The Janesville Performing Arts Center (JPAC) is excited to once again present Local Talent Month.
The celebration of local talent continues on Friday, January 12th with Janesville’s Musical Comedy Troupe: a comical, unscripted theatrical improv show. Local improvisers will pick suggestions from the audience and turn around and create a spontaneous “Musical” filled with humor and music backed by live musicians. It’s the ultimate night of spur-of-the-moment creativity! Tickets are $15 for Adults and $10 for Students and include a complimentary drink ticket with each ticket purchased.
Dueling Pianos then takes the JPAC stage on Saturday, January 13th at 7:30pm. Tickets are only $10 and you’ll be dancing, singing, and having a blast as Local Janesville Residents Yuri Rashkin and Tyler Pimm duel it out on the pianos at JPAC.
The One Act Festival continues Local Talent Month the following week: January 18th-20th at 7:30pm. Adult tickets are $15 and Students are $10 to enjoy this variety of short plays produced by local JPAC Resident Groups. This year’s titles include: “Sure Thing” by David Ives, “Post Its” by Paul Dooley and Winnie Holzman, “Ron Bobby Had Too Big a Heart” by Rolin Jones, “Dorothy and Alice” by Itamar Moses and “The Zoo Story” by Edward Albee. The individual plays are under the direction of Rob Karraker, Nick French, Nathan Burkhart and Albert Duran. The talented ensemble of performers include: Aaron Crary, Bernice White, Steven E. Smith, Sarah Hudziak, Becky Fredrickson, Stacy Bodnar, David Graham and Brandon Pederson.
A Documentary Screening of Strange Inc. will be shown in the JPAC Gallery on January 21st at 2pm and tickets are only $5. Strange Inc. (2001) is an unaired television show shot by Janesville’s own John Gage, owner of Videogenics, Inc. The pilot takes place at America’s most haunted graveyard, Bachelor’s Grove. The Strange Inc. team spent two nights in the cemetery with professionals while gathering irrefutable evidence. Come along with the Strange crew as they investigate one of America’s most haunted hospitals.
Comedy on Main: featuring Scott Long will continue the celebration of Local Talent on January 26th at 8pm. Admission is $12 and seating is general admission. Patrons must be 18 years of age or older. Performances may contain adult content. Scott Long tells his story of growing up in the Cornstalk Ghetto of Iowa and how making people laugh was the best therapy for an extremely dysfunctional childhood. Marriage, children, and stories of Midwest life are the focus of his hilarious show!
After college Scott moved to Chicago, but for the past 2 decades the state of Indiana has been his home. Scott’s Dad was born in Detroit, his Mom lives in Oklahoma, and his Grandparents are from Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Kentucky. Is it any wonder he’s considered the Best Comedian at connecting with Middle of the Country audiences? Scott proves you can perform at the nation’s top comedy clubs and write for Network TV shows–all while being based in the Midwest.
Scott has been seen on NBC, FOX, ESPN, and the Bob and Tom Show. For the past 13 years he’s written the comedy sketches for the amazingly talented Frank Caliendo at the NFL on FOX and ESPN Countdown pregame shows. Scott has also written a book of comedic essays entitled Dysfunctional Thoughts of a 21st Century Man, plus released 2 comedy CD’s and 2 comedy DVD’s.
Folk at 408 will conclude the month long celebration of Local Talent on Saturday, January 27th at 7pm. Tickets are $15 for Adults and $10 for Students. Folk at 408 will showcase Wisconsin’s singer/songwriter community of musicians while raising money for youth scholarships. The featured artists this year will include Lou Shields, Lost Lakes, Listening Party, Paul Otteson, and J. Hardin. Each artist brings a unique blend of soulful harmonies and magnificent songwriting skills to the JPAC Stage.
The Janesville Performing Arts Center serves the greater Rock County area through performances and events produced by 15 local non-profit arts groups. The center’s 633 seat theatre, lobby, art gallery, box office, and administrative office are located in the historic Janesville High School/Marshall Junior High School building in downtown Janesville. Visit our website at www.janesvillepac.org.
