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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