Dippel holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse and a Master of Fine Arts in Classical Theatre from the prestigious Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy of Classical Acting at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.. Professional memberships include Actor’s Equity Association and The Society of American Fight Directors.

Dippel has an extensive background in education, including serving as an Adjunct Professor of Communications at the College of Menominee Nation in Keshena, Wisconsin; a company member and teacher for the Educational Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. and Assistant Technical Director/Guest Lecturer of Theater Arts at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin. He co-founded the Stone Theatre Company in Seattle, Washington and founded The Acorn Theatre in Baraboo, Wisconsin, both producing works of Shakespeare. He served acting internships at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater and American Players Theatre, performed at The Utah Shakespearean Festival and The Seattle Shakespeare Company, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Olney Theatre and many others.

A native of Baraboo, WI, he is deeply connected to Wisconsin Theatre and committed to continuing Door Shakespeare’s reputation for quality productions while strengthening its presence in the community and state. Locally, Dippel is a proud graduate of the 2011 Leadership Door County class, co-founder of the West Side Food Cooperative and a graduate of the Door County Economic Development Corporation’s NexLevel Training.  Licensed as an Adjudicator by the Wisconsin High School Forensics Association he served as Interim Forensics Coach for Sturgeon Bay High School. Dippel is a former board member of Isadoora Theatre and directed several of the company’s plays including the highly successful production of the musical Chicago and the timely, Waiting for Lefty.  He directed and performed in staged readings of The Boys in Autumn with the Peninsula Players for The Big Read and the Ray Bradbury One Acts for the Door County Library’s Door County Reads.  Most recently, he performed on stage opposite Mark Moede in Tuesdays with Morrie at Third Avenue Playhouse.

Dippel lives in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin with his wife, Christine Henkel and their enthusiastic daughter, Isabella.

Lili-Anne Brown

Produced in coordination with Door County Reads and its exploration of the novel, the reading will feature Players actors Lili-Anne Brown, Anya Kopischke, Osiris Khepera and Alan Kopischke, as well as local actors Mark Moede, Hervy Hodges, Chad Luberger, David Maier,  Amy Ensign and Brandon Bogenschütz.  Signing actor Robert Schlieffer will portray the pivotal role of the mute John Singer.   Players Artistic Director Greg Vinkler and Players Development Director Alan Kopischke are directing the reading. Brown was last seen at the Players in “Little Shop of Horrors” and will appear Off-Broadway this fall in “A Twist of Water.”

Osiris Khepera

Khepera was in last season’s “A Few Good Men” and has created a one-man show he will launch in Chicago in February. Schlieffer recently played John Singer in the Steppenwolf production of “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” in Chicago.

Peninsula Players is fortunate to be able to work with some fine local talent. Anya Kopischke is a Gibraltar High School junior who was last on stage with the Players in “A Little Night Music” and will perform in Door Idol in February and as Erma (Bonnie) in “Anything Goes” at Gibraltar in April. Moede, Hodges, Luberger and Ensign are all active in the Door County theater community with such companies as American Folklore Theatre, Door Shakespeare, Isadoora Theatre Company, Third Avenue Playhouse and Theatre M. Bogenschütz is a Gibraltar senior who will play Sir Evelyn Oakleigh in “Anything Goes.” Maier, Managing Director of American Folklore Theatre, and Alan Kopischke both had long professional acting careers prior to their theater administration careers in Door County.

Door County Reads is in its second year, having grown out of the Library/Players partnership to bring The Big Read to Door County for three years. This year’s read focuses on the beautiful novel by Carson McCullers, “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.” A full listing of events can be found at www.doorcountyreads.org.

Peninsula Players is America’s oldest professional resident summer theater and is unique in the country for its diverse productions, continuing loyalty to a resident company, and its beautiful setting of 16 wooded acres along the cedar-lined shores of Green Bay.  In the past 76 years, the theater has become a Door County landmark and its cornerstone arts institution, attracting audience members from throughout Wisconsin and across the country. 

Acknowledged by peers and press alike as one of the premier political satirists in the country, Will Durst has patched together a comedy quilt of a career, weaving together columns, books, radio and television commentaries, acting, voice overs and most especially, stand up comedy, into a hilarious patchwork of outraged and outrageous common sense.

The New York Times calls him “possibly the best political comic in the country.” Fox News agrees, “he’s a great political satirist,” while The Oregonian hails him as a hilarious stand-up journalist. He is a 5-time Emmy nominee; has been fired by PBS three times; told jokes in 14 countries; racked up 7 nominations for Stand- Up of the Year; and his 800+ television appearances include Letterman, HBO, Showtime, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News, the BBC and many more.

Tickets are $15 general admission, $10 students, on sale at the theater box office, 230 N. Third Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, 920.743.1760, from 10 am – 3 pm, Monday – Friday and for one hour prior to performances. Tickets are also available at Dancing Bear, 13 N. Third Avenue, Java on Jefferson at the corner of Fifth & Jefferson and on-line at www.ThirdAvenuePlayhouse.com.

“Enter Will Durst who just happens to be this country’s best political satirist. A dapper chap with just the right sense of whimsy, Durst is an equal opportunity slayer of bloated political dragons, making him a solid choice for folks who enjoy witty and thought-provoking comedy. Simply in a league of his own.” – Las Vegas Review-Journal

The featured film stars Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman and is based on the true story of Billy Beane, the Oakland A’s general manager who defied conventional wisdom and outsmarted his competition when forced to reinvent his team with bargain players. With excellent performances and a sharp, funny, and touching screenplay by Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian, Moneyball is a soon-to-be classic baseball film that has both broad appeal and serious Oscar buzz.

Winter 2012 Movies at The Door schedule:

Friday, January 13 – Moneyball

Friday, January 20 – Super 8

Friday, January 27 – To be Announced

Saturday, February 18 – Rabbit-Proof Fence

Friday, March 2 – The Ides of March

All of the films in the Movies at The Door screenings begin at 7 pm and are free to the public (though freewill donations are gladly accepted).

Movies at The Door is sponsored by The English Inn and Hart & Hart Ladies Apparel & Sterling Silver Jewelry. Refreshments will be available for sale in the lobby for all film screenings.

Shepard Fairey AP print

Urban Roots is a timely, moving and inspiring film about Detroit’s Urban Farming Revival that speaks to a nation grappling with collapsed industrial towns and the need to forge a sustainable and prosperous future… the next Green Door Film Society Screening at Greens N Grains, Thursday, December 29.

The city of Detroit has been unearthing its Urban Roots in a massive reclamation effort, but it’s not old homes and buildings that are being restored. It’s farm land in the heart of the city! Produced by Leila Conners (The 11th Hour) and Mathew Schmid, directed by Mark MacInnis, Urban Roots follows the urban farming phenomenon in a city that is suffering from economic stagnation and decay.

“After making The 11th Hour, it was clear to me that the oft-quoted saying, ‘think globally, act locally‘ was the key to solving our environmental crisis,” says producer Leila Conners. “When the story of the urban farmers in Detroit was brought to us, we knew that what they were doing – acting decisively and caring for themselves and their community – basically healing themselves and their neighborhoods through growing food, was that kind of local action that can make the world a better place so we committed to bringing their story to the world.”

“All my life, I watched the decline of the city, and suffering with it were all of us who’d hitched our hopes to the great American industrial dream of making cars for the greatest country on earth,” says director Mark MacInnis. “I never got to see Detroit in its true heyday. But I knew enough to know what it meant to lose that.”

“Wherever there is grass, there is a chance to put food on the table. And where there is a chance to put food on the table, there’s a chance for a new start. Now, all around the city of Detroit, a growing movement of urban farmers is changing the way people think about food—and life in the “D”. It took men like Henry Ford, William Durant, and Lee Iacocca to build this city, but it’s taken a bunch of strong willed self-taught urban farmers to save it.”

“Urban Roots is an inspiring film about the emergence of urban farming in Detroit; it shows what’s possible after the collapse of the industrial era and how we begin building a sustainable future for all.” – Leonardo DiCaprio

Greens N Grains Deli hosts a natural and organic dinner special each evening before the Film Society screening. Enjoy a delicious soup specialty, salad, a fresh baked roll and a cup of tea for $7.50, available from 6 pm on. The Film Society screenings take place at 7 pm and there is no charge for membership but seating at screenings is limited to 28 people. Dinner and film reservations are requested. RSVP: 920.868.9999.

Greens N Grains Natural Foods and Deli is open daily from 10 am – 5 pm – except on movie nights when they will remain open until 9 pm – in downtown Egg Harbor at 7821 Hwy 42, and can be reached at 920.868.9999 or by email at info@greens-n-grains.com. The store’s Website features news and special monthly discount flyers at Greens-N-Grains.com.

British conductor Sir Mark Elder explores Shakespeare’s influence on music through the works of Delius, Elgar, Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovksy. Included in the program is Elgar’s rarely performed orchestral work, “Falstaff,” which portrays Shakespeare’s Sir John Falstaff from “Henry IV.”

Greg Vinkler

“I’m very honored to be appearing with such a distinguished orchestra, and extremely happy to be performing scenes from these wonderful plays as my favorite character, Falstaff,” says Vinkler. “It’ll be  lot of fun.”

Vinkler has appeared at Chicago Shakespeare in 32 productions, including “King Lear,” “Twelfth Night” and “Hamlet.” His additional stage credits include productions at Goodman, Steppenwolf, Writer’s, Northlight, Marriott Lincolnshire and Victory Gardens.

He performed at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, playing Falstaff in the two parts of “Henry IV” for Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Vinkler made his Broadway debut in the 2009 Tony-nominated revival of “West Side Story” playing Doc.

In Chicago, Vinkler received three Joseph Jefferson “Jeff” awards, 12 “Jeff” nominations, two Artisan awards and an After Dark award.

For his work at the Players, Vinkler was honored with the inaugural Door County Artist of the Year Award.  Peninsula Players has been entertaining and exciting audiences since 1935. The company was founded by a brother and sister team, Caroline and Richard Fisher, who dreamed of an artistic utopia in the northwoods where actors, designers and technicians could focus on their craft while being surrounded by nature in a contemplative setting.

Vinkler has been with Peninsula Players for more than 20 years and he has directed more than 20 productions and performed roles in twice as many more, including Lady Bracknell in “The Importance of Being Earnest,” Sir Thomas More in “A Man for All Seasons,” Sherlock Holmes in “Sherlock Holmes:  The Final Adventure” and Salieri in “Amadeus.”

Peninsula Players is located along the cedar-lined shore of Door County. Prior to performances, patrons picnic relax on the grounds while watching the setting sun over the waters of Green Bay from the cedar-lined shore and enjoy the ambience of the beer garden and other gardens. For more detailed information about Vinkler’s upcoming performance, visit the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Website at CSO.org.

Comprised of coffeehouse concerts, free lectures, complimentary film screenings, and the perennially popular Door County Idol, the Auditorium’s diverse winter lineup brings a great depth of musical, intellectual, and cultural enrichment to Fish Creek and Door County.

On the Mainstage
The winter season consists of three mainstage presentations. On December 30, Wagner-Guthrie Entertainment presents crooner Steve March Tormé (son of the legendary Mel Tormé). Steve March Tormé is known for wowing audiences with his delivery of jazz standards, Broadway favorites, and original songs.

On February 4, DCA partners with Peninsula Players and Fish Creek Winter Fest to present Baby Wants Candy, an entirely improvised and hysterical 60-minute musical. And, on February 11, teens from across the Door Peninsula compete for the title of 2012 Door County Idol.

Coffeehouse Concerts
On January 14, DCA launches its annual Coffeehouse Concert Series. This year, the series consists of performances by:

• local bluegrass favorites Highland Road (1/14),
• Door County singer-songwriter Katie Dahl (1/21)
• and Seth Raddatz (1/28),
• Didgeridoo player Brian Pertl (2/17),
• local song- and joke-sters Ben There, Dan That (2/25),
• accomplished composer/songwriter John Hegner (3/3).

The Coffeehouse concerts are held on Saturdays at 7 pm with the exception of Brian Pertl’s which will be held on a Friday. They all take place in the DCA lobby with the exception of Highland Road which will take place on the mainstage. Coffeehouse concerts are $14, by general admission. Advance ticket reservations are strongly recommended as the seating is limited.

Lectures
DCA will once again host the free St. Norbert Distinguished Lecture Series. The diverse lecture topics range from the U.S. Supreme Court, interpretations of the Bible and the role of the Didgeridoo in Australian society. Lectures are free to the public; freewill donations are accepted. Coffee and bakery items will be available for sale at both the lectures and concerts thanks to Ecology Sports Base Camp Coffee.

Movies at The Door
Finally, on most Fridays in January and February, DCA will offer free movie showings, consisting of several 2012 Oscar contenders and 2011 winners. The movie line-up will be posted on the DCA Website on January 4.

“There’s no need for cabin-fever this winter!” says DCA Executive Director Cari Lewis. “From mid-January through early-March, the DCA has something going on every weekend. We look forward to sharing some great music, learning, exploring, and enjoying some laughs with Door County friends and neighbors.”

Visit www.dcauditorium.org for a full 2012 winter event schedule.  The Door Community Auditorium box office, located at 3926 Hwy. 42 in Fish Creek, is open from noon to 5 pm, Monday through Friday and noon to showtime on the day of a show. Tickets may be purchased in person, on the phone at 920.868.2728, or online.

Bill Hicks was 16 years old in 1978 when he first started performing stand-up at the Comedy Workshop in Houston, Texas. During the 1980s he toured America extensively and performed a number of high profile television appearances. It was in the UK, however, where Hicks first amassed a significant fan base, packing large venues with his 1991 tour. Hicks died of pancreatic cancer in 1994 at the age of 32. In the years after his death, his work and legacy achieved acclaim in creative circles. In 2007, he was voted the sixth-greatest stand-up comic on the UK Channel 4′s 100 Greatest Stand-Ups and appeared again in the updated 2010 list as the fourth-greatest comic.

A documentary entitled American: The Bill Hicks Story, was produced by Matt Harlock and Paul Thomas, and features archival footage and interviews with family and friends, including Kevin Booth. It premiered on March 12, 2010, at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas but was only released in Europe until recently. This film will be the subject of the next screening of the Green Door Film Society at Greens N Grains Deli in Egg Harbor on Thursday, December 1 at 7 pm.

Devotees of Hicks have incorporated his words, image and attitude into their own creations. By means of audio sampling, fragments of Hicks’ rants, diatribes, social criticisms and philosophies have found their way into many musical works, such as Radiohead’s second album “The Bends” which is dedicated to his memory. Singer/songwriter Tom Waits lists Hicks’ “Rant in E-Minor” as one of his 20 most-cherished albums of all time.

“Bill’s comedy (despite his own claims to the contrary) was not about hate or pessimism. Bill was an unabashed optimist. He believed that most people were good at heart but evil forces were deliberately distracting us all from creating a better world using television, lies, tobacco and alcohol as opiates,” explains the official Bill Hicks Memorial Website. “Bill felt a revolution of thought was coming and that it was his duty, as an emissary of the truth, to bring whatever light he could to anyone who would listen.”

The film was nominated for a 2010 Grierson British Documentary Award for the “Most Entertaining Documentary” category. It was also nominated for Best Graphics and Animation category in the 2011 Cinema Eye Awards. Awards won include The Dallas Film Festival’s Texas Filmmaker Award, The Oxford American’s Best Southern Film Award and Best Documentary at the Downtown LA Film Festival.

“I had a vision of a way we could have no enemies ever again, if you’re interested in this. Anybody interested in hearing this?” asks Bill Hicks. “It’s kind of an interesting theory, and all we have to do is make one decisive act and we can rid the world of all our enemies at once. Here’s what we do. You know all that money we spend on nuclear weapons and defense every year? Trillions of dollars. Instead, if we spent that money feeding and clothing the poor of the world, which it would pay for many times over, not one human being excluded… not one! We could as one race, explore inner and outer space together in peace, forever.”

Greens N Grains Deli hosts a natural and organic dinner special each evening before the Film Society screening. Enjoy a delicious soup specialty, salad, a fresh baked roll and a cup of tea for $7.50, available from 6 pm on. The Film Society screenings take place at 7 pm and there is no charge for membership but seating at screenings is limited to 30 people. Dinner and film reservations are requested.

Please note: Response to the recent screening of Forks Over Knives was so over-capacity that the Green Door Film Society has added a 2nd between-screens showing on Thursday December 8 at 7 pm and dinner will also be served as usual… please RSVP.

Greens N Grains Natural Foods and Deli is open daily in the quiet season from 10 am – 5 pm – except on movie nights when they will remain open until 9 pm – in downtown Egg Harbor at 7821 Hwy 42, and can be reached at 920.868.9999 or by email at info@greens-n-grains.com. The store’s Website features news and special monthly discount flyers at Greens-N-Grains.com.

FINAL CUT: This is a grassroots documentation of action undertaken by the people in my northeastern Wisconsin neighborhood of Door County, people of all ages and across political divides who are coming together to correct a situation that many believe threatens the well being and prosperity of their state. Can they succeed in meeting the requirements within the deadline? Stay tuned… as we meet up with advocates and opponents of the Recall Scott Walker Campaign.

Fish Creek Weaver, Barbara Knupper

As always, the art fair will feature handmade works of art from Door County artists and fine crafts persons including watercolor paintings, jewelry, homemade candles and soaps, birdhouses, wreaths, greeting cards, mittens, scarves and more. Attendees will enjoy meeting with some of their favorite returning artists who participate year after year, along with a dozen new vendors for 2011.

The art fair is an opportunity to do some local holiday shopping and enjoy a spread of baked goods, soups, and sandwiches, while supporting the Door County YMCA Youth in Government Program. A silent auction with items from artists and local businesses will also be taking place all day. Admission is $3 for attendee’s ages 16 and older.

Founded in 1947, the YMCA Youth in Government is a nationwide program that provides students in grades 7- 12 withan opportunity to experience the democratic process firsthand. Proceeds from the Folk Art Fair make it possible for Youth in Government students to attend a four-day legislative session in Madison each spring.

If you have any questions about the Folk Art Fair, please contact Erin Hoffman at the Door County YMCA at 920.743.4949.

Click for a downloadable poster (PDF format).