Jazz singer to perform at opera house
By Angie Landsverk
As Kathy Fehl listened to the radio during a drive home, a familiar song played.
The song was “I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes),” which was composed in 1939 and has been recorded by numerous artists through the years.
The voice of the singer in this particular recording struck her.
After Fehl arrived home, she waited in her driveway to find out who it was.
“They said, ‘That was Molly Ringwald,’” she recalled.
Fehl’s first thought was, “Is that the same Molly Ringwald?”
She learned it was.
That was last winter, and now Fehl and Ian Teal, of the nonprofit Wega Arts, are preparing to host “An Evening with Molly Ringwald,” at the Gerold Opera House, in downtown Weyauwega.
The opera house is located at 136 E. Main St.
Ringwald and her jazz trio will perform there at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8.
“We’re doing reserved seating for the first time, so tickets must be purchased online,” Fehl said.
The VIP seats, with a price of $95 each, are sold out.
The reserved seats at the tables behind the VIP area are $65 each.
“It will be cabaret style, with wait service,” Fehl said of the reserved seating at the tables.
In addition, there will be general seating in theater seats behind the reserved seating and also in the balcony.
“It’ll be the grand opening of the balcony,” Teal said.
The price of the general seating on the floor is $55, and the price of the general seating in the balcony is $45.
Tickets for both reserved and general seating may be purchased online at wegaarts.org.
“For general, they’ll want to be there early to get their spot,” Fehl said. “The doors will open at 6:30 p.m.”
The event will include complimentary snacks, with a full cash bar, featuring Central Waters beer, Cosmos and a special Wega Arts martini called the “Wegatini.”
While many are familiar with the acting career of Ringwald, she grew up in the jazz world.
Ringwald started performing with her pianist father’s jazz band when she was 3.
Among the singers who inspired her were Bessie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald, Blossom Dearie and Susannah McCorkle.
After Paul Mazursky cast Ringwald in “Tempest” when she was 13, acting became her focus.
She starred in the John Hughes’ films “Sixteen Candles,” “The Breakfast Club” and “Pretty In Pink” and also in such films as “Fresh Horses,” “Betsy’s Wedding,” “King Lear” and “The Pick-Up Artist.
A few years ago, she returned to her love of singing.
“She’s been touring the country. She has done New York, is doing LA,” Fehl said. “It’ll be a nice evening.”
“Except Sometimes” included three musicians, and they will be with her at the Gerold Opera House.
They are Peter Smith on piano, Clayton Cameron on drums and Trevor Ware on bass.
After the concert, Ringwald will sign CDs.
Teal said bringing Ringwald to the opera house is an investment in the future of Wega Arts and in the community.
Fehl said a month went by last winter before she decided to see who Ringwald’s agent was and ask about her coming to Weyauwega.
“We managed to work something out,” she said.
Teal said Wega Arts “is thrilled to bring this great cabaret talent to Weyauwega. We’re about to be celebrating our 10th year here. We’re here to develop original material in theater, film and music, and to bring entertainment to the community. Bringing Molly Ringwald, actress and singer, here is a wonderful step in our story.”