Yo Ho Ho! Join Our Pirate Cruise on Thursday, June 9!

On Thursday, June 9, 2011 the Soo Locks Boat Tours will once again be sponsoring their famous Pirate Cruise for the third consecutive year as a fundraiser for the Soo Theatre Project. The festivities will begin at 6pm at Soo Locks Boat Tours Dock One.

This is the third consecutive year the amazing pirate crew (Soo Locks Boat Tours staff) will dazzle seafarers with their pirate antics, including a performance on the dock before they set sail. Once upon the rapid seas, there will be pizza, pop, and water for all to enjoy while listening to pirate stories, singing pirate songs, and winning pirate prizes.

Tickets are on sale now at the Soo Theatre Project. Stop in at 534 Ashmun Street or give us a call at 632-1930. Seating is limited, so be sure to get your tickets early!

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Check the Soo Theatre Project website at sootheatre.org and follow us on Facebook - Soo Theatre Project, Inc.

The Human Condition On Stage Friday, May 6

The Sault High Drama Club is proud to present The Human Condition on the historic Soo Theatre stage Friday, May 6, at 7 p.m.

The Human Condition is a series of sketches written by the students of Sault High’s Drama Club about suicide prevention and recognizing the signs of depression in yourself and others. After receiving such a positive response from presenting to their peers, these talented students wanted to share their message with a larger audience and the Soo Theatre Project is happy to be able to give them that opportunity.

Tickets are available at the door. All proceeds will go to benefit local abuse and suicide prevention efforts. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for people ages 18 through 24, so come support our local youth advocating for the increase of knowledge that has the power to save lives.

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Check the Soo Theatre Project website at sootheatre.org and follow us on Facebook - Soo Theatre Project, Inc.

STARS Dance Fundraiser at Frank's Place Mar 31!

Don't miss this opportunity for great food and excellent service!

What: Fundraiser at Frank's Place
When: Thursday March 31st, 4pm to 8pm
Benefits: STARS Footlights Dance Theatre, Dianna George, Dance Director

STARS dancers and staff are looking forward to helping serve your meal!

Barbershop Double Feature to Benefit Soo Theatre Project Jun 5

Get ready for a double feature of barbershop harmony!

The Lock Cities Chorus of Sweet Adelines International and Northland Barbershop Chorus of Sault Ste. Marie will be performing the third annual benefit performance for the Soo Theatre Project, Saturday, June 5th at 7:30 p.m. Adult tickets are $15.00 and student tickets are $10.00, available at the Soo Theatre main office and at the door an hour before the performance.

The Lock Cities Chorus of Sweet Adelines are performing a “Let’s Get Away” theme, directed by Judy Hendrickson. The Northland Barbershop Chorus, directed by Bob Shami, are performing a “Cowboy Chorale” montage in which three genres of performance art are combined into one memorable evening: Classic Western Music sung a cappella in four-part Barbershop Harmony is featured together with Cowboy Poetry.

Please support the Soo Theatre Project by watching this wonderful benefit show of Barbershop-style singers, Saturday, June 5th at 7:30 pm. The two choruses will perform at the Soo Theatre, located at 534 Ashmun Street Sault Ste. Marie, MI (906) 632-1930 or www.sootheatre.org. Tickets are $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for students. Come, join, and support the Soo Theatre Project.

Pirate Boat Cruise Jun 9 to Benefit Soo Theatre Project

Last year Soo Locks Boat Tours partnered with Soo Theatre to raise money for the Soo Theatre Project by having a Pirate-themed Boat Tour. It was such a big hit that Soo Locks Boat Tours and Soo Theatre Project are teaming up to do it this year!

The Pirate Boat Cruise will be Wednesday, June 9 at 6:00 p.m. The Pirate Performance on the dock will be followed by a one-hour cruise on the pirate boat. Only 150 pirates are allowed on the boat, so make sure to buy your tickets today. Tickets are $12.00 for adults and $8.00 for children (12 and under). See the poster.

Become a pirate for the evening! Come as you are or as a pirate! There will be a Pirate performance on the dock before the cruise. Once loaded on the one-hour cruise on the beautiful St. Mary's River, you will enjoy pirate pizza, pop and water, pirate stories, and pirate prizes.

Last year this benefit cruise was sold out, so make sure to buy your ticket(s) at the Soo Theatre Project, 534 Ashmun Street Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783. Contact the Soo Theatre at (906) 632-1930 or check us out online at www.sootheatre.org. Come, join, and support the Soo Theatre Project.

Family of pirates from Soo Theatre Project’s
2009 Benefit Pirate Boat Cruise

Yo Ho Ho! Join Our Pirate Cruise on Thursday, June 11!

Steve Welch and his crew are all ready for the Pirate Boat Cruise benefit for the Soo Theatre Project on Thursday evening, June 11. Leaving Soo Locks Boat Tours Dock One at 6:00p.m., the cruise is sure to be fun for the whole family.

Become a pirate for the evening! Come as you are or as a pirate! During the two-and-a-half-hour cruise on the beautiful St. Mary's River you will enjoy:

• Pirate snacks
• A pirate re-enactment
• Pirate stories and songs
• Pirate prizes, and
• A pirate auction for a Pirate Hat, A Parrot, King's and Queen's Crowns,Jack the Monkey, and a huge Pirate Flag.
  

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under. Tickets are available at the Soo Theatre or at Soo Locks Boat Tours Dock One (1157 East Portage Ave.) (map to Dock One).

PDF version of the event poster

For more information, call the Soo Theatre at (906) 632-1930 or go to our website at sootheatre.org. The Soo Theatre is located at 534 Ashmun St., Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Photos of the Cruise

Don't Miss A Table for Two This Saturday, June 6

Rehearsing for the first of the season's shows at the Soo Theatre are some of the ladies from the Lock Cities Chorus of Sweet Adelines. The Sweet Ads and the Northland Barbershop Chorus are presenting A Table for Two as a benefit for Soo Theatre Project on Saturday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Come and enjoy a family evening of song and comedy. Show tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students, and are available at Soo Theatre Box Office or at the door.

For more information, see our previous posting.

June 6: A Table for Two Kicks Off the Summer at the Soo Theatre

A Table for Two will be kicking off the 2009 Season in the Soo Theatre on June 6 at 7:30 p.m. This terrific show features the Lock Cities Chorus of Sweet Adelines and the Northland Barbershop Chorus. The two choruses are repeating (with a few additions) part of the annual show that the men’s chorus held in April in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Each of these choruses boasts members from both sides of the St. Mary’s River. The show will benefit the Soo Theatre Project.

Each chorus presents a wide variety of songs in traditional four-part barbershop harmony, and they join together for a rousing musical duel singing “Anything You Can Do We Can Do Better.”

The script for A Table for Two was written by the directors of the two choruses, Judy Hendrickson and Bob Shami, and Northland Chorus member Steve Patterson. Steve will be playing the part of Gaston LeBlanc (aka Gus White), the maître d’ of a nightclub that is sponsoring a speed dating session. Enter the two choruses—the women very excited at the prospect of meeting someone, the men very nervous.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students, and are available at the Soo Theatre Box Office or at the door.

You will enjoy this evening of song and comedy with as many as 60 singers and actors on stage. Be sure to join in the fun and help support the Soo Theatre Project.

The Soo Theatre is located at 534 Ashmun St. in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. For more information, contact the Soo Theatre at (906) 632-1930 or go to our website at sootheatre.org.

PDF version of the show poster

Photos:

• May 31 Rehearsal

• June 6 Show
  

Live United!

The Soo Theatre Project is partnering with United Way of the EUP and LSSU for their upcoming Disney Dance STARS production. The shows begin at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, May 15 and 16 at the LSSU Fine Arts Center. Soo Theatre is sharing a portion of their proceeds with United Way.

Pictured in the center of the photo are: Tom Davis, director of the LSSU Fine Arts Center; Valerie Povey, president, and Molly Paquin, executive director of United Way; Dianna George, director, and Kaley Darga, assistant director of the Disney Dance STARS production. Others pictured include: Footlights: Liz Jacobus, Anna Farney, Martina Vollman, Karen Donarski, Livia Francis, Rebecca Neveu, Meaghan Buckley, Kim Badenski, and Rose Sheid; Stage Managers: Mike Vollman, Tom Gage, and John Heinzelman; and Young Dancers.

Tickets are available at the Soo Theatre or at the door. For more information on the show, see our previous posting.

Soo Theatre Arts Resource Studios (STARS) is a community arts center offering instruction in music, dance, theater, visual arts and yoga for students of all ages. STARS is a program of the Soo Theatre Project, housed in the historic Soo Theatre complex.

Don't Miss Breathe Owl Breathe in Concert Feb 20!

Breathe Owl Breathe is an East Jordan, Michigan-based group of three very talented musicians. Micah Middaugh plays guitar and banjo, Andrea Moreno-Beals plays cello, and Trevor Hobbs plays percussion. In the words of Micah Middaugh: “We always tell people that our music sounds like swimming. I want our music to be easily relatable, but also really abstract so that everyone can get something different out of it. I really love it when music becomes visual or at least sounds like it could be visual.”

This is a treat for the ears and eyes of the Eastern Upper Peninsula. This dynamic band always has an interesting and unique show. Breathe Owl Breathe has fresh new folk music with a little comedy, a little classical, and a little whimsy thrown in for good measure. They take their audience on a great ride through the wilderness and beyond with their guitars, strings, keyboards, and percussion. The group has been featured in numerous festivals all over Michigan: Blissfest, the Sleeping Bear Dunegrass and Blues Festival, and many more.

Breathe Owl Breathe will perform at the First United Presbyterian Church at 555 Bingham Avenue, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan on Friday, February 20 at 7:00 p.m. Proceeds of the concert will benefit the Soo Theatre Project. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door, and $8 for students. You can buy tickets at the Soo Theatre Project office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

If you have any questions or inquiries, please call the Soo Theatre Project office at (906) 632-1930 or email us at sootheatre@gmail.com. You can find out more about the group at their website (breatheowlbreathe.com), and also at Fox on a Hill Productions and Earthwork Music.

Concert poster

Coming Feb 20: Breathe Owl Breathe Concert

The Soo Theatre Project is pleased to present Breathe Owl Breathe in concert on Friday, February 20 at the First United Presbyterian Church, 555 Bingham Street, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Proceeds will benefit the Soo Theatre Project.

Fresh new folk music with a little comedy, a little classical, and a little whimsy thrown in for good measure, Breathe Owl Breathe takes the audience on a great ride through the wilderness and beyond with their guitars, strings, keyboards, and percussion.

Show time at the First United Presbyterian Church is 7:00 p.m. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door, and $8 for students. Tickets are on sale at the Soo Theatre Box Office, 534 Ashmun St. in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. For more information, call the theatre at (906) 632-1930.

You can find out more about the group at their website, and also at Fox on a Hill Productions and Earthwork Music.

YouTube Video: Breathe Owl Breathe performing "Drop and Roll," a track from their latest album, Ghost Glacier, at BlissFest 2008 in Northern Michigan

Soo Theatre Project Announces Membership Drive

We are excited to announce the First Soo Theatre Membership Drive. Belong to Something Big!

By becoming a member, you are sharing in a community effort and supporting programs that are impacting thousands of people in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. We want to continue to share with even more people.

Volunteers at the Soo Theatre Project have made great strides since March of 2003 when we purchased our huge building complex in the heart of downtown Sault Ste. Marie. We have repaired the building and opened the theatre to dozens of shows, have put hundreds of local performers (including lots of kids) on stage, and have welcomed amazing entertainers from all over the US and Canada to our area. For a sample of what's been happening at the Soo Theatre, check out our Photo Galleries.

STARS*, the Soo Theatre Arts Resource Studios, has grown to more than 400 students, and our many performing groups have performed on our own stage and at many events throughout the area. For a brochure listing our current class offerings, see the STARS home page .

We encourage you to help us pay our heat, light, insurance, and other bills by making a commitment to whatever amount you can give us on an annual or perhaps a monthly basis. Every donation is important to us!

Belong to Something Big! Become a member today!

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*STARS is a program of the Soo Theatre Project, housed in the historic Soo Theatre complex.

Don't Miss Holiday Christmas Classics on Dec 14

Come and enjoy Christmas and holiday music on Sunday, December 14 at 2:00pm at the Lake Superior State University Arts Center.

The whole family will enjoy singing along with their favorite carols and holiday tunes, as well as performances by the LSSU Chorus and Vocal Ensembles, the STARS Youth Chorus, the STARS Youth Orchestra. Also featured will be soloists Karen Hughes and Trisha Wells, along with guest performers from the Sault Area, STARS, and LSSU. The finale will be the Hallelujah Chorus.

Tickets are $10 and $5 for students & children. Seating will be general admission so be sure to arrive early to get your choice of seat. For tickets call the LSSU Norris Center Ticket Office at (906) 635-2602 or the STARS Ticket Office at (906) 632-1930.

Proceeds will benefit the LSSU Arts Center programs and STARS music education.

STARS is a program of the Soo Theatre Project, housed in the historic Soo Theatre complex.

Photos from the performance

STP is on TV!

Early on a Thursday morning the Soo Theatre Project got a chance to put its story out on the television airwaves.

Michigan This Morning comes to the Soo Theatre stage! 9&10 News photojournalist Corey Adkins (at far left) and reporter Kalee Iacoangeli (center) prepare a segment with Karen Hughes (left) and Taylor Brugman (right) of the Soo Theatre Project. Photo courtesy of Tom Ewing.

Each weekday morning TV 9&10 News reporter Kalee Iacoangeli and photojournalist Corey Adkins take to the road, visiting northern Michigan places and people on the Michigan This Morning show. On November 13, they traveled in the cold and dark to Sault Ste. Marie. Their objective: to feature the Soo Theatre Project and our Legacy Fund capital campaign.

To see a bit of what they found, check out the video clip on the 9&10 News website.

And you can also see a few photos of their visit .

Michigan This Morning reporter Kalee Iacoangeli (center) interviews Colleen Arbic (left) and Dianna George (right) about plans to turn the second floor of the Soo Theatre Complex into 3,000 square feet of dance and music studio space. Photo courtesy of Tom Ewing.

Rotary Show of Shows Coming October 5th

Over 100 of the very best performers from Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding area will join forces onstage Sunday, October 5th at 2pm for a benefit variety show at the Soo Theatre in downtown Sault Ste. Marie.

The Sault Ste. Marie Rotary Club and the Chippewa Sunrise Rotary Club are presenting the first ever Rotary Show of Shows with all proceeds going directly to the Soo Theatre Project to help continue its teaching, entertaining, and restoration.

The fast-paced program includes a host of the area’s favorite singers, musical groups, and dancers. Rotarians will serve as theatre volunteers and hosts for the afternoon of fun.

Music styles range from Broadway to country, jazz to hip hop, and rock to classical. Families are encouraged to be sure to bring the whole family. The audience will also be a part of the show as well. Show stoppers from Soo Theatre productions will be featured and a number of surprises are also planned.

Performers scheduled to appear, in alphabetical order, include International Idol winner K.T. Antler; Susan Askwith; Denny Brooks, Bill Stanaway and Dave Stanaway; Melanie Case; The City Band; Maureen Delaney-Lehman; Lisa Dunn; The Footlight Dance Theatre (and friends); Dianna George; Judy Hendrickson; Karen Hughes; Liz Jacobus; Lola Kennedy; Sean Ley; The Lock Cities Chorus of Sweet Adelines International; The Methodist Bell Choir; Mark San Angelo; Jim Schmidt; Josh and Sam Scott; Singers United; George Snider; and Lise White.

Tickets are just $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under, and are available at the Soo Theatre box office.

Tickets are available at the door with special discounts available for groups of 15 or more. Call the Soo Theatre at (906) 632-1930 for more information, or visit the website at www.sootheatre.org.

Photos of the performance

One Night Only! Rock Starz In Concert July 11!

Soo Theatre Project presents Rock Starz, featuring B3NT Rollercoaster, Set to Random, The Darwin Project, and Scofflaw on Friday July 11, 2008 at 5 p.m.

These four uniquely talented Northern Michigan bands will be performing as a benefit for the Soo Theatre Project. All representing a certain genre of rock, you won't want to miss this distinctive combination.

B3NT Rollercoaster has exclusive stage energy that is not worth missing. Set to Random has a grounded earthly sound all their own. The Darwin Project has a hardworking, grassroots approach to performing live, and Scofflaw are full of an energy that is hard to forget.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and are available in advance or at the door at the Soo Theatre, 534 Ashmun St. in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. For more information, call the theatre at (906) 632-1930.

Preview the bands on www.myspace.com under the music search engine and attend this one-time-only performance.

STARS Presents Spring Ensemble Concert May 4

Soo Theatre Arts Resource Studios (STARS) will present a spring ensemble concert Sunday May 4, at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 555 Bingham St., Sault Ste. Marie, MI. Donations will be accepted to benefit the STARS music department.

Featured on this program will be the Flute Choir, Flute Club, Intermediate Youth Orchestra, Senior Youth Orchestra, and the Youth Chorus. Also performing on the program will be the string quartet of Melanie Case, Anna Hirt, Cara VanDusen, and Elizabeth Jacobus, as well as mezzo soprano Shirley Wilkinson and soprano Lola Kennedy. All musicians performing are students of STARS.

The Flute Choir and Flute Club are under the direction of Meg Stevens. The Youth Chorus is directed by Karen Hughes. Nancy Powers conducts the Intermediate Youth Orchestra and Dottie Case leads the Senior Youth Orchestra.

Soo Theatre Arts Resource Studios (STARS) is a community arts center offering instruction in music, dance, theater, visual arts and yoga for students of all ages. STARS is a program of the Soo Theatre Project, housed in the historic Soo Theatre complex. For more information on classes and lessons, call the STARS office, 632-1930.

Photos of the Concert

Soo Theatre Project Announces Start of "Legacy Fund" Campaign

Above, David Firack (President/CEO of Old Mission Bank) eagerly reaches for the commercial loan contract in the hand of Jack Bradway, Executive Director of Soo Theatre Project. Moments later, Firack ceremonially shreds the now-paid-in-full loan contract. Photo courtesy of Tom Robinson.

Wednesday night marked a milestone and new beginning for one local business. Soo Theatre Project hosted many guests as it celebrated paying off the loan from Old Mission Bank that made saving the historic downtown theatre possible. Simultaneously, Soo Theatre Project unveiled ambitious plans for the future.

Since reopening the doors three years ago, Soo Theatre Project has thrived through a mix of arts instruction and live summer performances. Indeed, support for the endeavor has been overwhelming. Arts classes are bursting at the seams, while the stage is in high demand. Maybe the most interesting part of this story is that only a portion of the Soo Theatre building has been renovated. The rest of the building is unfinished, and in fact lacks heat.

Here is where ambitious plans for the future come into play. On Wednesday night, Soo Theatre Project announced that it is going on a $1 million capital campaign – The Legacy Fund. Money raised will be used to turn the second floor of the building into 3,000 square feet of dance and music studio space; build restrooms and install an elevator; hang lights and curtains in the auditorium; and most importantly, heat the 80% of the building that is the same temperature as outside. In short, The Legacy Fund will facilitate the year-round use of the entire Soo Theatre.

Along with unveiling these ambitious plans, a special announcement was made at the Wednesday night gathering. To spur a successful Legacy Fund campaign, a $50,000 challenge was made by one individual prior to Wednesday, and has already been met with $25,000 in matching gifts. Bolstered by the emphatic response to the Legacy Fund announcement and community demand, construction of the second-floor dance studio will begin in honor of Clara Noyes.

Much is happening at the Ashmun Street theatre. What once was merely old is now historic and alive. Thanks to a multitude of supporters across the Eastern Upper Peninsula, a Legacy of the arts will be ensured for generations to come.

Donate to the Legacy Fund today!

Photos from the celebration

STARS Dance Students Raise Money for Portable Dance Floor

Standing in front of the Soo Theatre last Friday, STARS dance students (above) try to get the attention of Ashmun Street travelers to publicize their campaign to raise money for a portable dance floor.

To date the students have received $800 in donations toward the estimated cost of $5000. STARS dance students' Annual Revue at the LSSU Performing Arts Center takes place in mid-May, and the girls hope to be able to purchase the portable floor in time for that event.

"The portable dance floor will provide a safer surface for the students to perform on," said STARS dance instructor, Dianna George. "Neither stage surface at LSSU or in the Soo Theatre was specifically built as a dance surface," she explained.

If you'd like to contribute to this project, you can stop in at 534 Ashmun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. or send a check to the Soo Theatre Project denoting "dance floor" in the memo space.

For more news on the students' fundraising efforts, see the STARS website.

Below, from a STARS window, young ballet students watch their idols, the older ballerinas, dancing in the street in front of the Soo Theatre.


STARS is a community arts center offering instruction in music, dance, theater, visual arts and yoga for students of all ages. STARS is a program of the Soo Theatre Project, housed in the historic Soo Theatre complex. For more information on classes and lessons, call the STARS office, 632-1930.

Photos in this posting courtesy of Meta Geyer.

STARS Holds Benefit Flea Market, Bottle Drive

Two benefit activities are planned to benefit Soo Theatre Project's STARS program.

The first is a flea market sale on November 3rd at the Soo Theatre.

The second is a bottle and can drive from now until Thanksgiving. This drive will provide funds for an educational field trip for the adult and teen ballet classes on Thanksgiving weekend. Please bring your returnable bottles, returnable cans, or cash to the STARS office to help with expenses.

Thanks for your support!

Photos from the flea market