Musical Variety Marks February's Boldt Arts Alive! Series at the Fox Cities P.A.C.

This February, the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center's Boldt Arts Alive! Series features a variety of music with a patriotic performance by Band of the Irish Guards and an intimate weekend of Cabaret with Diane Schuur.

On their first U.S. tour, the Band of the Irish Guards celebrates 110 years of military traditions Tuesday, February 16 at 7:30 p.m. with an impressive display of precision and pageantry. Accompanied by The Royal Regiment of Scotland, forty-nine musicians will perform a variety of traditional Irish and Scottish music with bagpipes, drums and traditional fling dancing.

In honor of their American allies in arms, the Band of the Irish Guards will feature a tribute to the American Armed Forces band, the many branches of the military and U.S. servicemen and women. Colonel Dale Pommerening of the U.S. Army Reserve will accept the Band of the Irish Guards' customary regimental salute. Col. Pommerening is proud to welcome the Band of the Irish Guards, saying, "It is an honor and privilege to receive the Regimental Salute from the Band of the Irish Guards. If anyone has not seen their performance it is magnificent. The Band of the Irish Guards commemorates the honor of soldiers past and present." The Fox Cities P.A.C. is proud to offer a $5 military discount to current military members, their families and veterans. Interested parties should contact the Center's ticket office directly for details at (920) 730-3760.

In addition to their U.S. tour, members of the Band of the Irish Guards is preparing to redeploy to Afghanistan for a second tour of duty later this year. The musicians are part of an active military unit, trained to give support to the Army Medical Services in the event of mobilization.

Prior to the performance, Band of the Irish Guards musical director, Major Shannon, will lead a preshow discussion in the Kimberly-Clark Theater starting at 6:45 p.m. As the man responsible for arranging the music, audiences can expect to hear of his experiences as a talented musician, band leader and soldier. This discussion is part of the Appleton Papers Inc. Community Engagement Activities and is free to Band of the Irish Guards ticket holders. Tickets for Band of the Irish Guards start at $20.

Later in the month, the Boldt Arts Alive! Series takes a different musical direction featuring Cabaret with Diane Schuur Friday, February 19 and Saturday, February 20 at 8:00 p.m. Noted for her eclectic sound and perfect pitch, Schuur is often compared to jazz legends Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald. Blind since birth, Schuur's musical style developed at a young age even before she was discovered by Dizzy Gillespie in 1979. Her style and presence is perfect for the Center's cabaret style engagements in the Kimberly-Clark Theater. Tickets for Diane Schuur are limited and cost $35.

"We are so pleased to feature Diane Schuur in February," said Amy Gosz director of programming and community engagement at the Fox Cities P.A.C. "With Valentine's Day the Sunday before, it's a great chance for us to showcase the Kimberly-Clark Theater in an intimate cabaret set-up, in effect transforming the Center into a jazz club for the weekend."

Cabaret with Diane Schuur is locally supported by Menasha Corporation and US Bank. The Boldt Arts Alive! Series is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Tickets for Band of the Irish Guards on February 16 and Cabaret with Diane Schuur February 19 and 20 are available now and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787 or the Center's ticket office at (920) 730-3760. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center's ticket office or online at foxcitiespac.com. Groups of 15 or more call (920) 730-3786. Additional fees may apply.

ABOUT THE FOX CITIES PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, located in downtown Appleton, provides a premier venue for live performing arts. The Center proudly serves as a gathering place for the community to engage in educational opportunities while enhancing a greater understanding and appreciation of the live performance arts. For more information on upcoming events, education programs and community involvement go to foxcitiespac.com. The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center - Where the Arts Come Alive!

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