Parallel 45 Theatre company boasts Leelanau ties
Photo: Leland native Luke Klein plays the role of “Cris” in “HAIR” and “Skink” in “LITTLE BUNNY FOO FOO”. Photo by Michael Poehlman
From staff reports
A new professional theatre company, performing at a state-of-the-art, outdoor stage on the grounds of the rejuvenated Traverse City Civic Center, has strong roots in Leelanau County.
Parallel 45 Theatre, which opened July 11 to a weekend of sold-out performances of “HAIR,” was co-founded by Kit McKay, who is also the company’s artistic producer. McKay has a third-generation family home in Leland, where she spent her childhood summers.
“We are thrilled to open an advanced, brand-new outdoor venue in the extraordinary beauty of northwest Michigan,” said McKay. “We believe this new performance area signifies great things for our community. Traverse City is not just a top-ranking recreational and culinary destination, but a cultural area as rich and diverse as any major metropolitan city.”
“We are proving you can have it both ways: you can enjoy cutting-edge culture without leaving paradise,” McKay added. “I came back to live in northern Michigan because it’s paradise, but we started a theatre company here because we knew the audience was sophisticated, wickedly-smart, and inclusive.”
Parallel 45’s co-presidents are Paula-Jo Kemler of Glen Arbor and Meg Staley of Maple City. Molly Kuras, whose father Bob is president of The Homestead resort near Glen Arbor, is a board member.
“I have been a great lover of all arts since before I could talk, and I was lucky enough to attend Interlochen for my senior year of high school,” said Molly Kuras. She reconnected with her friend Gary Gatzke of the Traverse Symphony Orchestra when she moved back from New York City 10 years ago and she learned about his Interlochen friends who were starting a theater nonprofit. Several years later Kuras hosted a cocktail party for the group to celebrate that year’s performances and introduce them to potential supporters. She soon accepted an invitation to join the board of directors.
Marketing manager Meg Worth lives at The Homestead and has children at Leland school.
“It has been a dream-come-true to work with the folks at Parallel 45 to bring a new state-of-the-art, professional summer theatre to the region,” said Worth. “Living in Leelanau has made it even more special. The P45 Leelanau—Traverse City connection is a special one. My husband and I watched opening night for “HAIR” and can’t wait to bring our kids down to Civic Center Park next week for “LITTLE BUNNY FOO FOO.”
Parallel 45’s performances of the American tribal love-rock musical “HAIR” run until Aug. 3. “LITTLE BUNNY FOO FOO” (a play for small people) runs July 18-Aug. 2. And “STUPID F**KING BIRD” (a hilarious, modern adaption of Chekhov’s 1896 Russian classic “The Seagull”) runs July 25-Aug. 4. Tickets and information are available at Parallel45.org.
The curtains rising on July 11 were the culmination of a nearly decade-long journey for Parallel 45 Theatre as it opened a permanent summer home in Civic Center Park. This summer the company welcomed more than 50 theater artists from around the region and the world, including actors, directors, designers and technicians. This year the company includes 18 professional artists with local connections, including eight Interlochen Center for the Arts alumni.
One of those actors, Luke Klein, is a Leland native who attended Leland Public School until he transferred to Interlochen for his senior year. Klein, who just finished his freshman year at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, has regional theatre credits that include A Christmas Memory and On Golden Pond (Theatre at the Center in Chicago). Klein was also part of the 2018 Interlochen Shakespeare Festival and has appeared as a guest artist multiple times at Interlochen: Les Miserables, Children of Eden. Additionally, he appeared as the lead in the feature film Camp Manna.
“We’re so lucky now to have professional theatre in Traverse City,” said Klein. “I can come home for the summer and join P45.” Klein plays the role of “Cris” in “HAIR” and “Skink” in “LITTLE BUNNY FOO FOO”.
Klein credits the Leland Public School drama program, and musical director Jeremy Evans, with introducing him to acting. By age 14, he was doing professional shows in Chicago.
“We are super excited about P45,” he said. “To have such high-caliber theatre in this area, it’s like having Chicago or New York City theatre in our back yard.”
Parallel 45 Theatre will host two “pay as you’re able to” performances of “LITTLE BUNNY FOO FOO” on July 25 and 26 at 11 am. Tickets not already sold will be released on a first-come, first-serve basis on the day of the performance. The venue lawn will open at 10 am. Guests are encouraged to “pay as they are able to” and enjoy the show.
“Parallel 45 believes deeply in the importance of the arts and arts education in everyone’s lives.” said Parallel 45 co-founder and executive director, Erin Anderson Whiting. “Access to the arts shouldn’t be something only a few are able to experience. To that end, we would like to offer children and families the opportunity to enjoy an incredible performance together without financial stress or constraint. Whether $25 or 50 cents fits your budget, no one will be turned away until we’re full. We hope this is only the beginning of regular ‘pay as you’re able’ opportunities at Parallel 45”.
