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!

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

Aladdin

So excited to share that Grace got a part in another musical at the Eau Claire Children's Theatre this fall. This time she is playing a chorus role in Disney's Aladdin. She is super excited to play a chorus role where there will be lots of singing and DANCING, which is a fun change for her. But Grace isn't the only Pichler kid in this show because Benjamin decided to try out too. It took some coaxing, but he agreed to give it a try. Well, it turns out the director thought Ben was pretty good! And teased him...wondering why he has not tried out for anything in the past. So Ben got a fun part with a bunch of other kids as Aladdin's Entourage. But not only does he get to play that fun singing, dancing role but he also plays the part of the magic carpet along with another boy. So it is a pretty exciting role for his first ever ECCT show. This is a super fun play with lots of music...it's great for the kids. ECCT is even bringing in a flying crew for special FX with the genie and the flying carpet. So you will not want to miss this one! If you like the Disney movie, you will love this musical! Info below....

 

 

Disney's ALADDIN

November 21-24, 2013
State Theatre
Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Tim Rice; Book adapted & Additional Lyrics by Jim Luigs; Based on the 1992 Disney film ALADDIN

Show Times: Thursday, Nov. 21- 07:30pm
Friday, Nov. 22- 07:30pm
Saturday, Nov. 23- 07:30pm & 01:30pm
Sunday, Nov. 24- 01:30pm

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

Get Tickets Online or call 715-839-8877

Kidz Kaberet 2013

Grace sang at Eau Claire Children's Theatre's Kidz Kaberet event this past Fiday...then also followed that up and sang 4 songs at a Benefit Dinner event the following evening...it has been pretty busy for her.

In her newest Youtube video she is singing "On My Own" from Les Miserables......hope you enjoy it!

Click Here!

Grace Gets Lead in Secret Garden

We just got the news after a day of torture waiting for the results. Grace got the lead role of Mary Lennox in the musical Secret Garden. She is so very excited for this role! She may even get to break out her British accent:) The role is pretty challenging, acting wise and she does also have a vocal solo..."The Girl I Mean To Be" as well as other duets and singing pieces. We know some of the cast...like the role of Archibald and Lily and they are amazing singers and actors. Grace even auditioned with the man that will play Dr. Neville Craven and he too was amazing. So very talented cast for a very beautiful play.
We hope that you can come support Grace....lead roles like this are few and far between for a girl Grace's age. It is very likely that she will not have an opportunity at another role like this until she is in highschool. So if you can....come see it! And read the book too! We read the book when Grace was pretty young and Grace has recently reread it! Very wonderful classic.


Orphaned in India, 11 year old Mary Lennox returns to Yorkshire to live with her reclusive uncle Archibald and his invalid son Colin. The estate's many wonders include a magical garden, which beckons the children with haunting melodies and the "Dreamers," spirits from Mary's past who guide her through her new life.

Show Times: Thursday, Jan. 31- 07:30pm
Friday, Feb. 1- 07:30pm
Saturday, Feb. 2- 07:30pm
Sunday, Feb. 3- 01:30pm

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

Get Tickets Online or call 715.839.8877

November Ramblings

Duck For President!

Wish we could have actually voted for this Duck!

 

Special shout out to all those that supported Grace by coming to the show "Duck For President." We appreciate it more then words could ever say. Particularly Jeremy's family has a wonderful "habit" of supporting Grace in ALL of her events, shows, etc. There are even a special few out there....and you know who you are....who wouldn't dream of missing one of Grace's shows....seriously your love and support of my daughter does not go un-noticed....you are the best!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Jeremy Bags A Buck!

 

Jeremy got this really nice 8 pointer the day after the opener. He was pretty tickled since it has been a few years since he got a buck. Way to fill the freezer babe!

Duck For President

Hey! How About We All Vote Duck For President? If you have not heard already, Grace landed another part in an Eau Claire Children's Theater play...."Duck For President." Grace has been having tons of fun at rehearsals that have been going for a couple weeks now. The play is based off of the children's book by the same title by Doreen Cronin. Same author as "Click, Clack, Moo." It is pretty obvious that ECCT decided to do this because of the big election coming up in November and the show times lead right into that big event. It's a great opportunity to take the kids to a super fun musical that let's them take a little part in democracy. Grace is playing the role of "Duck" which is a super fun opportunity for her because of the vocal challenges and playing the title role, which just happens to be a BOY. Hope you can make it to one of the 7 public performances. Here's your chance to get a great big dose of Grace because these smaller Oxford shows give her lots of stage time and lots more singing time too.

 Duck For President
Show Times: Friday, Oct. 26- 07:30pm
Saturday, Oct. 27- 11:00am & 01:30pm
Friday, Nov. 2- 07:30pm
Saturday, Nov. 3- 11:00am & 01:30pm
Sunday, Nov. 4- 01:30pm

Tickets are $8.00 - Youth, $12.00 - Seniors, $12.00 - Adult

 

Click here for tickets- www.ecct.org

 

ECCT's Sound of Music

Well, the State Theatre was sure alive with "The Sound of Music." What a fantastic run of shows. Friday, Saturday and Sunday all SOLD OUT and Thursday was about 3/4 full. And every show got a standing ovation. It was such an honor for Grace to be a part of this amazing cast. Thank you to all that were able to come support Grace with your attendance at this awesome production....we are so grateful.

Here are some comments I heard from people..........

"I can't believe how much talent we have in the EC area."

"The best production I have ever seen at the State."

"That women sure can sing."  [Referring to Kat Sherman]

"Amazing!"

"Loved it so much, we had to come and see it again."

"This production was the high quality of a touring Broadway show."

"Absolutely outstanding!!!"

"Kat was just as good as Julie Andrews!"

Kathleen Sherman- Close friend and Grace & Ben Piano/Voice Teacher

Played Maria

Singing..."Sound of Music"

Brigitta

 Do,Re,Me,Fa,So,La,Ti,DO!

 High on the hill was a "Lonely Goatherd"

 Curtain play clothes

 Brigitta always tells the truth.......

 ......even when you don't want to hear it!

 I'm glad to go I cannot tell a lie.....

 I flit, I float, I fleetly flee I fly...

 Come on, sing for Uncle Max

 "Uncle Max are you sure this is going to be alright with Father?"

Kaltzberg Festival "Concert"