Contact:
Amy Schrage
630-844-5244
[email protected]
FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016
MUSIC BY THE LAKE ANNOUNCES 2016 SUMMER LINEUP
Season features weekend events June 26 through August 20 in the Ferro
Pavilion on the shores of Wisconsin’s Geneva Lake
Events include a community showcase with the Lake Geneva Symphony; Micky Dolenz, the
voice of the Monkees; YouTube sensation Postmodern Jukebox; interactive family show with
television stars Imagination Movers; the songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein with the Chicago
Philharmonic and Broadway vocalists; and all-male vocal phenomenon Straight No Chaser.
Williams Bay, Wis. — Outdoor summer entertainment venue Music by the Lake, presented by
George Williams College of Aurora University, announces its 16th annual season presenting
artist debuts and a range of musical genres and shows, including classical, dance, contemporary
and nostalgic pop, Broadway, and star vocalists. The season, which includes weekend events
from June 26 through August 20, features performances for all generations to enjoy.
Tickets for all summer events go on sale to festival donors at 9:00 a.m. on April 26. Support the
festival at the Friend level or above and receive early access to tickets. Visit
musicbythelake.com/support. Public ticket sales begin at 9:00 a.m. on May 10. Patrons can
purchase their tickets at musicbythelake.com or by contacting the Music by the Lake ticket office
at 262-245-8501. Music by the Lake does not charge a service fee on ticket orders.
CHICAGO PHILHARMONIC PRESENTS AN EVENING OF RODGERS AND
HAMMERSTEIN BROADWAY HITS WITH STAR VOCALISTS
‘Oh, what a beautiful’… evening it will be when the Chicago Philharmonic, under the baton of
Artistic Director Scott Speck, performs a program of Rodgers and Hammerstein favorites at
7:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 13. The performance features Broadway vocalists
Jenn Gambatese and Nathaniel Stampley, and will be hosted by composer Oscar Hammerstein
-2II’s grandson, Oscar Andy Hammerstein III. The program will feature songs from legendary
Broadway shows such as “The King and I,” “Carousel,” “Oklahoma!” and “South Pacific.”
Oscar Hammerstein II and lyricist Richard Rodgers began what one critic has called the “most
fruitful and successful partnership in the American musical theatre,” a partnership whose
musicals ultimately earned 35 Tony Awards, 15 Academy Awards, two Pulitzer Prizes, two
Grammy Awards and two Emmy Awards. Both Time magazine and CBS News placed Rodgers
and Hammerstein among the top 20 artists of the 20th century.
Originally comprised of principals from the Lyric Opera Orchestra, the Chicago Philharmonic is
now a collective of more than 200 of the highest-level classical musicians performing in the
Chicago area today. The Chicago Tribune calls it “one of the country's finest symphonic
orchestras.”
A writer, lecturer and family historian, Oscar Andy Hammerstein III has devoted much of his life
to studying and preserving his family’s heritage and contribution to American culture.
Jenn Gambatese, who recently appeared in the Chicago Lyric Opera’s spring 2015 production of
“Carousel,” made her debut with the Lyric Opera to great acclaim as Maria in “The Sound of
Music.” She also portrayed Glenda in the first national tour of “Wicked.”
Vocalist Nathaniel Stampley appeared in the West End production of “The Lion King” and
toured nationally with “Ragtime” and “Orpheus Returns.” The Joseph Jefferson Award nominee
also has appeared locally with the North Shore Music Theatre, the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre,
the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and recorded with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra.
SUMMER CLASSICS FILL CAMPUS WITH THE LAKE GENEVA SYMPHONY
FEATURING THE DANCE FACTORY IN A COMMUNITY SHOWCASE
The Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra kicks off the 2016 Music by the Lake series with an
afternoon of summer waltz music at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 26, in a special community
showcase, which also features dancers from Delavan’s Dance Factory. Guests who are inspired
to learn basic steps will be able to enjoy free waltz lessons with Dance Factory instructors prior
to the performance. The program includes Johan Strauss Jr.’s ever-popular “Tales from the
Vienna Woods” and “The Blue Danube” as well as works by Lehar, Mahler and Tchaikovsky.
Now in its 16th season, the Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of Music
Director David Anderson, boasts talented musicians from southeast Wisconsin and northern
Illinois. The Dance Factory & Music Studios is committed to teaching the art of dance and music
through superior industry knowledge of its instructors.
THE VOICE OF THE MONKEES MICKY DOLENZ CELEBRATES NOSTALGIC POP
Micky Dolenz, drummer and vocalist behind the 1960s pop sensation the Monkees makes his
Music by the Lake debut with a special solo appearance at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 9. Dolenz
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-3first emerged as a performer at age 10 when he starred in the TV series “Circus Boy,” which
aired from 1956 to 1958, and he continued to appear on television in several supporting roles.
From the day “The Monkees” first aired in 1966, Dolenz, along with fellow actor/musicians
Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork, shot to fame, helping to turn out five platinum
albums and three number-one hits by 1968.
A dynamic showman, Dolenz gives the audience what it wants: the hits. His voice is
unmistakable on chart busters “Take the Last Train to Clarksville” and “I’m a Believer,” and on
other classics such as Carole King’s “Pleasant Valley Sunday.” This summer marks the 50th
anniversary of the Monkees’ television series and the release of their debut single.
YOUTUBE SENSATION POSTMODERN JUKEBOX PERFORM THEIR
INTERPRETATIONS OF TODAY’S BIGGEST HITS
Online phenomenon Postmodern Jukebox make their festival debut at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday,
July 16, performing their genre-bending interpretations of today’s chart-topping songs.
Postmodern Jukebox is the brainchild of pianist and arranger Scott Bradlee, who began to test his
musical creativity by rewriting 1980s pop tunes as jazz, swing and ragtime arrangements. After
posting solo video performances of these remakes on YouTube in 2009, Bradlee became a
virtual sensation.
By 2013 Bradlee and Postmodern Jukebox’s revolving cast of 50 musicians were posting a new
video each week and attracting tens of thousands of views. Today, more than 160 videos later,
Postmodern Jukebox’s YouTube channel boasts 1.9 million subscribers and more than 400
million views. In just four years the band has released 12 albums, including last year’s “Top Hat
on Fleek,” which reached No. 6 on the Billboard Jazz Album chart.
As Bradlee recently told Parade.com, Postmodern Jukebox is a “musical time machine,” taking
their multi-generational audiences down a weirdly nostalgic road without ever straying very far
from today’s pop favorites.
ALL-MALE VOCAL PHENOMENON STRAIGHT NO CHASER REINVENTS THE
IDEA OF A CAPPELLA ON THE MODERN POP LANDSCAPE
If the phrase “male a cappella group” conjures up an image of students in blue blazers, ties, and
khakis singing traditional college songs on ivied campuses… think again. Straight No Chaser
are neither strait-laced nor straight-faced, but neither are they vaudeville-style kitsch. In an era
when so much pop music is the product of digital processing and vocal pro-tooling, Straight No
Chaser is the real deal — the captivating sound of ten unadulterated human voices coming
together to make extraordinary music that is moving people in a fundamental sense…and with a
sense of humor. They make their Music by the Lake debut at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 20,
closing out the 2016 summer season.
Originally formed over a dozen years ago while students together at Indiana University, the
group has reassembled and reemerged as a phenomenon - with a massive fan base, more than 20
million views on YouTube and numerous national television appearances. They have achieved
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-4success with two holiday releases, including 2008’s “Holiday Spirits” and 2009’s “Christmas
Cheers” and three additional albums, including the 2015 release of “The New Old Fashioned.”
FAMILY EVENT FEATURES TELEVISION STARS IMAGINATION MOVERS
Imagination Movers, one of the country’s most popular touring acts for families, brings its
high-energy, interactive stage show to the Ferro Pavilion at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 7. Best
known from their Emmy Award-winning series on Disney Junior, the Movers — Rich, Scott,
Dave and Smitty — have captured audiences in 55 countries with catchy pop-influenced tunes
for the younger generation, as well as parent and grandparents alike.
The group’s season-three soundtrack, “Back in Blue,” debuted at No. 2 on iTunes and
Amazon.com. Their ninth album, “Licensed to Move,” was released in 2015. Pollstar magazine
ranked their 2011 “In a Big Warehouse” among the top 100 tours of the year (one of only two
family acts on the list).
MUSIC BY THE LAKE SUMMER EXPERIENCE
Free parking and shuttle service for all events is located close to campus at Williams Bay High
School at 500 W. Geneva St., in Williams Bay, Wisconsin.
The festival provides convenient food options for patrons to enjoy before or during the show.
Easily-accessible food booths are located on campus featuring snacks and sweet treats as well as
bottled water and sodas. Other a la carte items such as sandwiches, salads, burgers and ice cream,
are available at the College Inn, located west of the pavilion. Lawn ticket holders may also bring
their own food and drinks on campus, as well as small coolers and picnic gear. Alcohol can be
consumed on designated lawn areas.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
All 2016 artists are making their Music by the Lake debut this season. Events are located in the
Ferro Pavilion on the campus of George Williams College of Aurora University in Williams
Bay, Wisconsin. Performances take place rain or shine.
Sunday, June 26, 4:00 p.m. – Community Showcase
Summer Waltz
Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra
David Anderson, Music Director
The Dance Factory
Tickets: Reserved $15 / Lawn $15 / Campus opens at 2:30 p.m.
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-5Saturday, July 9, 7:30 p.m.
Micky Dolenz-The Voice of the Monkees
Tickets: Reserved $90-$70 / Terrace $45 / Lawn $25 / Campus opens at 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 16, 7:30 p.m.
Postmodern Jukebox
Tickets: Reserved $90-$70 / Terrace $45 / Lawn $25 / Campus opens at 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 7, 4:00 p.m.
Imagination Movers
Tickets: Adults $20, Children $10 (4-10), Children 3 and under FREE /
Campus opens at 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 13, 7:30 p.m.
Something Wonderful-the songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein
Chicago Philharmonic
Scott Speak, Conductor
Oscar Andy Hammerstein III, Host
Jenn Gambatese, Vocalist
Nathaniel Stampley, Vocalist
Tickets: Reserved $90-$70 / Terrace $45 / Lawn $25 / Campus opens at 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 20, 7:30 p.m.
An Evening with Straight No Chaser
Tickets: Reserved $90-$70 / Terrace $45 / Lawn $25 / Campus opens at 6:00 p.m.
Artist and venue photos are available for download in the Music by the Lake press room. Visit
musicbythelake.com/pressroom.
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The Music by the Lake festival appeals to music lovers of all ages, weaving together engaging
events and breathtaking natural beauty, offering an unparalleled outdoor summer experience. The
open-air setting of the Ferro Pavilion, which expands to pristine lawn picnic areas, takes patrons on
a journey of sight and sound on Wisconsin’s Geneva Lake. Summer concerts offered on the campus
of George Williams College of Aurora University (GWC) feature big band, family programming,
classical, musical theatre and contemporary entertainment. Music by the Lake is part of GWC’s
ongoing commitment to year-round cultural presentations, connecting campus and community.
Visit musicbythelake.com for more information.
George Williams College was founded in 1884 by YMCA leaders who sought to educate students
for lives of service, with a focus on body, mind and spirit. Today, GWC operates as a campus of
Aurora University, offering undergraduate and graduate programs. GWC’s degree programs are
fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission through Aurora University. Visit
gwc.aurora.edu for more information.