City Times Staff

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — The fifth annual ARTi Gras festival of the arts unveiled its 2018 schedule, with over 40 presentations taking place during the 10-day event. The festival kicks off on Thursday, March 8, in Wisconsin Rapids, and continues through March 17, 2018, in eight communities across Central Wisconsin.

Will Naameh

ARTi Gras will open with a performance by the award-winning European theatre company Tooth+Nail at Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre on March 8 and 9 at 7 pm, followed by a reception with the cast. The festival will close with performances by Scotland’s leading improv comic Will Naameh, on March 16 at the Noel Fine Arts Center at UW-Stevens Point and on March 17 at Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre. Mr. Naameh will conduct improv workshops prior to each show, with selected participants invited to perform in that evening’s performance.

Marshfield will host several new events this year. A concert by rising American classical composer William C. White will take place at New Visions Gallery at noon on March 16. The Chestnut Center for the Arts will host an Upscale Recycling Workshop and a High Tea. The UW-Marshfield Laird Center will have an acting workshop for high schoolers through adults led by the Tooth+Nail company on Sunday, March 11, followed by a presentation of the one-man play “Clarence Darrow.”

Children and families are in for a treat with the play “Shipwrecked!” It will be presented at schools in Nekoosa, Port Edwards, Almond-Bancroft, and Nekoosa, as well as at the Boys and Girls Club of Wisconsin Rapids and at Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre.

William C. White

The South Wood County Historical Museum will host comedic reading from the works of Charles Dickens, “What the Dickens!” on March 17, and the one-man show “Clarence Darrow” followed by a discussion led by Attorney Richard Weymouth.

The Silver Foxes senior theatre group will present a new production created especially for the festival, at the Jensen Center in Amherst, Nekoosa Court, and Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre. The Alexander House in Port Edwards will host a morning concert featuring members of Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra.

Other events include a day of award-winning films at McMillan Memorial Library in Wisconsin Rapids, and a musical theatre evening featuring students from UW-Stevens Point’s professional training program.

The entire ARTi Gras calendar of events is available online at wrctheatre.org/artigras/ and the festival brochure is available at festival venues.