FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BIG TAP CHAUTAUQUAFEST
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
NOTHING LIKE IT UNDER THE STARS! In 2012 Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua celebrated our 27 th summer season of cultural programs under the big blue tent, the 19th year of Tent Show Radio and the 21 st year of significant national touring. Over the course of the year, Big Top programs touched a lot of people. Here are a few numbers for you.
In 2012 Big Top produced and presented:
• 22 original historical musicals in the Tent
• 33 guest artist shows featuring 49 different bands
• 7 free family matinees and school day performances
• 11 free workshops
• 4 free lectures
BIG TAP CHAUTAUQUAFEST
A new tradition was born in 2012! On September 15th Big Top held its first annual ChautauquaFest complete with beer tasting, a 5K hike to the top of Mt. Ashwabay, great festival music and a homebrew competition. Thanks to numerous supporters and suppliers, it was the most fun that can be had on a beautiful fall day! We look forward to seeing the“ beerfest” grow in the coming years. Thanks to Star Liquor, Super H Foods, WI Department of Tourism, Ashland Outdoor Education Foundation, Bo Belanger, Kevin Hunt, our homebrew judges, all of the distributors and our amazing volunteers who made this a stellar event!
• 52 weeks of Tent Show Radio broadcast on 50 stations throughout the country
• 17 Blue Canvas Orchestra on Tour shows throughout the Upper Midwest
That adds up to a bountiful year of artistic and educational offerings! This year we counted 25,500 tent admissions, 21,000 tour patrons and 1.1 million Tent Show Radio listeners! I hope that your life was enriched by Big Top Chautauqua this year. There truly is nothing like it under the stars!
I look forward to seeing you all in 2013 at the tent, on tour, or as Charles Osgood says:“ I’ ll see you on the radio.”
Terry Meyer Matier
Executive Director
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