Life Up North

 

Darci Griffith Gamerl is an award-winning orchestral and chamber musician who also composes and arranges music. “Music enriches my life personally in so many ways. I love to explore new repertoire, writing music and exploring new textures. Playing is also very cathartic for me and performing is a beautiful way of weaving a story for the listener,” she said.

Growing up in northern British Columbia, she came about her love of music at an early age, starting in first grade on the recorder and singing in choir, then moving on to the clarinet and eventually to the oboe. She now plays both oboe and English horn.

“My Grandpa Reid played violin in the Vancouver Symphony. He had paid a trapper to teach him in exchange for lessons. He would always send us tape cassettes and video recordings of orchestral music to listen/watch. (I didn't realize how much it impacted me until I was in college as a music major and had all the major violin concerti memorized), Gamerl said. “He was a huge influence and inspiration as he played his entire life both in orchestras and in chamber groups.”

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Master's degree in Oboe Performance. In addition to playing the oboe and English horn, she is also a studio musician and website designer, and she teaches at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

This is her 19th year performing with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, as Assistant Principal Oboe. She also currently plays with the Sioux City Orchestra (2nd Oboe/English horn); Lincoln Symphony Orchestra (3rd Oboe/English horn); South Dakota Symphony (3rd Oboe/English horn); and Omaha Symphony Orchestra (regular substitute).

 Bel Canto

Gamerl is a founding member of the music ensemble, Bel Canto Duo, with her husband, looping artist and cellist David Downing. She said “Bel Canto Duo specializes in writing and performing original, classical music with immersive elements such as our Four Cather Tableaux with our original film. It really evokes the beauty of the prairies especially when paired with Willa Cather's beautiful writing. We will be exhibiting the Tableaux at the Joslyn Art Museum in January of 2025,” she said.

The film highlights Cather’s personal life and body of work with extensive commentary by American filmmaker, Ken Burns.

“Playing music in Bel Canto Duo with my husband. has been rewarding on so many levels . . . There is so much that is communicated when you are performing with someone. The nonverbal communication goes very deep and is really phenomenal to experience. Performing closely with David has been fascinating, and we have both learned a lot from each other as we continue to grow as a chamber ensemble,” she said.

 Courageous Lights

The DSSO will be performing the piece entitled English Horn Concerto: Courageous Lights at their upcoming concert on October 26 with Gamerl as the oboe soloist. She was also the Consortium Leader of the piece.

Dirk Meyer, DSSO Music Director, said, “Darci approached me a while back about supporting a new commission to James Lee III, and I was excited about it right away. James’ music is very interesting and colorful, while at the same time approachable and beautiful.”

“In addition, I thought it was a great and worthwhile idea to write about courageous women activists,” Meyer said. “We performed the world premiere together last season with the Augusta Symphony Orchestra, and it was a great success. I’m looking forward to bringing this work to the Twin Ports audience.”

He added, “Besides her wonderful musicality and virtuosity, Darci brings a wonderful energy and passion for innovation to our group, as can be seen in this project, which only came to fruition thanks to her efforts.”

Composer of Courageous Lights James Lee III

“This is a concerto based on three outstanding women activists. The title is derived from how these women have courageously sought to be a light and inspire positive change in their sphere of influence,” Lee III said.

He explained the first movement Amanda’s Ascent “is inspired by American poet and activist Amanda Gorman's poem, ‘The Hill We Climb’ for President Joseph Biden's inauguration. Specifically, the movement is inspired by themes of light and unity.”

The second movement is named for Zitkála-Sá's Song. He said, “This movement is inspired by Zitkála-Sá's activism as she advocated for American Indians to receive full citizenship in the United States. The music in this movement reflects her passion for change and the uplifting of her people.”

Lee III stated, “This last movement is inspired by Malala Yousafzai and her activism in striving for the education of girls. She has advocated for safe and free education and worked to bring forward the voices of women and people of color.”

“I have enjoyed working with Darci because of her enthusiasm and dedication in bringing my concerto alive! She has a wonderful and beautiful sound when she performs my music,” Lee III added.

Collaborative Project

Gamerl has enjoyed the collaborative process of working with Lee III and Dirk Meyer. She is looking forward to the Minnesota premiere of Courageous Lights with the DSSO.

“James has a very special gift for communicating, and he does so in a powerful way through his music! We worked closely on the commission and the thematic material used in each movement. We had a lengthy discussion about the impact of three phenomenal women: Amanda Gorman, Zitkala-Ša (Red Bird/Gertrude Bonnin) and Malala Yousafzai, Gamerl said.

She explained, “All three women were so inspiring to me as each faced adversity, prejudice, and oppression. Yet each persisted and were able to enact long lasting change . . .their lights light the path to a brighter future for us all.”

She acknowledges the difficulties of this score. “This piece is a marathon, a tour de force! It is extremely technically challenging and written largely in the highest tessitura of the English horn. James writes beautifully intricate music that is equally difficult for the orchestra due to the intricacy of his harmonic language. It is a joy to put together but coordinating and balancing with the solo English horn is a challenge!”

She concluded, “As I approach my 20th season with the DSSO, I find myself incredibly grateful to my wonderful colleagues, the warmth of Duluthians, and how very welcome I feel in the community. Finally, the artistry and vision of Music Director, Dirk Meyer. He was the true driving force behind the Courageous Lights commission! “

Information On Masterworks Concert 2   Courageous Lights
Darci Gamerl, oboe soloist
October 26, 7:00 pm. DECC Symphony Hall

The DSSO’s Masterworks Concert 2 will include classics of the repertoire, alongside a brand-new work, written for DSSO oboist, Darci Gamerl. Composer James Lee III has been a rising star over the past few years, with performances by major symphony orchestras around the globe. The DSSO co-commissioned him to write Courageous Lights, a concerto for orchestra and English Horn, celebrating three outstanding female social activists. This performance marks the Midwest premiere of Courageous Lights.

The orchestra will frame this inspiring new work with two symphonies: the short, yet sparkling Paris Symphony (No. 31) by Mozart, and Felix Mendelssohn’s dramatic Symphony No.1, written when he was just 15 years of age.

Tickets at dsso.com or call or visit the DECC Ticket Office - 350 Harbor Drive (Box Office Hours: Mon-Sat 10am to 5pm) 218-727-4344 (check out the auditorium seating chart at www.decc.org).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UMD’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” Entertains as a Silly Comedy and a Barbed Satire
At Marshall Performing Arts Center - Now-Oct 19. 

UMD opened its theatrical season on Friday night with the Oscar Wilde Victorian classic “The Importance of Being Earnest” that Wilde described as a “trivial comedy for serious people.” The audience connected with both the show’s trivialities in plot and its more serious satirical themes.

A visual feast, the show’s designers, (a mix of theater department staff and students), recreated the prim and proper Victorian world to a “tea.” Scenic designer Curtis Phillips and assistant designers Sheridan Cornett and Emma Wylie had the challenging task of bringing three different settings to life.

From a frou frou parlor with its fussy furniture and gilt wall paper, to a lovely Victorian garden with its explosion of flowers, and back to an interior of a staid library filled with knick knacks and volumes, each setting brought the audience back to the waning years of the Victorian period.

Scene changes were accomplished with costumed servants helping to establish the “upstairs/downstairs” aspect of the story. The change between acts two and three was beautifully choreographed, eliminating the need for a second intermission.

Costume designers Jennika Bunney and assistant Morgan Ryals did a magnificent job with their exquisite period costumes, all helping to establish character and bring even more color and life to the stage.

“Earnest’s” frivolous plot of mistaken identities and preposterous coincidences is the Victorian equivalent of a romantic comedy. It is, however, decidedly more sophisticated, filled with Wilde’s witty epigrams and bon mots, all intended to slam the hypocrisies of the snobbish society he satirizes.

Two young dandies, John Worthing (Luke Hiland) and Algernon Moncrieff (Luke Pfluger), live their idle lives devouring cucumber sandwiches and muffins and endlessly discussing their vacuous plans to do as little as possible.

Hiland and Pfluger struggle a bit in the first act with their accents, their diction, and their pacing but as the wildness of the improbable story develops, they find their footing and their comic timing, and are more playful with their characters.

The show kicks into gear with the arrival of the show’s three delightfully comic-leading women. Gwendolen Fairfax (Abby Aune) and Cecily Cardew (Maggie Clark) are the “love” interests of Worthy and Moncrieff. Aune and Clark are deliciously funny with their feigned sisterhood and later outright hostility towards each other.

Both actresses clearly display that their Victorian doll house lives are empty, filled with little more than pretty clothes, tea cake, and diary writing about nothing.

At the satirical heart of the show is the indomitable Lady Bracknell (Elsa Persson), the equivalent in “Downton Abbey” to the Dowager Countess Lucy Grantham. Persson skillfully makes every line a decided pronouncement of Oscar Wilde’s most pointed criticisms of Victorian life.

Persson is an undeniable presence as Bracknell, with her ramrod straight posture, stiff, dark satin dresses, and hilarious variations of pitch and tone. Her classic lines such as “Never speak disrespectfully of Society, Algernon. Only people who can’t get into it do that,” were a hit with an appreciative opening night audience.

Because of the illness of an actress, the part of the governess Miss Prism was played by understudy Kay Boster whose projection was so low that she was often difficult to hear. Prism has some of the funniest lines and important plot points in the denouement some of which were unfortunately lost.

Director Rebecca Katz Harwood chose to let Oscar Wilde’s masterpiece speak for itself and not to take major liberties with it as some modern day interpretations of the play do.

Katz Harwood’s straightforward approach allows her cast to immerse themselves completely into the Victorian milieu and have Wilde’s words be the heart and soul of her production.

For those who have never read or seen the show, UMD’s production provides a wonderful introduction to Oscar Wilde, the infamous playwright who lived a life himself that broke all societal norms, leading to this play being closed and leaving Wilde broken, ill, and imprisoned.

His masterpiece shows that not so far beneath the surface, hypocrisies and close-mindedness abound, some of which modern society is still sadly clinging. This as a central theme in “Earnest” is also epitomized in his quote from “The Picture of Dorian Grey.”

“And what sort of lives do these people, who pose as being moral, lead themselves? My dear fellow, you forget that we are in the native land of the hypocrite.”

UMD Theatre Presents
The Importance of Being Earnest
By Oscar Wilde
Directed by Rebecca Katz Harwood

Oct 11, 12 | 7:30 pm
Oct 13 | 2:00 pm
Oct 16, 17, 18| 7:30 PM
Oct 19, 2024 | 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM

Marshall Performing Arts Center - Mainstage Theatre
Reserved seating at tickets.umn.edu or 218-726-8561

*UMD Student ticket options: $10 advance tickets (60% discount on regular ticket prices) OR FREE rush tickets the night of the performance with a valid UMD student ID. UMD students are encouraged to arrive for rush 30 minutes before curtain. Subject to availability. Online ticket sales end 90 minutes prior to each performance. After that time, call or stop by the box office for ticket availability and information.

For a profile of Elsa Persson, Lady Bracknell in this production, go to destinationduluth.org

Next Up for UMD Theatre and Dance
“Dance Works ‘24” November 22-24, 2024
Marshall Performing Arts Center - Mainstage Theatre
Reserved seating
For tickets, call the box office at 218-725-8561 of go to tickets.umn.edu

Prepare to be swept away by the dynamic energy and diverse performances of UMD Theatre's DanceWorks '24, gracing the stage this November. Embracing the diversity of choreographic voices, UMD dance artists unite to create a mesmerizing showcase of creativity and connection. Join us at the Marshall Performing Arts Center for an unforgettable celebration of dance and unity.

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About Sheryl Jensen - Arts & Entertainment Editor

A retired educator with the Duluth Public Schools, Sheryl Jensen has been a theater director of over 60 school and community productions. Her production of William Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew at East High School won the National High School Theater award from the BRAVO television network.

Having written theater, music, dance, and opera reviews for the Duluth News Tribune for many years, she now is the Arts & Entertainment Editor for Destination Duluth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Lakes Outdoor Summit - Three Days of Learning, Networking, and Adventuring

October 24^th – 26^th, 2024: Right Here in Duluth

By Andrea Busche

Here in Duluth, we love our outdoor adventures. And, no matter what activities you’re into, our four wonderful seasons ensure options for everyone.

The 2024 Great Lakes Outdoor Summit – featuring 3 days of learning, networking, and adventuring - is a celebration of year-round outdoor recreation in Duluth. The Summit takes place October 24 – 26, 2024, and will offer training sessions, a live podcast recording, field trips, and more.

But above all, it’s an opportunity to connect and collaborate, said Hansi Johnson, one of the Summit’s organizers. “It’s really a celebration of the outdoors and outdoor folks,” he noted. “I’ve heard the Summit be compared to a large campfire,” he added with a chuckle.

DAOA

The Summit is being presented by a group called the Duluth Area Outdoor Alliance (DAOA). This collaborative group started in 2010 when various individuals and organizations gathered to see how the local outdoor recreation community could better represent the existing outdoor recreation opportunities in the region.

The original product of these meetings was the creation of the “Outdoor Duluth Recreation Map” that is currently printed and distributed by the City of Duluth Parks and Recreation Department.

Over time, DAOA started to meet more regularly and eventually became an alliance that coalesced around helping the City of Duluth envision, plan and eventually create the public support to fund the St. Louis River Corridor Initiative in 2016.

DAOA partners/participants:

DAOA is a collaborative effort between many local non-profits, outdoor recreation advocates, educators, adventurers, and land managers. The organizations and businesses that are involved and currently support DAOA include:

• COGGS (Cyclists of Gitchee Gummee Shores)
• DCC (Duluth Climbers Coalition)
• DEVO (Duluth Youth MTB)
• Northland Paddlers Alliance
• Superior Hiking Trail Association
• Minnesota Land Trust
• Hartley Nature Center
• DuFTA (Duluth Foot Trails Alliance)
• Northern Minnesota Track Club
• Duluth Rowing Association
• DXC (Duluth Cross Country Ski Club)
• Chester Bowl Improvement 
• St. Louis River Alliance
• Duluth Area Horse Trail Alliance
• Duluth Drifttoppers Snowmobile Club
• Team River Runner
• City of Duluth Parks and Recreation Department
• City of Superior Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department 

• Ski Hut
• Continental Ski and Bike
• Spirit Mountain
• Duluth Pack 
• Frost River
• Trailfitters
• ROMP Bags
• Bent Paddle Brewing 
• Ursa Minor Brewing
• Duluth Coffee Company
• Amity Coffee Company 
• Earth Rider Brewing
• Lake Superior Brewing
• Warrior Brewing 
• Dovetail Café

Key stakeholders of DAOA meet on the 2^nd Tuesday of every month at 6 pm at Bent Paddle. Johnson, who works as Engagement Director for the Minnesota Land Trust, said, “We get together every month to collaborate and find out where there are shared resources. And, all groups who sit at the table of DAOA have an equal say.”

The DAOA has a variety of sub-committees tasked with addressing different challenges. For instance, there is an Adventure Gap Group, which works toward achieving outdoor accessibility for youth.

There is a Trail Etiquette Group. This committee discusses how different user groups can safely and effectively share trails, such as snowshoers and skiers.

And, there is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Group, who work to make sure that Duluth’s outdoor scene is more welcoming to all.

DAOA is also tasked with another giant project: planning and presenting the Great Lakes Outdoor Summit.

Great Lakes Outdoor Summit

This year will mark the 5^th annual Summit, but just the second time it has offered opportunities for the general public to enjoy events related to the Summit, such as the podcast. The 2024 Summit’s schedule is as follows:

Thursday, October 24^th:

Training and Podcast

CPR/First Aid/AED Training will be provided from 1 - 3 pm at the Holiday Inn Downtown Duluth. Space is limited, and therefore, pre-registration is required.

Then, from 5 – 8 pm, attendees can attend a happy hour, followed by a live recording of The Dirtbag Diaries podcast at Duluth’s West Theater. Fitz Cahall, creator of this influential podcast, will moderate and record outdoor stories from national icons including Indigenous activist and Patagonia-sponsored skier, Connor Ryan; professional adaptive athlete Quinn Brett; and world-renowned musician Alan Sparhawk, of the band Low.

Friday, October 25^th:

Summit Sessions

The full-day conference will be held at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) located at 350 Harbor Drive. Registration, keynote speaker commentary, and all sessions will take place in the Harbor Side Ballroom and Horizon Rooms.

The Summit kicks off with remarks from keynote speaker, Connor Ryan - an Indigenous activist and filmmaker, passionate skier, and Patagonia-sponsored athlete. Ryan has devoted his life and platform to rediscovering how traditional Indigenous culture and ecological knowledge can shape our relationship to the lands. He will be sharing his story, experiences, and perspective on how we can seek collective paths to a better future.

Then, attendees can choose from 12 different hour-long sessions, which all revolve around outdoor recreation, on topics like adaptive recreation, climate change, building a BIPOC-friendly outdoor community, and more.

“There will be lots of different viewpoints from many different people’s experiences,” Johnson said of the sessions. “We really tried to plan a good, eclectic mix.”

Saturday, October 26^th:

Field Trips!

Attendees can choose from a full menu of Duluth field trips, including mountain biking, hiking, a train ride, and more. Additionally, a Leave No Trace certification course will be offered on Saturday.

Attendees and Tickets

As noted, the Summit is open to the public. Everyone is welcome to attend. “It’s really geared for people who are interested in how they can be more engaged in speaking up for the outdoors in their own communities,” Johnson said.

Last year, 200 people attended the Summit. Johnson and his team hope to surpass their attendance numbers from last year, and have a goal of 400 attendees.

Many local residents are expected to attend. Last year, attendees also traveled from places like Minneapolis, Madison, Chicago, North Dakota, and South Dakota to participate in the Summit.

Please click here for info and tickets.

Duluth

Johnson is passionate about Duluth, and is a huge advocate for outdoor recreation in our city. Although he is originally from Winona, Minnesota, Duluth is now his home.

“I’ve lived all over the country, and have always returned to Duluth,” he said. “I love the climate. I love the four seasons, and the ability to be multi-modal when it comes to outdoor recreation.

“The amount of open, natural space we have in our city is so important and unusual for our population size,” he added. “Because of that, we have things like these interconnected trail systems which allow us the ability to connect the city as a whole.”

For these reasons and many more, Johnson feels Duluth is the best place to host the Great Lakes Outdoor Summit. “In Duluth, we kind of have it all,” he said. “We’re really seeing our outdoor recreational culture grow.”

For more information and tickets, go to duluthaoa.org.

Please click here for tickets.

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____________________________________________________________________

Andrea Busche is a Duluth + regional freelance writer and small business owner. She is credited with over 1,000 bylines in local print and digital publications, and has been a frequent contributor to Destination Duluth since 2017.

 

DD ARTIST PROFILE SERIES - Kate Horvath plays Lady Macbeth in the upcoming “Macbeth: A Dinner Party’ at Zeitgeist October 20-November 4

One of the main through lines of Kate Horvath’s life has been the arts. Whether directing, acting, teaching, mentoring, or helping others find talent for their businesses, she is an amazing artist who has generously shared her gifts with so many.

As she related, “The arts are essential to life and to understanding the world around us. They are a tool to unlock your own point of view and meet others in experiences unlike your own. They are an unparalleled tool to create community and find meaning and to define our values . . .”

It All Started with Reading

“Reading sparked my interest in everything,” said Kate. “I was a feral reader,  voraciously consuming stuff way beyond my age and experience and with a vocabulary that exceeded my ability to pronounce it correctly.”

“I started reading at age two, I was pouring through Shakespeare by the second grade. My parents encouraged reading, and we read a lot as a family. No books were off-limits.”

Then Came Theater

Her aunt and uncle started taking Kate to see plays and introduced her to musicals. “The first play I saw was CATS on tour at the DECC when I was in the third grade - it literally changed my life.”

She added, “That is hilarious as folks don’t really think of CATS as life-changing but I had read the TS Eliot poems, and man, I was hooked. My Mom loved going to see shows so we occasionally started to drive down to Minneapolis to catch tours of things like Les Miz.”

Her love of theater continued through her elementary, middle school, and into her high school years as she found how much being onstage and in a theatrical environment defined who she was.

“In high school, I had an amazing Fulbright Exchange teacher from Scotland, who directed me as a 17-year-old Lady Macbeth. She also encouraged me to pursue theatre in college and professionally,” Kate noted. “Superior High School had theatre classes as an elective, and I had a chance to direct and learn a lot in that environment.”

To New York and Back Again

Kate attended UMD and graduated with a BFA in Acting, Musical Theatre. After graduation, she went to New York City to work in theater from 2001-2007. “I worked in many places - most notably The Pearl Theatre Company, on shows like “The Merchant of Venice,” and “The Rivals.” Other Off-Broadway, credits include “Hamlet” (twice), and “Macbeth,” (twice), and Nina in “The Seagull,” among others.

When she came back to Duluth in 2007, she became the Playhouse Education Director and then Director of Children's Theatre & Education Programs, and later Artistic Director of Children's Theatre & Education Programs. She calls her time with the Playhouse the most important part of her theatre career thus far.

“I was able to build something that we - students, families, and the community - could be incredibly proud of over the decade that followed. I am so grateful to have had that opportunity, to know and love those people, create community, and an astounding volume of successful programs, outreaches, and to have made work that outshone what anyone believed was possible,” she said.

Teaching Yoga, Finding Talent, and Building a Portfolio

After her time as an actor in NYC and her decade at the Duluth Playhouse, Kate earned her first Registered Yoga Teacher Certification and is in the process of earning her advanced certification. She is also pursuing study in that area of her life.

She also teaches yoga in the community (at Svalja, and Movo) and recently co-founded ROAM Yoga with longtime friend Miriam Hanson Rogotzke. ROAM Yoga will offer retreats, with their debut experience in Honduras in March of 2025.

Horvath left the Playhouse in 2017 to become an Executive Recruiter for Salmela, a Duluth-based firm specializing in talent acquisition for large companies, mostly in NYC.

“Cory and Kara Salmela created a place on their team where my skills, leadership, and work ethic are valued. My work with Salmela has a mentoring aspect I enjoy as we consult companies and organizations on talent strategy and individuals on career growth,” she explained.

In addition, she has been working on a long-term goal of real estate investment and has a small portfolio of properties, including short-term rentals that she has restored, one of which is a historic train car.

After taking time away from theatre, she is excited to return to the theatrical community with colleagues and friends. She directed “POTUS” at Zeitgeist last spring and will direct “The Ice Fishing Play” at UMD with the Theatre Department this winter. She is currently in rehearsal to play Lady Macbeth at Zeitgeist.

The Scottish Play

“Playing Lady Macbeth is a privilege, and I am delighted to be performing Shakespeare after so long. It's galvanizing and fun to play a powerful, commanding woman - especially one who was written in 1606. I love that the play is profoundly political.”

The production is an immersive dinner theater with a five-course Scottish meal. “It’s a very non-traditional rehearsal process and run - because we are performing and creating this experience on the “dark nights” of the Zeitgeist restaurant, so Sunday and Monday nights only,” explained Kate.

“We are doing something for the first time and it’s always exciting to problem-solve and get creative around new ideas.”

She added.” It’s interactive and in your face, we are right there. Macbeth is one of the action-hero (or anti-hero) plays of the Shakespeare cannon; there is hardly time to take a breath (for us) while the audience is eating and drinking. It’s a totally different context to enjoy the story and experience Shakespeare for Duluth audiences.”

An Artistic Place to Collaborate

Kate is happy to be back in Duluth and thankful to return to a place where she had many mentors over the years, including Kate Ufema, Ann Bergeron, and Tom Isbell at UMD, long-time director Liz Larson, who recently passed, and the students with whom she worked at the Playhouse.

“I love living here close to my family and in a community with many dear friends. Where else could I do so ridiculously many things?” Kate noted. “We are so lucky to have such a rich arts community, and it’s up to us to keep it that way. Also, this is home, Lake Superior is where it is at. “

Kate enjoys the collaborative process in all her arenas of life, including theatre. “It’s magic! It’s hard work to make theatre, for sure, but it is actual alchemy, and in the right context with the right people it is absolute joy.”

“I am so grateful for the opportunities I have had in Duluth,” Kate concluded, “Where else could I have grown so much in so many different ways as an artist, an educator, and an entrepreneur?”

Information on “Macbeth: A Dinner Party’
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Robert Lee
At Zeitgeist 222 East Superior Street Downtown Duluth
OCTOBER 20TH & 21ST, 27TH & 28TH
NOVEMBER 3RD & 4TH at 6 pm (Doors open at 5 pm)
Sundays and Mondays Price includes dinner and a show outside the black box.

The classic tragedy of Macbeth is told in the way the playwright intended, directly to the audience. A new immersive take on dinner and a show with food, drinks, and witches includes a five-course Scottish-themed meal with the price of admission, served throughout the performance.

Tickets at zeitgeistarts.com/theater

 

DD THEATRE REVIEW - WAIT UNTIL DARK
at Fitger's Spirit of the North Theatre, Oct 4-13

By Sheryl Jensen, Arts & Entertainment Editor

 “She is blind and she is alone . . .”

Boat Club Productions' suspenseful psychological thriller “Wait Until Dark” is perfect for Halloween month, when audiences are up for a night of “edge-of-their-seats” hair-raising tension and fear.

The original play by Frederick Knott, (who also wrote “Dial M for Murder”) was turned into an Alfred Hitchcock-style film in 1967 starring Audrey Hepburn and Alan Arkin.

Contemporary playwright Jeffrey Hatcher adapted the play, moving the setting from the 1960s back to the 1940s, providing a “film-noir “quality, streamlining the script, and tightening the pace to enhance the increasingly heart-pounding storytelling.

The central character, Susan, has been recently blinded in an accident. While still adapting to live in a sighted world, she has learned to navigate her small Greenwich Village apartment and the streets of New York.

Her life with photographer husband Sam has been happy until one night, when Sam is out of town, her quiet apartment is invaded by men who are ready to do anything to get something of theirs that they had planted in Sam’s suitcase on a train.

Rylee Kuberra, as Susan, is entirely believable as a blind woman. She demonstrates the strength and grit to survive the terror of murderous men. Employing her clever psychology, wits, and acute hearing to discover the villains’ intent, Kuberra beautifully plays the character as vulnerable at times without allowing herself to be a victim.

Paisley Kern's portrayal of Susan’s upstairs neighbor girl, Gloria, provides the needed comic relief as a bratty “tween. " At first, Gloria just enjoys taunting and playing tricks on Susan but eventually becomes her staunch ally.

Susan has another unexpected ally in Mike (Chris Ibarra), a soldier and Sam’s Army buddy from the war. Ibarra, solid in the role, is instantly a calming presence. He provides the sounding board and help she needs to figure out how to fight the increasingly combative nature of the men who show up out of nowhere and turn her life upside down.

While his appearances are brief and only at the beginning and end of the show, Patrick Carroll is sympathetic as Susan’s husband Sam, providing a “bookend” of sanity and normalcy to the story.

One of Susan’s nemeses is the fake policeman Carlino, played by Joe Meischsner. He is convincing, first as a seemingly sympathetic law officer and then ultimately as a dangerous threat to Susan.

The biggest threat to Susan’s life, however, is Roat (Keith Russell), the purely evil and psychopathic madman calling all the shots.

In character, Russell has the requisite look of a true cut-throat. At times, however, because of the rate, pitch, and lack of clarity in his diction, his lines got swallowed or muffled.

This was especially true in the opening scenes where the character is important to provide some of the much-needed exposition, which may have gotten lost to some in the audience. Occasionally over the top in some scenes, Russell decidedly brings it home, however, in the scariest one-on-one final confrontation with Susan.

Set and scenic designers Jeff Brown and Curtis Phillips masterfully recreate a basement apartment down to the last detail. The set serves at first as a secure haven for Susan and then turns into a nightmare battle zone for her as she tries to outmaneuver the bad guys.

Patrick M. Mulcahy Jr’s dramatic lighting design and all-important lighting “tricks” almost serve as another character. As light and darkness are a plot device, a symbol, and a thematic imperative, Mulcahy’s work is completely “instrumental” in making the show successful.

Director Michael Kraklio pulls out all the stops to tell this old-fashioned thriller, where not everyone is who they seem. He navigates the audience through the complexities of the plot to get them to the terror-filled climax, which elicits screams from the playgoers.

Audiences need to get ready for surprises, twists, turns, and a “killer” of an evening that will bring them back to an earlier style of theatrical thrillers rarely produced today. Producer Jason Vincent makes a bold choice with this show and offers something unique in the fall season of area theater.

Information on “Wait Until Dark”
By Frederick Knott, Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher
October 4-13, 2024
October 4-5 7:30 pm | October 6 2:00 pm
October 10-12 7:30 pm | October 13 2:00 pm

Next up for Boat Club Productions is “Winter Wonderettes”
Written and Created by Roger Bean
“Winter Wonderettes continues the story of Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy, and Suzy, who return to organize the Harper’s Hardware Holiday Party. Set against the backdrop of the 1968 holiday season, the Wonderettes entertain the audience with classic seasonal tunes and holiday cheer. Winter Wonderettes captures the magic of the season, inviting audiences to experience the joy of the holidays with these long-time friends.”
December 5-15, 2024
December 5-7 7:30pm | December 8 2:00 pm
December 12-14 7:30pm | December 15 2:00pm

Spirit of the North Theatre, Fitger’s – 3rd Floor
Box Office Phone Number: (218) 623-7065
Tickets available online at boatclubproductions.com

Boat Club Productions will also announce their 2025 season soon, with the opportunity to buy season tickets.

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About Sheryl Jensen - Arts & Entertainment Editor

A retired educator with the Duluth Public Schools, Sheryl Jensen has been a theater director of over 60 school and community productions. Her production of William Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew at East High School won the National High School Theater award from the BRAVO television network.

Having written theater, music, dance, and opera reviews for the Duluth News Tribune for many years, she now is the Arts & Entertainment Editor for Destination Duluth.

 

 

 

 

Melissa Dressely knows Minnesota’s North Shore.

Not only has she lived in Grand Marais for 20 years, but she is also the CEO of Do North Marketing, a company she created to help promote and elevate tourism on the North Shore. Destination Duluth is so fortunate to have her—and all the tourism and marketing expertise she brings—serving on its Board of Directors.

Reflecting on her career, Melissa shared, “I’ve always been a marketer at heart. I’m passionate about communication, collaboration, and bringing fresh ideas.

“I feel fortunate to work within our regional tourism community, helping drive economic impact while addressing the unique challenges the industry faces. It’s an honor to contribute to initiatives like Destination Duluth, which aligns perfectly with our goal to connect people to this incredible region.”

Do North Marketing

Do North Marketing is the driving force behind the North Shore Explorer MN content marketing platform, which is designed to inform and inspire visitors with the best experiences Duluth and the North Shore have to offer.

It includes the printed North Shore Explorer Guide, considered the official guide to the North Shore Scenic Drive. This 60-page, mile-by-mile guide covers all the top attractions from Duluth to the North Shore. With 100,000 copies distributed annually, it is Minnesota's most popular visitor guide.

North Shore Explorer MN also has an audience of 55,000+ on social media, as well as a content-driven website at NorthShoreExplorerMN.com. The platform provides original, engaging content to help visitors discover must-see destinations, activities, local businesses, and events, fostering a deeper connection to the region.

She succinctly explained that her goal in creating these resources is to “‘help you explore the best things to see and do in Duluth and the North Shore.”

North Shore/Duluth Collaboration

As Destination Duluth’s newest Board member (she began her role in August 2024), Dressely has terrific insight into how Duluth and the North Shore can collaborate on tourism. “First and foremost, Duluth is the gateway to the North Shore,” she said.

“You almost can’t visit one without the other. So, the opportunity to collaborate is incredible. Both have their assets, and visitors can create a unique northern getaway based around exploring the entire North Shore Scenic Drive - from Duluth to the Canadian Border.

“When I worked at Lutsen Mountains and other local resorts, people often asked questions about visiting Duluth,” she added. “I know the same thing happens in Duluth, too. So, the more we can have these two areas collaborating and promoting each other, the better it is for everyone.”

In her new role as a DD Board member, Dressely hopes to facilitate some of this much-needed cross-promotion, increasing tourism synergy.

Tourism Marketing + Entrepreneurship

Melissa Dressely has undeniably found her entrepreneurial sweet spot. "I always dreamed of owning my own business and doing consulting work," she shared. "I’m really excited about growing this business. The entrepreneurial journey is one of self-discovery - learning about yourself and overcoming perceived limitations. I feel like I’ve only just begun. There are so many more ideas I want to bring to life."

Operating mostly as a one-woman show from her home, Dressely has recently begun collaborating with a few freelancers to handle tasks such as social media management, video production, and blog writing. These partnerships allow her to focus on her passion - helping North Shore businesses thrive.

As the publisher of the North Shore Explorer Guide, Dressely travels regularly along the Shore, meeting with nearly every tourism-related business. This hands-on approach has helped her cultivate a deep understanding of the industry’s successes and unique challenges, especially within a seasonal economy.

"One of my favorite aspects of the business is distributing the North Shore Explorer Guides throughout the year and capturing social media content during my travels," she said. "I get to visit almost every business on the North Shore, build authentic relationships with the owners and staff, and make a real impact."

She added, “I also love taking pictures and videos to tell a story! Even as a child, I took pictures and maintained photo albums. It’s like my passion … my art. This has worked great on social media! As a result, our audience has gotten to know me as their local tour guide.”

Supported by advertisers, the North Shore Explorer Guide and its digital platform are key marketing tools for local businesses. "As a marketer, it’s incredibly rewarding to help businesses craft their messages, reach their target audience, and grow. Watching their success is one of the best parts of what I do,” Dressely noted.

In addition to managing the North Shore Explorer MN platform, Do North Marketing offers a suite of marketing services tailored to small businesses. These include Thought Partnerships for those seeking strategic marketing support, full-service content and social media management, email marketing, and more.

Background

Dressely was born and raised in Ellicott City, Maryland, and became a “Minnesotan at heart” over New Year's of 1999 - her first time in Minnesota and also her first time on a frozen lake. She and her Minnesota-born husband, Gene, moved to Grand Marais in 2004

As a child, Dressely enjoyed a wide variety of hobbies and interests. She was part of a performance jump rope team, The Kangaroo Kids, from 3rd to 10th grade and played the violin from 1st to 12th grade. In high school, she played lacrosse, interned at a local cable station to learn TV production, and had part-time jobs at Wendy’s and her local tennis club.

Education is extremely important to Dressely. “I researched college myself, and at that time, I really liked communications and TV production,” she said. Ultimately, she earned a bachelor’s degree in interpersonal communications from Salisbury University in Maryland.

When the time came, she told her son, Ray, “You are going to college. You are applying for scholarships.” Dressely smiled and said, “Thankfully, he accepted his parents’ guidance and is now in his freshman year of college at St. Thomas. We are so proud and excited for him!”

Professional Rise

During the early years of their relationship, the Dresselys moved where Gene was needed professionally. This included stints in Pennsylvania, upstate New York, and finally, Grand Marais, Minnesota. Throughout all their moves, she held a variety of tourism marketing positions.

Before starting Do North Marketing in 2018, Melissa’s extensive experience in tourism marketing included roles at the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau, Lutsen Mountains, Eagle Ridge Resort, Odyssey Resorts, and the Best Western Superior Inn on the North Shore.

She also continues to retain various tourism-related affiliations. She is a member of the North Shore Scenic Drive Council and serves on the Board of the Lutsen Alpine Ski Club.

Personal

The Dressely’s son, Ray, recently graduated from Cook County High School. They also have a dog named Luna.

Over the years, their family has traveled extensively around the Northland to attend youth sports events for alpine skiing, football, and baseball. “People may not realize that when you live in Grand Marais, you must travel multiple hours one-way for youth sports!

“Some of our fondest memories are participating in youth alpine ski racing, both as part of the Minnesota High School League and with the local Northland Junior Race Series (NJRS),” Dressely recalled.

In her free time, Dressely enjoys exploring all the wonderful nooks and crannies the North Shore offers. “I love hiking with the dog. And I enjoy exploring places I’ve never been. One of my favorite activities is paddleboarding and swimming on the inland lakes of the Gunflint Trail.”

Dressely offered up plenty of helpful advice for North Shore explorers. “For first-timers, you absolutely must see Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse, and Shovel Point at Tettegouche State Park,” she said. “I also recommend seeing Cascade River Falls, exploring the town of Grand Marais, and the High Falls at Grand Portage State Park.”

To stay connected, follow NorthShoreExplorerMN on Facebook and Instagram, or visit northshoreexplorermn.com. Connect with Melissa Dressely on LinkedIn. 

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Andrea Busche is a Duluth + regional freelance writer and small business owner. She is credited with over 1,000 bylines in local print and digital publications, and has been a frequent contributor to Destination Duluth since 2017.

 

Destination Duluth Artist Profile Series – Elsa Persson, a senior at UMD, plays a leading role in the upcoming "The Importance of Being Earnest"

The UMD Theatre Department has had the long-standing reputation of being one of the most exceptional in the nation for their staff, their facility, their course work, their productions, and for the experiences they offer their students. Student Elsa Persson is in her final year of school at UMD for two degrees: a BFA in Acting and a BA in Music with a classical voice emphasis. She is excited to be playing one of the leads in UMD’s upcoming production of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

Elsa said, “I have been inspired by how many possibilities we have here at UMD from musical theatre to acting, to design, and production, and even other majors that relate to performance such as film studies and vocal performance.”

“Beyond a great education and training, I feel that UMD Theatre has broadened my world view in general, making me a more emotionally open and understanding person. I am very grateful for every experience I have had here,” she added.

At UMD, Elsa is also currently accent coaching for a production of Kurt Weill’s “Street Scene,” teaching actors New York, German, Italian, and Swedish accents. Besides her role as Lady Bracknell in “Earnest,” she will also be performing in “Street Scene” with the UMD Opera Studio and as Trinculo in Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” with UMD Theatre.

While in Duluth, she has also performed in two professional operas with Lyric Opera of the North (LOON), in “Cavalleria Rusticana” in 2023 and of “La Bohème” ”in 2024. “Duluth is truly lucky to have a company producing such spectacular operas, LOON cultivates a great community from artists near and far, that I have loved being a part of,” she explains.

Outside of the theatre, she loves to run, hike, cook, and play the violin and piano. As a first generation Swedish American, Elsa grew up with many connections to Swedish culture and language. She has visited her family in Sweden a few times and would like to become better at speaking the language by spending more time there.

“One of my favorite parts of living in Duluth is Lake Superior. It lifts my spirits every single time I visit it, which I make a point to do often.”

“Finding” the Character of Lady Bracknell

“Lady Bracknell is a powerful, fun, hilarious, and difficult role. One challenge of playing her is her age. I am 22 playing a woman who is around 60, which is difficult as an actor since I do not have the personal lived experience of that age,” Elsa said.

“She is also vastly different from me—she believes in strict, objective societal rules and class structure and finds safety in tradition. These parts of Lady Bracknell as a character can be difficult to tap into, but I find a lot of fun in making bold choices as an actor and finding both her ridiculousness and her queen-like power,” she added.

Persson has the role in common with her director and UMD’s Theatre Department head, Rebecca Katz Harwood, who played Lady Bracknell in a production of “The Importance of Being Earnest” at Duluth East High School. The two have shared ways to help Elsa “find” the character and the complexities of the character’s thoughts, motivations, and patterns of speaking.

Elsa noted, “Oscar Wilde wrote this play with the intention to satirize the Victorian English upper classes for their fixation on rules. I hope audiences leave the theatre taking the world less seriously!”

Information on “The Importance of Being Earnest”

By Oscar Wilde
Directed by Rebecca Katz Harwood
UMD Theatre Marshall Performing Arts Center October 11-19.
October 11,12,16,17,18 at 7:30 pm October 13 at 2 pm ASL performance October 19 at 2 pm & 7:30 pm
For tickets, call the box office at 218-725-8561 of go to tickets.umn.edu

From UMD Theatre: Our 2024-2025 season opens with Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Wilde’s self-described “trivial comedy for serious people” stylishly satirizes the upper class and romantic comedy tropes of his time while enchanting us with characters whose happy ending we cheer.

Rylee Kuberra Finds There’s No Place Like Home Even In the Pursuit of a Theatrical Life

Rylee Kuberra’s first involvement in theatre was in kindergarten in Hermantown, with teacher Linda Bray, who Rylee describes as “the best kindergarten teacher of all time.” Rylee played a candy striper in “The Nutcracker” and a lumberjack in “Tall Tales.”

After that she left theatre, and she threw herself into hockey full time. Around 8th grade, however, her best friend encouraged her to audition at the Duluth Playhouse. Her first show at the Duluth Playhouse children’s theatre program was “Les Misérables.”

 She said, “After this experience, I was hooked. I went to Hermantown High School where I was heavily involved in the theatre program throughout my high school career.”

Rylee, like many high school seniors, decided to explore what life was like elsewhere for college by moving out of state. She spread her wings and moved to St. Augustine, Florida, where she attended Flagler College, a small private school.

“Like most 18-year-olds, I wasn’t one hundred percent sure what I wanted to do with my life, so I hopped around with a few different majors, including Theatre Arts, English, Communications, Psychology, Anthropology, and Marketing. I ultimately ended up earning a BA in Theatre Arts and Psychology.”

While in college, Rylee began teaching theater education at the Limelight Theater in Florida, which she said sparked her love for education in a new way. She was asked to lead the first-ever theater program at The Florida School for The Deaf and Blind, working with blind students from first grade through high school on spatial awareness through the exploration of theater.

She later moved to Boston, where she started working for Boston Children’s Theater and freelancing. When COVID-19 hit, she moved back to Duluth, where she then started working at the Duluth Playhouse. This was a full circle moment for her, having grown up in the children’s program.

She said, “I love living in Duluth because my family is here. After living away for over seven years. it has made me feel more grounded coming home and seeing my nieces and nephews grow up.”

“Having grown up in the Duluth art scene and seeing what it has grown to become is electrifying. We have really become a haven for artists. You will always be able to find an opportunity to perform or create!”

“When I first moved back to Duluth, post-Covid, I was cast in The Duluth Playhouse’s “The Diary of Anne Frank,” Rylee noted. “This cast and crew were all aware of the enormous task of honoring Anne and her family’s story. I also began to fall in love with dialect and accent work.”

In the summer of 2023, she began her journey as a voice actor narrating audiobooks, quickly becoming her full-time job. “I am very fortunate I get to work from home doing one of my favorite activities, reading,” Rylee explained.  This also opened up the opportunity to continue to perform more on stage,” she said.

She works predominantly in fantasy, sci-fi, literary role-playing games, romance, the new romance/fantasy genre, and is just beginning to read thrillers.

“As far as career goals, I am currently working with four different publishers for audiobooks. I am hoping to expand my voice over career more into animation. I have dabbled in video games and short animations and absolutely loved it.”

In her free time, Rylee loves to travel. She enjoys trips related to theater but is also a fan of travelling to foreign locales.

 Teaching All Ages

Rylee has taught at the Duluth Playhouse, ages 10-adult, and enjoys teaching acting classes by exploring scenes and monologues. She also teaches various devising classes, which is non-scripted theater where the students get to create their showcases from the ground up.

She is teaching a class for adults called “Royally Acting,” which focuses on learning an RP British accent while exploring scenes from well-known British films and television shows.

“I have also taught storytelling and memory exploration classes at Edgewood Vista and North Shore Estates. It is so much fun to bring a different energy and activity to these nursing homes that offers them a different outlet to connect with themselves and others,” she said.

Wedding Plans

Rylee is excited to be getting married in June to Chance Brochu before he leaves in the Fall of 2025 for a deployment. She related that they first met on the side of a hill laying sod for her parents’ landscaping company. Chance is a contractor in town, who owns Apane Construction, and he also is a part of the Air National Guard at the 148th.

 “Wait Until Dark”

Rylee will play the lead role of Susan in the upcoming Boat Club production of the suspenseful thriller "Wait Until Dark." Audience members may be familiar with the story from the movie starring Audrey Hepburn, which tells the story of a blind woman who becomes embroiled in a battle of psychological strength and wits with diabolical criminals.

Famed writer Stephen King, the master of all things frightening, stated he considered this film to be the scariest movie of all time. He praised Alan Arkin's role in the film as perhaps “the greatest evocation of screen villainy ever.”

About her role, Rylee noted, “The biggest difference to any show I have done is that I am playing a blind woman. She became blind due to a car accident later in life which offers the challenge of navigating a deep loss as a human. Honoring the deep loss, struggles, and strengths of Susan is no small task and one I am overjoyed to navigate.”

“What I like about playing Susan is how she creates connection with every person she comes across and her deeper understanding of the world now that she cannot see it,” she added.

“My hope for the audience is to leave the theater having gone through a visceral marathon of emotions. They too will get to see through Susan’s ‘eyes,’” she added.

After “Wait Until Dark,” Rylee will be diving into teaching theater once again. She is also working on a screenplay that she would love to get into production within the next year.

Information on “Wait Until Dark”
Boat Club Productions at Spirit of the North Theatre, Fitger’s 3rd floor
By Frederick Knott/Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher
October 4-6 and October 10-13
October 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m. October 6 and 13 at 2:00 pm
Buy tickets online at boatclubrestaurant.com or call 218-623-7065.

From the Boat Club Site

Forty-seven years after “Wait Until Dark” premiered on Broadway, Jeffrey Hatcher has adapted Frederick Knott’s 1966 original, giving it a new setting. In 1944 Greenwich Village, Susan Hendrix, a blind yet capable woman, is imperiled by a trio of men in her own apartment. As the climax builds, Susan discovers that her blindness just might be the key to her escape, but she and her tormentors must wait until dark to play out this classic thriller’s chilling conclusion.

Lester River Rendezvous blends history and entertainment into an educational community fall festival

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a different era? The Lester River Rendezvous (LRR) – which is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year - gives you an opportunity to do just that.

“The Rendezvous is an event where a group of dedicated reenactors portray life as it was lived in the area during the fur trading era of 1770-1820's,” noted Darlene Marshall, who handles marketing for the event.

“It is a 3-day-long event, where the first two days (called Education Days) are specifically designed for area school students, then it culminates with a Festival, open to the public on Saturday, September 28th.”

The LRR provides a unique blend of education and entertainment. During the Rendezvous, each talented reenactor sets up a historically accurate campsite, where they make things like beads, butter, nails, and much more. Attendees can watch these artisans at their craft and ask questions.

There will also be many vendors and plenty of food and beverages available for purchase. And there is no entry fee – the event is free to attend!

Background

As noted, the LRR is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year. The LRR has taken place at Duluth’s Lester Park for its entire 25 years.

The event is put on by the Lester River Rendezvous Committee, a 501(c)(3) entity consisting of a team of nine. And, of course, the event wouldn’t happen without the skilled reenactors, who must know their craft inside and out and also have a flair for performing.

“They’re all really passionate about this,” Marshall noted of the reenactors. “There’s an actual Rendezvous circuit that they travel throughout the year. Some of them are local, and some are from out of town. Most of them have jobs and take time off work to be here. It’s very interactive, and these reenactors get very immersed in their roles.”

Due to a variety of thoughtful sponsors, the “Fall Festival” – which takes place on Saturday, 09/28, from 10 am – 5 pm - is free to attend. If necessary, a rain date would be Sunday, 09/29.

For two days before the Rendezvous, elementary school-aged children are bussed in for an immersive field trip-type experience.

Education Days

On Thursday, 09/26, and Friday, 09/27, schoolchildren will be on-site for Education Days, a special part of LRR. Here, students can experience our region’s rich history by participating in hands-on fun and educational activities.

Kids from the Wrenshall, Carlton, and Hermantown school districts, along with students from Duluth Marshall, Queen of Peace, Lakeview Christian Academy, and many homeschooled children, will attend.

“There are over 600 kids who attend, so roughly 300 per day,” Marshall said. “The kids are assigned classes, which are each 25 minutes long. A cannon goes off every half-hour, signaling it’s time for students to rotate to their next campsite class.”

Children will enjoy watching, learning, and asking questions as the reenactors demonstrate their skills and create their wares. Many of the students will receive token souvenirs to take home.

Fall Festival - The Event that Started it all

The main event will be held at Duluth’s beautiful Lester Park, 6104 East Superior Street, on Saturday, 09/28. However, rather than driving there yourself, please consider taking one of the free shuttle buses.

“The shuttle will stop at three local churches,” Marshall explained. “Good Hope Church (1814 North 51st Avenue East), Great Lakes Church (4501 Glenwood Street), and Lake View Covenant (1001 Jean Duluth Road).

“The busses are free and will run back and forth throughout the day. We are expecting between 8,000-10,000 attendees, so parking on-site will be difficult. We love the fact that we’re so busy and thrilled to be able to offer this free shuttle service thanks to our generous sponsors.”

Regarding the campsites, topics are varied. There is something for everyone, and the LRR is appropriate for all ages. Campsites include:

• Blacksmithing
• Muskets
• Calico printing
• Flatbread making
• Cordwaining (making shoes)
• Making and trading beads (bartering)
• Candle making
• Cannons
• Canning
• Butter making
• Cat and mouse
• Trapping
• Dutch oven baking
• Tipi
• Tomahawks
• Camp cooking
• Spinning

This “collection” of campsites was thoughtfully cultivated to be as historically accurate as possible.

“This is a replica of a September gathering in this area during the fur trading era,” Marshall said. “But an actual Rendezvous during that time would have taken place at Fort St. Louis on the St. Louis River, where there was a trading post.”

Additionally, over 50 vendors will be at the LRR, selling clothing, jewelry, artwork, and more. Various food trucks, including Oasis Del Norte, K&D Concessions, The Gumbeaux Guys, Emma’s Kitchen, and Lake Superior Brewing, will also be on-site selling food and beverages.

Consider Attending

The Lester River Rendezvous Committee has spent the last quarter-century making the Lester River Rendezvous an authentic, must-see event for our community.

“People were just so creative, intelligent, and inventive with what was available to them in those days,” Marshall said. “I find it so fascinating how people lived as they did during that era.”

The LRR is a great opportunity for the entire family to enjoy a day outside, learning and taking in all the sights together. It’s educational, fun, and, best of all, free. Attendees will undoubtedly learn something new, while enjoying a great time in a beautiful setting.

“Lester Park is such a gorgeous place, especially when the leaves are turning,” Marshall noted. “We love seeing all the happy people and the coming together of community.”

For more information, please visit lesterriverrendezvous.com, or find them on Facebook.

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Andrea Busche is a Duluth + regional freelance writer and small business owner. She is credited with over 1,000 bylines in local print and digital publications, and has been a frequent contributor to Destination Duluth since 2017.

 

The Duluth Playhouse Launches 110th Season at Historic NorShor Theatre

DD ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT THEATRE REVIEW
by Sheryl Jensen, Destination Duluth Arts & Entertainment Editor

With their own unique blend of intricate harmonies, the Four Seasons had a distinctive sound, led by their lead singer, Frankie Valli, with his incredibly high falsetto voice. The musical Jersey Boys, now onstage at the NorShor, chronicles the story of their musical journey and the highs and lows of the group’s members' personal lives, including crime, prison time, broken marriages, and financial disaster.

Filled with high-energy vocal numbers from the Four Seasons catalog, the music also helped tell the story. By serving as a soundtrack for this jukebox musical and integrating lyrics and titles that often connected with the lives of the band members, the songs had even more textural significance throughout the show.

Song after song brought waves of recognition from the audience, including “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Working My Way Back To You,” and many more favorites. Their “encore” song “Who Loves You,” bringing in the whole company, left the raucous and cheering audience on their feet and wanting more.

Starting with when the original four singers were gritty, hard-knock street kids and ending when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, each of the quartet members had their chance to directly address the audience to tell their perspectives on the story and to reveal their character’s innermost thoughts.

Eric Elefson, who portrayed Tommy DeVito, the man who put the group together in 1960 and discovered Frankie Valli, has all the requisite smarminess of his wheeler-dealer, unscrupulous, conman character, with just a touch of vulnerability. As one of the villains of the piece, Elefson still made the audience care about his character, even as he eventually was responsible for breaking the group apart.

While early on Ole Dack lacked some of the low-range solo bass notes of the original Nick Massi, but he got stronger as the show went on in his important quartet vocals. Dack successfully delivered a lot of the comedy in the relationships, and he was always convincing as the “sad sack” who really never wanted the fame and fortune and just “wanted to go home.”

When Bob Gaudio became part of the group, his songwriting talents were the kickstart to the group’s rise to fame, starting with their first big hit, “Sherry.”

From the moment Jace LeGarde hit the stage playing Gaudio, he too was the lightning bolt the show needed. Always charismatic, charming, and funny in the role, LeGarde has a killer solo voice and, like the real-life Gaudio, decidedly helped to establish the distinctive Four Seasons sound. [Click here to read the Destination Duluth Artist Profile on Jace LeGarde]

As in real life, it was Frank Valli’s voice, stage presence, and audience appeal that rocked the music world and had them evolve into “Frank Valli and the Four Seasons.” New York actor Connor Bailey is truly a star who commanded the stage and embodied the troubled soul of the group’s lead singer as Valli became an international superstar with his one-of-a-kind voice.

Whether with the quartet or singing solos, Bailey was appropriately the heart and soul of the show. Two of his breathtaking standout vocal moments were “My Eyes Adored You,” and the undeniable audience favorite, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”

The four performers had obviously worked hard on recreating that unmistakable Four Seasons sound, and they were, overall, fabulously successful, with only a few moments where the harmonies were slightly less tight.

A strong ensemble played a multitude of roles, many with the stereotypical New Jersey accents and bravado. Jesse Davis, Chris Nollet, and Alyson Enderle were among the ensemble standouts.

Music Director Amanda Weis had her 10-piece orchestra rocking and rolling all night long. As the group got more successful, the show’s orchestrations became appropriately bigger and more complex, eventually adding the richness of a horns’ “section” that the group had always wanted.

Playhouse Costume Designer Peg Ferguson is a marvel whose costumes brilliantly reflect the time period and, for the quartet, became flashier and more bespangled as the show went on. The costume changes for the four men were seamless and mostly done onstage in progress.

Other impressive technical work included Curtis Phillips’s multi-leveled industrial playground of a set; Nick Gosen’s crisp sound design; Carrie Powers Greer’s spot-on properties; and Jon Brophy’s magnificent lighting design.

Director and choreographer Wes Drummond masterfully tackled this challenging show, always keeping his company true to the music, style, and ambiance of the piece. His choreography is on point, recreating the iconic period dance moves of both the quartet and the ensemble.

Drummond kept the pace moving, especially in Act Two, and for the few in the audience who didn’t know the music or the story of the Four Seasons well, or even at all, created a cohesive and wildly entertaining piece of theater.

The Playhouse, starting its 110th season, made a strong choice opening with this Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Award-winning musical which had an 11-year run on Broadway, and has been successful on tours and with community and international productions.

Amazingly, Frankie Valli, at age 90, is still touring with his “Last Encores” show. One stop, in a few weeks, is at Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Bob Gaudio, who no longer performs, is the only other surviving member of the original group.

NOTE: This review is based on the Thursday, September 19 performance.

Information for “Jersey Boys”
Book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice
Music by Bob Gaudio.
Lyrics by Bob Crewe

“Jersey Boys” continues through September 29 at the NorShor Theatre.

For information and tickets, visit duluthplayhouse.org or call 218.733.7555.

“Jersey Boys” may be inappropriate for children ages 12 and under for its strong language and adult content.

For the Destination Duluth profile of “Jersey Boys “cast member Jace LeGarde, click here.

Next up for the Duluth Playhouse is Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella”
December 6-22, 2024.

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About Sheryl Jensen - Arts & Entertainment Editor

A retired educator with the Duluth Public Schools, Sheryl Jensen has been a theater director of over 60 school and community productions. Her production of William Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew at East High School won the National High School Theater award from the BRAVO television network.

Having written theater, music, dance, and opera reviews for the Duluth News Tribune for many years, she now is the Arts & Entertainment Editor for Destination Duluth.