounds of the Season”
Nov. 20 Grand Opera House Katie Armiger Trio
Dec. 8 Grand Opera House Mallory Lewis and Lamb Chop
Dec. 20 Grand Opera House Second City’s “Dysfunctional Holiday Revue”
Dec. 31 Oshkosh Symphony New Year’s Eve Gala- “Bright Lights, Event City”
Jan. 25 Grand Opera House The Barley Jacks
Feb. 14-16 Community Players I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE
Mar. 16 Grand Opera House Missoula Children’s Theatre- BLACKBEARD THE PIRATE
Mar. 23 Grand Opera House OSHKOSH ON BROADWAY
Apr. 13 Grand Opera House Harmonious Wail
Apr. 26 Grand Opera House Jim Witter’s It’s Still Rock ‘n Roll to Me
May 2-4 Community Players LEND ME A TENOR
May 11 ACG presents Arlo Guthrie—“Here Comes the Kid” tour
May 17-18 Grand Opera House John McGivern’s SUMMER STORIES
June 1 Oshkosh Symphony “Theater Music at The Grand”
