North Country Opera’s 40th Anniversary Revival visits Old Art Building
From staff reports
The Old Art Building in Leland will host the 40th Anniversary Revival of North Country Opera, a musical play by renowned Michigan playwright and songwriter, Jay Stielstra. The performance will tour around Michigan, visiting five locations with the Old Art Building as its landing place for the Leelanau – Grand Traverse region. The performance will take place on Wednesday, October 12, at 7:30 pm. Tickets are still available for $30 by calling the Old Art Building or visiting their website.
The play is a loving tribute to the people and culture of northern Michigan: Fishing for trout in the cold rivers, hunting for birds in the autumn woods, snowmobiling in the winter, and of course the comradery and wit of local characters found in a favorite tavern. It premiered in 1982, with 2022 marking its fifth revival tour.
Ron Miller, who directed earlier productions of both North Country Opera and North Country Opera Continued, returns to direct the 40th anniversary revival produced by Barbara Schmid and Dan McCarthy, with Michigan theater and arts mainstay, Barry La Rue, as Stage Manager. Along with the classic North Country Opera storyline, North Country Opera 2022 includes a collection of Jay Stielstra’s most memorable folk songs.
The cast includes a long list of Michigan musical and theater celebrities: Rochelle Clark, Brad Phillips, Chris Buhalis, Kristi Davis, Peter Knox, Christina McMullen, David Menefee, and Italy-based artist Aaron Stielstra. The Buckhorn Bar Band features Music Director Judy Banker with Michigan music favorites David Roof, Grant Flick and Ben Willis.
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