Dear Ashwabay Alliance Community,
Every summer, something special happens at the top of Ski Hill Road.
As the sun dips behind the hill and the evening air cools, people begin to gather beneath the blue canvas.
Friends reconnect, families find their seats, and the hum of excitement fills the air.
For nearly forty years, those summer evenings have been part of what makes Big Top Chautauqua so special. And I’m excited to say the 2026 season is shaping up to be another memorable one.
This year’s lineup brings an incredible range of artists to the stage, including:
- Trey Anastasio
- Billy Bragg
- Lyle Lovett
- Larkin Poe
- The Wallflowers
… and of course our own Blue Canvas Orchestra.
From folk and rock to blues and roots music, there’s something for longtime fans and first-time visitors alike. And one more surprise is coming this July.
But what makes a night at Big Top memorable goes beyond the music:
- It’s arriving early to share food and laughter at the picnic tables
- Hiking to the top of the hill for a view of Lake Superior
- Settling in for an evening with neighbors and friends
This season, we’re building on that experience.
Select shows will offer camping opportunities so visitors can turn a concert into a full Northwoods getaway. We’re also continuing to make improvements to the grounds to create more welcoming spaces to gather before and after the show.
We’re especially excited to continue traditions that bring people of all ages together. Our Free Family Series returns this summer, giving younger audiences a chance to experience live music under the tent.
We’ll also introduce a series of Chautauqua-style programs celebrating storytelling, culture, and the spirit of learning that inspired Big Top in the first place.
And in August, we’ll host a three-day festival celebrating the talented musicians who call this region home. A reminder that the Chequamegon Bay has always been an incredible place for music.
In the end, what keeps people coming back year after year is simple:
- The glow of stage lights beneath the blue canvas as the evening sky darkens
- The sound of a favorite song echoing through the tent and up the hill at Mt. Ashwabay
- The feeling of sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with friends, family, and neighbors, enjoying the moment together
I hope you’ll join us this summer for another season of music under the stars!
Respectfully,
Garry Schalla
What It Takes to Bring a Big Top Show to Life: A Conversation with Bear, Monitor Engineer
By the time a show is announced and tickets go on sale, another process is already underway, one most people never see.
“Once the search for an artist or band starts, we get a rider,” Bear said. “A list of everything they need to perform.”
Once the rider is in hand, questions start stacking up:
Are we using our equipment?
Do we need to bring other equipment in?
Or do we need to clear the deck (stage) so the band can bring their own?
That’s when production begins to take shape.
“Production can be a complicated world, and lots of audibles are made,” Bear said. “Sometimes we’re providing the whole show—sound, lights, backstage, front of stage. Or if someone like Lyle Lovett comes to town, he brings everything on eight tour buses and three semis.”
Bear is the monitor engineer, working “back of the house.” Alongside the production team, he helps build the experience from backstage to front of house, making sure everyone has a good experience.
“We take care of the musicians, but we also take care of the audience,” Bear said.
On the day of the show, it’s all hands on deck. Bear describes it like a sand mandala.
“We build it piece by piece, every detail,” he said. “We take care of everything so the musicians feel calm and confident that they’re going to have a great show. And when the last note is played, it all gets packed up, the deck is wiped clean, and we’re ready to start again the next day.”
If it’s an artist like Lyle Lovett, who brings their own equipment, the team may start unloading at 7 a.m. Once the show is over, they load it all back up, often working well past midnight.
For Bear, production goes beyond the technical aspects of the job. He calls it “technical hospitality.”
“A technician can just be a technician,” he said. “But there’s another layer to it, making people feel comfortable, at home, and confident at the tent.”
At Big Top, there are two groups to care for: the artists and the audience.
“We want the artists to have a good experience and tell other artists,” Bear said. “We want them to have a warm and fuzzy feeling. And we want the audience to have a good experience too.”
Bear and the production team carry what he calls an attitude of servitude. He often wears a shirt that says, “Just say yes.”
That mindset shows up in the small moments, reading the vibe in the tent, answering questions, solving problems, or simply being someone an artist or audience member can count on.
“The musicians need technical love and the love of a friend,” he said.
For Bear, that approach comes from a lifetime in music. He grew up around it. His dad was a musician, and he later became involved in the hip-hop scene in California. After moving to Cornucopia, he thought he’d step away from music and began working on a commercial fishing boat—until Big Top called.
Now, he helps produce shows across the Alliance and plays in a local band, Spring Fed, with other crew members.
“It really helps to be a musician,” Bear said. “You know what it’s like, and you can empathize.”
That empathy, paired with a strong team, is what keeps everything moving.
“You can’t beat a team like this,” he said. “We have a team that’s empathetic, listens, and supports one another.”
Because in the end, the goal isn’t just to put on a show.
“All we want to do is have church,” Bear said. “We want to make people sing, cry, laugh, and dance. Production is more than just a job. It’s spiritual.”
And it’s that care, both seen and unseen, that helps bring every night at Big Top to life.
Welcoming Alaina Lenz to the Ashwabay Alliance
If you’ve ever attended a show at Big Top, you’ve likely experienced the warm welcome our volunteers bring to the tent.
They help direct parking, guide you to your seat, and greet you with a smile inside the merch tent. Behind the scenes, they keep an evening under the big blue tent running smoothly. That spirit of hospitality is a big part of what makes Big Top so special.
That’s why the Ashwabay Alliance is excited to welcome Alaina Lenz as our new Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager.
Alaina previously served as Aquatics Director at the Lake Superior YMCA, where she led a large team and coordinated programs for families across the region.
A graduate of Northland College with a degree in Sustainable Policy and Economics, she also worked in the college’s Office of Institutional Advancement, building relationships with alumni while supporting major events and fundraising efforts.
At the Alliance, Alaina will lead volunteer coordination for Big Top while helping expand year-round connections across Alliance programs and community partners. Her work will help guests, volunteers, and community members feel welcomed and connected.
“Volunteers are truly the heart of the Big Top and the Ashwabay Alliance,” said Executive Director Garry Schalla. “Alaina brings both the organizational skills and the community spirit needed to help us grow our tradition of hospitality and engagement.”
As the Alliance prepares for another season of entertainment and recreation, Alaina will help strengthen the connections that make it all possible.
We’re thrilled to have Alaina on the team!
