DCA Announces 2019 Season

Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro returns to the Door Community Auditorium July 26. Submitted photo.

Door Community Auditorium (DCA) announces its 2019 performance schedule, featuring a diverse array of performers.

“It’s a big season,” DCA Executive Director Cari Lewis said. “With our longtime fall resident company, Northern Sky Theater, moving into its new home this fall, we gained six to seven weeks of programming time, so we were able to increase our number of shows from 19 to 25 this season.”

The 2019 season opens with a performance by renowned songwriter Greg Brown on June 21, and the iconic big band The Glenn Miller Orchestra follows on June 29.

Classic Albums Live presents music from Queen’s classic album A Night at the Opera on July 3. Look for a songwriter double bill – Alejandro Escovedo and pat mAcdonald – on July 8, and roots supergroup I’m With Her on July 12. Soul singer/songwriter Amos Lee will appear on July 13, and country-folk songwriter Rosanne Cash will perform July 16.

Back by popular demand will be Lyle Lovett and His Large Band on July 19, with The Righteous Brothers on July 22. Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro returns July 26, and the passionate roots-folk ensemble Rising Appalachia will play July 30.

On Aug. 1, Tusk presents The World’s #1 Tribute to Fleetwood Mac, and the quirky swing band Squirrel Nut Zippers will take the stage Aug. 11. R&B trailblazer Mavis Staples returns Aug. 29.

On Sept. 6, DCA will feature stand-up from Live From Here radio comedian Tom Papa. The free community singing event Choir! Choir! Choir! will take place Sept. 9, with a student performance Sept. 10. Cathy Grier and the Troublemakers will host a Door County Blues Blowout with special guests on Sept. 14. Then it’s two double bills: raucous blues singer Shemekia Copeland with South Carolina roots quintet Ranky Tanky on Sept. 21, and Wisconsin’s own Wade Fernandez and Bill Miller on Sept. 28.

On Oct. 5, Big Mouth and The Power Tool Horns pay tribute to Ray Charles and other blues favorites. Family Ties stars Michael Gross and Meredith Baxter present A.R. Gurney’s play Love Letters on Oct. 13. Grammy-nominated bluegrass band Special Consensus will open on Oct. 20 for the fun-filled variety show Manitowoc Minute, based on the viral YouTube video sensation from Wisconsin. And the classically trained Chicago ensemble Third Coast Percussion will be in residence at Gibraltar School in October, culminating in an Oct. 25 public performance, Paddle to the Sea.

DCA will keep going strong in November, including student performances of The Little Engine That Could Earns Her Whistle on Nov. 4 and a Thanksgiving-weekend performance by Door County songwriter Katie Dahl and the Capitol Sun Rays, a new Americana band featuring Door County favorites Birds of Chicago, among others.

DCA’s annual musical holiday bash Play it Forward will take place Dec. 30. On Jan. 28, 2020, modern dance troupe Pilobolus will present Shadowland, and on Feb. 14, Davina and The Vagabonds and Hot Club of Cowtown will team up to present The Finest Hour, a celebration of American music’s golden age.

From Aug. 6 to 24, DCA will once again host the fine classical music of the Peninsula Music Festival, along with a variety of community concerts throughout the season, including a free pre-season show by USAF Band of Mid-America’s Mobility Brass on May 25.

Tickets go on sale to the general public May 14. Special ticket pre-sales for DCA VIPs begin May 7. Audience members who plan to attend several shows may consider becoming season subscribers to receive VIP ticket processing and save 10 percent on tickets for all events throughout the season. For more information, visit dcauditorium.org.