Make Time to Audition for our Next Two Shows

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Auditions for two February shows take place during December.

A dozen adults are needed for an interactive dinner theater show to be staged at the Northfield Golf Course as a benefit for the Arts Guild on Valentine’s Day weekend (February 13 and 14). The Case of the Riverboat Rendezvous is structured as promenade theater. It features both cast members and a several parts which will be played by audience volunteers. The cast will stroll among tables of diners, offering their zany send-ups as love conquers all!    Drop by the Northfield Arts Guild on Saturday, December 5 or Sunday, December 6, 6:00-8:00pm.  Auditions will be held in the Art Studio of the Northfield Arts Guild’s Center for the Arts, 304 Division Street S, Northfield. Check our Auditions page for more information. New to the stage? This is a great way to start! 1RB Print Print

Purple Door Youth Theater is an educational theater company for young people grades 2-12.  Kids can attend actor auditions or techie interviews for this year’s production, Robin Hood, on Monday, December 7 or Tuesday, December 8.  Youth should choose a 30 minute audition or interview slot between 6:15 – 8:15pm.  No previous experience necessary.  Purple Door Youth Theater incorporates a full-scale production and classes, with both actors and technicians trained through the program.  A generous WINGS grant allows us to offer scholarships for students eligible for free or reduced lunch.

Katy Schuerman, parent of our Tweedledee in last year’s production of Alice@Wonderland wrote, “PDYT was a wonderful experience for my son!  His self confidence grew as he made new friends and found success on the stage.  An added benefit of PDYT was the new knowledge he gained about the behind-the-scenes work involved in a production. It was a great learning and growing opportunity for him and we appreciate the expertise of the director and crew.”   

More information about Robin Hood and our Purple Door Youth Theater program can be found at https://northfieldartsguild.org/purple-door-youth-theater-join-us/    Our 2015-16 Education programs are sponsored by First National Bank. 

The Arts Guild Embraces Winter Walk

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   A+ Birds 

Hang on to your stocking caps. Here comes Winter Walk! The Northfield Arts Guild is offering several special events for people of all ages.

A preview performance of Winter Wonderettes, the beboppin’ holiday musical playing at the Guild Theater, will be rocking the second floor dance studio at 6:00pm.  

At 6:30pm and again at 7:30pm, come see The NAGCracker, with wonderful updated and fun dance interpretations of its ballet antecedent.  According to instructors Shari Setchell and Kathleen Pender, “The NAGCracker is our annual winter dance performance that incorporates pieces from the Dance Theater Company, the Folklorico classes and other performing groups. It is a wonderful way for the dancers to come together outside of our big spring dance concert.  NAGCracker dancers share their forms and talents and create a magical evening of dance in an intimate performance space.”  

Additionally, Northfield Promise volunteers will be reading holiday stories on the lower level art studio of the Center for the Arts from 5:00 to 8:00pm.  Warm-up, relax and hear some great stories!

Don’t forget your holiday shopping!  The A+ community of artists and volunteers with A+ Marketplace, part of the Autism and the Arts program at the Northfield Arts Guild, will be selling their bird theme works on the second floor of the Center for the Arts from 5:00 to 9:00 pm.  Also be sure to stop by the Northfield Arts Guild Gift Shop and Fine Craft Collective to find that unique handmade gift for those special people this holiday season.  

All events are free and open to the public.  Refreshments available.

Join us as we toast the season with song, fine craft, and doo-wop!

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The Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra invites you to join the choir or join the audience for Handel’s Messiah (Christmas Edition).  Two performances are scheduled for the Greater Northfield Area: one at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 11, at the Cathedral of our Merciful Saviour, Faribault; a second, a matinee on Sunday, December 13, St. Wenceslaus Church, New Prague, 3:00 p.m.  Choristers from Northfield, Faribault, New Prague and other nearby communities are invited to borrow a score and make a joyful noise as part of the Festival Choir.  CVRO welcomes a quartet of superb vocal soloists to perform the famous recitatives and arias between the choral numbers: Linh Kauffman (soprano), Deesa Staats (mezzo soprano), Gary Ruschman (tenor), and Rodolfo Nieto (bass).

The complete Messiah is a three part work, however the CVRO concert will feature the Christmas portion and include the famous “Hallelujah” chorus: added by popular demand. The concert lasts about one hour.  “Pay what you want” tickets for these concerts may be purchased at the door with a suggested admission of $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors to help support the orchestra.

Tickets are now on sale for Winter Wonderettes, Dec. 11-20, at the Arts Guild Theater.  “This is the show everyone will be smiling about!  From ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ to ‘Santa’ Claus is Coming to Town’, these popular holiday tunes sung in tight, four-part harmony, have a delightful doo-wop sound that you’ll just love!” says Rachel Haider, Performing Arts Manager.  The show stars four fantastic women:  Birch Carlson as Missy, Samantha Noonan as Cindy Lou, Esme’ Etter as Suzy, and Wendy Placko as Betty Jean.  Local pianist Theo Wee rocks the piano as only she can, fueling the fun.  Wee has been an active teacher of piano & organ in Northfield both privately and as professor of music at St. Olaf College.  As collaborative pianists with many area musicians, Theo and her husband, DeWayne, will also be performing Camille Saint Saens’ “Carnival of the Animals” with the Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra in March.  

Looking for a fun Holiday Gathering?  Having friends or family to town in December?  The Guild is offering discounts to groups of eight or more for Winter Wonderettes, so gather your friends, enjoy some eggnog, and head out to see this joyous musical review.  We even have hotel packages available through the beautiful and historic Archer House River Inn!  With the purchase of Winter Wonderettes tickets, guests can receive a free room upgrade, breakfast at Bittersweet Cafe and shopping coupons.

Looking for that perfect gift for that special someone? A rich array of artists have unique items on display in our colorful and expansive Northfield Arts Guild Gift Shop. More than 90 member artists offer ceramics, paintings, prints, greeting cards, photography, jewelry, glass, fiber art, hand-crafted journals, books by local authors for children, holiday ornaments, and children’s clothing and gifts. There is something for everyone! Artwork constantly rotating, so stop early and often to see the latest.  

Showing in the Main Gallery from November 6 – December 24, the Fine Craft Collective features 22 artists working in jewelry, ceramics, painting, textiles, wood and metal.  Over half of these artists also are members of the Arts Guild. Expanded hours, starting November 6th make it easy to stop in seven days a week during the holiday season.