Don't Miss Mia Johnson on Friday, August 22 at the Soo Theatre

Soo Theatre Project presents Cedarville native Mia Johnson. Mia is originally from Cedarville but calls Philadelphia, Pennsylvania her home as well. Mia is a singer-songwriter-guitarist; a triple threat in her own way. She began playing and writing whilst in Cedarville, eventually relocating to Philly where her music began to flourish along with her talents. She began performing anywhere that would allow, beginning on the street, since she was not of age to perform in bars. Not long after she was playing full gigs in café houses, bars, and anywhere she could.

Mia has a melody-led, rhythm-driven, acoustic rock fleshed out by clever lyrics, solid vocals, and ingenious instrumentation. She combines this with a full rock rhythm section of cello, acoustic guitar, and electric guitars. Her sound has been compared with artists such as Ani DiFranco, Alanis Morissette, and Janis Joplin. Mia will be joined on stage by cellist and Philly native Erin Ryan. Erin never stays in one spot for too long; she performs with Mia Johnson, The Good Problems, local Philly bands, and is an active studio musician.

Mia Johnson and cellist Erin Ryan will be performing at the Soo Theatre Project on Friday, August 22, 2008 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the Soo Theatre Project lobby and will be sold at the door an hour before the show. Summer hours are Monday - Thursday 10 – 6 and Friday 10 – 5. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students of STARS, Grooves, and Steve's Music.

Come and enjoy this unique duo!!!

Photos from the performance

Find out more at her websites: www.miajohnson.net and www.myspace.com/miajohnson

YouTube Video: Mia Johnson performing “Sailor,” a track from her album, Hello Again

South Pacific To Open August 7; Get Your Tickets Now!

Lise White, a well-known local singer throughout the Eastern Upper Peninsula and Soo, Ontario is a multi-talented singer-actress that brings a rarely-seen spunkiness to the character Nellie Forbush. Her comedic timing and solid vocals polish her character to perfection. Tom Lehman portraying the local Frenchman Emile de Becque has an ease on stage that is very apparent. Tom has been performing for years and gives Emile a natural, easygoing personality that attracts the eyes and melts the heart. Tom has a natural ease portraying Emile, he gives him a relatable persona. Audiences will fall in love with these two very different yet complimentary leads.

Lise White as Nellie Forbush and Tom Lehman as Emile de Becque from South Pacific

Nellie Forbush is a naive U.S. Navy nurse from Arkansas who falls in love with Frenchman Emile de Becque. Although their love is strong, Nellie is still fickle and afraid to commit to Emile, who wants to spend the rest of his life with Nellie. Her feelings for Emile run hot and cold, but the audience knows they are meant for each other…let's hope. See South Pacific at Soo Theatre Project to find out the juicy details, touching moments, famous songs, and comedic interludes.

Lise White as Nellie Forbush from South Pacific

All local talent headlines this adaptation of Roger's and Hammerstein's South Pacific. Love, laughs, singing, and dancing are just a couple of words to describe this great production. You will be on the edge of your seat with laughter at Luther Billis's (Mark San Angelo) and Nellie Forbush's (Lise White) "Honey Bun," then pulled back when you see the love between Nellie Forbush and Emile de Becque with "Some Enchanted Evening." Bloody Mary (Lisa Dunn) will grab you with her famous song "Bali Ha'i" and then send you for a loop with her adaptation of the English language. Lt. Joseph Cable (Joseph Kargiannakis) is a courageous young Marine, he sings "Younger than Springtime" making his intentions known to the South Pacific native Liat (Mary Witucki). Only a week left until this Tony Award-winning musical is performed on the Soo Theatre Project's stage, get tickets now.

Tickets are available at the door and/or at the Soo Theatre Project lobby located on 534 Ashmun Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI. Soo Theatre Project lobby hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, August 7, 8, and 9 at 7:30 p.m. with tickets at $18 for adults and $12 for children 12 and under. In addition, a Sunday matinee on August 10 will start at 2:00 p.m. with tickets at $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under.

Discounts are available for groups of fifteen or more on tickets purchased prior to the show date. Any questions, please contact Soo Theatre Project at (906) 632-1930 and/or www.sootheatre.org

Photos:

1. South Pacific "sneak preview" at the Sault Summer Arts Festival
2. South Pacific rehearsals
3. South Pacific production photos
4. More photos of South Pacific people
   

And the International Idol Is...KT Antler

A Truly International Finish to International Idol: L-R: Judge "Gentleman" George Snider, Lake Street Studio proprietor Taylor Brugman, International Idol KT Antler, Judge Trisha Wells, and Emcee Jack Bradway. Photo courtesy of Tom Ewing.

The final week of the marathon series International Idol at the Soo Theatre was a barn-burner. Each performer pulled out all the stops as they had a mere six minutes to impress judges and audience alike for one last time. Costume changes, personal dedications, flag waving, instrumental accompaniment, and even a bit of rule-bending was on the docket.

Finally, after all of the challenges, surprises, twists, and turns had put the very best vocal performers in the Greater Sault Area to the test, one emerged to be crowned The International Idol.

Besting the other eighteen contestants by showcasing her dynamic charisma, vocal quality, and guitar skill, KT Antler of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, walked away the grand champion and recipient of a $1,000 gift certificate to record at Lake Street Studio courtesy of Taylor Brugman.

At only thirteen years of age, Danielle Petingalo of Kincheloe, Michigan, came in a close second.

Of course, all the contestants were winners. Throughout the competition they received assistance with song selection from Jennifer Compo of All Good Soundz, and expert judges "Gentleman" George Snider and Trisha Wells helped hone the contestants' talents.

Who will win the next International Idol series? Do you have what it takes?

Photos from the Contest Finals (Week 4)

Photos from Week 1 of the Contest

Photos from Week 2 of the Contest

July 27: International Idol Grand Finale!

Week Three of the four-part marathon series, International Idol, rocked the Soo Theatre stage this past Sunday. Contestants were dared to go beyond their own personal expertise and work with one of their rivals in the Duet Challenge.

The caliber of talent was never questioned; nevertheless, some duos showed more polish than others. Two by two, they wowed judges and audience alike. After six duets, the assembled crowd was duly impressed. Then, the final pairing of Week Two's winner, KT Antler and her handpicked partner, Michael Williams, took the competition to an entirely new level. Even in its own era, Grease never looked or sounded so good. Those assembled reacted the only way appropriate with the first standing ovation of the International Idol competition.

Three weeks have elapsed. One to go.

Nineteen contestants have graced the stage. Thirteen remain.

Week Four's final performance is up to the competitors. After weeks of challenges and expert critiques by the judges, the competitors are now the ones who have to decide what they will do to prove that they are indeed the best performer in the Twin Saults.

Who will win the grand prize of $1,000 recording time at Lake Street Studio? Will it be the rock band leader, opera singer, pre-sporting-event national anthem specialist, middle school student, or one of the other incredibly talented performers?

To find out you need to be at Soo Theatre stage this Sunday, July 27th at 6:00 p.m. for the grand finale of International Idol.

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For more information on the contest, see the previous posting.

Photos from Week 1 of the Contest

Photos from Week 2 of the Contest

Coming August 7-10: South Pacific at the Soo Theatre!

Nellie Forbush and the nurses (from top to bottom): Lise White, Shirley Wilkinson, Martina Vollman, Melissa Kargiannakis, Elizabeth Jacobus, Julie Meier, and Robin Bergsma.

Set during World War II, an Arkansas country girl, Nellie Forbush, played by Lise White, is a U.S. Navy nurse caring for U.S. Navy soldiers in the South Pacific. After a couple of weeks Nellie met local Frenchman Emile De Becque, played by Tom Lehman. Nellie and Emile immediately are drawn to each other and fall in love but, naturally, as any good romantic comedy goes, there are obstacles in their way. The U.S. Navy sailors with a combination of the U.S. Navy nurses add a lovely banter of comedy between the scenes that Nellie and Emile are apart. The comedic relief is enough to give the show its charisma, but the love between Nellie and Emile keep the audience wanting more. Some Enchanted Evening, I’m Gonna Wash that Man Right Outta My Hair, and Bali Hai are just a few favorite songs from this famous Broadway musical. At the 2008 Tony Awards South Pacific took 7 awards, including "Best Revival of a Musical" and "Best Direction of a Musical."

U.S. Navy sailors (from left to right): Carl Meyer, Scott Gilbertson, Mark San Angelo, Nick Meier, and Michael Irvine.

The 35-member cast of South Pacific is made of all local performers from around the Eastern Upper Peninsula and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The show is also being run by local performers: director Dave Rhinard, music director Karen Hughes, choreographer Dianna George, and piano accompanist Maureen Delaney-Lehman. The directors are very pleased with the cast and feel optimistic that the audiences will fall in love with this production.


South Pacific is being performed at the Soo Theatre Project on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, August 7, 8, and 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for children 12 and under. There will also be a matinée on Sunday, August 10 at 2 p.m., with tickets at $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Groups of 15 or more will be discounted $5 from each ticket. Please call in advance to give the box office enough time to accommodate your group.

If you have any questions, please contact the Soo Theatre Project at (906) 632-1930. Thank you and hope to see you at the show!