An Evening of Rodgers & Hammerstein on Sep 2nd

The Soo Theatre is proud to announce the return of Mike Dempsey, a highly acclaimed pianist, vocalist and published composer from Southeastern Michigan. Mr. Dempsey thrilled audience members last year with his compilation of “Gershwin”. This year’s production of “Rodgers and Hammerstein” is an evening of music composed by the well-known American songwriting duo of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.

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

Additionally, he has been music director for such large-scale musicals as South Pacific, Oklahoma, Carousel, The King and I, Music Man, Kiss Me Kate, Superman, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Mame, My Fair Lady, Gypsy, Sweet Charity, Li’l Abner, and 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.



Mike's “friends” for the Soo Theatre performance will feature Karen Hughes, resident opera singer, voice teacher and music director at Soo Theatre Project and STARS; Tenor Eric Shaw, who is originally from Sault, Ontario and now sings all over the world and teaches in Toronto; Baritone John Young, who often sings in Mike Dempsey's productions; and singers Maureen Delaney-Lehman and Lola Kennedy, both of whom live in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. All of these performers, except John Young, have been in previous Soo Theatre Broadway and opera productions. Local radio personality Tom Ewing will be the evening’s narrator.

Admission for this lovely evening of quality entertainment is only $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students, and $5 for children 12 and under. Proceeds will benefit the Soo Theatre. Group discounts are available. Please call (906) 632-1930 for more information or stop by 534 Ashmun Street, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to purchase tickets for the show, which will be on Thursday, September 2nd at 7:30pm. Our website is at www.sootheatre.org.

Show Poster

Give My Regards to Broadway Comes to Ashmun Street Aug 21, 22

The Eastern Upper Peninsula Fine Arts Council of DeTour Village, Michigan is bringing their performance of Give My Regards to Broadway to the Soo Theatre stage August 21st at 7:30 pm and August 22nd at 2:00pm. The production is directed by Dave Rhinard and the music is directed by Lyle Juracek. Juracek, from the University of Iowa, was last summer's pianist for Chicago and will also be playing piano for this show.

A dynamic entertainer, playwright, producer, director, George M. Cohan practically invented American musical comedy. The Cohan hits--"Give My Regards to Broadway," "Mary," and "Grand Old Flag"--are timeless bits of Americana. This performance features all of these songs and more, all interwoven into a clever story by Shubert Fendrich about an struggling off-off Broadway theater company's attempts to raise money to put on a Cohan revival. An anonymous "Angel" puts up the money, but it gets complicated when a couple of comic mobsters show up with their hands out. Believe it or not, the show goes on, as evidenced by the final patriotic number of this show within a show.

The EUP Fine Arts Council’s show of this American classic includes James Bailey, Sherry Bailey, Emily Bosley, Paula Bosley, Janelle Dudeck, Kegan Fountain, Lyle Juracek, Lisa MacDonald, Allyson Mrozek, Dave Rhinard, Susie Rhinard, Jody Skinner, Heather Van Daele, and Bob Zahara.

EUPFAC’s Give My Regards to Broadway performance of this timeless show is great fun for the whole family and will be performed Saturday, August 21st at 7:30 pm and Sunday, August 22nd at 2:00 pm at the Soo Theatre. Tickets are $16.00 for adults, $14.00 for seniors, and $5 for students K-12, with proceeds benefiting both EUPFAC and the Soo Theatre Project. Please call (906) 632-1930 for more information or stop by 534 Ashmun Street, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to purchase tickets for the show. www.sootheatre.org.

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Final Performance of Gianni Schicchi Sunday Aug 15: Don't Miss It!

Thursday’s opening performance of Gianni Schicchi, presented by Soo Theatre’s Opera Company, left audience members amazed. Director Tim Murphy of Sault, Ontario brought his usual finesse and unique interpretation to this outstanding production. The cast members, mostly comprised of local talent and joined by three professionals, were accompanied by a live orchestra.

Sunday, August 15th will be the final performance of this one-hour, one-act show. Ticket prices are $15.00 for general admission and $10.00 for students. Group rates are available by calling the theatre at (906) 632-1930. Soo Theatre Project is located at 534 Ashmun Street in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Come, join, and support your local community at Soo Theatre Project. www.sootheatre.org

The Donati family (Tom Peer, Lola Kennedy, Maureen Delaney-Lehman, Robert Cooper, Seth Witucki, Matthew Gilbertson, Elizabeth Kinghorn, and Michael Irvine) patiently waiting to find out what they are getting in Buoso Donati’s will.

The two love birds Lauretta (Karen Hughes) and Rinuccio (Scott Wichael, Guest Performer) are singing of their love for one another.

Gianni Schicchi (Thomas Gunther, Guest Performer) planning on portraying Buoso Donati, “the greatest plan the world has ever seen.”

Soo Opera Theatre Presents Gianni Schicchi August 12, 13, and 15

A comedic opera, Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini, opens Thursday, August 12th at 7:30 p.m. at the Soo Theatre Project. This year the Soo Opera Theatre welcomes guest artists Thomas Gunther from Cincinnati, Ohio and Scott Wichael from Kansas City, Kansas. This is a one-act comedic production, performed in English, starring Thomas Gunther (in rehearsal photo at right) in the title role, Scott Wichael as Rinuccio, and Pickford resident Karen Hughes as Lauretta. Highlighting performers from the Eastern Upper Peninsula and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Gianni Schicchi is directed by the talented Timothy Murphy, with Musical Director Karen Hughes, and a live orchestra conducted by Dr. John Wilkinson.

Set in modern day Manhattan, the Donati family is mourning the loss of their dear Buoso Donati, all the while hoping he has willed them his money, real estate, and the finest horse in Jersey. The family becomes outraged when they find out they are not included in Donati’s will. At the same time, Rinuccio is asking to marry Gianni Schicchi’s daughter Lauretta, but no one in the family will allow this since Lauretta does not have a trust fund and Schicchi’s past is not to their standards. Enter Schicchi, whom Rinuccio called, to assess the situation and see if there is a loophole in Donati’s will. Schicchi suggests an outlandish idea of him posing as Donati, alive, and re-writing the will.

Soo Opera Theatre’s Gianni Schicchi will have two evening performances on Thursday, August 12th and Friday, August 13th at 7:30 pm. A matinee performance will be on Sunday, August 15th at 2:00 pm. Ticket prices are $15.00 for general admission and $10.00 for students. Group rates are available by calling the theatre at (906) 632-1930.

Soo Theatre Project is located at 534 Ashmun Street in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Come, join, and support your local community at Soo Theatre Project. www.sootheatre.org

Opera Returns Aug 12 to Soo Theatre with Gianni Schicchi

Opera returns to the Soo Theatre for its fifth season with another comedy in English. Professional singers take the stage this August to join the ranks of Soo Opera Theatre’s Artistic Director Karen Hughes and her local cast in this modern satire of a greedy Italian family.

Gianni Schicchi is a one-act comedy by Giacomo Puccini. Director Timothy Murphy of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario returns to the Soo Theatre for a second season, bringing his flair for comedic timing to the production. Baritone Thomas Gunther from Cincinnati, Ohio and tenor Scott Wichael from Kansas City, Missouri will both be making their Soo Theatre debut.

Karen Hughes and Patty Gartshore of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario have been preparing the singers and Dr. John Wilkinson is conducting the orchestra. Local singers (Sam Burdick, Bob Cooper, Maureen Delaney-Lehman, Matt Gilbertson, Michael Irvine, Lola Kennedy, Elizabeth Kinghorn, Meghan Lee, Mik Patton, Tom Peer, Jesse Strieter, Matt Zook) and orchestra members from the Eastern Upper Peninsula and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario have been busy in rehearsal this month.

Set in present day New York, Buoso Donati has quietly passed away in bed. His relatives are mourning quite dramatically over his death; that is, until they find out they aren’t in the will. All the while Rinuccio (Scott Wichael) is begging his family to let him marry Gianni Schicchi’s (Thomas Gunther) daughter, Lauretta (Karen Hughes). Rinuccio’s family will not allow him to marry Lauretta since she does not have a trust fund. Rinuccio calls Schicchi without the family’s knowledge. Rinuccio explains to them that Schicchi will be able to help them find a way to get themselves included in the will. Zita (Maureen Delaney-Lehman) angrily explains the situation to Schicchi, who is just as angry at the negative reception he and his daughter have received. Lauretta sings “O Mio Babbino Caro,” begging her father to let her marry Rinuccio. Schicchi devises a plan to get the family into the will. As Schicchi assumes the role of the deceased Buoso Donati, so ensues this hilarious one-act comedy.

Mark your calendar for Soo Opera Theatre’s Gianni Schicchi August 12th and 13th at 7:30 pm and August 15th at 2:00 pm. Ticket prices are $15.00 for general admission and $10.00 for students. Group rates are available by calling the theatre at (906) 632-1930. Soo Theatre Project is located 534 Ashmun Street in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Come, join, and support your local community at Soo Theatre Project. www.sootheatre.org