A community talent showcase initiated last year by two Baraboo High School students to benefit the restoration efforts at the Al. Ringling Theatre is on its way to becoming a Baraboo tradition.

The "Give Back" benefit concert is returning to the stage of the Al. Friday night with an assortment of local talent and events ranging from dance to choral performances.

The project, kicked off last spring, was the idea of then-juniors Hilary Bildsten and Emily Tierman, who said they wanted to provide more opportunities for Baraboo's musicians and dancers to show off their talents, while also contributing to the theatre.

Tierman said the theater, which hosts the school's theater, band and choral productions, among others, was a unique resource for the community, and deserved the effort they were undertaking.

"If you look at other schools, not everyone has a chance to perform in a theater like that," she said.

"We're really lucky to have it," Bildsten said. "It's one more thing that makes Baraboo extra special."

Last year's show raised more than $4,000 for the restoration fund. And this year the two, who are heading to college at the end of the month, have brought it back, with the hope that they'll be able to keep it going indefinitely, whether they're around to do the work themselves or not.

About 150 tickets have been sold so far, and local businesses have pitched in with donations ranging from discounted T-shirts to poster printing, as well as purchasing ads in the event program.

About 65 community members have rehearsed for the show's 24 acts. Most of the participants are Baraboo High School students, Tierman said, but the youngest is 13, and there are several older performers signed up as well.

"The idea was to showcase local musical talent," Bildsten said. "Everyone has their own talent to bring."

The show will culminate in a finale that brings together most of the performers in a performance of a medley of several songs, beginning with just two performers on stage and ending, Bildsten said, with everyone, whether playing, singing or clapping their hands.

The show will include soloists, small ensembles and large groups. A dance and percussion performance, inspired by Broadway's "Stomp," will feature a more local theme of "Restoring the Al.," with the help of garbage cans, pieces of lumber and other "instruments."

Headlining the show is local band Daniel and the Lion, a duo featuring Baraboo High School graduates Daniel Pingrey and Jimmie Linville. Besides performing, the band also will donate a portion of its merchandise sales that night to the theater.

Singer Linville, who in June won Madison radio station 105.5 FM's annual "Project M" song writing contest, said he and Pingrey both had a long history with the theater and were looking forward to being on stage in their first big Baraboo show.

"We're very excited to play it," he said. "We're huge fans of that style of theater. It has a lot of history, it deserves to be restored."

Linville said he expected to play many of the songs that he wrote for the competition at Friday's concert, and may even break out an old favorite, "Baraboo."

The full restoration of the 94-year-old theater, including lighting systems and the auditorium itself, is a project that will cost millions of dollars, executive director Brian Heller said.

But while the major restorations remain years away, the restoration fund is used for smaller projects along the way, like the recent lobby restoration and dressing room overhaul.

Heller said he was happy with the relationship between the theater and schools, and hopes to increase the amount of collaboration in the future.

"I don't know that very many other places have had benefit concerts conceived promoted produced and executed by local kids," he said. "We love to see the level of passion, commitment, dedication and fun they throw into it. Baraboo should be proud of its kids because we are."

Send e-mail to ctaylor2@capitalnewspapers.com

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