Centennial Green Finds a New Home on Public Television
Pro Video Productions, Inc. of Duluth provided addtional film of Wisconsin's Chequamegon-Nicolet to compliment the musical.
Centennial Green: the Over and Understory of the U.S. Forest Service in Song is being released to PBS & Related Stations March of 2009
"Centennial Green: The Over and Understory of the U.S. Forest Service in Song" is a historical musical developed and written by Warren Nelson of Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua. The musical was written to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Forest Service. Through a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, Nelson was supplied with historical materials, photos, songs, photographs and films. These items, along with a road trip through many national forests, provided the inspiration to tell the story and pay tribute to the men and women who care for 193 million acres of public forests and grasslands of the United States.
The performance, by Big Top's own Blue Canvas Orchestra, incorporates songs, readings, skits, scenic images and historic film footage. Centennial Green debuted under Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua's 900-seat tent theatre in Bayfield, Wisconsin, and became a part of their many original productions. The show was also performed before live audiences at USDA's Jefferson Theatre in Washington, DC, and other venues throughout the Midwest.
Milwaukee Public Television (MPTV) expressed an interest in recording the show to broadcast in their 11-county viewing area. In light of this, Centennial Green was filmed by MPTV in high-definition before a live audience at Milwaukee's historic Pabst Theatre in April of 2007. Award winning U.S. Forest Service videographers Dave Steinke and Steve Dunsky teamed with MPTV to produce the movie Centennial Green and provide project direction.
Centennial Green debuted on MPTV and Midwest affiliate PBS stations in 2008, and is now being released to PBS and National Educational Telecommunications Stations nation-wide in March 2009.
Viewers interested in watching this show should check local PBS station broadcast schedules for dates and times. Copies of the Centennial Green high-definition DVD are also available for purchase at Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua by calling 888-244-8368 or online at www.bigtop.org.