The Grand Marais Playhouse is excited to announce a very special event at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Saturday, July 21. The skyBLUEtrio and theORANGEgirl, with guest Al Anderson, will perform A Century of Jazz, a concert presentation of the different jazz genres of the last century.
This includes early jazz, swing jazz, jazz standards derived from musicals, Bebop, hard bop, Latin jazz, cool jazz, and jazz fusion.
This quartet of Grand Marais musicians, formed in 2011, performs singable and danceable jazz standards and original jazz compositions. The quartet is Karina Roth, vocals; Mike Roth, bass; Erik Hahn, sax and flute; Mike DeBevec, piano and vocals. They often feature local and regional guest musicians.
This event will be a fundraiser for the Grand Marais Playhouse. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres available by Sweetz, inc. with a silent auction and then the concert at 7 p.m.
Opening at the Grand Marais Playhouse on July 26 is The Beaux Stratagem. Some of the cast of scoundrels and oddball characters are (L-R) David Warren, Jeff Fenwick, Mike DeBevec, Katrina Axtell and Jackson Nickolay.
In an interesting new twist for the ACA, there will also be a dance floor set up in front of the stage! Veronica Weadock and Bob Pranis will be bringing some of their dance students to demonstrate the dances of the era and invite audience members to join them on the dance floor. Tickets are $17 for adults and $7 for students. Come enjoy an evening of fine entertainment and show your support for the Playhouse as we continue to strive to provide Cook County with high quality theater.
The following week, on July 26, the Playhouse will open The Beaux Stratagem by George Farquhar, adapted by Thorton Wilder and Ken Ludwig. If the laughter of the cast during rehearsals is any indication, this show is going to be phenomenal!
The play takes place in 1707 with fantastic costumes orchestrated by Sharon Eliasen and Emma Bradley. Help is still needed completing and fitting some of the costumes so if you are interested in helping sew, please call the Playhouse office at (218)387-1284 ext. 2. We could really use your help.
The story is about two young men who go gallivanting around the countryside, one playing the master, the other the servant, then switching roles in the next town, all in hopes of meeting women and using their money to continue their escapades. But the plan doesn’t quite work out when they both fall in love. Of course, there are obstacles to overcome to be together with their loves and the audience will laugh until they cry watching the antics of the young men and women and the oddball characters that surround them.
The cast includes Jackson Nickolay and David Warren as the two gentlemen; Sarah Warren and Sarah O’Phelan as the young women. The other players are Will Brandenburg, Kim Carlsted-Gillis, Jeff Fenwick, Katrina Axtell, Jordyn Kirk, Mike DeBevec, Maria Nickolay, Aaron Carlson, Tina Krauz, and Yvonne Block.
The show runs July 26 – 29 and Aug. 5 – 8, Thursdays – Saturdays at 7 p.m., Sunday July 29 at 2 p.m. and Aug. 8 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $17 adults and $7 students.
There will be an opening night reception on July 26. It’s “Food Shelf Friday” on July 27 – bring five or more items for the Cook County Food Shelf and get one ticket free when you buy another. And Sunday, July 29, is Donation Day—pay any amount for your ticket to this performance.
Tickets are available online for no additional cost at www.arrowheadcenterforthearts.tix.com. You can print your ticket at home and go directly to seating, with no waiting in line at the box office!
Lastly, the dinner theater at Harbor Light Supper club left the audience wanting more, so the Playhouse will be looking into producing more in the fall and winter and again next summer. If you are interested in performing in a mystery, improvisation, small musical, or romantic comedy in a dinner theater setting, contact the Playhouse. We need more community actors! It’s fun and rewarding, ask someone who’s been on stage already. The Playhouse invites and welcomes all community members to audition for any of its productions. Call or stop by for more information. Grand Marais Playhouse Artistic Director Sue Hennessy provides this behind the scenes look at Grand Marais Playhouse activities.
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