Gershwin Extravaganza To Benefit Soo Theatre Sept 3

"Native son" Mike Dempsey is coming home to Sault Ste. Marie to present a musical program at the Soo Theatre, An Evening of Gershwin, on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 7:30 p.m. Event poster

An accomplished pianist, arranger, composer, and director, Mike is using both local and imported talent in his Gershwin show. There will be two narrators, Tom Ewing of WSOO and Tom Lehman, Kinross dentist, who was Emile in South Pacific on the Soo Theatre stage last summer. Dr. Lehman will be playing the part of Ira Gershwin.

Singers taking part in the evening's musical extravaganza are: Karen Hughes Beacom, soprano; Trisha Wells, mezzo-soprano; Maureen Delaney-Lehman, soprano; Eric Shaw, tenor; and John Young, baritone. The women all live in this area; Shaw was born and raised here, but lives now in Toronto; and Young is from Toronto and now lives in the Detroit area. Mike Dempsey, who wrote the script and put together an evening of song, will be accompanying everyone on piano and doing some narration of his own.

Michael Dempsey, pianist, arranger, composer, and director

Mike was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie. He attended St. Mary’s and Sault High Schools, received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Michigan State University, and then served in the U.S. Army. He has been the choral director at both Pontiac Central and Pontiac Northern High Schools, and also served as choir director at several Oakland County area churches.

In addition, he has been music director for such large-scale musicals as South Pacific, Oklahoma, Carousel, The King and I, The Music Man, Kiss Me Kate, Superman, Charley Brown, Mame, My Fair Lady, Gypsy, Sweet Charity, Lil’ Abner, and The Sound of Music. In 1995 he founded a singing group, “Mike Dempsey & Friends.” In addition to writing the script and arranging the music, Mike serves as pianist. This small group has performed composer-theme musicals throughout Southeastern Michigan. Later in September Mike and one of his singers will be paying tribute to Judy Garland with an evening of her songs at Oakland University. He would like to bring his Garland show to the Soo Theatre in 2010.

As a published composer he is a member of ASCAP. Recently, he was chosen to accompany Tony award-winner Anna Maria Alberghetti in a Detroit area performance. He is delighted to return to his hometown and the Soo Theatre, where he has many happy memories.

Anyone who has lived in Sault Ste. Marie for a few decades may recall Mike’s parents, Athaleen & Tom, and brother Patrick (Sault High 1959).

All of this fine talent is being donated as a generous fund-raiser for the Soo Theatre Project, Inc. STP's Board of Directors and staff invite the community, its residents, and its visitors to come and enjoy the beautiful Gershwin songs.

Tickets are available at the Soo Theatre Box Office at 534 Ashmun Street, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Stop by or call (906) 632-1930. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students, $5 for kids 12 and under. Group discounts are available.