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Deuces Wild, the incredibly popular dueling piano show, will launch the 2017-18 season for the Central Lakes Community Performing Arts Center’s Cultural Arts Series. With two different shows on the same day, the duo will rock the Chalberg Theatre on Friday, September 15 at 2 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m.
Series Producer Patrick Spradlin says this is a really fun way to begin a new season. “We’ve had Deuces Wild here on three occasions, twice for our fundraiser events. The audiences love these guys!”
“These guys” are Dave Eichholz and Ted Manderfeld, two vastly talented and personable musicians who’ve crafted what has become nationally-acclaimed shows of music, comedy, and intense audience engagement.
The matinee show is called ‘What a Wonderful World,’ a show full of standards and spirituals, with a healthy dose of comedy, costumes and wit. According to Spradlin, “This wonderful matinee is perfect for mom, dad, the kids, any and all who love a good time. Ted and Dave really make everybody smile, sing, laugh and enjoy life through their music. This is a must-see show tailored to seniors, and includes a great solute to veterans.”
The matinee show is free to veterans on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the show, and subject to availability.
The evening show is Deuces Wild Dueling Pianos, a mix of music and parodies ranging from country to rap to show tunes. “This show is amazingly fun,” says Spradlin. “It’s so high energy, and involves the audience in so many ways. Part music, part improv, part audience participation, it’s like going to a party where you know everyone and having the time of your life.” The show begins at 7:30 and is geared toward a more mature audience.
The Deuces Wild guys come with impressive resumes, notes Spradlin.
Son of a miner from the northern woods of Minnesota, David Charles Eichholz is a versatile, self-taught musician who plays the piano, guitar, saxophone, harmonica, trumpet and countless other instruments.
He was featured internationally on the Swedish television show ‘Christine’. He was then recruited by Little Ditty’s, Dueling Piano Bar at the Mall of America in Minnesota where he performed four nights each week for five years. David also recorded and produced the sound track to the “Prime Target” video game (50,000+ copies sold). He was also featured in an issue of WorldTraveler Magazine, the in-flight publication of Northwest Airlines.
Ted Manderfeld got his start in Deuces Wild by walking out of his day job and demanding an audition. Although he hadn’t previously played in a dueling piano style show, his amazing showmanship and obvious ability to perform as a world class entertainer blew away the competition! Since then he has played thousands of dueling piano shows with performances all over the country. When not on the road with DWDP, Ted spends his time as a producer of sold out shows, including the Billy Joel and Elton John tribute show “Eye 2 Eye,” and the ever popular annual “Rock n Roll Xmas” show, which he co-produces with former Jonny Lang guitarist Paul Diethelm.
Eichholz and Manderfeld have performed together for fourteen years, in over 1500 shows, and traveled more than 750,000 miles with Deuces Wild.
Tickets for ‘What a Wonderful World’ and ‘Deuces Wild’ are available from the CLC Theatre Box Office, at (218) 855-8199. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.clcmn.edu/arts
These shows are sponsored by Prairie Bay Grill and Catering, and by Scott and Kari Christiansen and Family.
