ALL IS CALM: The Christmas Truce of 1914

December 5-15, 2024 at The Playhouse at Overture

Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30 pm
Saturdays & Sundays at 2 pm

Directed by Brian Cowing and Music Directed by Randal Swiggum

“A beautiful musical recounting of a World War I cease-fire of gifts, poetry, and melody." – The New York Times

ALL IS CALM, takes place on the Western Front, Christmas, 1914. A German soldier steps into No Man’s Land singing “Stille Nacht.” Thus begins an extraordinary night of camaraderie, music, and peace. A remarkable true story, told in the words and songs of the men who lived it.

Tickets ($25, $38) available at Overture Center Box Office in person, online, or by phone at (608) 258-4141.

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CREDITS: All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 is presented by special arrangement with and all materials are provided by Broadway Licensing (www.broadwaylicensing.com)


Preshow Lectures in the Playhouse lobby

Thursday 12/5 & 12/12 at 6:30 pm | Sunday 12/8 & 12/15 at 1 pm

"A lot of times when you think of military history you get lost in the machines of war.  You get lost in the statistics, the tanks, the planes, the guns, and you often forget the humanity behind the history."

Kevin Hampton is Curator of History for the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. With a BA in History and Education from University of St. Thomas, Hampton is the true embodiment of public humanities work - sharing research and items from museum archives with others through community engaged programming.  In addition to curating exhibits that share the stories of Wisconsin veterans, he leads outreach programs and lectures across the state.  He is the lead curator for the current temporary exhibit at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum - Souvenirs of Service: The Things They Kept.

About the Wisconsin Veterans Museum
The Wisconsin Veterans Museum is dedicated to the people of Wisconsin who served in the armed forces and honors and affirms the role of all veterans in shaping Wisconsin military history and that of the nation. The Wisconsin Veterans Museum is an educational activity of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.  Learn more and make a plan to visit.


Parking & Merriment

During the holiday season, there are lots of fantastic arts events at the Overture Center, and that can make parking and ticketing a challenge for theater patrons.  We encourage you to come downtown early, pick up your tickets from WILL CALL (open two hours before each show), and then grab a bite to eat or enjoy a pre-show beverage.  Avoid the crush and plan a little extra time for parking and picking up will-call tickets.

With a little extra care, you'll arrive at the theater with time to spare, and ready to enjoy our production of ALL IS CALM: The Christmas Truce of 1914.


Press

“This show combines exquisite music with a deeper message about what makes us human, and what makes Christmas so powerful,” adds Swiggum. “And the fact that it’s a true story, told through the voices of the men who were there, means…well, no one will forget this show.”

from "Temporary Peace" | Preview article in The Isthmus | Gwendolyn Rice

“For a long time I thought that it would make such a great piece of music theater if I could find the right way to tell it,” said Rothstein, who got a masters degree in directing from UW-Madison in 1992, and six years later co-founded his own theater company in Minneapolis called Theater Latté Da, where he still serves as artistic director.

from "WWI Truce at center of theatrical work" | Wisconsin State Journal | Samara Kalk Derby

“While the staging, storytelling and the subject matter for the piece are all extraordinary, perhaps the greatest accomplishment for All is Calm is the cohesion of the ensemble, exhibited in close vocal harmonies in one song after another."

from "Four Seasons' 'All is Calm' is very bright indeed" | Review by Gwendolyn Rice


Cast Members

Trevor J. Bass (Baritone) is very happy to be returning to the FST stage. Past FST credits include All is Calm in December 2019,2021, 2022, 2023; Matt in The Fantasticks, and Caleb in The Spitfire Grill.  He’s also been seen onstage at Middleton Players Theatre.  Favorite roles there include Leo in Parade,Tateh in Ragtime, and the Cat in the Hat in Seussical.  Trevor would like to thank his family for their ongoing support, most notably his lovely wife, Mari, for taking care of Alice and Penny while Dad goes to rehearsal.  Enjoy the show!

Micheal Brunner (Tenor) is thrilled to be appearing again with Four Seasons Theatre! He was previously seen on the FST stage in All is Calm in December 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023; A Little Night Music (Carl Magnus), and South Pacific (The Professor).  He also enjoys being a part of FST’s outreach team singing programs throughout the year at retirement communities and libraries across Dane County.

Keith Christianson (Bass), a sometime veteran of Madison area theater, is thrilled beyond measure to return to All is Calm a fourth time. Previous credits include Young Frankenstein (Victor), Ruddigore (Despard), Singing in the Shower (for the heck of it), and Funny Voices at Bedtime (for Aurora, age 8).

Elijah Edwards (Bass) is an original cast member and performed in All is Calm 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023.  A 2023 graduate of Vel Phillips Madison Memorial High School, Elijah is now a sophomore at DePaul University in Chicago.  Elijah also appeared in Four Seasons’ productions of The Little Mermaid, and 1776, and played Young Will in the Theatre LILA/Four Seasons production of Big Fish.  He enjoys running, playing the trombone, reading, writing, and making films.

Ben Galvin (Baritone) graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance from the Mead Witter School of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and sang the national anthem at the May 2021 Commencement Ceremony.  While at UW, he studied voice with Professor Jim Doing and performed as Seneca in Monteverdi’s Poppea and Snug in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with University Opera.  His interest in music began in high school while playing roles in The Sound of Music and Hello, Dolly!  FST credits include The Little Mermaid and All is Calm in 2019, 2022, and 2023.

Kenneth Hoversten (Baritone) received his Master’s degree in Voice Performance from UW-Madison and received his Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from Concordia College in Moorhead Minnesota.  Performances with UW-Madison University Opera included I Wish It So: Marc Blitzstein – The Man in his Music, What’s Past Is Prologue: The Unfinished American Conversation, Two Remain (Out of Darkness), and Sweeney Todd.  Kenneth joined the cast of All is Calm in 2023.

Dan Jajewski (Tenor) is excited to be performing with FST again!  Most recently with FST, Dan performed in All is Calm in December 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023 and played Scuttle in their production of The Little Mermaid in 2019. Other credits include: Parade (J.N. Starnes, U/S Leo Frank), Beauty and the Beast (Gaston), Sweeney Todd (Anthony), Falsettos (Mendel), Ragtime (Younger Brother), Shrek the Musical (Shrek), and RENT (Mark).  Dan would like to thank his wife Kate for always supporting him.  Keep the arts alive!

Tyler Stone (Tenor) is excited to return to Four Seasons Theatre for this fifth production of All Is Calm. Previous productions include Madison Opera’s Orpheus in the Underworld (Ensemble), StageQ Productions’ Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead (Beethoven), Middleton Players Theatre’s Beauty and the Beast (Ensemble), and St. Bernard’s Players’ Jesus Christ Superstar (Simon/Jesus US). He would like to thank his family and friends for their continual support and patience.

Doug Swenson (Tenor) performed in the cast of All is Calm in 2021, 2022, and 2023.  His credits with FST include the kick-off season (2005) of Ragtime (Houdini), Candide (Candide), A Grand Night for Singing (Tenor), Side-by-Side by Sondheim (Tenor), Miss Saigon (Tenor), My Fair Lady (Henry Higgins), She Loves Me (Georg), Spamalot (King Arthur), and possibly others!

Sam Taylor (Baritone) is thrilled to be returning to Four Seasons Theatre for this unique project and was a cast member in the December 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023 productions. Other FST projects include playing Prince Herbert (et al.) in Spamalot and producing “Listening with Leckrone,” a music history podcast featuring Professor Mike Leckrone. Previous theatrical credits include: Matilda the Musical (Rudolpho/Ensemble), Pippin (Pippin), and Urinetown (Bobby Strong). He also can be found playing piano, bass, or music directing for local shows. Sam is incredibly grateful for his family, friends, and the long line of mentors and teachers for their support and care.

Zak Wolff (Tenor) joined the cast of All is Calm in 2021, 2022, and 2023.  He graduated from UW-Madison in 2020, followed by a year of post-graduate studies in Chinese Linguistics at Nanjing University. His previous credits include Musical of Musicals the Musical (Billy), Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour), The Wedding Singer (Robbie Hart), and A Killer Party (Jeremy Jordan).  Zak would like to thank his family and friends for their love and support. “Thank you, Grandpa Dave, for your service. I miss you every day.” Enjoy the show!

 

This production was first produced in December 2019 and remounted in December 2021, 2022, and 2023. We want to acknowledge cast members who will not be with us in 2024 as all were integral in the development of this beautiful production. 

Michael Chiaverini (Baritone) was part of the ALL IS CALM cast in 2019 and 2021.  A 2021 graduate of Middleton High School, Michael is a first year student at UW-Madison, where he is studying Voice Performance with Paul Rowe. Recent favorite roles from MHS Theatre include Prince Topher (Cinderella), Will Bloom (Big Fish), Richard Hannay (The 39 Steps), and Oberon (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). He sincerely thanks his family, friends, teachers, and the All Is Calm cast and crew for their support and encouragement.

Tim Emery (Tenor) was part of ALL IS CALM in the original production in 2019.  He graduated from UW-Madison in 2018 with a degree in Music Education and previously taught 6-12 grade choral director for the Columbus School District. Recent productions he was involved with include The Kurt Weill Cabaret with University Opera and Man of La Mancha with Four Seasons Theatre. Tim relocated to the Twin Cities and launched a new career with Eight Eleven Group as a technical recruiter for IT positions at Fortune 500 companies.

David Olson (Bass) believes in the power of music to affect the human condition.  David has previously performed onstage as Reverend Moore in Footloose, Mr. Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors, and as a chorus member, in pit orchestras, and as music director for a dozen shows.  He would like to thank his family, friends, and all those who work for the cause of peace.


History & Resources

Four Seasons first produced All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 in December 2019 and has since presented the remount to sold out houses in December 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Written and conceived by Peter Rothstein, graduate of the UW-Madison Department of Theatre & Drama and Co-founder and Artistic Director of Theatre Latté Da, this highly original work features a cappella choral arrangements by Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach. The show premiered at Theatre Latté in Minneapolis, MN in 2007, toured North America with Cantus Vocal Ensemble for several years, and ran off Broadway November-December 2018, earning a 2019 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience.  More on that here.

ALL IS CALM: The Christmas Truce of 1914 was created by Theatre Latte Da in Minneapolis, MN. Learn about that production and access their extensive study guide.

Listen to the NPR feature "A Century Ago, When the Guns Fell Silent On Christmas" and learn more about the Christmas Truce of 1914.

In 2008, Cantus and Theatre Latte Da produced a CD of the incredible music of ALL IS CALM: The Christmas Truce of 1914. You may be able to pick up a copy on Amazon or at your local library. Unfortunately it is not available as a digital album.


Support for this production provided by the Pleasant Rowland Foundation, the W. Jerome Frautschi Foundation, and the Fund for Theater, a component fund of the Madison Community Foundation. Additional support provided by PBS Wisconsin, Wisconsin Public Radio, Distillery Design, and Park Printing Solutions.