January 29, 2014 at 12:46 p.m.
Upcoming events at Nicolet College Theatre
John Santy and Joshua Kane to perform
Upcoming events at Nicolet College Theatre
Songwriter and guitarist John Santy will take center stage at Nicolet College Theatre on Sat., Feb. 1, to present acoustic solos from his repertoire of original folk tunes that speak to his life as a Northwoods native. The concert also includes a performance by the JJK Trio, a rock group comprised of John, his father, guitarist Jeff Santy, and percussion artist Jared Kropidlowski. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
John Santy has shared the stage with classic rock bands such as BTO and ELO, and currently plays with a 10-piece jazz brass band that performs around the state. As a group, the JJK Trio has been playing together for two decades, honing their versatile upbeat style that embraces blues, folk, pop and rock, and delighting audiences throughout northern Wisconsin. Earlier this year they released their first album, a 10-track CD entitled John Santy with JJK Trio.
Santy's mellow lyrics and delivery style evokes the modern acoustic rock and folk art of Jack Johnson, Jason Morris and John Maher. Santy describes his writing as personal, deeply rooted in his experiences.
"My lyrics are in a 'feel-good' pop style that tell stories and paint a picture of what it's like to live in the Northwoods," Santy said. "The tunes are melodic, with hooks that will probably stick with you and you'll find yourself humming later. My desire as a songwriter is to make people happy, to make them smile, make them think about the good times in their life, and about their relationships with friends." Santy added, "I think of this concert as a night of insight into my mind as a songwriter. I'm looking forward to sharing with the audience how I come up with my tunes and what they mean to me."
Santy began studying music at an early age with his father, Jeff. He attended UW-Stevens Point and played in the Stevens Point area with professional musicians for eight years, and then around the state in bars, clubs and at festivals for the next 14 years. Meanwhile, his father continues to groom the next generation of talent through the esteemed Tunesmith Academy, an incubator for rock and jazz bands whose musicians perform at events and festivals throughout the year.
"It's fantastic to have John Santy and his trio as part of our Locally Grown concert series," said Nicolet College Theatre Director Jim Nuttall. "John has a big following in this region. This will be a great opportunity to introduce him and his talented group to a wider audience."
Joshua Kane to present Borders of the Mind
The spell-binding talents of mentalist Joshua Kane and his ability to read people's minds will be on full display Thursday, Feb. 6, when he performs at the Nicolet College Theatre at 7:30 p.m.
His show, Borders of the Mind, is family entertainment and suitable for all ages.
"Joshua is clearly a gifted artist and performer and really knows what it takes to entertain an audience," said Nicolet College Theatre Director Jim Nuttall. "He's one of the nation's premier mentalists and famous for his warmth, humor and lively audience interaction."
Kane is a classically trained actor who studied with Stella Adler, Bobby Lewis, the National Shakespeare Company and Marcel Marceau. He has appeared in off-Broadway shows and uses his oratorical skills for voice-over narrations in performances such as Peter and the Wolf, Carnival of Animals and numerous commercial spots.
For more than two decades Kane has been touring internationally with his own theatrical production company, presenting original one-man shows that combine the ancient art of storytelling with dramatic performance.
"This is a show for anyone who enjoys the magic of illusion," Nuttall added. "Bring the kids, bring grandma and grandpa, and try to pay close attention to how Joshua Kane uses his mentalist powers to draw you into his orbit. You may find yourself volunteering, just to see up close how a master illusionist pulls it off."
Gothic at Midnight coming to Nicolet Feb. 7
Some of the most beloved creepy characters from classic tales of horror will be front and center on the Nicolet College Theatre stage during "Gothic at Midnight - An Evening of Hilarity and Horror" Friday, Feb. 7, at 7:30 p.m.
The stories of Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Dickens, Ambrose Pierce, George Bernard Shaw and other masters of the macabre will be brought to vivid life when Joshua Kane presents literature's greatest classic tales of horror.
Drawing inspiration from the old-time radio dramas of Orson G. Wells and Vincent Price, Kane populates the stage with unforgettable characters and vignettes laced with fun, whimsy, intensity and fright.
Kane's award-winning one-man performance is "the highest quality experience possible for community and presenter alike," stated James O'Connell of the Wausau Area Performing Arts Foundation. "Josh breathes new life into century-old theatrical conventions, channeling the essence of acting from a time when the latest in technology included the flicker of gaslight. This is what theatre was meant to be."
Nicolet College Theatre Director Jim Nuttall described Kane as the consummate classic actor. "The level of talent and energy he brings to the stage makes for a remarkable performance, in this case bringing to life with wit and finesse our favorite stories of terror," he said.
Tickets these events can be purchased in advance online by visiting www.nicoletlive.com, or by calling the box office at (715) 365-4646.
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