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.
You haven't fully experienced Big Top Chautauqua until
you've seen the Original Shows and our amazing Blue Canvas Orchestra!
Special thanks to The Boldt Company for their support of Big Top original productions.
MORTY'S PUB
ESTABLISHED 1935
FOOD
Fresh Lake Superior Whitefish
Burgers & Sandwiches • Appetizers
DRINKS
Full Bar • Craft Beer
FUN
Pool • Pinball
OPEN DAILY at 11:30 AM
108 RITTENHOUSE AVENUE, BAYFIELD
www.mortyspub.com • (715) 779-3996
8 WWW.BIGTOP.ORG (715)373-5552