2014-2015 Show Season

It's been a long time since I have updated the family blog. We have been a very busy family this past year. We have so many highlights but I have decided to update on our 2014-2015 show season. Grace and Ben were both in Beauty and the Beast in November 2014.

 Grace played multiple roles in the singing/dancing ensemble. She played the pepper side to her BFF Madie, who played salt. They got to dance a little duet together during "Be Our Guest."

Ben played multiple roles as well. He was a cheese grater in "Be Our Guest" and below you see him as an angry villager in the mob scene "Kill the Beast."





 

 

Immediately after Beauty and the Beast was finished Grace was cast in the lead role of Princess Briar-Rose in the non-Disney version of Sleeping Beauty. Grace got to experience a few firsts with this show. It was her first title role at the State Theatre and her first on-stage kiss.

Another first for Grace with this show was the need to "pull-off" on-stage chemistry! Her and Jeffrey did a great job! Although I do think they were merciless teased by all their home-school friends.

 

Her solo "Little Bird" was beautiful!!

It's not every day that a mother gets to witness her daughter's first kiss- and take a picture of it. I did not include that picture, but this one above is right before the big moment:)

But- I must add that an on-stage kiss is not the same as the real thing. Thankfully Grace and Jeffrey are good friends...and still are!

 

 

Another first with this show was that they performed for schools at The State. Grace has done many, many school shows at The Oxford, but never at The State and for that many kids. It was a hoot! Those kids were hilarious!!

 

 

 

During the last couple weeks of Sleeping Beauty, Grace was cast in her last show of the season. Little Women, the Musical, with the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild. Her first show with The Guild.

She got the role of Amy, the youngest March sister. In the musical version of this show they need an older actress to play Amy because the timeline spans a few years. So Amy starts as a young child and then grows to adulthood. Grace loves, loves, loves the book Little Women and just HAD to try out for this show.

 
 

Grace loved playing this character because Amy had an arc to her. It's more meaningful for Grace to be in a show where she can really put a lot of thought and skill into the character development. Grace was great as the bratty, annoying Amy! But just as great as the older, sophisticated Amy that she played later in the show.

 

 

 

And another first in her acting career....a wedding dress!

 

 



Starquest Winner....again!

Back in December of 2011 Grace competed in her first vocal talent competition. Starquest is held by the theatre where Grace does all the musicals that she has been in. She was 11 years old then and won in the 13 and under age group. Once you win, you cannot compete again until you reach the 14- 18 age group. Starquest 2014 was her first chance to compete to become the first person to win in both age categories. It was a very talented group of vocalists in her age group and a few were as old as 17 years. We are pleased to announce that she won....again! She sang the song "Astonishing" from the musical "Little Women." The great Broadway star Sutton Foster made the song famous (well, famous for those that love Broadway music.) And Grace did an amazing job singing this very difficult song.

The reining Miss Wisconsin, Raeanna Johnson, was the MC/Host for the night!

Click HERE to see the Youtube video of her winning performance!

"Show Us Your Talent" State Fair Talent Competition

This past summer in July 2014 Grace entered the "Show Us Your Talent" competition at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair in Chippewa Falls. This year the competition was new, because the winners in each age category had the chance to move on to the Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis for the first annual junior amateur talent competition. Both levels offered cash prizes! But the kicker is that Grace at the age of 14 had to compete in the upper age category. Ages 13-18.
First step was the preliminary round where she and two others in her age group got to move on to the finals. She sang the same song in prelims and finals. It was "Don't Rain on My Parade" made famous by Barbara Streisand and Lea Michele. Want to hear it? Click HERE!!!

In the finals, Grace was one of eleven competitors hoping to be the Northern Wisconsin State Fair talent show winner and the one moving on to the State Fair in the teen division. And.....GRACE WON! And got a cash prize of $125. Wisconsin State Fair....here comes Grace!

So on Thursday August 7th, Grace, Jeremy and I headed down to Milwaukee to be there the day before her competition. We arrived at the State Fair grounds the next day for her to compete at noon.
The younger age category was first and the winners were announced. When I heard the winners I was concerned cause I did not agree with the judges decisions. Not that I know it all, but I've seen enough competitions to know talent when I see/hear it. Hmmmmm, I was scratching my head wondering what these judges were looking for!
Grace was the 4th to perform out of eleven competitors. At this level she competed against not just singers, but also a group, a dancer, and a drummer. Not sure how the judges were going to pick between such different talent types. Grace did well but the tech was terrible!!! State fair needs to address this problem in future years, to give the kids their best chance at success. But we were very happy and proud when Grace was announced as the second place winner!! With a cash prize of $1500!!
It was a great moment and the funniest part was when one of the judges came up to her afterward and told her that she really should pursue musical theatre...ha, ha! Really? Thanks for the tip! ;)

The best compliment she got was from the Fairest of the Fair who asked Grace if she would take a picture with her. She said Grace sounded just like Lea Michele.

And how did we celebrate Grace's win! With a Wisconsin State cream puff...of course!!!!

Willy Wonka!

Grace and Ben had so much fun playing their roles in Willy Wonka! The show ended up being a great success with a few little and scary stage mishaps, but still all is well that ends well!

Ben did such a fantastic job in his first speaking role as James. He sang, he acted, he was awesome! It was a great next step for him!

 

 

I think Ben will finally be ready to try for a lead role next season!

 

 

Grace was terribly awesome playing the spoiled brat Veruca!!! She was nasty!

 

 

 

What a brat!

 



 

Grace did an amazing job!

 

 

She played the role just perfect!

I'm very thankful that she is not anything like Veruca at home!

 

 

Here is Grace and Ben with Joe Burger...the 27 year old...Grandpa Joe:)

Roald Dahl's WILLY WONKA

Hello All!

Super excited to share with you the results of Grace and Ben's audition on Monday. Grace is very pleased, happy, and excited to play the lead role of the mean, snotty, spoiled rotten brat Veruca Salt. Can anyone say "type-casting" or like one of her friends said...the opposite of type-casting since Veruca's characteristics do not represent Grace at all. But they are the most fun parts for Grace to play, cause it is so much more of an acting challenge to be someone different then yourself:) But also the character is similar to Mary Lennox (Secret Garden) and Susan Walker ( Miracle on 34th Street), so she has some experience. But Veruca is over- the-top "one bad egg." Can't wait to see Grace play her and possibly play her with a British accent! So fun!! And she also has a solo:)

 

And Ben was still not ready for a lead so settled for singing "Happy Birthday" for his audition. Much to the directors dismay... cause he really wants to hear Ben sing a "real song." Maybe next time. But...he did get a named character part...James. Not for sure, but he might have a small speaking part, so he's gradually warming up to that big role for him in the future:) Which is totally Ben's style! He is very excited to be in another show!

 

Details are below, hope you can make it to this one...it will be the last show these Pichler kids will be in until next fall or later (depending on next season's show line-up.)

 

 

 

 

Roald Dahl's WILLY WONKA

February 27th - March 2nd 2014
State Theatre
Music and Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley; Adapted for the stage by Timothy Allen McDonald & Leslie Bricusse; Based on the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Show Times: Friday, Feb. 28- 07:30pm
Saturday, Mar. 1- 07:30pm & 01:30pm
Sunday, Mar. 2- 01:30pm
Thursday, Feb. 27- 07:30pm

Tickets are $8.00 - Youth, $16.00 - Seniors, $20.00 - Adult

Get Tickets Online or call 715.839.8877 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 715.839.8877 FREE  end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Merry Christmas and Happy 2014!

Since I ran out of Christmas letters and was not able to send to everyone...here is our 2013 Christmas letter! Such wonderful memories were created in 2013 and I know that there are many more in 2014 to be experienced and shared! My prayer is that you and your family and friends have a most blessed Christmas and super Happy New Year! May you all be blessed with love, peace, happiness and health all year thru!