Small Theater Concerts

UPCOMING SMALL THEATER CONCERTS

Eric Lewis - Tommy Burroughs w/ Jimmy Davis

live at the small theater

August 23rd - 7:30pm

call 468-6696 or email nick@greenbaymusic.com

to RSVP

Maybe you are wondering "where is heck is the Small Theater". "How do I get tickets"? or not.- - in the year 2000, I converted an 80 year old tool shed my back yard into a 50 seat entertainment theater. The idea being that local and regional artists could come and perform for a listening audience. I wanted to reproduce a vaudeville atmosphere and have 1 or 2 short opening acts along with a headliner. It has grown into a place where local artist as well as national artist share the space with the audience. We ask for a donation that is appropriate for the show.

A few guidelines are followed that help make the evening enjoyable to all. These shows are held at our home so, although some of this is common sense, we just ask that you show respect by being a regular nice human being when you attend.

1. All attendees must RSVP if they plan to attend. This helps plan for the show. Keep my home's liability to a minimum. RSVP to nick@greenbaymusic.com , message me via MySpace, or call 468-6696. If you don't know where the Small Theater is you will be given the 'secret' location at that time. :)

2. Shows start early in the evening (mostly) and don't last forever. I like shows to start around 7 or 7:30. it makes it babysitter friendly. when a show is posted for a specific time, the show STARTS on time.

3. Aside from what might be there to share, shows are either "potluck" or BYO. I have never had a problem with drunkenness, but if we did you'd just be asked tA leave with a sober driver. Sometimes there is a potluck food theme.

4. usually fire is involved. either in the form of heat for the building or a bonfire out back for fun.

5. Shows are made possible by your donations (there is "the hat" somewhere in the theater, put some dough in there to say "thanks" to the artist and the theater). Recommended donations vary in amount and are presented as a "range". i.e. $5-$15 dollars or $2 - $8 depending on the acts. This range is only a suggestion and uses a "sliding scale" principle proceeds go to the artist performing that night along with a small percentage that help pay for basic upkeep and enhancements to the theater. (we also accept a few pieces of hardwood firewood).

Please contact me, Nick Utrie, if you have any questions.

RSVP to nick@greenbaymusic.com OR by calling (920) 468-6696 and leave a message with the show and number of people attending.

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SMALL THEATER REVEW -

pat mAcdonald and melaniejane at the Small Theater:
I wasn’t really sure what this was going to be like as this is the first time I had heard of the small theater. So far what I knew was that what info was given on the myspace. Sounded like a really neat place i.e.: not for profit, 50 person capacity theater done just for the love of performing arts. Sounds good so far and the chance to see pat mAcdonald is something I never pass up.
Well it only got better from there. Set just on the outskirts of Green Bay lays a large farmhouse with a few other buildings scattered around and one very special small theater just an unassuming looking shed but once inside you can feel the warmth and fellowship of friends and artists. As I enter the opening act Rebecca Reed is performing. Her wonderful voice fills the theater as she rolls through a set of originals and a few fun covers. A few funny comments set the audience at ease as she finishes her set. Then the man behind the theater Nick stands up and informs us a little bit about the theater. After that we are treated to Nick performing a couple magic tricks. The first is a cutting and mending a rope gag that he does quite well. The second a trick full of laughs requiring volunteers, a bagel, deck of round cards, a pole, lock and key. This trick provided plenty of funny moments throughout the show “I am the pole master”.
Next up is the King of Stomp pat mAcdonald and the beautiful and talented melaniejane. As pat takes the stage I look around and notice how cool and intimate this venue is not a bad seat in the house. He picks up his guitar and begins to play with melaniejane next to him with her electric cello. You really get quite a unique sound from a electric cello that pairs well with pats style. You can just feel pat stompin right down deep in your gut just driving the music home. I can still hear the chorus of one of the songs in my head “I don’t want to live my life in a whisky bottle”. His harmonica blares through the room as he rolls through “I wanna be your dog” and “spoonful” two songs that pat really plays like there is no tomorrow. We are treated in between songs to stories about pat in his youth and some other funny bits; pat makes sure the photographer is not video taping as he tells them. There is a short acapella song about a unremarkable penis that I will never forget. We are also treated to a story about how he received his cigar box guitar and how it has made songs he played in past finally sound right. He roars through a timbuk 3 song and just tears it down as melaniejane keeps it going bangin on a tambourine. We are also treated to a song he rarely plays timbuk 3s “futures so bright” as he mashes it up with one of his new songs “seeing things” and it is truly a treat! Both pat and melaniejane seemed very much at ease and really connected to the audience.

Over all it was a really cool show in a really cool venue. I can’t think of a better place to see a musical artist. I would like to thank Rebecca Reed, pat and melaniejane for a great show and especially Nick for hosting the event. So if you don’t know about the small theater, find out or you will miss out!

Josh Swanson