Coming off of the great success of last week’s ‘Camelot’, with its incredibly talented actors and singers from both sides of the border, the Soo Theatre is hard at work on the next major production to hit the stage. While the ‘Camelot’ cast represented amazing local talent, the Soo Opera Theatre’s production of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” will showcase professional talent from all over the United States.
“Don Giovanni”, the famous story of a womanizing young cad who comes to a well-deserved sad end, is a well-loved opera standard, and is well suited to be the tenth Opera presented on the Soo Theatre stage. Soo Opera Theatre Director Karen Hughes Beacom has cast an impressive professional cast, in service of the Soo Theatre’s mission to bring high-quality arts programs to our under-served area. Mozart’s masterpiece will be presented by the Soo Opera Theatre, a professional artist in residence program of the Soo Theatre Project, with performances on August 5 and August 7 at 7:30 p.m. and August 9, at 3:00 p.m.
New York-based tenor Glenn Seven Allen, with an impressive resume stretching from Carnegie Hall to Broadway, will be making his first appearance on our stage. Allen, who summers with his family on Mackinac Island, explains how he connected with the Soo Theatre. “I met Karen after hearing her sing at the Little Stone Church on Mackinac Island and was very impressed by her singing.” Thanks to this serendipitous meeting, the Soo Opera Theatre will be taking a concert version of “Don Giovanni” to Mackinaw Island with a performance at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island on August 11.
Other artist making first appearances on our stage are Baritone Sean Anderson and Bass-Baritone Brace Negron, both busy working professionals with national and international reputations. And we welcome a familiar name to our program, as established Canadian Soprano Sarah Gartshore makes her Soo Theatre debut.
A veteran of the Soo Opera Theatre’s productions, local favorite Thom Gunther will be returning this summer for his fourth season on our stage. Thom was last seen on the Soo Theatre stage in 2012 when he appeared in both “Carousel” and “La Boheme”.
Dawn Krogh, voice teacher and Director of Opera at Nebraska Wesleyan University also returns for her third role on our stage. Dawn was last seen as Gretel in the 2013 season.
Charlotte N.C based Markel Reed, who appeared in our 2014 production of “Carmen”, and thrilled audiences with his powerful and nuanced baritone voice, will be making his second appearance on our historic stage. Concerning his return engagement with the Soo Opera, Reed said, “I’m thrilled to come back and perform a major role with the company. I’m looking forward to collaborating with the incoming artists”.
Lastly, but definitely not least, our own Artist in Residence, and Opera Company Director Karen Hughes Beacom, joins the stellar cast, which will be fleshed out with opera apprentices and local talent.
The Vocal and Opera Workshop will provide an opportunity for anyone who loves to sing to receive training from world-class professionals. Opera Workshop participants will perform in their own Opera Gala on July 24, and many will be part of the opera chorus. The workshop is July 20-14, from 10 a.m.-3 pm, and will be taught by Glenn Seven Allen, Brace Negron and Karen Hughes Beacom For more information, see our article on the sootheatre.org website or call the theatre at 906 632-1930.
“Around the Piano”, the annual “Meet the Artist” Opera Fundraiser, will be July 27, at 5:00 p.m. Contact the Soo Theatre for more information. Please consider supporting the Opera program and your regional Non-Profit Arts School.
