The "Big Read" Schedule is Here!

Just received this Big Read Schedule of events - enjoy!
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Alan Kopischke
920 868 3841 or 920 370 1034

The Big Read Door County 2010: Willa Cather’s “My Ántonia”
Peninsula Players and Door County Library present
month-long series of events to begin January 11

January 15, 2010—Fish Creek, WI— The Big Read Door County, now in its third year, has quickly become a cherished Door County tradition. Anticipation of this year’s celebration and exploration of Willa Cather’s remarkable “My Ántonia” is so great that all of the 650 free books provided by the Friends of Door County Libraries have already been taken by eager readers. The library still has many copies to loan.

This year’s events, once again brought to the community by Peninsula Players in partnership with Door County Library, will start with a kickoff at Door Community Auditorium on January 11 at 6:30 p.m. Highlights of the kickoff will include Miss Door County Katie Sawyer speaking on literacy, Dr. Estella Lauter discussing several compelling themes and unique aspects of the book, an opportunity to learn an authentic American Folk Dance presented by Door County Folk Alliance, the unveiling of a commissioned artwork depicting Willa Cather and Big Read Producer Alan Kopischke previewing events.

Other featured events include a keynote speech on “Landscape as Home Place” by Professor Susan Maher, vice president of the Willa Cather Foundation, sponsored by Door County Land Trust and held at Crossroads at Big Creek; a special Peninsula Music Festival concert at Shepherd of the Bay featuring Dvořák and other Bohemian composers; Miller Art Museum’s “Barbara’s Farm” exhibit, featuring Daniel Anderson photos of rural farm life; a Peninsula Players staged reading of “My Ántonia” at Birch Creek’s Juniper Hall; two American Folk dances, film screenings at Third Avenue Playhouse and at library branches, classes at the Clearing, book discussions, school programs, family events and much more.

“Cather’s depiction of the immigrant experience, her loving remembrances of friendships and the land and her creation of the vibrant Ántonia make for a thoroughly enjoyable read and provide us tremendously rich material to explore from different angles in venues throughout the county,” said Big Read producer Alan Kopischke, Peninsula Players development director. “Part of what makes Door County’s Big Read unique is the infusion of arts throughout our events and the incredible array of enthusiastically collaborating organizations – more than 30 of them this year.”

Funding for The Big Read is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the Friends of Door County Libraries and Door County Community Foundation’s Arts Fund. The NEA also provides reader’s guides and audio guides, available at each Door County Library branch, as well as providing teacher’s guides to each Door County school district.

Previous Big Reads focused on John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath” and Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” drawing a total of 4,000 participants to the many events in the winters of 2008 and 2009.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest. For more information about The Big Read visit www.neabigread.org. Event listings can be found there or at www.peninsulaplayers.com.

“We’re very excited to have received yet another NEA grant to continue our year-round connection to the community as we lead into our historic 75th anniversary season,” said Players Artistic Director Greg Vinkler. Peninsula Players, founded in 1935, is America’s oldest professional resident summer theater and the oldest professional theater in Wisconsin. The Players will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its first performance on July 25, 2010.

Peninsula Players is America’s oldest professional resident summer theater and is unique in the country for its diverse productions, continuing loyalty to a resident company, and its beautiful setting of 16 wooded acres along the cedar-lined shores of Green Bay. In the past 73 years, the theater has become a Door County landmark and its cornerstone arts institution, attracting audience members from throughout Wisconsin and across the country.
The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts—both new and established—bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Arts Endowment is the nation’s largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities and military bases. For more information, visit www.arts.gov.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. For more information, visit www.imls.gov.
Arts Midwest connects people throughout the Midwest and the world to meaningful arts opportunities, sharing creativity, knowledge, and understanding across boundaries. Arts Midwest connects the arts to audiences throughout the nine-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. One of six non-profit regional arts organizations in the United States, Arts Midwest’s history spans more than 25 years. For more information, visit www.artsmidwest.org.

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Mon, Jan 11, 6:30 – 8:00pm The Big Read Door County 2010 Kickoff Door Community Auditorium, Fish Creek
Highlights include Miss Door County Katie Sawyer speaking on literacy, Dr. Estella Lauter discussing several compelling themes and unique aspects of the book, an opportunity to learn an authentic American Folk Dance presented by Door County Folk Alliance, the unveiling of a commissioned artwork depicting Willa Cather and Big Read Producer Alan Kopischke previewing events.
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Thu, Jan 14, 3:00 – 4:30pm Door County Library / Film about the Life of Willa Cather Door County Library, 107 South 4th Ave., Sturgeon Bay
& Tue, Jan 19, 3:00 – 4:30pm, Sister Bay-Liberty Grove Library, 2323 Mill Road, Sister Bay
The film biography "Willa Cather: The Road is All," part of the acclaimed PBS American Masters series, will be presented at the Door County Library.
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Sat, Jan 16– Tue, Mar 2, Barbara's Farm Miller Art Museum, Sturgeon Bay
Color photographs of childhood memories by Daniel Anderson. These photos of rural farm life are evocative of the scenes described in Willa Cather's "My Ántonia."
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Sun, Jan 17, 1:00 – 3:00pm Sugar on the Floor Family Dance Sturgeon Bay YMCA, Sturgeon Bay
Relive the summer nights Ántonia, Jim and Lena spent at the dancing pavilion. Bring the whole family to the Y for American folk dancing in the gym! Presented by the Door County Folk Alliance and Family Centers of Door County.

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Mon, Jan 18, 7:00 – 8:30pm "My Ántonia" by Stephen J. Miller Birch Creek's Juniper Hall, 3821 Cty Hwy E, Egg Harbor
Peninsula Players company members present a creatively staged reading of Stephen J. Miller's stage adaptation of "My Ántonia," directed by Joe Foust, with set and props by Sara Ross, and performed by Sean and Linda Fortunato.


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Fri, Jan 22, 7:00 – 9:00pm Landscape as Home Place in Willa Cather's "My Ántonia" Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay
University of Nebraska English Professor and Willa Cather scholar Susan Maher offers The Big Read’s keynote address. Maher will discuss the powerful connection people have to the lands that surround them, particularly as reflected in "My Ántonia." Professor Maher currently serves as vice president on the executive board of the Willa Cather Foundation. A commissioned artwork depicting the woman upon whom Ántonia was based will be unveiled. Sponsored by the Door County Land Trust.

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Sat, Jan 23, 2:00 – 4:00pm, 7:00 – 9:00pm Film Screening: My Ántonia Third Avenue Playhouse, Sturgeon Bay
Screening of the 1995 USA Network film starring Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Robards, Eva Marie Saint, and the effervescent Elina Löwensohn as Ántonia.
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Thu, Jan 28, 2:00 – 3:30pm Plants of the Plains; Posies of the Prairies Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay
PowerPoint presentation will discuss the ecological significance of prairie plants including images of some of the characteristic flowers of Nebraska.

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Thu, Jan 28, 6:30 – 8:30pm Door County Library / Peninsula Genealogical Society - Trace Your Pioneer Ancestors Door County Library, 107 South 4th Ave., Sturgeon Bay
The characters of Antonia and her family are based on real people. The Sadilek family traveled from Bohemia to settle on the plains of Nebraska in 1880. The Peninsula Genealogical Society will hold a workshop in the Door County Library on tracing your pioneer ancestors. Members will illustrate the paths their own families traveled, and there will be a chance to learn about the many resources available in the library for both beginning and experienced genealogy researchers.

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Sat, Jan 30, 7:00 – 9:30pm Sugar on the Floor Barn Dance Ephraim Village Hall, Ephraim
Relive the summer nights Ántonia, Jim and Lena spent at the dancing pavilion. Join the Folk Alliance for traditional American folk dancing.


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Thu, Feb 4, 7:00 – 8:30pm From the Door Peninsula to the Nebraskan Plains: Passages that Honor our Sense of Place Door County Land Trust Northern Door Office, 10547 Koessl Lane, Sister Bay
Readings by Local Door County Authors interspersed with Passages from the Works of Willa Cather

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Fri, Feb 5, 11:30am – 4:30pm "Ántonia's True Heart" Blood Drive Northern Door YMCA, Fish Creek
Show your "true heart" (as in Jim's description of Ántonia) and donate blood at Northern Door YMCA.


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Mon, Feb 8, 7:00 – 9:00pm (or Feb 9) Public Reading of Scott Schwartz' "My Ántonia" Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County, Ephraim
A public reading of Scott Schwartz' stage adaptation of "My Ántonia" performed by Clearing class members under the direction of Alan Kopischke.

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Wed, Feb 10, 7:00 – 9:00pm Peninsula Music Festival Concert Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church, Ellison Bay
Music of Bohemian composers performed by members of the Peninsula Music Festival. In addition to Ántonia's father being a Bohemian violinist, music plays a prominent role in almost all of the books written by Willa Cather. Through music and narration, learn of the influence of music on Willa Cather's writings and her life as well as discover the wonderful music of the Bohemian composers of her time: Dvořák, Suk, Martinu and Kalliwoda.
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Book Discussions
Tue, Jan 12, 6:30 – 7:30pm Door County Library / Readers Rampant Book Discussion Sister Bay-Liberty Grove Library, 2323 Mill Road, Sister Bay
Wed, Jan 20, 12:00 – 2:00pm Door County Library / The Outpost Book Discussion 4690 Rainbow Ridge Court, Egg Harbor
Thu, Jan 21, 2:00 – 3:00pm Door County Library / Crossroads Log Cabin Book Discussion Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay
Fri, Jan 22, 11:00am – 12:00pm Door County Library / Fiddler's Green Book Discussion Fiddler's Green, 1699 Jackson Harbor Road, Washington Island
Mon, Jan 25, 6:00 – 7:30pm Door County Library / Teen Book Discussion at Sonny's Pizzeria 43 S Madison Ave , Sturgeon Bay
Tue, Jan 26, 1:00 – 2:00pm Door County Library / Noble House Book Discussion Noble House Museum, 4167 Highway 42, Fish Creek
Tue, Jan 26, 2:00 – 3:00pm Door County Library / Novel Ideas Book Discussion Novel Ideas, 8085 State Highway 57, Baileys Harbor
Wed, Jan 27, 3:00 – 4:00pm Door County Library / Booktalker for Kids and Grownups Door County Library, 107 South 4th Ave., Sturgeon Bay
Thu, Jan 28, 2:00 – 3:00pm Door County Library / Scandia Village Book Discussion10560 Applewood Rd., Sister Bay
Mon, Feb 1, 7:00 – 8:00pm Door County Library / East Maplewood Homemakers / Maplewood Community Club Book Discussion Forestville Town Hall, 7705 County H, Sturgeon Bay
Tue, Feb 2, 6:30 – 8:00pm Door County Library / Book Discussion led by Gary Jones Sister Bay-Liberty Grove Library, 2323 Mill Road, Sister Bay
Wed, Feb 3, 11:00am – 12:30pm Door County Library / Ephraim Historical Foundation Book Discussion Ephraim Historical Foundation, 3060 Anderson Lane, Ephraim
Fri, Feb 5, 1:00 – 3:00pm Door County Library / Learning In Retirement Book Discussion Door County Library, 107 South 4th Ave., Sturgeon Bay
Classes
Wed, Jan 13, 9:00am – 12:00pm The Big Read Gallery Talk with Kärin Kopischke The Clearing, Ellison Bay
Mon, Jan 18, 25, Feb 1, 8, 2010 9:00am – 12:00pm The Big Read Onstage: Cather's "My Ántonia" with Alan Kopischke The Clearing, Ellison Bay
Family Events
Wed, Jan 13, 3:00 – 5:00pm Door County Library / Crossroads Pioneer Crafts for Kids Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay

Wed, Jan 20, 3:00 – 5:00pm Door County Library / Pioneer Films for Families Door County Library, 107 South 4th Ave., Sturgeon Bay

Wed, Feb 3, 3:00 – 5:00pm Door County Library / Crossroads Pioneer Games for Kids Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay