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Brats With Ketchup?
and your thoughts on Drowsy 😊
Ben Thietje
September 09, 2024 • Est. Reading Time: 9 minutes
Hello!
Welcome to The Flying P, a weekly newsletter covering your Phipps Center for the Arts and anything else I might want to throw your way.
This issue has…
🎨 A Rural Arts Forum
a quick visit to Osceola🌭 The Volunteer Grill and Chill
lotsa brats and lotsa fun🎭 A Not-So-Drowsy Opening
don’t sleep on this one
ON THE ROAD
WI Rural Arts is winning
Lee Ann and I are in there somewhere
Last week I attended something called the Rural Arts and Creativity Forum, which was held at The Acreage in Osceola. The mission of the forum is to discuss and celebrate opportunities and actions for growth and sustainability in the arts, specifically in rural areas of our region.
Highlights included:
The Acreage itself. This place was very neat. Check it out the next time you find yourself in Osceola.
An update on the Historic St. Croix Falls Auditorium’s restoration. Some great work has been done on this!
A quick chat with George Tzougros, Director of the Wisconsin Arts Board.
There are lots of unique and innovative arts orgs in our region doing some really amazing things. I love that you love the Phipps, but don’t forget about all the other arts in this area. Keep the arts strong by getting out there and supporting all of it! 💪😊
 check out The Acreage |  speakers speaking |
PHIPPS TOP 10
best-selling upcoming events this season by tickets sold…
1. The Drowsy Chaperone (previously: 1)
2. Prancer (previously: 3)
3. I Am Woman…. presented by Lori Dokken (previously: 2)
4. Transyl-Mania (previously: 5)
5. Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society (previously: 4)
6. The Andrews Sisters Onstage: a Jen Burleigh-Bentz production (previously: 7)
7. Colleen Raye’s NYE (previously: 6)
8. Underneath the Lintel, or: The Mystery of the Abandoned Trousers (previously: 8)
9. Silent Sky (previously: 9)
10. A Brass & Organ Holiday (previously: 10)
BETTER HURRY LIST
best-selling upcoming events this season by percent sold
(i.e., closest to being sold out)…
1. I Am Woman…. presented by Lori Dokken (previously: 1)
2. Underneath the Lintel, or: The Mystery of the Abandoned Trousers (previously: 2)
3. Cabaret Night at the Phipps (fall) (previously: 3)
4. Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society (previously: 4)
5. The Andrews Sisters Onstage: a Jen Burleigh-Bentz production (previously: 5)
PS — Sorry, Amanda. Underneath the Lintel keeps on keepin’ on. 🤷♂️
VOLUNTEERS
Grillin’ and chillin’
the patio was hoppin’
Were you able to swing by last Thursday’s Volunteer Grill and Chill?
This volunteer appreciation event was an absolute blast! Over 100 of you came out on a beautiful evening to eat some brats, chat with your fellow PCA volunteers, and see the preview performance of The Drowsy Chaperone. It was a fun way to give a great big THANK YOU to the volunteers that make our beloved Phipps go.
“But Ben, I wasn’t there because I’m not a Phipps volunteer!"
Why are you yelling at me, hypothetical newsletter reader? Just become a volunteer already.
 our board chair, Paul, doing some grillin’ and probably some chillin’ |  shop crew taking a much-deserved break |
Unofficial poll: does ketchup belong on a brat? There was much back-and-forth. Please hit reply and make your voice heard on this very important issue.
grab some art at the Welcome Center
👆
my favorite gallery piece of the week
Technically “pieces,” plural.
This week I took a stroll through our Welcome Center. If you didn’t know, we always offer a small collection of very reasonably priced art in the PCA’s Welcome Center, too. You simply cannot escape the art, people!
THEATRE
Drowsy has woken up
how I felt after this weekend’s Drowsy opening
Sick of hearing me talk about this production?
I DO NOT CARE because The Drowsy Chaperone opened last Friday and you simply must see it. It’s such a fun show, you guys. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Here are a few patron reviews from this past weekend’s audience survey:
“The Drowsy Chaperone was excellent. I haven’t laughed so hard in ages and that felt so good!”
“Absolutely incredible show! Can't wait to see it again!”
“It was an absolutely delightful performance. I took my sister and we had such a fun time. The actors/singers were great and the costumes and set creative and perfect for the type of show it was. Just a great time!”
“It was one of the best shows I have ever seen at the Phipps. Production was crisp and sharp with excellent performers. …I plan on telling some friends to see this show.”
“This show was phenomenal! It was like a show I’d see at the Chanhassen. There were no weak links.”
Need more proof? Here’s a Twin Cities theatre blogger who loved it, as well.
There were empty seats this past weekend, but don’t expect that to continue. Snooze on this one and you’ll be sorry! 😊
the scenic model for Transyl-Mania, unveiled at last week’s First Look event
What is this? A set for ants?
Are you a Phipps expert?
Prove it by completing The Flying C(rossword).
👇
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Talk to you next week!
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