Holidays at The Bend with Leona Knobloch and Shaun Tanner

Fuzz Martin: 00:00:08

Happy holidays, everyone, and thank you for listening

2

: 00:00:11

to Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.

3

: 00:00:12

My name is Fuzz Martin, and this

is a show where we feature the good

4

: 00:00:16

stuff happening in our community.

5

: 00:00:18

You want the gripes?

6

: 00:00:20

You know where to find

them, but it's not here.

7

: 00:00:23

You know what you can find, though?

8

: 00:00:24

Positive people, events, and organizations

right here in Washington County.

9

: 00:00:28

And this week, I have the trifecta.

10

: 00:00:31

I've got people, I've got people

talking about events, and those

11

: 00:00:35

people are from an organization.

12

: 00:00:37

Crazy how that works.

13

: 00:00:39

This week, Leona Knobloch, the Executive

Director at The Bend, and Shaun Tanner,

14

: 00:00:43

the Marketing and Communications Director

at The Bend, are coming to talk about

15

: 00:00:46

their holiday events at The Bend.

16

: 00:00:49

Which is a great organization.

17

: 00:00:50

There we go.

18

: 00:00:51

See the trifecta.

19

: 00:00:52

With that, here are 15 minutes on

the: 2024

20

: 00:00:56

at the Bend Theater with Leona

Knobloch and Shaun Tanner right

21

: 00:01:00

here on Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.

22

: 00:01:12

Leona, Shaun, I would venture to

say that most people in Washington

23

: 00:01:15

County are familiar with the Bend.

24

: 00:01:17

Uh, it's obviously has a rich history

here in downtown West Bend, but can

25

: 00:01:21

you share a bit about the theater?

26

: 00:01:23

the journey it took to get here and

how it's evolved into what it is today.

27

: 00:01:28

Shaun Tanner: Yeah, we, we kind

of give a curtain speech before

28

: 00:01:30

every show, and, kind of give the

istory of how it was built in: 1929

29

: 00:01:34

the renovation happened in 2020.

30

: 00:01:36

Uh, we kind of tell the little not

so funny joke about how we opened

31

: 00:01:40

March 14th of, 20 and, closed March

15th of 20, but Yeah, but it's, you

32

: 00:01:45

know, again, it's kind of the center

of, of downtown, in my opinion.

33

: 00:01:48

We have the, the city

name on the blade, so.

34

: 00:01:50

Fuzz Martin: Yeah, that was an unfortunate

timing during the pandemic, but we're

35

: 00:01:54

here now, four almost five years later,

and Things have seemed to be going in a

36

: 00:02:01

much more positive direction for the Bend.

37

: 00:02:05

It's holiday season right now.

38

: 00:02:06

It's time for the Bend to shine.

39

: 00:02:08

You guys do a great job

during the holiday season.

40

: 00:02:10

What makes this time of year special for

the Bend Theater and for your guests?

41

: 00:02:14

Leona Knobloch: Well, we kick it off

with, holiday events, starting from the

42

: 00:02:18

lighting of the Christmas tree downtown,

offering the movie to the community

43

: 00:02:22

and sing alongs, all the way through

the end of the season to our final New

44

: 00:02:27

Year's Eve event, so we have a lot going

on, we're decorated for the season.

45

: 00:02:31

And, um, people love to come and enjoy.

46

: 00:02:33

And

47

: 00:02:34

Fuzz Martin: it's excellent,

obviously having that right

48

: 00:02:37

there in downtown West Bend.

49

: 00:02:38

Uh, you have an awesome mix of

holiday, classic Christmas movies.

50

: 00:02:44

You have live performances,

things like that.

51

: 00:02:46

What goes into pulling together your.

52

: 00:02:47

Thanks for joining us.

53

: 00:02:48

What's your role in

54

: 00:02:49

Shaun Tanner: creating

55

: 00:02:49

Fuzz Martin: this holiday

56

: 00:02:50

Shaun Tanner: programming every year?

57

: 00:02:51

We actually have a team that

gets together and talks about

58

: 00:02:54

what we think would do well here.

59

: 00:02:56

Um, but, you know, history has

kind of shown that, they, that

60

: 00:02:59

shows actually sell themselves.

61

: 00:03:00

We're bringing a lot of like

the classic movies and people

62

: 00:03:03

Fuzz Martin: just eat those up.

63

: 00:03:04

Yeah, it's fun when you see some of

the movies up on the marquee that

64

: 00:03:08

you're, you know, everybody loves.

65

: 00:03:09

So, let's talk about that on

the movie side, first of all.

66

: 00:03:12

So, you have a A holiday

movie lineup full of classics.

67

: 00:03:16

You got Elf, National Lampoons, Die

Hard, so we can put an end to whether

68

: 00:03:20

or not that's a Christmas movie.

69

: 00:03:22

How do you decide which movies to feature?

70

: 00:03:24

What makes them resonate with

your audiences each year?

71

: 00:03:26

What's, what's the criteria for that?

72

: 00:03:28

Shaun Tanner: Again, like the classics,

much, you know, mentioned like Elf and,

73

: 00:03:32

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, we

had, two sellout shows, two years in a row

74

: 00:03:36

for, Christmas Vacation, and, people come

dressed up, they, you know, have a lot of

75

: 00:03:40

fun with it, obviously we worked and die

hard, due to the, uh, big debate, but,

76

: 00:03:44

uh, a lot of the stuff almost just kind

of seems, you know, straightforward, and,

77

: 00:03:48

and people really want to see, like you

said, see those on the, on the big screen.

78

: 00:03:52

Fuzz Martin: You also have some for the

kids as well, you know, have a special

79

: 00:03:55

screening of the Polar Express coming up.

80

: 00:03:57

Can you talk about that?

81

: 00:03:58

I know there's a special guest coming up,

so What can families expect from that?

82

: 00:04:03

Shaun Tanner: There is, yeah,

that's another special event.

83

: 00:04:07

That one's actually sponsored by Timmers

Resort this year, as it was last year.

84

: 00:04:11

And, again, it's, it's, you know, the

Polar Express, again, magical movie.

85

: 00:04:15

And, at the very end, for those

who have never been to our, movie

86

: 00:04:19

screenings, our screen raises, and

we will have Santa Claus on stage,

87

: 00:04:23

in the sleigh, with a special elf.

88

: 00:04:25

And, for a meet and greet, then the

kids can walk up a ramp, get a candy

89

: 00:04:28

cane and a Polar Express bell, and,

tell them what they, what they want.

90

: 00:04:31

So we do ask the parents to

keep that, kind of quiet.

91

: 00:04:34

I'm actually the one to raise the screen

behind, and just the collaborative

92

: 00:04:38

gasp from all the kids is that, I

mean, it really is a magical time.

93

: 00:04:42

Fuzz Martin: And so that is on

Sunday the 15th, is that right?

94

: 00:04:47

So how much, how much is that for

families if they're looking to come?

95

: 00:04:50

Shaun Tanner: That is just a $10 ticket.

96

: 00:04:51

I really don't, feel like parents should

have to pay, any extra to see Santa.

97

: 00:04:54

So that is our standard movie rate.

98

: 00:04:56

Excellent.

99

: 00:04:57

Fuzz Martin: Alright, very good.

100

: 00:04:58

And so you have something called

the Christmas Showcase coming up.

101

: 00:05:02

What can you tell us about that?

102

: 00:05:03

Leona Knobloch: The Christmas

showcase is on December 14th

103

: 00:05:06

and it's a very special day.

104

: 00:05:07

Sponsored the whole day is sponsored

by We Energies and we have.

105

: 00:05:11

Three movies, we have Home Alone 1

and Home Alone 2, and those are only

106

: 00:05:15

4 each for adults, kids under 12 free.

107

: 00:05:19

Awesome.

108

: 00:05:19

And during that, we're gonna have, during

the intermission between the two movies,

109

: 00:05:24

we're gonna have a special project.

110

: 00:05:25

We have some snacks, and that's

sponsored by The Antidote.

111

: 00:05:29

And we are also going to be

doing Project Linus blankets.

112

: 00:05:34

And we're, the kids and their families

can put the blankets together.

113

: 00:05:37

We're doing that so that we can

provide blankets for children.

114

: 00:05:41

We're working with groups like

the Youth and Family Project so

115

: 00:05:44

that, we can provide them something

special for the holiday season.

116

: 00:05:48

At the end of that day, we're

gonna have love actually.

117

: 00:05:51

And love actually is our date night

movie, and that is actually free.

118

: 00:05:55

Oh wow.

119

: 00:05:55

We have opened that up to be free

to the community so that, people

120

: 00:05:58

can come and just enjoy the evening.

121

: 00:06:00

Fuzz Martin: Excellent.

122

: 00:06:00

That's on the 14th.

123

: 00:06:01

Leona Knobloch: That

is December 14th, yeah.

124

: 00:06:03

Fuzz Martin: Oh, awesome.

125

: 00:06:03

So in addition to the movies, you have a

lot of great live performances coming up.

126

: 00:06:07

How do you select the performances

performers for these events each year?

127

: 00:06:11

They each kind of bring their own

unique vibe to the holiday season.

128

: 00:06:14

So how do you go about that?

129

: 00:06:15

Leona Knobloch: Again, that's a team

that gets together and goes through

130

: 00:06:18

programming and what would work for

the community, who we can bring in as

131

: 00:06:22

far as comedy and music, and, what we

want to do to promote those as well.

132

: 00:06:27

How can we, do special

things for those events?

133

: 00:06:30

Fuzz Martin: Perfect.

134

: 00:06:31

So you have your holiday

concert series coming up.

135

: 00:06:34

There's artists like, Dan

Rodriguez and the Whiskey Bells.

136

: 00:06:37

Can you tell us about Dan and the Whiskey

Bells, what people can expect with those?

137

: 00:06:39

Leona Knobloch: Sure, Dan, actually

Dan's, holiday special is called

138

: 00:06:43

All I Want for Christmas is Whiskey,

which is great because then we also

139

: 00:06:46

have the Whiskey Bells, so we almost

have this little theme going on.

140

: 00:06:49

But both of those events are just,

they're great for the, The community

141

: 00:06:53

to, depending on what your vibe

is and what you like, you can have

142

: 00:06:57

a different kind of, atmosphere

for the different kinds of groups.

143

: 00:07:00

We also have, Janet Planet coming in.

144

: 00:07:02

Okay.

145

: 00:07:02

And she is, doing her special

is All I Want for Christmas

146

: 00:07:05

as well, but that's a jazz.

147

: 00:07:06

Okay.

148

: 00:07:07

And so that's a, a very special,

jazz performance from her.

149

: 00:07:10

She's actually fairly popular in the

Milwaukee and the Fond du Lac area.

150

: 00:07:13

She used to be a DJ in the

Fond du Lac area, so we're very

151

: 00:07:16

excited to have Janet Planet in.

152

: 00:07:17

Fuzz Martin: Awesome.

153

: 00:07:18

What are the dates on those events?

154

: 00:07:20

?

Leona Knobloch: Dan Rodriguez is coming in on December 13th.

155

: 00:07:22

Janet Planet is December 20th.

156

: 00:07:24

And the Whiskey Bells is on December 21st.

157

: 00:07:26

Fuzz Martin: Awesome.

158

: 00:07:27

Awesome.

159

: 00:07:27

That sounds like it'll be a great time.

160

: 00:07:29

And then, you also have the Four

Cs uh, Four C Notes Holiday Show.

161

: 00:07:33

What is that all about?

162

: 00:07:35

Shaun Tanner: That's actually,

they, they perform as a Frankie

163

: 00:07:37

Valli in the Four Seasons Tribute.

164

: 00:07:39

Okay.

165

: 00:07:39

Um, and they're tying in a little, little

bit of a Christmas vibe with that as well.

166

: 00:07:42

So it's good classic music

with, with a Christmas twist.

167

: 00:07:45

Fuzz Martin: Wonderful.

168

: 00:07:46

Bend also brings in some great comedians

to the show, and I know before this

169

: 00:07:51

airs on Friday the 60th, you had Erika

Rhodes, which is always very popular.

170

: 00:07:55

But you also have some

other comedians coming in.

171

: 00:07:58

Who's coming in?

172

: 00:07:59

What can you tell us about them?

173

: 00:08:00

Shaun Tanner: Coming up, we

have, in December, we have

174

: 00:08:02

Chris Barnes coming back.

175

: 00:08:04

He's been here before, and he

was pretty much a heavy hitter.

176

: 00:08:07

And, so we've, we opted to bring him back.

177

: 00:08:09

And, Chastity Washington

is opening for, him.

178

: 00:08:12

She was here before as well,

and she's going to be opening.

179

: 00:08:15

She is a, teacher in Milwaukee.

180

: 00:08:17

Fuzz Martin: And,

181

: 00:08:17

Shaun Tanner: um, now, now doing the

182

: 00:08:18

Fuzz Martin: comedy bit.

183

: 00:08:19

Perfect.

184

: 00:08:19

And you've got, them coming

in two nights, right?

185

: 00:08:22

Leona Knobloch: Yeah, they're coming

in on December 27th and December 28th.

186

: 00:08:25

Fuzz Martin: Awesome.

187

: 00:08:26

Awesome.

188

: 00:08:26

And I've heard great

things about Chris Barnes.

189

: 00:08:28

Actually the other day I was at

the Taste of Washington County

190

: 00:08:30

and somebody was talking about how

excited they were to go see him again.

191

: 00:08:33

So then coming up on New Year's

Eve, a big day for celebration, you

192

: 00:08:36

have the Bend's New Year's Eve bash.

193

: 00:08:38

What can you tell us about that event,

the theme, and what you guys are

194

: 00:08:41

planning to do to ring in the new year?

195

: 00:08:43

Leona Knobloch: Alright, so yeah, we are

wrapping up the season on December 31st

196

: 00:08:48

with our bash, in which we're having

food and the champagne toast at midnight.

197

: 00:08:52

The Flatcats are going to

be performing that evening.

198

: 00:08:55

We open up the doors at 830,

the Flatcats start playing at

199

: 00:08:58

930, and we're very excited.

200

: 00:09:00

This year we're doing a come as you are.

201

: 00:09:02

You can come in, you're formal

wear, you're informal wear,

202

: 00:09:05

you're PJs, anything goes.

203

: 00:09:07

We just want everybody to come and

have fun and celebrate with us.

204

: 00:09:10

Fuzz Martin: Sure, and that's

pretty affordable for all that

205

: 00:09:11

you get in that event as well.

206

: 00:09:13

Yeah,

207

: 00:09:13

Leona Knobloch: 35 ticket price,

so it is a lot for one evening.

208

: 00:09:17

Fuzz Martin: Yeah, awesome.

209

: 00:09:18

Very cool.

210

: 00:09:19

So we get in, we get through the new year,

and then we start programming right away

211

: 00:09:24

for 2025, and right away to start, I think

that same week, right, you have, a tribute

212

: 00:09:30

to Tom Petty, I know a lot of people love

your tribute concerts, I've been to a few

213

: 00:09:34

my in laws rave about it, uh, we took them

to see, I think it was an ABBA tribute

214

: 00:09:39

at some point, but tell us about the

Tom Petty tribute, the date on that, and

215

: 00:09:42

what people can, see when they get there.

216

: 00:09:44

Shaun Tanner: Sold out.

217

: 00:09:46

Oh, really?

218

: 00:09:46

Oh.

219

: 00:09:47

So, that is a January 3rd event,

and, we put that show on sale, and

220

: 00:09:51

it actually sold out in two weeks.

221

: 00:09:52

Oh, wow.

222

: 00:09:53

So, it's, it's cool to say, it's

unfortunate for those that didn't

223

: 00:09:56

get their tickets, but, Yeah,

obviously, you know, Petty is a

224

: 00:09:59

huge, huge name in the industry.

225

: 00:10:00

Yeah.

226

: 00:10:01

Uh, we're talking about this Wall

of Fame that we have going on.

227

: 00:10:04

So Tom Petty and the

Heartbreakers is on that list.

228

: 00:10:06

So it's kind of like a nice little tie in

for, the, uh, the Wall of Fame thing too.

229

: 00:10:09

But, um, yeah, it's

going to be a good show.

230

: 00:10:12

Fuzz Martin: Yeah,

that's, that's excellent.

231

: 00:10:13

But So on to that though, you have other

tribute concerts I'm sure that you'll

232

: 00:10:17

have throughout the year coming up

in: 2025

233

: 00:10:21

early because of that reason, right?

234

: 00:10:23

Correct.

235

: 00:10:24

Shaun Tanner: Yeah, we do have a

Separate Ways Journey experience and

236

: 00:10:26

we have about two thirds sold for that.

237

: 00:10:29

So yes, jump on those.

238

: 00:10:30

We highly recommend that everybody

try to get their tickets earlier

239

: 00:10:33

as opposed to later because, we,

it, it's a little disheartening

240

: 00:10:36

when we have to turn people away.

241

: 00:10:37

Fuzz Martin: Yeah, I mean disheartening

for the people turning away, but I'm

242

: 00:10:40

sure for the Bend, it's a good thing.

243

: 00:10:41

It's fantastic, yes.

244

: 00:10:43

Good thing to know that , the people

are enjoying their time at the Bend

245

: 00:10:46

and, and coming back for these concerts.

246

: 00:10:49

The Bend, we, you talked about it earlier,

Shaun, it's centerpiece of downtown.

247

: 00:10:53

You had the big Blade sign.

248

: 00:10:55

How do you see the Bend

contributing to the sense of

249

: 00:10:58

community here during the holidays?

250

: 00:11:00

Leona Knobloch: Again,

it's the sold out shows.

251

: 00:11:02

I I Then November we had three straight

weekends of sold out shows, which was

252

: 00:11:06

a fantastic We do through that when we

have sold out shows, we contact the bars

253

: 00:11:12

and restaurants throughout Tom mm-hmm.

254

: 00:11:13

Town and give them a heads up

that that's gonna be the case.

255

: 00:11:16

Yeah.

256

: 00:11:16

Because they do get swamped.

257

: 00:11:18

Mm-hmm . And we wanna make sure that,

they know that in addition it's bringing

258

: 00:11:21

all those people to the community.

259

: 00:11:23

One of our sold out show weekends.

260

: 00:11:25

We had a number of people

who came in from out of town.

261

: 00:11:28

We had a number of people come

in from Chicago, which was great.

262

: 00:11:31

Yeah.

263

: 00:11:31

To know that we were opening

that opportunity up for the

264

: 00:11:34

community to be supported through

265

: 00:11:36

Fuzz Martin: Sure.

266

: 00:11:36

What we were offering.

267

: 00:11:37

Yeah.

268

: 00:11:37

And it really is.

269

: 00:11:38

I mean, not the, the restaurants, the

hotels, I mean even some of the, you

270

: 00:11:42

know, the beat goes on and those other

places that people, see a concert and

271

: 00:11:46

they, buy some of the, you know, the

music that they heard or, or just did.

272

: 00:11:51

Shop around in any of the shops downtown.

273

: 00:11:53

It's, it's great to have You there,

bringing people into downtown.

274

: 00:11:58

It's huge for the economy and

for uh, those small business

275

: 00:12:01

owners so that's uh, wonderful.

276

: 00:12:03

uh, With that, what does that mean to you?

277

: 00:12:06

And you see the businesses succeeding,

but also you know, family, friends.

278

: 00:12:12

neighbors, people from out of town coming

together at the Bend during the holidays.

279

: 00:12:16

Shaun Tanner: Like we said, it's great

to see, you know a thriving downtown,

280

: 00:12:19

you know, seeing a lot of the kids

come down and, you know, we're a non

281

: 00:12:22

profit, we are a community theater,

so having that, branch out in the

282

: 00:12:26

community is is really a great thing.

283

: 00:12:29

Fuzz Martin: So if people want to get

tickets to some of these events or

284

: 00:12:33

get on On to some of these upcoming

events before they're sold out.

285

: 00:12:37

How can people, buy tickets, where

can they find more information?

286

: 00:12:41

Shaun Tanner: Yep, so they can

go to our website at thebendwi.

287

: 00:12:44

org and get tickets there.

288

: 00:12:46

We highly recommend signing up for our

newsletter, like we said, we will send

289

: 00:12:49

an email out, saying that shows are

going to go on sale or are on sale now.

290

: 00:12:54

And, Go from there.

291

: 00:12:55

We do also have box office, hours on

Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 4.

292

: 00:12:59

And, yeah, and you can also buy

tickets, one hour or, one hour prior

293

: 00:13:03

to the show or during any other show.

294

: 00:13:06

Fuzz Martin: And as a non profit,

obviously, this year is a time of, of

295

: 00:13:09

giving and, you know, the shows support

so much, but your, your prices are

296

: 00:13:14

Pretty affordable and you have a big,

beautiful building to, keep repaired and

297

: 00:13:19

updated and heated and all those things.

298

: 00:13:21

If someone wants to support The Bend,

maybe through donations, I know you

299

: 00:13:25

guys have your annual appeal going

on right now, how can people do so?

300

: 00:13:29

Leona Knobloch: Well,

they can donate online.

301

: 00:13:30

We have a donation portal.

302

: 00:13:32

If you go to thebendwi.

303

: 00:13:34

org, right on the homepage, there is

a donation button that you can push.

304

: 00:13:38

As well, they can come in during the

box office hours and make a donation

305

: 00:13:42

and or they can donate to our donation

jar when they're there at an event.

306

: 00:13:46

We also do, have a lot of

opportunities for sponsors and

307

: 00:13:49

we are so happy to have so many

supportive sponsors in the community.

308

: 00:13:54

Bars, restaurants, a number of different,

individuals and companies helping us out.

309

: 00:13:59

Fuzz Martin: Perfect.

310

: 00:13:59

And that, yes, and that, I mean, just

from the start of getting the, you

311

: 00:14:03

know, the Theater back and restored

all the way through now and operations.

312

: 00:14:06

It's been great to see that the community

come together for this and as You pointed

313

: 00:14:10

out earlier the importance of having

this in downtown Really helps everyone.

314

: 00:14:15

So Leona, Shaun, I hope you guys have

an awesome Rest of your holiday season

315

: 00:14:20

at The Bend, and have a Merry Christmas

and Happy Holidays to you both.

316

: 00:14:24

Thanks, you as well.

317

: 00:14:28

Always great to talk to the folks

at The Bend, and thank you again to

318

: 00:14:31

Leona Knobloch and Shaun Tanner for

joining me on this week's episode

319

: 00:14:34

of Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.

320

: 00:14:36

Be sure to make The Bend a part

of your holiday plans this year.

321

: 00:14:40

And if you ever have an idea for a

guest for this show, Make plans to

322

: 00:14:43

email me and tell me who that should be.

323

: 00:14:45

Fuzz at fuzzmartin.

324

: 00:14:46

com is my email address.

325

: 00:14:47

That is fuzz at fuzzmartin.

326

: 00:14:50

com or you can go to fuzzmartin.

327

: 00:14:51

com slash guest.

328

: 00:14:53

And there's a form there

that you can fill out.

329

: 00:14:55

Give me all the beats.

330

: 00:14:57

New episodes coming on Tuesdays,

Apple podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

331

: 00:15:01

Those are some of the

places you can find them.

332

: 00:15:03

And of course they're always

available at fuzzmartin.

333

: 00:15:05

com.

334

: 00:15:06

I appreciate you listening, and I

will talk to you next Tuesday, right

335

: 00:15:09

here on Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.