The annual event “Dueling Pianos FUNdraiser,” will be just that – a whole bunch of fun! Taking place this Friday, Feb. 8 at the Stout Ale House, Ted Oliver Productions will captivate the audience with an astonishing variety of rock ‘n’ roll, country, blues, jazz, oldies, pop and everything in between,” according to the events flyer.

Jay Ouellette, general manager at the Stout Ale House/Broadway Bowl/Off Broadway Banquet Center (because really, they’re all one place), describes Dueling Pianos: “The event itself is an annual event put on by the Dunn County Humane Society and Positive Alternatives,” says Ouellette. “This event is a fundraiser for the two groups.”

 

Further, Ouellette explains that Positive Alternatives approached Stout Ale House about three years ago to see if the business would want to be involved with the event. Stout Ale House has a history working with other community events and the size of their banquet space was suitable for the Dueling Pianos event.

Other than the show itself, Dunn County Humane Society and Positive Alternatives will also have other forms of fundraising at this event.

 

“They always have raffle items… and a 50-50 [cash raffle]… However, this year there will be no silent auction,” states Ouellette.

 

Furthermore, approximately 100 VIP seating and more than 200 general admission tickets to the event will also be incorporated into the money raised for the Dunn County Humane Society and Positive Alternatives. VIP seating is $20 per person, and general admission is $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

 

“In the VIP section, you are seated at tables and have a dedicated server to take care of your food and beverage,” clarifies Ouellette. “General admission is seated in rows of chairs or standing room.” Typically only open to those 18 and older, Ouellette says that they expect to have a full house at the event.

 

While unable to reach Ted Oliver, the talent of the Dueling Pianos FUNdraiser, his webpage (tedoliverduelingpianos.com) provides a wealth of information about him and his performances.

For example, Oliver answers the major question on everyone’s mind – what are dueling pianos? According to the site, Dueling Pianos place “two beautiful grand pianos on stage, add two impossibly talented and outgoing entertainers who play and sing with gusto, add a ton of rockin’ tunes… Throw in a heaping help of audience participation and you have a recipe for an unforgettable event… It is two voices and four hands that bring a wide variety of music to life.”

 

Ted Oliver has almost 20 years of “dueling piano experience under his belt (which is) roughly 12,000 one-hour shows” with venues as varied as the music he plays. He has done “corporate functions, private events, convention centers, cruise ships, country clubs, performing arts centers, major sporting events and dueling piano bars all over the United States,” according to the website.

 

The Dueling Pianos FUNdraiser to benefit the Dunn County Humane Society and Positive Alternatives, Inc. will take place at the Stout Ale House on North Broadway on Friday, Feb. 8, from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

 

Tickets can be purchased prior to the night of the event at the Stout Ale House, Positive Alternatives, the Hoof & Paw Vet Clinic or the Dunn County Humane Society. Note that, VIP is already sold out, so only General Admission/Seating is available.

 

For further information and a preview of the event, check out the Stout Ale House at www.stoutalehouse.com or Ted Oliver Productions websites at www.tedoliverduelingpianos.com