March 9, 2015

Contact Jen Roberdeau at 608-796-3738 or jaroberdeau@viterbo.edu

VITERBO UNIVERSITY TO PRESENT “A PLACE FOR US: A GALA CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS AT VITERBO” SCHOLARSHIP BENEFIT MARCH 21; WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION TO RECORD EVENT FOR LATER BROADCAST

LA CROSSE, Wis. – Celebrate Viterbo University’s commitment to the arts with the special 125th anniversary performance “A Place for Us: A Gala Celebration of the Arts at Viterbo” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21 in the Fine Arts Center Main Theatre.

“A Place for Us: A Gala Celebration of the Arts at Viterbo” will feature prominent arts alumni, student performers and ensembles, musical and theatrical selections, and visual arts. Participants include the Viterbo Concert Choir, 9th Street Singers, Platinum Edition show choir, the casts of Viterbo productions of Pippin, The Mikado, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and West Side Story, and accomplished Broadway performer Arbender Robinson and acclaimed singer Katherine Weber, both graduates of Viterbo’s fine arts programs.

The proceeds from ticket sales for this event will benefit scholarships for fine arts students. The gala is being held to honor the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration for their enduring commitment to the arts, to celebrate the countless talented artists who have honed and shared their craft at Viterbo throughout the years, and to thank the generous benefactors who support the arts.

In an exciting addition to the gala celebration, Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) will record and produce a television special of highlights from the event for later broadcast to a statewide audience as part of their Young Performers Initiative. As part of the television program, WPT will share the story of Cyrilla Barr, and Sisters Marie Leon LaCroix and Carlene Unser, FSPA, three founding members of the arts programs at Viterbo, and share the inspiring story of how their commitment to the arts at Viterbo has made the thriving arts programs of today possible.

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to bring just some of the wonderful work being done at Viterbo to the rest of Wisconsin, and to tell the story behind the historic arts programming that is part of the school’s legacy,” said James Steinbach, WPT station director. “Telling the stories of Wisconsin’s unique people, and programs, is what we do at Wisconsin Public Television. One of the things that energizes our production crews is showing up around the state with our digital production truck and being met with enthusiasm and excitement by the community in which we’re shooting. It always reminds us how vital our service is, and how much Wisconsinites love to hear stories of our great state.”

Tickets for the arts gala celebration are $25 for main floor and lower balcony seating and $20 for upper balcony seating. For more information or to order tickets, contact the Viterbo box office at 608-796-3100 or visit www.viterbo.edu/tickets.

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