NOCTILUCA September 2016

Culture Appleton, Wisconsin September 2016 Vol. XXII Issue 1 Page 10 Mile 4: A recap of Mile of Music 2016

By Maddy Schilling

Adriel Denae and Trapper Schoepp performed lyrically beautiful, classically indie sets accompanied by acoustic guitars; groups like Peridot, fronted by Hillary Reynolds, and Von Strantz followed suit. Meanwhile, headlining acts like Dreamers and Wild Adri- atic put the rock in Mile of Music’s indie rock vibe with high energy performances. Despite the typical abun- dance of these types of acts, Mile of Music 2016 still man- aged to take risks. More spe- cifically, the festival diverted from its original Americana/ rock brand with its first ever hip hop showcase, with notable guests including the classic rap-influenced Auto- matic, Milwaukee-based Ric Wilson and psychedelically- fused Queen Tut. There were certainly a few more first-timers at the Mile as well. For Chuck Auerbach, father of Black Keys lead vocalist and guitarist Dan Auerbach, Mile 4 was the first opportunity to perform a

There are a few days each year when the city of Appleton becomes a new home for hundreds of musi- cians, a bustling conduit for creatives and vendors alike. For the past four years, the Mile of Music has brought in thousands of visitors seeking to attend an “artisan-crafted festival” and cherish some local music under the summer sun. This year, however, new changes brought to the Mile 4 spotlight also allowed specta- tors to enjoy a whole different side to the indie music scene, allowing the fest to grow. The Mile of Music is the brainchild of former ANHS student Corey Chisel and was first introduced in 2013, with guests ranging from Norah Jones to The Candles to Justin Townes Earle; it has since garnered a reputation as a place where Americana, indie rock and folk artists shine. This was certainly the case for Mile 4, where singer- songwriters like Cory Chisel, Anyone who knows the ANHS theatre direc- tor Ron Parker knows that he is renowned for taking incredible risks. This year, with the Summer Shake- speare program he started thirty years ago with a few wooden boards, some enthusiastic students and a 400-year-old playwright, he took one of the biggest risks of his career. Gathering just over thirty students, two assis- tant directors, a returning technician, and a Chi- cago designer, Mr. Parker brought the show to the most natural and authentic set possible for William Shakespeare’s, “AMid- summer Night’s Dream”: the woods. Meeting every challenge with new ideas and strong determination to make this work, the stu- dents rehearsed outside ev- eryday for about a month. Telling the story of two lovers, a dispute between a fairy king and queen, a duke to be married to a woman not ready to for- give, and a few mechani- cals aspiring to perform a great play, the set sur- By Yasmeen Ashour

Indie rock band Wild Adriatic performs at Houdini Plaza as a Saturday night headlining act. Photo by Olivia Molter

full live set of original tunes. For North alum Jack Rus- sell, who graduated last year, his first Mile of Music was – while not his first ever gig – the perfect way to express his musical abilities. Russell says of his experience at the Mile, “It was quite a thrill-

ing experience to be a part of this ongoing artistic project (Appleton’s indie scene) and to play at Mile 4 this summer. Not only did I meet plenty of charming artists and create some firm networks, but Mile of Music gave me a chance to establish a secure fan base; from other shows they have done with him, whether it be because there isn’t the stress of school, or because students come from many schools to learn and per- form. Lexi Asare, a rising North junior who brought Queen Titania and Hippoly- ta to life, noted, “Shake- speare is different from any other shows because even though it’s a four hundred year old language, when presented right, the audi- ence can still understand [the play], it’s unique because they have to do a bit of work too. Whether it’s listening a little harder or making connections with today’s language, it gets them involved in the show.” According to theatre students, there are reasons that William Shakespeare is the most well known play- wright in the world. “Shakespeare shows us that humankind is still relatable even after four hundred years,” says Tulip Kopecky, who played the lover Hermia in the show. “People laughed in Shake- speare’s day, people cried in Shakespeare’s day…

it’ll make it easier for when I switch musical direction, be- cause I definitely will – mul- tiple times – in the future.” With another successful Mile under Appleton’s belt, fans of the festival should look forward to another week of music in August 2017. people fought with their fa- thers and wished they could move up in the world. His work gives comfort to the reader knowing that they are not alone in their struggles and triumphs.” There are also reasons students come back thirty years after they have per- formed one of his plays to see a program that still makes a difference in the lives of the young adults involved. Assistant director Zak Metalsky concludes, “You always learn something new doing Shakespeare, whether it’s about the Bard history, mythology, per- formance, theatre or your- self...The program helped cultivate me as an actor, so coming back as a director opened my eyes to how much effort goes into a production and how amaz- ing North’s theatre program is. My first Summer Shake- speare was also “AMid- summer Night’s Dream,” six years ago as an incom- ing freshman, so I couldn’t pass up the chance to come back and see the show rein- vented in an outdoor space, and relive the experiences I had at North.”

Summer Shakespeare brings dreams to life with new production

Lexi Asare and rising North senior Tim Rausch show off their acting chops as Queen Titania and King Oberon, respectively. Photo courtesy of Catherine Mckenzie

Summer Shakespeare has been changing the lives of Mr. Parker’s students, as many of them have gone on to further their lives actors and actresses of Shake- speare’s great works. Many of Mr. Parker’s students agree that Summer Shakespeare is different

rounded the actors and audience with the sounds of the woods at night. Setting the story in modern times, the characters were very easily relatable and funny and were able to bring the audience into a magical world on many new levels. For the last thirty years,