October has been declared National Arts and Humanities Month by the Americans for the Arts, and we here in the Chippewa Valley will be celebrating in style!

The party starts with the return of the Reduced Shakespeare Company as they present “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged).”  Hailed as a “hyperkinetic laugh-fest,” the RSC condenses all 37 plays into 97 fast paced (and hilarious) minutes.  It’s always nice to have Broadway performers swing through town, and this a terrific example.

Following in the Broadway theme, out community theatre groups are taking the stage by storm this month.  The Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild presents “Chicago” October 8-11.  This award winning Broadway musical became a hit motion picture in 2002.  Set in the 1920’s, this tale of fame, fortune, and all that jazz features one show stopping number after the next.  The Eau Claire Children's Theatre follows suit with the area’s premier presentation of the Tony award winning musical, “Rent.”  “Rent,” opening October 22, follows a year in the lives of seven friends living in the disappearing Bohemian lifestyle in New York’s East Village.  Both productions feature the top notch local talent we are so proud to call our own.

Speaking of top notch local talent, (not a bad segue, huh?) internationally acclaimed pianist, and Eau Claire native, Geoffrey Keezer joins the Chippewa Valley Symphony on October 17 as they present a concert entitled, “Cavalry, Cannons, and Keezer.”  Conducted by the charismatic and wildly animated Nobuyoshi Yasuda (Nobu), the Chippewa Valley Symphony has truly raised the bar for local symphonic music.

We end the month with the fun-loving harmonies of The Blanks.  This group, better known as “Ted’s Band” from the hit television series “Scrubs,” sings your favorite television theme songs in beautiful four part harmony.  "Charles in Charge", oh how we loved thee…

Just as the leaves start to turn, this fall the Chippewa Valley shows our true colors as a great place for the arts and culture to flourish.  Be sure to check out the Valley’s complete event listing at www.visiteauclaire.com, or at volumeone.org.