Blue Canvas Orchestra &
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Blue Canvas Orchestra is on the road!
The BCO travels to Chippewa Falls to present Big Top Opry as part of Leinenkugel's 150th Anniversary Celebration on August 11th. Join us at 3:30pm in the Leinie's Big Tent on the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds for this special performance. Visit www.gochippewafalls.com for a complete schedule of events planned for Leinie's 150th Anniversary Celebration events. Congratulations to Leinenkugel's! |
2017 Big Top Original Productions
Join us for our own unique brand of "edutainment" shows that feature songs and stories performed by Big Top's Blue Canvas Orchestra and Singers that bear the hallmark of exquisite musicianship illustrated by big-screen visuals. The Blue Canvas Orchestra (BCO) is Chautauqua's house band that, together with Co-Founder and Visuals Director Betty Ferris and a multitude of talented guest artists, provides the entertainment engine that powers the Big Top.
This year we debut three new original shows: "Superior!," "Rise Up Singing" and "Big Top Does The Beatles." Jan Lee, long-time Big Top performer and Founder of StageNorth, leads the creative team in "Superior!," a new historical musical that celebrates the largest of the Great Lakes in story, song and big screen images. "Rise Up Singing" is led by the creative team that brought you "Belfast To Bluegrass" and "Shanties & Shipwrecks." Severin Behnen and Stevie Matier bring you a collection of songs surrounding the struggle for peace, justice and hope over the years and around the world. Corey Carlson and Severin Behnen bring you a show featuring Beatles songs interpreted by the Blue Canvas Orchestra called "Big Top Does The Beatles." This show follows past retrospective works produced by the BCO including the songs of Bob Dylan, Crosby Stills & Nash, The Eagles, Paul Simon and Cat Stevens.
We reprise "Big Top Opry 2: The Outlaw Years" which debuted last summer. This show features the great Opry outlaws from the 60s, 70s and 80s like Waylon & Willie, and the ladies: Dolly, Loretta, and Tammy. We also bring you our flagship show "Riding the Wind," the illustrated history of Bayfield - a perpetual favorite for over 30 years! Big Top Founder Warren Nelson also returns with a celebration of his 50 years in show business: "So Many Years, So Many Songs." And at the close of the season, we bring out a favorite from a few years ago that spotlights the environment and makes the call to good stewardship in "Wild Woods & Waters."
Then there are our variety nights, "New First Night" and "Old Last Night." This is when the band gets to cut loose and play their favorite songs from their 32 summers on the Big Top stage.
This year we debut three new original shows: "Superior!," "Rise Up Singing" and "Big Top Does The Beatles." Jan Lee, long-time Big Top performer and Founder of StageNorth, leads the creative team in "Superior!," a new historical musical that celebrates the largest of the Great Lakes in story, song and big screen images. "Rise Up Singing" is led by the creative team that brought you "Belfast To Bluegrass" and "Shanties & Shipwrecks." Severin Behnen and Stevie Matier bring you a collection of songs surrounding the struggle for peace, justice and hope over the years and around the world. Corey Carlson and Severin Behnen bring you a show featuring Beatles songs interpreted by the Blue Canvas Orchestra called "Big Top Does The Beatles." This show follows past retrospective works produced by the BCO including the songs of Bob Dylan, Crosby Stills & Nash, The Eagles, Paul Simon and Cat Stevens.
We reprise "Big Top Opry 2: The Outlaw Years" which debuted last summer. This show features the great Opry outlaws from the 60s, 70s and 80s like Waylon & Willie, and the ladies: Dolly, Loretta, and Tammy. We also bring you our flagship show "Riding the Wind," the illustrated history of Bayfield - a perpetual favorite for over 30 years! Big Top Founder Warren Nelson also returns with a celebration of his 50 years in show business: "So Many Years, So Many Songs." And at the close of the season, we bring out a favorite from a few years ago that spotlights the environment and makes the call to good stewardship in "Wild Woods & Waters."
Then there are our variety nights, "New First Night" and "Old Last Night." This is when the band gets to cut loose and play their favorite songs from their 32 summers on the Big Top stage.
You haven't fully experienced Big Top Chautauqua until you've seen the Original Shows and our amazing Blue Canvas Orchestra!
the Blue Canvas Orchestra
Orchestra & Singers
Severin Behnen Musical Director, Band Leader, Vocals, Accordion, Piano
New First Night, Riding the Wind, Big Top Opry 2, Superior!, Rise Up Singing, So Many Years, Beatles, Big Top Idol, BCO Aug. 12
Ed Willett Musical Director, Band Leader, Cello, Guitar, Vocals
New First Night, Riding the Wind, So Many Years, Beatles, BCO Aug. 12, Wild Woods & Waters, Old Last Night
Phillip Anich Vocals
New First Night, Big Top Opry 2, Superior!, Wild Woods & Waters, Old Last Night
Bruce Bowers Violin
Beatles, BCO Aug. 12, Wild Woods & Waters, Old Last Night
Bruce Burnside Mandolin, Vocals
New First Night
Corey Carlson Guitar, Vocals
Big Top Opry 2, Beatles, Old Last Night
Andy Dee Guitar, Dobro, Vocals
Big Top Opry 2, So Many Years, Beatles
Jack Gunderson Vocals, Bass
New First Night, Riding the Wind, Big Top Opry 2, So Many Years, Superior!, BCO Aug. 12, Wild Woods & Waters, Old Last Night
Tom Mitchell Percussion, Vocals
New First Night, Riding the Wind, Big Top Opry 2, Rise Up Singing, Superior!, Beatles, BCO Aug. 12, Wild Woods & Waters, Old Last Night
Visuals Director
Betty Ferris
New First Night, Riding the Wind, Big Top Opry 2, Rise Up Singing, Superior!, Wild Woods & Waters, Old Last Night, So Many Years
Guest Artists
Jane Aleckson Bass, Vocals
New First Night
Nate Bean Bass, Guitar, Vocals
Beatles
Emily Belanger Vocals
Big Top Opry 2, Superior!
Hilary Bobel Cronon Photographer
Riding the Wind
Gerry DePerry
Blessing of the Tent New First Night
Storyteller Riding the Wind
Danielle Diamond Vocals
Big Top Opry 2, Rise Up Singing, Beatles
Tom Draughon Guitar, Banjo, Vocals
New First Night, Superior!, Rise Up Singing, BCO Aug. 12, Wild Woods & Waters
Lizzie Herriott Vocals
Big Top Opry 2 (July 13 and Sept 1)
Billy Knoblauch Bass
Big Top Opry 2
Cheryl Leah Vocals
So Many Years
Jan Lee Writer, Director, Vocals
Superior!
Radoslav Lorkovic Piano, Accordion, Vocals
Big Top Opry 2 (Sept 1)
Stevie Matier Bodhran, Guitar, Vocals
New First Night, Rise Up Singing, Old Last Night
Otis McLennon Vocals, Harmonica
So Many Years, Riding the Wind
Frank Montano Flute
Blessing of the Tent, New First Night, Superior!
John Munson Emcee
Big Top Idol
Reggie Neal Bass, Vocals
Rise Up Singing
Warren Nelson Vocals, Guitar
So Many Years, Riding the Wind
Andy Noyes Guitar
Rise Up Singing
Vincent Osborn Bass
BCO Aug. 12, Wild Woods & Waters, Old Last Night
Nori Perrine Violin
New First Night
Michael Perry Vocals, Guitar, Storytelling
Old Last Night
Bruce Qualey Bass, Vocals
Superior!
Randy Sabien Violin, Mandolin, Vocals
Riding the Wind, Big Top Opry 2, So Many Years, Beatles
Joe Savage Steel Guitar
Big Top Opry 2
Mary Lou Williams Vocals
Riding the Wind
Liesel Wilson Violin, Vocals
Riding the Wind, Rise Up Singing, Superior!, Beatles, Old Last Night, Wild Woods & Water
Liz Woodworth Show Coordinator
Big Top Idol, Rise Up Singing
Cast subject to change
Severin Behnen Musical Director, Band Leader, Vocals, Accordion, Piano
New First Night, Riding the Wind, Big Top Opry 2, Superior!, Rise Up Singing, So Many Years, Beatles, Big Top Idol, BCO Aug. 12
Ed Willett Musical Director, Band Leader, Cello, Guitar, Vocals
New First Night, Riding the Wind, So Many Years, Beatles, BCO Aug. 12, Wild Woods & Waters, Old Last Night
Phillip Anich Vocals
New First Night, Big Top Opry 2, Superior!, Wild Woods & Waters, Old Last Night
Bruce Bowers Violin
Beatles, BCO Aug. 12, Wild Woods & Waters, Old Last Night
Bruce Burnside Mandolin, Vocals
New First Night
Corey Carlson Guitar, Vocals
Big Top Opry 2, Beatles, Old Last Night
Andy Dee Guitar, Dobro, Vocals
Big Top Opry 2, So Many Years, Beatles
Jack Gunderson Vocals, Bass
New First Night, Riding the Wind, Big Top Opry 2, So Many Years, Superior!, BCO Aug. 12, Wild Woods & Waters, Old Last Night
Tom Mitchell Percussion, Vocals
New First Night, Riding the Wind, Big Top Opry 2, Rise Up Singing, Superior!, Beatles, BCO Aug. 12, Wild Woods & Waters, Old Last Night
Visuals Director
Betty Ferris
New First Night, Riding the Wind, Big Top Opry 2, Rise Up Singing, Superior!, Wild Woods & Waters, Old Last Night, So Many Years
Guest Artists
Jane Aleckson Bass, Vocals
New First Night
Nate Bean Bass, Guitar, Vocals
Beatles
Emily Belanger Vocals
Big Top Opry 2, Superior!
Hilary Bobel Cronon Photographer
Riding the Wind
Gerry DePerry
Blessing of the Tent New First Night
Storyteller Riding the Wind
Danielle Diamond Vocals
Big Top Opry 2, Rise Up Singing, Beatles
Tom Draughon Guitar, Banjo, Vocals
New First Night, Superior!, Rise Up Singing, BCO Aug. 12, Wild Woods & Waters
Lizzie Herriott Vocals
Big Top Opry 2 (July 13 and Sept 1)
Billy Knoblauch Bass
Big Top Opry 2
Cheryl Leah Vocals
So Many Years
Jan Lee Writer, Director, Vocals
Superior!
Radoslav Lorkovic Piano, Accordion, Vocals
Big Top Opry 2 (Sept 1)
Stevie Matier Bodhran, Guitar, Vocals
New First Night, Rise Up Singing, Old Last Night
Otis McLennon Vocals, Harmonica
So Many Years, Riding the Wind
Frank Montano Flute
Blessing of the Tent, New First Night, Superior!
John Munson Emcee
Big Top Idol
Reggie Neal Bass, Vocals
Rise Up Singing
Warren Nelson Vocals, Guitar
So Many Years, Riding the Wind
Andy Noyes Guitar
Rise Up Singing
Vincent Osborn Bass
BCO Aug. 12, Wild Woods & Waters, Old Last Night
Nori Perrine Violin
New First Night
Michael Perry Vocals, Guitar, Storytelling
Old Last Night
Bruce Qualey Bass, Vocals
Superior!
Randy Sabien Violin, Mandolin, Vocals
Riding the Wind, Big Top Opry 2, So Many Years, Beatles
Joe Savage Steel Guitar
Big Top Opry 2
Mary Lou Williams Vocals
Riding the Wind
Liesel Wilson Violin, Vocals
Riding the Wind, Rise Up Singing, Superior!, Beatles, Old Last Night, Wild Woods & Water
Liz Woodworth Show Coordinator
Big Top Idol, Rise Up Singing
Cast subject to change
