December 2020
Don't let COVID-19 put a damper on your holiday tradition of experiencing The Nutcracker, performed by Reif dancers! This special Video On-Demand performance was recorded in 2019.
Recreated from the classical ballet by Tchaikovsky, and performed by the superb Reif Dancers, The Nutcracker tells the enchanting story of young Clara who dreams that her nutcracker doll is transformed into a valiant prince. After defeating the evil Mouse King and his army, they are transported to the fantastical Land of Sweets where they are welcomed by a host of delectable characters. A Reif holiday tradition.
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Two remarkable Christmas stories from World War Two point to the possibility that more is going on that what we might see. In the first story, a Christmas Eve celebration in a frozen cellar brings a soothing peace to a group of weary soldiers. While the other features Americans bringing joy to the children of a battered European village. In the third story, the narrator tells of his hilarious tour of Minnesota as the Grinch, but the story turns on him as he falls into a situation where his own heart needed to grow several sizes. What the three stories have in common is the angels appear in unlikely situations. Like the Christmas story itself -- which took place in a barn -- difficulties transform us to more than what we can imagine. In our Covid Christmas, this message is particularly timely. A soldier can’t leave the battlefield any more than any of us can escape the pandemic. But acts of kindness, particularly toward children, can open a door to something larger. When Christmas is stripped of the presents and what usually happens, as it was in Whoville when the Grinch stole everything, there is an opportunity to connect more deeply. In Whoville, they sang anyway. Christmas is, after all, a story with a happy ending and a choir of angels. In “Waiting for the Angels” the human spirit rises in spite of very difficult circumstances. In fact, those circumstances seem to open the door for the angels.
Waiting for the Angels is a multi-media one-man show about Christmas on the road featuring actor and writer Patrick Dewane, creator of the popular show The Accidential Hero. Audiences across the US and the Czech Republic have thrilled to his remarkable stories.
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We are bringing the excitement of Rock n Roll Xmas Spectacular directly to you!! Registration is easy and as a thank you to all our fans/patrons, we are offering this show for a “Pay What You Want” price! Its been a tough year for everyone and we want you to share the gift of music with everyone you know!!
Join us from the luxury of your own living rooms, basements & mangers as we saddle up our camels to deliver all of the rock n roll spirit that this un-present-dented holiday season deserves! We’ll be cooking up a setlist of time honored RRXS classics, plus a few surprises, all recorded live on stage & delivered to you whenever you decide to pull the RRXS cyber-trigger! Your ticket purchase allows you access to the show from Dec 18 at 7pm until Dec 31 at midnight!
So knock back a shot of Stacy Bauer’s patented “Jingle Juice” and let us cyber-rock your chestnuts off!
REIF DONATIONS ENCOURAGED AT CHECKOUT
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Recorded live at St. Joan of Arc Church in Minneapolis, MN.
December, 2020
Kevin Kling has performed his "Tales from the Charred Underbelly of the Yule Log” since 1995, starting at the Jungle Theater and then on to the Guthrie Theater for his annual December show there. It’s a bit of good cheer, stuffed with humor and based on a childhood memory of Christmas surrounded by dogs, relatives, and an unruly gasoline powered toy airplane. Talented musicians Dan Chouinard and Simone Perrin joined the celebration many years ago making the evening one of Minnesota's favorite holiday show traditions.
KEVIN KLING
A renowned playwright and storyteller, Minnesota's own Kevin Kling is known for his commentaries on NPR's All Things Considered. He has entertained audiences with his off-kilter stories that express humor, heart, and thoughtful philosophizing. Kevin has been awarded arts grants and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the McKnight Foundation, and the Minnesota State Arts Board, among others. In 2014, Mayor RT Rybak named Kevin the "Minneapolis Story Laureate". He continues to write plays and stories in a rigorous fashion and travels around the globe to storytelling festivals, residencies, and frequently performs at the acclaimed National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee.
SIMONE PERRIN
Musician and songwriter Simone Perrin grew up on the banks of the upper Mississippi in beautiful Winona, MN. After some time in New York City, and then Minneapolis, where she met and started working with Kevin Kling, Simone moved rural Wisconsin, where she lives today with her family. In between trips to the garden and snuggles with her little guys, Simone travels to towns around the Upper Midwest to sing songs and tell stories. She has appeared on the Prairie Home Companion and has performed with many regional theaters including The Guthrie, Theater Latte Da, Open Eye Figure Theatre, The Cincinnati Playhouse and The Seattle Repertory Theater, where she and Kevin developed two original plays, How? How? Why? Why? Why? and Breakin' Hearts and Takin' Names. In 2009, Simone released her first album Hummingbird available online at CDbaby.com.
DAN CHOUINARD
Dan Chouinard is a St. Paul-based honky-tonk pianist, concert soloist and accompanist, street accordionist, sing-along enabler, Italian and French teacher and bicycling vagabond, frequent lucky collaborator with Kevin Kling. With Grand Rapids native Peter Rothstein, co-creator in 2013 of Steerage Song, an immigration documentary-musical. Writer and host of many live music-and-history variety shows for broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio and Twin Cities Public Television. Performer on a dozen live broadcasts of A Prairie Home Companion. Recording artist with Peter Ostroushko, Prudence Johnson, Maria Jette and dozens of others. Founder of Lush Country, a classic country band made up of Prairie Home Companion veterans. More at danchouinard.com
January 2021
VIDEO ON DEMAND
In-Person Tickets Available by calling the Box Office
Mon, Wed, Fri Noon – 5PM
(218) 327-5780
This adaptation, written by Reif Education Director Katie E. Smith, brings together Reif Dance ballet students and Theater Education students in grades 3-12, and has been created with social distancing in mind. It is an adaptation of the 1903 operetta by Glen McDonough and Victor Herbert and is the first joint production of the two Reif Education programs. Original choreography has been created by Dance Director Deirdre Murnane and the Reif Dance staff. The music has been adapted by Grand Rapids native and Ely Band Director, Sarah Mason.
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December 2021
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An Andy & Bing Christmas
Enjoy a wondrous night of Christmas classics with an extraordinary 19-piece orchestra. Featuring lead vocals by U of M alum and Super Bowl Champion Ben Utecht and Twin Cities favorite Mick Sterling. They are joined onstage by delightful choral singers led by Cate Fierro, a full string section, a full array of percussion and a magnificent 4 piece horn section. Hear “The Elegance Orchestra” perform classic Andy Williams treatments of “Happy Holidays,” ”Jingle Bells,” “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and more along with timeless Bing Crosby favorites including “Mele Kalikimaka,” “Christmas in Killarney” and, of course, “White Christmas.”
Join us for a festive afternoon of classic Christmas songs performed by local pianist Greg Past. Greg’s experience and passion shine through during a delightful hour of holiday favorites. This event is suitable for all ages but has special pricing for older adults (62+) at just $2 per ticket to attend ($10 adult, $5 student). Free will donations accepted which benefit theater and dance students at The Reif.
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Recreated from the classical ballet by Tchaikovsky, and performed by the superb Reif Dancers, The Nutcracker tells the enchanting story of young Clara who dreams that her nutcracker doll is transformed into a valiant prince. After defeating the evil Mouse King and his army, they are transported to the fantastical Land of Sweets where they are welcomed by a host of delectable characters. A Reif holiday tradition like no other!
THANK YOU SPONSORS
The Steeles consist of five siblings; J.D., Fred, Jearlyn, Jevetta, and Billy Steele. They have been singing together since they were children growing up in Gary, Indiana, where they began to develop their style and soul. Each came to Minnesota for different reasons; however, it is clear they were meant to be a part of the Minnesota sound. They have recorded and performed with Prince, Donald Fagen, Morgan Freeman, George Clinton, Mavis Staples, Johnny Lang, Peabo Bryson, The Five Blind Boys of Alabama, and others throughout their long and storied career.
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A Reif Holiday Favorite...The Rock & Roll X-mas Spectacular is a Las Vegas-caliber, multimedia, full-production show that mixes an 8-piece band with music, comedy, parodies and even a game show!
Join an all-star cast of musicians as they rock their way through timeless holiday classics and bring new takes on hit songs you didn’t even know were holiday classics.
The line-up of musicians is truly legendary as Paul “Stretch” Diethelm and Ted Manderfeld are joined on stage by vocalists Pamela McNeill, Stacy Bauer, and Tim Haussner, and backed by bassist Mike Zeleny, saxophonist and flutist Mike Kreitzer and drummer Billy Thommes.
You’ll hear Christmas standards like Silent Night, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Rockin’ Round the Christmas Tree, The Little Drummer Boy and many more like you’ve never heard them performed before! Nothing will get you into the holiday spirit better than the Rock & Roll Christmas!