The downtown activity at the Soo Theatre has not come to a halt, or even a short rest, for that matter. After the hugely successful run of Fiddler on the Roof, with over 1,350 tickets sold, the month of August has arrived — a month filled with theatre, music and dance, and the next season event coming this Friday. The Soo Theatre is proud to present its annual Vocal Gala on Friday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. The gala features the talents of our opera apprentices.
The program will include songs such as “Summer Lovin,” “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better,” “All I Ask of You,” and “Tonight,” as well as scenes from the upcoming production of Hansel and Gretel. In addition, standard songs from the opera repertoire such as “Sull’ Aria” from The Marriage of Figaro — the beautiful piece that is played over the prison loudspeakers in the movie The Shawshank Redemption — will be performed by our talented young artists.
Singers have come from neighboring Canada, from Sault, Michigan, and from many of the surrounding areas, as far as Naubinway and Engadine. In addition to our younger apprentices, lifelong singers from our local community take the workshop as a way to gain insight into the craft that they have been utilizing their whole lives, delving deeper into specific techniques. Many singers come directly from the Soo Theatre’s STARS program, as students of professional soprano Karen (Hughes) Beacom seek this opportunity each year to work with other singers and to experience taking their work in the vocal studio onto the actual performance stage.The singers work with Beacom and other master teachers who are currently working in the professional opera field. In addition to the workshop and their gala performance, most of the singers will participate in the opera Hansel and Gretel, coming to the Soo Theatre stage Aug. 15-18.
Performers on the gala include Gabbie Pepin, Hollyann Beck, Maureen Delaney-Lehman, Ben Deatrick, Samantha McCormick, Melanie Case, Lola Kennedy, Eric Donarski, Nancy Kirkpatrick, Taylor O’Polka, Rachel Yanni, Adam Gräber, Rachael Smart, Becky McCauley, Sally Schremp, Ashley Kasper, Lyndsey Johnson and Alyssa Morely.
Apprentice directors Jon and Beth Truitt will be returning for their third season in Sault Ste. Marie and their second season as guest performers themselves. Last season, Jon played the role of Marcello and Beth played Musetta in Puccini’s beloved La Boheme. Jon will lend us his talent this year as stage director in addition to his role as the Father in Hansel and Gretel, while Beth will lend her expertise in master classes and in her role as the Mother. Jon Truitt is making his mark as an operatic stage director across the United States, having recently directed professional productions of Merry Widow, Madama Butterfly, Le nozze di Figaro, Barber of Seville, Die Fledermaus, La Boheme, Little Red Riding Hood, Don Giovanni, and Die Zauberflote. His recent production of Die Zauberflote was featured in Opera America magazine. Dr. Truitt is the founder of the Crested Butte Music Festival’s Opera Young Artist Program in Paradise, Colorado which attracts aspiring operatic artists from across the United States, and has also worked extensively with young artists with the St. Petersburg Opera’s Emerging Artist Program, with Asheville Lyric Opera, and with the Soo Theatre Project in Michigan.
Don’t miss your chance to see the “stars of tomorrow” as they perform on Soo Theatre’s Vocal Gala on Friday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. Admission is by donation. For more information, call (906) 322-1399. Limited spaces for the workshop that begins on Monday, Aug. 5, are still available. Call to participate today!
This article was originally published in the Soo Evening News on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013.
