Center Stage

Williams and Ree plan a stop at Treasure Island

For the past 26 years, Williams and Ree (aka The Indian and The White Guy) have entertained audiences from coast to coast with their lively, fast-paced comedy act. They will be stopping at Treasure Island Resort & Casino on Friday, February 17, at 8 p.m.
 
William and Ree have shared the stage with superstars like Garth Brooks, The Oak Ridge Boys, Charlie Daniels and Randy Travis.
 
General admission tickets are $25, available at the Island Box Office. Call 1-877-849-1640 to get your tickets today. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. Must be 12 years of age or older to attend. Guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian.

Ring in the new year with Free First Thursdays

DECORAH, Iowa — Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum announces Free First Thursdays in 2012, free admission with a special event on the first Thursday of each month, sponsored by Decorah Bank & Trust Co.

On Jan. 5, Vesterheim invites everyone to “Martyrs, Monsters, Magic” an Open House to view the “primstav” murals in the Amdal-Odland Heritage Center. Martha Griesheimer, Vesterheim’s Volunteer Coordinator, will be on hand to answer questions about the “primstav,” or Norwegian calendar stick, and how it inspired a room full of paintings. Light refreshments will be available.

“The Norwegian painter Sigmund Aarseth depicted so many interesting stories and traditions in these murals,” Griesheimer said. “The Gathering Room is a unique space that everyone should see," she added.

Check vesterheim.org for a schedule of future “Free First Thursday” events.

Gretchen Wilson is 'Here for the Party'

Multi-platinum recording artist Gretchen Wilson is set to perform at the Island Event Center at Treasure Island Resort & Casino on Friday, Jan. 27.

Wilson first exploded onto the country music scene in 2004 with her smash hit “Redneck Woman.” Her debut album, "Here For The Party," sold more than 5 million copies and she won across-the-board awards including a Grammy and ACM, CMA and AMA nods for best female vocalist.

Tickets are $24 and $34; call 1-877-849-1640 to order. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. Must be 12 years of age or older to attend. Guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian.

Local filmmakers present: "The Perspective of Love"

Local filmmakers Landon Brands and Nate DeBoer have packed a lot of story-telling in their new short, “The Perspective of Love.” DeBoer penned the script based on a short story he wrote a few years ago and with Brands and some RCTC film students, they assembled a movie that is as insightful as it is original (and unpredictable). A real joy, and I would say that even if it wasn’t chock full of local talent and locations.

“The Perspective of Love” premiers Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 7:00 pm at Paragon Chateau 14 Theater. For more information, visit facebook.com/ThePerspectiveOfLove

-- Chris Miksanek
-- The Med City Movie Guy

Have a Creole new year

RED WING — Can't make a trip to the Big Easy for New Year's Eve? Red Wing's Sheldon Theatre will be the next best thing when Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys perform at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Broussard and his band will play zydeco music straight from the bayou country. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for students.

Also coming up at the Sheldon is a concert by Billy McLaughlin & His Eclectic String Quartet at 7 p.m. Jan. 7. Tickets are $13 for adults, $8 for students.

Tickets can be purchased at the Sheldon box office, and by phone at (800) 899-5759.

Interpretive Collaboration opens Jan. 6 at RWAA

RED WING — The Red Wing Arts Association opens the 2012 Gallery Schedule on Friday, Jan. 6 with an Open House for Interpretive Collaboration in both the Vogel and Veeder Galleries. The Open House will run 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
 
The show is comprised of work that resulted from the influence of other forms of art, in particular literature and music. Some examples include artwork inspired by poems.
 
Research shows knowledge of and study of the arts influences students to do better in studies not considered artistic, like math and science. In this show, visitors to the Depot Gallery and Gifts will enjoy the collaboration that exists between art in all its forms.
 
The Red Wing Arts Association is committed to a focus on promoting the arts and support of the creative community in Red Wing and the surrounding area. For more information, contact (651) 388-7569 or info@rwarts.org.

Top films of 2011?

Our 17th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards nominations have been announced. As I contemplate my vote, I am also assembling a top ten list for my December 29th column. Which films would be on your best of 2011 list? Read my picks in Thursday's Post-Bulletin.

-- Chris Miksanek
-- The Med City Movie Guy

 

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is set to kick off the new year

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra begins 2012 with Jean Sibelius’
Symphony No. 2 and Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings on Jan. 13-14, conducted
by Evan Rogister, in Uihlein Hall at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.

The program will also feature Alexander Arutunian’s Concerto for Trumpet, featuring Mark Niehaus on trumpet.

Tickets range from $25 to $102. Call (414) 291-7605 or visit mso.org. Tickets can also be purchased by
calling the Marcus Center box office at (414) 273-7206.

New releases in Rochester this week include "The Adventures of Tintin" and "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol"

Also "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and "We Bought a Zoo." Rochester, what're your movie plans this week? Let me know your thoughts and I may use them in Thursday's "What they're saying in the balcony." And read my review of "The Adventures of Tintin" in Thursday's Post-Bulletin.

-- Chris Miksanek
-- The Med City Movie Guy

 

Last-minute holiday shopping

Through Saturday, Rochester Art Center's Gallery Shop will feature an expanded selection of art and gifts for last-minute holiday shoppers.

The art center will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. It will be closed on Sunday.

Proceeds benefit local artists as well as exhibitions and arts education programming at Rochester Art Center.