LIGHTS, CAMERA... WING IT? “The Show Must Go On: Tales From Behind The Curtain,” presented on Jan. 24 will be a one-night storytelling showcase complete with challenging, lighthearted and straight out hilarious stories from Chippewa Valley performers and their careers. (A recent performance of "Blithe Spirit" by the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild, pictured above).

The lights go down, a curtain rises, and then – before the audience even realizes – the leading actor freezes, unable to utter their first line in a new scene. Two performing artists in the Chippewa Valley aim to pull back the curtain and share this all-too-familiar reality (and other stories from the theater) in an upcoming fundraiser event.

“The Show Must Go On: Tales From Behind The Curtain,” co-hosted by Steve Russell and Kobi Shaw, is slated for 7:30pm on Jan. 24 at The Grand Theatre (102 W. Grand Ave., Eau Claire). The event will be a night of storytelling complete with challenging, lighthearted and straight out hilarious stories from area performers and their careers.

Both Russell and Shaw, each with backgrounds in the performing arts for going on three decades – from the stage to the circus – felt it only fitting this event would also act as a fundraiser for the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild.

“I want to thank Ann Sessions and the Guild for being open to this idea and to our featured storytellers that are going to share,” Shaw said. “This theme in particular – at this theater – (is) a new opportunity for performers and the theater-goers to experience.”

The one-night fundraiser will feature stories from Adam Oster, Sue Falch, Jake Lindgren and Sandy Patten – coupled with both hosts sharing an anecdote or two between stories. While the hosts shared they won't know what each storyteller has prepared until the evening of, a wide range of topics are likely – from directing and screenwriting, to on-stage happenings, and more.

Jake Lindgren, pictured left, performing in a production of "It's A Wonderful Life" with the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild. (Photo by Zachary Oliphant)

“I think this could be seen as a celebration of the live aspect of live theater,” Russell said. “Once the lights go on, anything can happen, and that's not always a good thing but it's often an interesting thing.

“This (event) is teaching us all to just laugh at ourselves; we're human and we all go through this,” he added.

Shaw said she envisions the fundraiser will highlight various scenarios, as the experience of triumphs and tribulations are universal across many types of performing arts – along with area theater groups across the Chippewa Valley. 

Kobi Shaw, pictured above, in a production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" with Menomonie Theater Guild. (Photo by Timothy Mather)

Most of all, the event (also timed with Shaw’s birthday) will act as a space to celebrate the performing arts and her love of storytelling series’.

“I love live storytelling events,” Shaw said. “As variety performers, we have encountered numerous crazy situations over the years; I know how much those performers love to trade those stories – especially backstage. 

“Things in the world are pretty hard and we just need more humor in our day – to get us through,” she added.

Tickets to “The Show Must Go On,” a one-night fundraiser for the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild, are $25/person and available to purchase via phone at (715) 832-7529 or at The Grand Theatre (102 W Grand Ave., Eau Claire) day-of.

To learn more about the upcoming storytelling showcase, visit the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild Facebook event page online (@cvtgact).