Stories

ARTIST PROFILE SERIES - CSS Costume Designer Sasha Howell

“One should either be a work of art or wear a work of art.”   Oscar Wilde

As a fashionista and costume designer, Sasha Howell lives her life in the style that writer Oscar Wilde and famous fashionista himself described. A colorful personality who says she is a collector of tattoos, Sasha brings her whimsical artistic sensibilities to everything she does.

Born in Willmar, MN, she lived several places growing up, mainly in Ottumwa, IA, where she went to high school. She came to UMD planning to be an Art major but graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre with a minor in Studio Art.

She received her Master’s Degree at St. Scholastica where she has worked as their costume designer and costume shop supervisor since 2011. For the last few years, she has also taught a class in Scholastica’s Dignitas program on human dignity through fashion and clothing.

Sasha has a five-year-old daughter named Paisley who she describes as “the light of her life,” and a ten-year-old pug dog named Johan. In her spare time, she loves going camping, attending concerts and festivals, and discovering new music.

Creativity Sparked

When describing her early inspirations with costuming, she said, “I liked being playful with Halloween costumes throughout the years. Since I was a kid, I've always had a passion for fashion—altering things and making them customized.  I love working with my hands, and my favorite skill is creative problem-solving.”

“In college, I had the opportunity to see The Lion King as a traveling show and was blown away! I don't think it clicked yet that I could do a job in that field, but when I moved to Duluth, I saw my first show at Renegade Theater Company and really wanted to get involved,” she explained.

For Renegade, she went on to costume design for The Sparrow, Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson, Dogfight, Marie Antoinette, Spring Awakening, and others. She has designed all but two of the productions of St. Scholastica since she started there. Her favorites have been Seussical the Musical, Endgame, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, The Diary of Anne Frank, Journey's End, and Little Shop of Horrors.

For the Playhouse, she designed costumes for Spamalot, Boeing Boeing, and Hair, and for Lundeen productions, she costume-designed Pippin.

“I have also done two local film productions, put on a couple of fashion shows (one a Halloween dog fashion show), did some costume work for a horror film company my friends and I started called Murder Pretty, and have had various wacky requests and projects throughout the years,” she said.

“This may sound silly but I've always dreamed of costuming for rock bands and being on tour with them,” Sasha said. “I think it would be fun to costume groups like In This Moment, Sleep Token, etc. I love that bands are expressing creativity through costume and pageantry.”

She added, “I never know what things might pop up in my life in terms of creative projects! I love that people not only know of my work but think of me for the wildest projects!”

Of her mentors, she said, “Our local costume designers—we have some really talented folks here in the Twin Ports who are so creative and inventive. I have learned tons from each, and we've formed a bit of a collective. So we have a built-in network when we need it. That collective has been so valuable and instrumental in my growth as an artist.”

Sasha noted, “Laura Piotrowski, the Manager of the UMD Costume Shop, has been the one to teach me the trade, support me along my journey, and help me problem-solve things along the way. She's a close personal friend now, and she is incredibly dedicated and talented.”

“I would be nothing without the strong Duluth arts community and the people who support my work,” she stated. “I'm so inspired by the work happening in this community and the folks who have kept it up and running over the years. There are so many artists here that I've built a rapport and friendship with, and they are all so deserving of recognition!”

Upcoming St. Scholastica Production of Comedy of Errors

“Comedy of Errors is set in a coastal ambiguous town. The director wants the period to be a bit ambiguous as well, so we've taken an approach of Renaissance (as a design choice for silhouette) with a little flexibility of pieces that may not traditionally fit in that period. So we'll see some splashes of Medieval and Georgian,” said Sasha who designed the costumes for this show.

She added, “It’s a fun comedy with tons of slapstick humor, cheeky dialogue and innuendo, and the costumes are going to be great! There is also some playfulness that happens with the set designed by Kevin Seime that will be sure to be hilarious and lovely.”

See Comedy of Errors Nov 3-5, 9-11 at The College of St. Scholastica. Get information and tickets here.

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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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William Shakespeare weaves a twisted tale around identical twin sons with two identical servants who were separated by a shipwreck at sea and years later cross paths. Without knowing of the other pair’s existence, the four men interact with each other and those who know them in a constant flux of misunderstanding, mistaken identity, and hilarity.

 

Tickets: $17 general admission; $12 students and seniors; $7; CSS students with ID; free for Sisters of the St. Scholastica Monastery.

 

Buy tickets online at thecollegeofstscholastica.ticketspice.com/the-comedy-of-errors or call 218-723-5900.

The Comedy of Errors

Adapted by Ann Wilkinson
Directed by Mary Jo Sodd

November 3, 4, 9*, 10, 11 AT 7:30 PM
November 5, 12 AT 2 PM
*ASL interpreted performance November 9 (tentative)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poe the Ballet is An Eerie Evening Set in the Depths of the Depot 

One of the “stars” of the Minnesota Ballet’s Poe the Ballet is the venue itself, their new Studio Four. In the Ballet’s intimate Depot performance space, formerly used by the Playhouse’s Underground Theater, the audience could feel the dancers’ energy and intensity more intimately than in the Company’s usual large venue at the DECC.

Reading facial expressions, seeing up close the connections between company members, and even hearing the sounds of their feet and toe shoes on the floor made this experience different and exciting. The physical makeup of the brick walls, shadowy exits, and nooks and crannies of the space also helped create the mood of apprehension and dread.

Poe the Ballet uses macabre and chilling Edgar Allan Poe stories as its source material and is choreographed by Minnesota Ballet’s Artistic Director Karl von Rabenau. He describes his adaptation as both a “literal” and, at times, “creative” interpretation. Effectively using dance, movement, and the talents of his Company, von Rabenau created an evening of sinister storytelling.

In the opening piece, “The Masque of the Red Death,” a mysterious and fatal disease has been sweeping across the kingdom of Prince Prospero. Locking the gates of his palace, with a few select guests inside, they party, dance, eat, and ignore the chaos and tragedy outside, feeling safe and smug that the “red death” cannot enter.

When a beautiful and mysterious stranger dressed in bright red suddenly appears in their midst, one by one they are stricken and fall to their deaths. Kyra Olson, stunning in the persona of Death, dances elegantly en pointe as she “kills” with a slight gesture of her outstretched hand. Olson shows a coquettishness and charm at first and then her character’s unmoved and uncaring demeanor comes through as she goes about her appalling appointed task.

Billed as “The Purloined Letter and More,” the second piece combines Poe’s famous detective story, his epic poem “The Raven,” and his chilling tale of murder and madness, “The Telltale Heart.”

The tragic story tells of a queen who has an affair with a priest, raising the ire and jealousy of a politician. He steals the letter the priest had written to the Queen, using it to blackmail her.

Ximena Azurmendi, resplendent in her sparkling jewels and gorgeous costume, is exquisite with her every movement, dance, and expression in showing the Queen’s joy of her hidden desire for the priest, her hatred for the smarmy politician, and her terror as his intentions and actions become more and more abusive.

Playing the male roles in this ill-fated triangle are Sean M. Sullivan as the Priest and Isaac Sharratt as the politician. Sullivan is convincing as his combination of infatuation with the queen conflicts with his obligations as a Priest.

Sharratt brings one of the strongest performances of the night, as he progressively descends into a dark world of madness and evil. His frustration and unrequited love lead to a tragic end. Sharratt’s unnerving looks, mixed with his character’s inherent ostentatiousness, and his villainous cape-swirling dance and movements, are mesmerizing.

The inclusion of “The Raven,” however, with a taped reading of the poem, work less well, when combined with the detective story. The “dark and dreary” piece works for tone-setting for the first few stanzas, but then seems less logical. Just combining “Letter” with “The Telltale Heart,” to show the internal turmoils of a guilty and ultimately murderous soul would have been a more cohesive fit.

When a detective and two police officers enter the scene and chat with the Politician, a few moments of comic relief, before gruesome discovery, come in the form of a drunken dance from the Investigator, played by Brooke Bero, and two police officers, performed by Jessica Lopes and Victor Smith.

The triumph of the evening was undeniably the final piece, “The Pit and the Pendulum,” where costumes, set pieces, lighting, staging, acting, movement, and dance combine for this breathtaking pinnacle of terror.

It is the time of the Inquisition when poor souls, most innocent, are imprisoned, tortured, and often put to death. Opening with a ghastly white-masked group of Judges sitting at a lit table, where they are ready to pronounce sentence on The Accused (Matthew Frezzell),

The Judge’s movements, with at first just using their hands, arms, and upper bodies, are completely unnerving and set the tone for the unspeakable horrors yet to come. When they later move as a black-robed, intimidating hoard, they are even more dehumanizing and threatening.

Comic relief here comes in the form of three rats who befriend The Accused, share his scraps of food, and untie him from the torture table. Victor Smith, Brianna Crockett, and Taylor Phillips are funny and ultimately tragic as well.

Frezzell’s performance alone is worth the price of admission. With his incredibly expressive face and his aspects of desperation and unspeakable fear, he portrays in excruciating detail, what it would be like in his place, alone in the dark, starving, wishing for death and fearing it at the same time.

And Death does appear. Kyra Olson, again in her startling red costume, playing the role in this story as well. Reminiscent of the character of the Angel of Death, in the musical The Kiss of the Spider Woman, Olson is seductive and seemingly sympathetic at first. She and Frezzell perform a beautiful and prophetic pas de deux before she ties him again to the table to await his end, the sharp-bladed pendulum set to swing down to slice him in half.

It ends, however, a bit anti-climactically, without any sign of a pendulum. A representative dancer’s body, held aloft with a swinging and menacing arm would have been a spine-chilling last picture.

For Minnesota Ballet’s longtime season ticket holders or for those experiencing what the Minnesota Ballet has to offer for the first time, this Halloween season production offers both its “tricks” and its “treats.”

*Note: Some roles are doubled and will be played by different dancers on alternate nights. This review is based on the October 20 opening night performance. Performances continue October 21-22 and October 26-29.

The Nutcracker: A Duluth Tale, a favorite holiday tradition, is up next for the Minnesota Ballet, back onstage at the DECC in Symphony Hall, December 8-10. For more information, visit minnesotaballet.org

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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.

 

 

 

EAT & DRINK DULUTH RESTAURANT REVIEW

Sammy’s Pizza feels like home - Family. Friends. Traditions.

Sammy’s Pizza – specifically their West Duluth location – feels like home for me and my husband Mike. While I can’t pinpoint the exact number of times we’ve gathered at Sammy’s with friends and family over the years, I do know that we can safely call ourselves “regulars.”

And, for good reason. Sammy's food, service, and atmosphere provide the perfect setting for any occasion. Their unique, square-shaped pizza slices - featuring crimped, cracker-thin crust, homemade sauce, and plenty of fresh toppings - are deliciously cravable.

I suspect many of you can relate. Sammy’s boasts an almost cult-like following. Their extremely loyal customers hail not only from Duluth but across the United States.

The restaurant has also garnered attention from some reputable organizations. In 2015, PMQ Pizza Magazine inducted Sammy’s into its Pizza Hall of Fame — which pays tribute to popular pizzerias in business for 50 years or longer. And in 2018, Sammy's was also voted “Best Pizza in Minnesota” in Minnesota Monthly Magazine's Pizza Bracket Challenge.

Sammy’s leverages this well-deserved reputation with their apt tagline, “Family. Friends. Traditions.” The perfect summary for such an iconic Duluth hotspot.

Please join us for this edition of Eat & Drink Duluth, where we enjoy some delicious ‘za - and a pasta dish - from Sammy’s Pizza!

History

Sammy’s Pizza was established almost 70 years ago by Sam Perella, affectionately known as Grandpa Sam. From the Sammy’s website:

“As World War II soldiers returned home from Italy telling tales of their favorite food, the popularity of pizza in the U.S. grew. Sam Perrella, a former miner who owned a small café in Keewatin, picked up on this growing trend. Having connections in Chicago, Sam visited with some pizza makers and returned home with an idea that sparked and gave birth to what is now Sammy’s Pizza.

“In October 1954, armed with enthusiasm and their own secret recipes, Sam and his wife, Louise, opened the doors of the first Sammy’s Pizza restaurant in Hibbing, MN.

“As their business flourished, they helped their family and a close friend open their own pizza restaurants. Today, some 69 years, 15 locations, and more than 25 million pizzas later, Sammy’s is now in its fourth generation of pizza makers, who all still use Sam’s original recipes.”

Sammy’s in West Duluth (located at 403 N Central Avenue) opened in 1956, and is family-owned and operated by Mike and Pam Jerulle, along with their son, Nick.

Tony and Kelly Jerulle, owners of Sammy's Pizza restaurants in Grand Rapids, Hibbing, and International Falls, are also partial owners of the West Duluth location.

Vibe

Having undergone a bit of an aesthetic refresh, Sammy’s West Duluth looks a bit different these days. Rather than the bold reds and greens of old, their new flooring, paint, and light fixtures feature a neutral color palate.

Vintage Sammy’s photos adorn the walls, along with a few updated pieces. A cool metal pizza-shaped wall piece, featuring food-related phrases, is a newer addition. The restaurant features a combination of tables and booths, and offers a private dining room in the back.

While the restaurant is often filled with families and couples, on this Tuesday evening, the clientele was a little different. The other patrons included several young to middle-aged groups of men, who, if I had to guess, appeared to be blue-collar trade workers. There was also a small group of middle-aged women.

In addition to dining in, Sammy’s also offers delivery and catering within the local area.

Food

Sammy’s is obviously most well-known for its pizza. As noted, Sammy’s pies feature a signature, crimped crust (with hand-tossed dough, made fresh every morning), and small slices cut into yummy little squares. Their proprietary sauce has a smooth texture and a flavor profile highly unique to Sammy’s.

But Sammy’s has many other choices, too. Appetizers, wings, broasted chicken, fish, pastas, stromboli, subs, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, soups, and salads round out the menu. Desserts are also available. Gluten-free and gluten-free cauliflower crusts are available in the medium size. Patrons can also order frozen pizzas to go.

Beverages include Coke products, beer, and wine. Sammy’s also offers daily specials, and a pizza buffet is served daily from 11 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., and Monday nights from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.

I decided to indulge in what Sammy’s does best and went with a pizza. Rather than choosing one of their “Legacy Pizzas,” I did a build-your-own featuring chicken, onions, and black olives. The pizza arrived piping hot, with a generous side of pizza sauce that I had requested for dipping.

Once the pizza cooled a bit, I went to town. The gooey, melted mozzarella was a perfect complement to the crisp onion, chewy olives, and savory bites of chicken. The thin, crispy crust was light and perfectly crunchy.

From the Sammy’s website: “Some call it a signature crimped crust. We call it a canvas for our masterpieces.”

And, being a Sammy’s sauce lover, being able to dip each bite in a dollop of their extra sauce was an added delight.

I paired my pizza with a Castle Danger Cream Ale, from Two Harbors-based Castle Danger Brewery. Golden in color, it has a soft, malty aroma, a slightly sweet, creamy texture, and a balanced bitterness. This refreshing, light beer finishes smooth and clean.

Mike chose the rigatoni with meatballs. From the menu:

Our authentic Italian pastas are served with garlic bread and a cup of soup or side salad. Add freshly steamed broccoli to any pasta for 1.95 more.

Spaghetti, Rigatoni or Fettuccine - Choice of pasta, homemade meatballs (2) or Italian sausage, and our family recipe spaghetti sauce.

Mike opted for the chicken noodle. The savory soup featured thick noodles, rich broth, plenty of chicken, and crisp carrots and celery.

The plate of rigatoni – cooked perfectly al dente - was generous and included two large, thick slices of buttery garlic bread. The spaghetti sauce is also authentically Sammy’s, with a savory flavor and texture. Two giant meatballs sat atop the pasta.

Mike paired his pasta with a cold, easy-drinking Busch Light. Both of our beers were served in thick, frosty mugs. Is there any better combo than beer and pizza? I think not.

While Mike polished off his entire plate, those with less robust appetites would be able to make two meals out of the rigatoni. And my medium-sized pizza provided plenty of leftovers. Dare I say, Sammy’s pizza somehow tastes even better the next day.

Service

Our server, Emma, is a hard-working young lady still attending high school. She has been working at Sammy’s for two years. Her confidence and menu knowledge were impressive, defying her young age.

Emma was able to answer all my menu questions with ease. Other than having to get another server to deliver our beers (because she is underage), she was personally attentive to our every need.

In the interest of gaining knowledge and building rapport, I asked Emma a few questions, such as: What are the most popular dishes at Sammy’s? And, what is her personal favorite?

“I would say the most popular is the Sammy’s Special,” she said. This “Legacy Pizza” features Italian sausage, onions, and light green peppers.

“And, our garlic cheese bread appetizer, served with spaghetti sauce, is another popular choice,” she added.

Emma’s personal favorite is a uniquely customized stromboli. “I like to get mine with extra cheese, pepperoni and pineapple, and then dip it in our sauce,” she noted.

Verdict

Sammy’s Pizza has earned its well-deserved reputation for serving amazing pizza (and plenty of other items) in a comfortable setting. It’s a great place to celebrate with friends and family, or enjoy a slice on a random weeknight. Add in the fact that the venue is family-owned and operated, and you have a winning combination.

To us, Sammy’s is quintessentially Duluth. Stop in to the West Duluth location, and consider starting your own traditions at Sammy’s.

To learn more, please visit sammyspizzawestduluth.com.

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Andrea Busche is a Duluth and regional freelance writer credited with over 1,000 bylines in local print and digital publications. Her food column, Local Pairings, was first featured in Duluth.com magazine, and later published in the Duluth News Tribune from 2016-2018.

 

 

 

 

Caroline Kouma – Talented Soprano Makes Duluth Her Home
ARTIST PROFILE SERIES

Caroline Kouma has been sharing her tremendous talents as a captivating singer from her first productions in Casper, Wyoming, where she grew up, to Duluth today. Caroline has been described as “a versatile artist equally at home on the operatic stage and within the tapestry of an ensemble.”

“I’ve been singing and making music since before I remember! I have three older siblings, and our family is quite musical. So they all sang with me and taught me little bits on the piano,” Caroline said. “I started taking piano lessons in second grade, and then was cast in my first musical the following year, when I played Gretl in The Sound of Music at Casper College. From that point on, I was hooked! Some of my happiest memories are from singing with the Casper Children’s Chorale through my childhood.”

She explained that when she was in high school, she focused on music and performance, including in high school theatre, playing piano in jazz band and violin in orchestra, and singing in both the concert and jazz choirs.

After high school, she went to Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska. “When I got to college I could no longer keep up with the violin, but I continued to play piano in jazz band (and accompanied the jazz choir). As a vocal performance major with a theatre minor, I did a lot of singing!”

She earned a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance with a minor in Theatre in 2008. Caroline did not immediately pursue a performance career and instead turned to arts administration, working as the Office and Box Office Manager for Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra in Lincoln, Nebraska.

“I had been teaching voice and piano lessons and volunteering with a local organization to teach English as a foreign language, and I found that I really loved teaching,” she said.

“This, paired with a great desire to experience life in another part of the world, led me to apply for the Peace Corps. I served in Azerbaijan from 2010-2012 and worked as a co-teacher with local English teachers in a community school, and this experience was life-changing to say the least!”

While in Azerbaijan, Caroline also worked on a national leadership camp for girls and several arts camps, including one she created in her host community.

She went back to grad school in 2017 and received a Master of Music in Vocal Performance in 2019 from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

“After graduating, I’d hoped to continue teaching English online to support myself and then spend some time in Europe traveling, studying, auditioning, and singing. Sadly, the pandemic put an end to this plan after several wonderful months of travel that included time spent studying with a fantastic teacher in Berlin (Janet Williams), choral concerts in the UK and Germany, and a competition in Spain.”

Caroline explained that she wound up in Duluth thanks to an offer from her brother “to land here and sort myself out ‘for a few weeks’ while we saw what would happen in the course of the pandemic.”

She added, “I quickly fell in love with this place for the abundance of natural beauty and was impressed with this community’s love and care for the arts, so I decided to stay. Currently, I work in the front of house at Vikre Distillery while I continue to rebuild a growing performance career after the great pandemic pause.”

Inspiring Mentor

“I have had many wonderful mentors over the years, but I still credit Marcia Patton as my first and one of my strongest musical mentors. Mrs. Patton was my director in Casper Children’s Chorale, as well as my choir teacher in high school,” said Caroline.

“I learned so much of what I know from her. Not only did she teach me about many of the basics of music, she also taught me about dedication, commitment, consistency, expression, and hard work. I have the greatest respect for music teachers in our schools, and I hope they know the lifelong impact they can make on their students!”

Award Winning Soprano

Caroline was the recipient of the Gary Jones Memorial and Opera Omaha Guild awards at the Nebraska district Metropolitan Opera auditions and was named District Winner in 2014-15.

She was a 2017 graduate winner of the BGSU Concerto Competition and took first place awards at Ohio NATS (2018) and the Marjorie Conrad Art Song competition (2018).

Other awards include being a finalist in the Opera at Florham Vocal Competition in New Jersey (2018), Harold Haugh Light Opera Competition in Michigan (2019), and the Compostela Lírica in Santiago de Compostela, Spain (2019).

On the Stage

“Whether in an opera, musical, or play, I’ve always loved being backstage just before a show is about to begin and hearing the chatter of the audience on the other side of the curtain. There is a something so special about the energy in that moment, just before stepping onstage to tell a story. Music making and storytelling are so crucial to the human experience, and I’ve always loved the feeling that no one in the room, audience or performer, is quite the same after a performance.”

Caroline said, “My first major opera role was Fiordiligi in Cosí fan tutte, so this will always stand out as one of my favorite roles that I have ever performed. It is such a fun opera with the most exceptionally beautiful music, and singing Mozart feels like taking a luxurious bubble bath!”

“I also loved singing Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance  with Little LOON (Lyric Opera of the North) last winter,” she added. “I had so much fun with this character and getting to perform for young people and introduce them to opera is beyond fulfilling.”

“In musical theatre, I loved playing Meg in Little Women at the Duluth Playhouse last Christmas, as this was one of my favorite stories as a child. And getting to perform on the NorShor stage is such a treat – what a wonderful theatre! “

Caroline will be playing the role of Sister Sophia in the Playhouse production of The Sound of Music in December. She also sings with Twin Ports Choral Project and will be performing with another musical organization, Borealis, this fall as well.

“I am very happy with the opportunities in and around Duluth! This is a community that really ‘punches above its weight’ considering the size of the city,” she noted. “Of course, things are still picking back up after the great pandemic pause, but it has been exciting to have a fully booked calendar this fall, all with performance projects on my own front door.”

Speed Dating Tonight! with LOON

“I love performing with LOON, as it is a company that really feels like a family. I feel so fortunate to work with a professional company putting on productions of the highest caliber, right here at home!” stated Caroline.

“I was so excited when I found out I would be participating in Speed Dating Tonight! with LOON. Not only is it just the most fun opera, it touches on the universal truth of all of us seeking genuine human connection. It is a flexible opera that can be tailored to the group of people in the production, which makes it especially interesting.”

“Audience members will find themselves laughing one minute and crying the next as they see relatable, human experiences in the characters on stage. It can be fun for audience members to guess if any of the characters at the speed dating event find love in the end!”

INFORMATION ON SPEED DATING TONIGHT! (provided by LOON)

Speed Dating Tonight! is a contemporary genre-bending opera in one act, with a story centered around the activity of speed dating. With over one hundred twenty productions since its 2013 premiere, Speed Dating Tonight! by Michael Ching, based on a concept by Dean Anthony, is one of the most popular operas of the 21st century.

Part of the magic of Speed Dating Tonight! is that no two productions are exactly alike. What will LOON's production team and professional singers do with this one? You have two chances to find out.

What: Speed Dating Tonight! Sung in English with English supertitles.

Where: Clyde Iron Works, 2920 W Michigan Street, Duluth, MN 55806

When: Sunday, October 22 at 4:00 pm & Monday, October 23 at 7:00 pm. Two performances only.

Tickets: General Seating $32; Reserved Table Seating $45. Students with valid student ID $12. Buy tickets and find more information at loonopera.org or by calling 218-464-0922.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many of us are familiar with Baihly Warfield – the cheerful yet polished television anchor and host with a long-term presence at WDIO.

We gladly invite her into our homes as she presents the evening news. She also uplifts us with her afternoon lifestyle show, The Lift. At this point, she feels like part of the family.

“I was born in Rochester, and grew up in Savage, Minnesota,” she explained. “And I swore the one thing I wouldn’t do was move further north for a job.” However, it seems fate had other plans.

During her job hunt, Warfield applied for multiple jobs around the country, and received another offer in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and interest from Columbia, Missouri. But Duluth was lucky enough to make the final cut.

“I knew a few people who worked at WDIO, and the station had a great reputation,” she noted. “Ultimately, Duluth was the best fit. I thought I’d only be here two years, and here I am eight years later,” she added with a chuckle.

Warfield was initially hesitant about Duluth. But the city has an almost magical way of growing on people. Today, with a husband, career, and house that she loves, she considers herself home.

Love of Performing

Warfield has many talents and abilities that lend themselves to success in broadcast journalism. For instance, she loves to read and write. She also enjoys singing and acting.

“Beginning in middle school, I performed in community theater productions, school productions, and theater camps,” she explained. “I was also in choir and loved being on stage.

“In 9^th grade, we had a career day where we could sign up for different sessions, and one of the local news stations came in. I thought broadcast journalism could be a good marriage of my skills, and decided to pursue it.”

After graduating from Prior Lake High School, she attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Here, she earned a bachelor’s degree in communication and journalism, with an emphasis in broadcast journalism.

WDIO

While she had a few internships during college, WDIO was her first real job. She was hired immediately after graduating college in 2015, and moved to Duluth three weeks after her commencement ceremony.

Warfield was initially hired as a reporter. Here, she handled general daily reporting from Tuesdays to Saturdays. Eventually, her shifts changed to Monday – Friday, and in 2019, she was promoted to co-anchor of the 10:00 pm newscast.

Among her various talents, viewers appreciate the skillful way Warfield can quickly transition her on-air skills as required. For instance, she compassionately reports on the day’s tragedies with an authentically somber tone. She also can quickly pivot to cheerful banter with her colleagues when appropriate.

The Lift

After seven years, the station presented her with a wonderful new opportunity: to host their brand-new lifestyle show, The Lift, which premiered September 6^th, 2022. Warfield explained how the show came to be.

“After Ellen DeGeneres retired, that left a gap in our afternoon programming, and we were thinking of ways to fill it. Our sister station, KTSP in the Twin Cities, had a show called Twin Cities Live, that we aired every day from 3-4:30. But we still needed to fill that 4:30 slot.

“My boss approached me with this idea for The Lift, and I was on board right away. It’s an afternoon lifestyle show that is community-oriented and positive-focused; it’s a show where we want people to be able to take what they see and try it for themselves – like a recipe, a hiking trail, or a new coffee shop that helps people feel more connected to their neighborhood.

“The Lift provides positivity, which is what people are asking for. They don’t just want to hear about fires and city council issues. Our mission statement at The Lift is ‘Finding good as we explore, learn, and play.’”

The Lift features lighthearted topics such as Food Truck Friday. During the warmer months, Warfield visits a new food truck every week and samples their fare. Another popular – and hilarious - segment showed a good-natured Warfield climbing aboard the Weiner Cruiser – a floating hot dog cart cruising around Lake Vermilion.

In addition to Warfield as host, The Lift employs Megan Graftaas as producer; photographer/editor, Kyle Aune; and Kenny Johnson, who reports on-air two days per week. The Lift airs Monday through Friday at 4:30 pm.

The Lift is always on the lookout for exciting and positive new content. To submit a story idea, please send an e-mail to thelift@wdio.com.

Dual Duty

Warfield also continues to co-anchor the 6:00 news. Admittedly, these venues are vastly different. And they certainly keep her busy. But Warfield likes it that way.

“One of the things I love about news is that every day is different,” she said. “It’s a good reflection of what real life is in the Northland. It has to be a balance.”

In addition to her bosses taking notice of her work, the Upper Midwest Emmys have, too. Warfield, along with her colleague Kyle Aune, won a 2017 Upper Midwest Emmy for their story about LeeAnna Warner, the Chisholm, Minnesota child who went missing in 2003.

Warfield is also up for several more Emmys this year. She is nominated for her story featured on The Lift about the all-women’s sailing team, Kicks; and for a story about a man who spent 20 years transcribing his father’s letters during WWII. She is also nominated for an Emmy for one of WDIO’s 6:00 pm broadcasts about a snowstorm.

Personal

Warfield and her husband, Andrew Blackwell, have been married since 2020. Andrew works in IT at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Together, they are dedicated to their church and to helping others. Warfield serves on the Board for Eastridge Community Church, and Andrew enjoys helping friends and family by donating his handyman skills.

In her spare time, Warfield enjoys walking, hiking, reading, and patronizing Duluth’s breweries and restaurants. “I was always a library regular – then and now. And I love walking at our city parks,” she noted. “That’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed in Duluth – no matter where you live, you’re close to a park.

“I also love football,” she added. “I’m a huge Vikings fan and I also enjoy fantasy football.”

Looking ahead to the future, Warfield has some big goals. “I’d love to see The Lift continue to grow. There are a lot of directions we can go. It’s very encouraging to see how people have embraced it. Maybe I’ll even have a cohost someday.

“And, Andy bought a foreclosure in 2013, and fixed it up. We still live there today. I would love to do that again – find more gems that just need some TLC.”

Tips for a Rewarding Career in Journalism

Warfield has a few helpful tips for others interested in a career in broadcast journalism. “I would say commit yourself to being a lifelong learner. I recently took a strengths assessment and my top strength is as a learner, which totally fits. I enjoy seeking out people who know a lot, and sharing that knowledge with our viewers.

“Ultimately, the most rewarding thing about my work is connecting people to things and other people that will enrich their lives,” she added. “And the variety is my favorite part of the job. Every day is different. I just love connecting with people and having a good sense of what’s going on in our community.”

 

 

From a young age, Karl von Rabenau has been “on his toes,” first as a dancer and performer and now as a teacher, choreographer and the current artistic director of the Minnesota Ballet,

Family Background

Because Karl’s father was in the Air Force, he was born while his father was stationed overseas in Würzburg, Germany. After his father’s tour in Vietnam, the family was stationed here in Duluth. After that, Karl’s family stayed here, and he attended multiple schools in town, including Marshall School for high school, before his family moved to Boston, MA, so that Karl could further his dance training.

“Both of my parents are artists and were constantly seeking out opportunities to have my brothers and I experience art, whether it was actively participating in them or going to performances,” Karl noted. “We were incredibly fortunate to have my older brothers study violin and cello from two former DSSO musicians.”

“For me, my mother always believed I would be a dancer because of how physical I was. She enrolled me in dance classes when I was 6 years old, but it didn’t stick for me,” he said.

“When I was 12 years old my mother asked if I would be interested in trying again. To convince me, she bought tickets to The Nutcracker that December. Like many kids, I was mesmerized by what I saw on stage, so agreed to give it a try.

I took my first class in the studios Minnesota Ballet still works in today shortly after the performance I saw,” he explained.

He added, “It wasn’t always easy. There were many hiccups along the way, but I had a very patient teacher and really wonderful classmates who accepted me. The moment I stepped on stage, there was no turning back. I was hooked!”

Learning and Succeeding in His Craft

In the dance world, it is not unusual for people to graduate from high school and go right into ballet companies. “This is the route that I took,” said Karl. “Upon graduating from high school in Boston, I was fortunate to be hired as an apprentice with Boston Ballet. The degree I have is simply the forty years I trained, danced and continued teaching and directing in this profession.”

After high school, Karl apprenticed with the Boston Ballet for two years. Then he was hired as a company dancer with the Omaha Ballet. After one season, he auditioned and was offered a corps de ballet contract with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

After five seasons, he was back on the audition trail again because he was missing the Midwest. From those auditions, he was offered a soloist contract with the Milwaukee Ballet.

He said, “I spent the final ten years of my performing career with Milwaukee Ballet after which I retired from performing and transitioned into teaching which is something I had wanted to pursue from the age of 19.”

Karl cites many memorable dancing roles in his career including a dance called “Tarantella” which he learned from James Capp at the Boston Ballet School and danced that pas de deux at the Pittsburgh Ballet theater.

Other roles and teachers included working with Choo San Goh, and with his mentor Bruce Wells dancing Benvolio in his Romeo and Juliet, both while in Pittsburgh and Milwaukee.

“In dance, Bruce Wells has been weaving through my career and guiding me since we first met at Boston Ballet many years ago,” Karl stated. “His advice and guidance ability to see what is the right path has been a cornerstone of my professional career.”

“My parents have also been incredible mentors. Both of my parents are immensely gifted artists in their own right. My mother, Cecilia Lieder, is one of the finest printmakers I have ever seen, and my dad, Stephen Williams, is an incredible potter. From both of them I learned what a passion for art requires of you and what it will take if you are willing to commit to your chosen art form. If you are committed enough, you will surpass the farthest aspirations one can have.”

“My wife of 20 years, Jennifer Miller and I met through our time working together at Milwaukee Ballet.  We have two daughters, Adelaide and Kadence,” Karl said. Seven years ago, our daughters broke us down and we adopted two tabby cats from the Humane Society in Milwaukee. We adore them!”

In his spare time, he enjoys working on old houses. “There is something about bringing life back into something that has been neglected for a long time that is truly satisfying.”

The Rewarding Lake Arts Project

Prior to accepting the position of Artistic Director here at Minnesota Ballet, he and his wife, began a small non-profit company, Lake Arts Project in Milwaukee, WI. The original mission was to bring together high school artists from different disciplines to create art and dance together. The goal was to show young artists how their artwork affects the world around them.

Over the years, they transitioned to working with a local group in Milwaukee that works with veterans called Feast of Crispian who according to Karl “does amazing work using Shakespeare to help veterans with issues they may have transitioning from active duty to civilian life.”

Together with Feast of Crispian, Lake Arts Project sought out schools and organizations that worked with at-risk youth. Veterans and students would workshop together doing Shakespeare, then Karl and Jennifer had them also work with another of their collaborators, DNAWorks. Adam McKinney, the co-director, would do a movement workshop with the students and veterans showing them how movement can be a healing modality.

From there Lake Arts Project hired professional choreographers and dancers to work with student dancers and veterans to create dances based off of their stories. All of this culminated in live performances.

“For me, there are very few things in life that match watching the courage of the veterans we have had the honor to work with step out on stage, perform a dance and then we get to witness through watching them or through their own testimony how transformative that experience is for them. It is amazing to behold and humbling to be a part of.”

Letting Poe Guide Him

With his next project at the Minnesota Ballet, Karl is excited to share all the thrills and chills of several Edgar Allan Poe tales in “POE,”  with an intertwining of The Purloined Letter, The Tell Tale Heart and The Raven, and The Death of the Red Mask and The Pit and the Pendulum.

“When creating new works, I often think of the stories I was raised on. My grandmother was a school teacher on the frontiers of Minnesota, so my family has a strong affection for American stories. Edgar Allan Poe is such an incredible, hair raising and visual storyteller, that it seems like a good fit for the stage.”

Karl added, “Because we have the great fortune to perform this program in our Studio 4 theater space, the audience will be closer to us than they normally would be at the DECC. This presents an opportunity to make this a visual and auditory experience. I am hoping to create a performance that will also allow the audience to smell and feel things as the performance progresses.”

“The greatest challenge is to bring all the imaginable possibilities to the stage,” explained Karl. “Each story is so vivid that the possibilities are expansive. Distilling it down for an evening of dance while maintaining the integrity of the work has been challenging and exciting all at the same time.”

He noted, “There have been so many very memorable productions of Dracula done in the recent past, that I wanted to find something unique for our Halloween season. Though there have been pieces created around work by Poe in the past, I think having an entire evening dedicated to him is unique.”

“POE is a world premiere event retelling selected works by America’s preeminent author of mystery and the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe,” added Karl. “What better way to enjoy the spirit of Halloween than with this spine-tingling production presented in our own Studio Four, where you feel like you can almost reach out and touch the action!”

POE - The Ballet will be presented at The Depot Stage Four Theatre, Oct 20-22, and 26-29. For info and tickets, go here

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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.

 

 

 

 

Entrepreneurs Emily and Jay Broman – Owners of the last Bridgeman’s Restaurant and the Duluth Junk Hunt

When it comes to the stereotype of “Minnesota Nice,” entrepreneurs Jay and Emily Broman certainly fit the bill. Together, they own the world’s last Bridgeman’s Restaurant – right here in Duluth - and are also the founders and organizers of the Duluth Junk Hunt.

This humble, hard-working couple has worked hard to build their Duluth businesses into what they are today: thriving operations that locals and tourists alike enjoy visiting, again and again.

Bridgeman’s History

Bridgeman’s Ice Cream is a well-known and loved brand. The many Bridgeman's restaurants in days gone by are fondly remembered. But what many people don’t know is that it all started here in Duluth.

Back in 1883, Duluthian Henry Bridgeman founded a dairy business, where he delivered milk to local residents. He began by peddling fresh milk from home to home, using a goat cart. Bridgeman-Russell was founded in 1888, and incorporated in 1903 by Henry Bridgeman and Newell Francis Russell. Through hard work, persistence, quality products, and a little luck, their business grew into the largest dairy concern in the Midwest.

In 1936, his sons, Chester and Roy, expanded the brand to include ice cream and opened the original Bridgeman’s Ice Cream Shoppe in Duluth. The brothers ultimately opened six Bridgeman Ice Cream Shoppes within eighteen months. Bridgeman’s restaurants later followed.

Over the next decades, many Bridgeman’s ice cream shoppes and restaurants opened across the United States. The restaurant franchise flourished in the 1970s and 1980s before being bought out in the early 1990s, then incurring a slow and steady decline.

Last Bridgeman's Restaurant Standing

During high school, Jay Broman worked as a busboy for Bridgeman’s Restaurant, and truly enjoyed his time there. A number of years later, when he found out the owners of Bridgeman’s Restaurant by the mall were interested in selling, he jumped at the chance and bought the business in 2002.

Today, the Duluth location – at 2202 Mountain Shadow Drive - is the only Bridgeman’s Restaurant left. “There used to be a lot of different Bridgeman’s all over the place, but we are the only restaurant left,” Emily noted.

“Bridgeman’s Corporation is still located in Minneapolis, but is focused (only) on ice cream,” she added. “And Bridgeman’s still makes its ice cream in Wisconsin. However, we are independently owned. We buy our ice cream from them, but we do our own menu, restaurant design, etc."

The Bromans work hard to keep their “modern-style diner” exciting for customers. The menu – which the Bromans have created themselves - offers everything from mouth-watering burgers and salads to sundaes, shakes, “mega malts,” a Friday night fish fry, hearty breakfasts, and more.

“Our customers appreciate our from-scratch meals,” Emily said. “Our burgers are fresh, never frozen, and our in-house baker creates delicious pies, cinnamon rolls, and soups – all from scratch.” Bridgeman’s also has a catering arm, and the restaurant caters for weddings, business events, and more.

Emily attributes being the “last restaurant standing” to a few potential factors. “Hopefully, it’s due to good leadership,” she said. “But our menu is also really great. Our big, made-from-scratch breakfasts are served all day.

“And, our staff is incredible. The #1 compliment we receive is how great our employees are. A few have been there for 20+ years, and we have very low turnover.” Bridgeman’s currently has over 100 employees, many of whom are students.

Recently, the Bromans also added a food truck to their portfolio. “This year was our second summer with it, and it keeps us very busy,” Emily noted. “We mostly visit businesses – by invitation – and serve their staff. We aren’t doing any festivals or anything at this point.”

The menu options are endless for Bridgeman’s expanded venues. “We like how we can go outside the box with the food truck and catering business,” she noted. “We can serve burgers and sandwiches, or items like Indian curries and Pad Thai – we can literally do anything. We have really talented chefs.”

The Bromans are also currently refurbishing a vintage Airstream trailer. They plan to somehow utilize it for Bridgeman’s operations in the future.

The Duluth Junk Hunt

Another of the Bromans’ initiatives is the Duluth Junk Hunt. The event, which started in 2012, is held the first weekend of May and November at the DECC.

Here, 140+ unique booths are set up, and vendors sell antique, vintage, and repurposed items. This includes furniture, home décor, gardening pieces, and more. In addition to the Bromans and a few family members, many Bridgeman’s employees also work at this event.

When it comes to the vendors, most are local, but many also travel to attend. “Our vendors are mostly from Minnesota, but also from the surrounding states. We can have roughly 140 booths, and there’s always a waiting list,” Emily shared.

The Junk Hunt has been a perfect addition to Duluth’s shopping/antiquing scene. “We started the Junk Hunt here because there isn’t anything like it in Duluth,” Emily said. “We thought Duluthians would really love it.”

And love it, they do; the Duluth Junk Hunt typically sees about 5,000 shoppers per event.

Forever Duluth

Emily acknowledged that the restaurant industry is a busy, but rewarding one. “We’re both pretty involved, and very hands-on with the restaurant,” she noted. “Our work is very tiring, but we do love it.” When they have days off, the Bromans love to visit the North Shore or go for a walk in the woods on one of Duluth's many beautiful trails.

For the Bromans, Duluth is home. They never even considered relocating anywhere else. “We both love Duluth, and it’s never been a question as to whether we’d move,” Emily said.

“It’s so beautiful here. We drive by the lake and are constantly in awe that we live here. Duluth has everything you need. It’s quiet, and really the perfect size.”

For more info about Duluth Bridgeman’s Restaurant and catering business, including the menu, please visit duluthbridgemans.com. For information about the Duluth Junk Hunt, please visit duluthjunkhunt.com. Both businesses can also be found on Facebook.

 

 

 

 

When Duluth won Outside Magazine's "Best Town in America" Contest, the August 2014 cover story spurred Tanner and Pamela Hermes to move to Duluth. 

Destination Duluth's
Photographer Profile Series

 Tanner Hermes

Although his Louisiana accent has faded with time, Tanner Hermes’ southern charm and good manners remain firmly intact. One of four children born to Randal and Susan Hermes, a police officer and a school teacher, Tanner is polite and well-spoken. “My mom was very big on grammar,” he noted.

What is a Louisiana boy doing way up here in the Great Northwoods? you may be wondering. Hermes was inspired to move here after reading Outside Magazine’s 2014 story, “Why Duluth is the Best Town in America,” written by Stephanie Pearson. [1]

“I love the fact that Duluth has a small-town feel, but with tons of amenities,” he shared. “I can ski, rock climb, and even mountain bike right out my back door. There are great restaurants, breweries, and shopping. Our kids love the zoo and the aquarium. And everything is so easily accessible and right in front of us – with no traffic.”

Youth and Education

Athletics were a significant part of Hermes’ youth. He played several sports, but truly excelled on the football field.

Hermes played college football at Louisiana Tech, earning a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology – studying human movement. His alma mater is located right in his hometown of Ruston, Louisiana.

He later graduated with a master’s degree in medical science from Arcadia University’s physician assistant program in Philadelphia. Before moving to the Twin Ports, Hermes and his wife, Pam, lived in Seattle for seven years.

Today, Hermes lives right here in Duluth. He and Pam have two young children – Hazel (7), and Hunter (3), and a Springer Spaniel named Tug. Hermes is a physician assistant at Orthopedic Associates. He is also a relatively new, but highly talented photographer.

He and his family made the move in 2017, and today, he considers Duluth home.

Draw to Medicine

Hermes first considered a career in medicine because of his involvement in sports. “I was initially interested in physical therapy,” he said. “I felt it was a natural progression from playing sports.

“But I also enjoyed surgery and orthopedics. I did some job shadowing and decided I wanted to be a PA.”

Hermes met his wife, Pam, while attending PA school in Pennsylvania. While Tanner was drawn to orthopedics, Pam focused on neurology and stroke care. Today, she is a physician assistant for the stroke team at Essentia Health. Interestingly, Pam is originally from Hurley, Wisconsin.

The two graduated from PA school in 2010, and moved to Seattle, where they both found jobs in their field. They were married in 2012.

Seattle

Initially, the couple loved Seattle. “We spent every weekend in the mountains, hiking and backpacking,” Hermes said. “I volunteered with the Seattle Mountaineers and even got into rock climbing.”

After some time, however, the long commutes and a welcome new addition had the Hermes’ thinking of a change. “After we had our first child, Hazel, it became more important for us to be near family,” Hermes said.

“And the Pacific Northwest is so beautiful, but you feel like you’re really far away,” he added. “For instance, it took a 2-hour car ride for us to go skiing in Seattle.”

The couple knew they wanted to be somewhere in the Midwest. So, they started researching places to live. Initially, Lacrosse, Wisconsin, and Marquette, Michigan were top contenders. But then they discovered Duluth.

Duluth via Outside Magazine

In May 2014, Duluth was one of 64 cities selected to participate in Outside Magazine's contest for "Best Town In America."  Destination Duluth designed and implemented the #VoteDuluth social media campaign and website, in a campaign led by then-mayor Don Ness. Competing through six rounds of bracket-style face-offs, Duluth handily won each round and was crowned in the Outside Magazine August 2014 cover story.

After reading the article, Hermes recalls turning to his wife, tossing the question, "What about Duluth?"

“I still remember the article. I thought, ‘This place sounds really cool. It has everything we like to do – hiking trails, mountain biking, skiing. And Pam had remembered trips she had taken to Duluth as a kid.

“I started looking for job opportunities for orthopedic PAs, and believe it or not, there were two job opportunities in Duluth. One for an orthopedic PA, and one for a stroke PA. It couldn’t have been more perfect.

“We came to Duluth, interviewed, and discovered it was the perfect fit for our family. I was hired at Orthopedic Associates. I help patients with joint replacements, trauma, and sports-related injuries with surgeon Dr. Sam Harms. And, Pam was hired as a PA in stroke care at Essentia. We moved here in 2017.

Photography

Hermes is also a talented photographer. He bought his first camera in 2011, but at that time, he didn’t have the drive to delve into the hobby truly.

During the pandemic, however, Hermes decided to get back into photography. And Duluth and the surrounding area have provided the perfect muse. His niche includes vibrant landscapes, northern lights, and captivating shots of the night sky and Milky Way.

His images, rich in dramatic color and light, have captured much attention. Destination Duluth’s Jerry Thoreson contacted Hermes in 2022, and Hermes has since become a well-respected photographer on DD’s platforms. He received a certificate recognizing 260,000 impressions of his 12 photos featured on DD Facebook and Instagram in 2022.

Hermes shared several of his favorite spots to photograph. “I love Stoney Point for waves, Lake Superior images, and surfing,” he said. “And I like the Isabella area for shooting the Milky Way and northern lights. Brighton Beach is another favorite. I feel like there are so many little pockets of interesting rock formations and compositions all along the North Shore.”

A recent highlight shared on the Destination Duluth platforms was Hermes’ 2023 Labor Day photos. They included Hermes, friends, and family enjoying a day of paddleboarding on Lake Superior. A fun addition was the floating charcuterie board!

Hermes is entirely self-taught, sharing what he has learned through watching YouTube videos and other online tutorials and reading photography blogs.

When it comes to equipment, Hermes has upgraded since his early days. “I finally bought my dream camera in 2021,” he explained. “It is a Sony A7 III with a full-frame sensor. This is important for night sky photography. It allows you to gather more light and shows less ‘noise,’ or grain, in the images.”

He also utilizes the app PhotoPills, which helps photographers plan their photo shoots by calculating the exact timing of the sun and moon.

While he doesn’t currently promote sales of his images, they are available for purchase by request. As Hermes has continued to improve his craft, he has also been asked to take family photos for friends.

Looking Ahead

Hermes has been richly blessed with a rewarding career, a healthy family, and an absolute passion for his adopted hometown. Looking ahead to the future, he shared that he’d like to continue to improve his photography.

“It’s great to know you can be entirely self-taught and learn to do anything you’re passionate about,” he said. “I feel like photography is a hobby that can continue to grow for me. Improving my website is the next step in my evolution.

“But for now, I have really enjoyed contributing to Destination Duluth. I feel like I’m doing my part to help share the beauty of Duluth.”

To view his images, please visit tannerhermesphotography.com.

[1] Why Duluth is the Best Town in America (outsideonline.com)

Rebecca Katz Harwood Inspires UMD Students in Dance and Theatre

Recalling her early interest in dance, Rebecca Katz Harwood, an associate professor of Dance & Musical Theatre at UMD, said, “I was literally one of those children who would dance around the living room, so that was my first involvement – putting on my parents’ records and moving instinctively.”

She started formal ballet lessons at age seven and began performing with the Duluth Ballet the next year. She explained, “I think what hooked me about doing ballet was a combination of the work itself and the specialness of performing – the costumes, the lights, the response of an audience. Being involved at the Ballet and in the shows did gave me a sense of belonging to a community, and it gave me a sense of identity.”

While she has had many mentors along the way, her most important ones are her parents. Her late father, Albert Katz, was a professor at UWS, teaching theatre and communications classes. Her mother, Virginia Katz, was an associate professor at UMD working in the Communications Department.

“For both of them, they believed in the power of education to make a difference in their students’ lives, not just by helping them get better jobs but by giving them the tools and the understanding to be better people, and to better serve their communities,” Rebecca stated.

Both of her parents also fostered her and her older sister Rachel’s love of theatre  from an early age. Rachel is now a Seattle-based theatre director and dramaturge, who has also worked at UMD as a guest director.

After graduating from Duluth East High School, Rebecca started out at Northwestern University, later transferring to Macalester College and graduating with a BA in Religious Studies and Anthropology.

While living in the Twin Cities, she worked as a performer, teacher, and as a freelancer, and she had a seven-year association as a member of the Ethnic Dance Theatre. She also worked in arts administration, including working for the James Sewell Ballet as their Operations Manager.

When she and her husband-to-be Chris Harwood went to grad school in NYC, she took dance classes, auditioned, and freelanced as an arts administrator and as a dance researcher for a Broadway choreographer, with a few small performing gigs.

Her formal education and dance training came together when she went to grad school from 2003-2005 to earn her MFA in Dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

“I then applied for and got the job at UMD in 2006. It was an unexpected gift to end up back in Duluth. But I was the hybrid they were looking for – I wanted to teach both studio technique classes and academic lecture classes, and I wanted to be creating work in both concert dance and musical theatre,” she said.

At UMD, she currently teaches a variety of both studio and lecture courses in dance and theatre, and also serves as the coordinator of the Dance Minor.

Rebecca has artistic directed thirteen dance concerts, including conceiving the themes for the past four main stage concerts. She has both directed and choreographed Tales From the Bad Years; Go, Dog. Go!; Spring Awakening, and now Spitfire Grill, and has also served as choreographer for seven musicals at UMD.

Beyond UMD, her concert dance work has been presented at various venues in the Twin Cities and in New York. She has also choreographed shows for the Duluth Playhouse, the Black Hills Playhouse in South Dakota, and for theater simple and Taproot Theatre in Seattle.

Rebecca’s husband, Chris Harwood, is the Production Director and one of the on-air hosts on The North 103.3. They have one son, who just started at East High School this fall. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, needlepoint, and reading mysteries.

Excited about her current project at UMD, the musical The Spitfire Grill, she said, “We want to to tell a good story that makes people want to lean in and engage with this world. Spitfire is an open-hearted show, and while it does soften some of the hardest edges of the movie, it doesn’t shy away from some difficult issues.”

She noted, “I hope that people see the humanity in all the characters. I think ultimately my goal is to stay out of the way of the material and let it shine.”

“The themes of the show also resonate for me – it is about second chances and about the value of community. In the show, that community is a small town, but it is really about finding your people,” she noted.

“It is also about appreciating the natural world around you. I think those of us lucky enough to live in Duluth and the greater Twin Ports can definitely relate to that. I am most excited to get to share this beautiful score with the community,” Rebecca said.

She explained that the show has a cast of seven actors, with two understudies, and will include a five-piece band with keyboard, violin, cello, guitar/mandolin, and accordion. Patrick Colvin is the show’s Musical Director.

“There were several reasons why UMD wanted to do this show now – it has been popping up on our season selection lists for years, but we hadn’t found the right slot for it until now. It is more of a chamber musical, small cast and small band. It is great for our students to get the chance to do a more intimate work,” she said.

Rebecca added, “I would like people to know that UMD Theatre is alive and well and we look forward to welcoming everyone to our shows, whether you are a longtime patron or joining us for the first time.

The Spitfire Grill at the Marshall Performing Arts Center on the UMD campus

Oct 6th, 7th | 7:30 PM
Oct 8th | 2:00 PM (ASL Performance)
Oct 11th, 12th, 13th | 7:30 PM
Oct 14th | 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
For more information on this show and this year’s UMD theater and dance season, go to tickets.umn.edu or call the box office at 218-726-8561.

Dreams and relationships are rekindled in The Spitfire Grill, with James Valcq and Fred Alley’s musical adaptation of the hit 1996 film. Following Percy — a woman with a shadowy past who shows up at Gilead, Wisconsin’s lone diner looking for a job — the show’s folk-inflected songs weave a heartwarming and inspirational tale of redemption, perseverance, and family.

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About Sheryl Jensen

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Compelling New Documentary from Duluth Filmmaker Marius Anderson
Attend the big film screening on Friday, October 6^th at The Historic NorShor Theatre Duluth

It’s been called the toughest endurance race in the world. Why would anyone do this, especially when it’s 40 degrees below zero?

In the new film 40 Below, which is set in northern Minnesota, we meet Leah, a junk food eating scientist, and Bill, an accomplished ultra-marathoner who just can’t seem to finish this incredibly challenging race. They must run, bike or ski 135 miles over three days in the solitary woods, sometimes hallucinating and barely stopping to rest or sleep in the snow without getting frostbite or freezing to death. What can we learn from them about life, love, and happiness?

This is the synopsis from the brand-new film, 40 Below – The Toughest Race in the World. This compelling documentary covers the Arrowhead 135 – an extreme ultra-endurance race that happens once per year.

Here, athletes bike, run, or ski the race’s brutal 135 miles on a route from International Falls to Tower, Minnesota, on what is statistically the coldest day of the year. Hence the film’s title, 40 Below.

Early in the film, viewers are introduced to protagonist Bill Bradley as he makes his 7^th attempt to finish the race. Between his boisterous laugh and occasional tears, Bradley wears his heart on his sleeve. It’s impossible not to root for the lovable Bradley, along with the many other impressive competitors shown in the film.

40 Below is already racking up some impressive accolades, including:

• Winner - Audience Choice Award Documentary Feature @ MSPIFF 2023
• Winner - Best of Fest @ Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF 2023)
• Winner - Special Jury Prize San Francisco Documentary Film Festival (SFDocFest 2023)

The film is garnering plenty of buzz nationwide; however, it is expected to be a local hit, as well. After all, the filmmaker, Marius Anderson lives right here in Duluth!

Local residents can look forward to attending the premiere on Friday, October 6^th, at The Historic Norshor Theatre Duluth.

About the Filmmaker

As noted, filmmaker Marius Anderson lives in Duluth. However, it took him a bit of a journey to find his forever home.

“I was born in Southern Germany in 1984, and went to film school in Berlin,” Anderson explained. “In 2015, I traveled to Stockholm, Sweden to run the Stockholm half marathon. After the race, I met my wife Meredith, who was born and raised in Duluth. She was traveling to Sweden to run the half marathon.

“Fast forward, and in 2017, I moved to Duluth and we got married. We now have two wonderful children, Pippa (3) and Niles (1).

“I love living in Duluth,” Anderson noted. “I own a film production company in town, London Road Films, and do a lot of documentary and corporate film work in Minnesota and out of state. My big passion is creating sports documentaries.

“Every year I film for the Germany soccer league, ‘The Bundesliga’ in the US - in places like New York City, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Atlanta. In 2021, I was fortunate to work for Amazon Studios on a 6-part sports docuseries. I filmed with NFL superstars and Superbowl champions Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In Minneapolis, I filmed a short doc with Twins legends and league MVPs Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer.”

Anderson also served as director, co-producer, cinematographer and editor of 40 Below, co-produced by Melody Gilbert and co-edited by Mike Scholtz.

Behind the Scenes

Anderson shared some exciting behind-the-scenes details about creating this film, “Our adventure documentary film covers the most extreme endurance race in the world, according to many accomplished athletes who have tried to finish it," Marius states.

“The film was shot in St. Louis County during the extreme Polar Vortex in 2019. The finish line of the toughest race in the world is in Tower, Minnesota - only 90 minutes from Duluth.

“The cutoff time is 60 hours, and there are only three checkpoints; on one of them, all you get is water. In comparison, at an Iron Man, you have 28 aid stations.

“If you finish an Iron Man, and even if you win one and show the certificate of your accomplishment to the race director of the Arrowhead 135, Ken Krueger, he would say, ‘What other, tougher extreme endurance events have you finished? An Iron Man does not qualify you to start our event!’ He wants to make sure you survive.”

Anderson explained how he initially heard about the Arrowhead 135. “My father-in-law told me that two of his colleagues from work had done the race, and they saw someone hallucinating after being out on the trail for over 50 hours.

“That hallucinating person said that he was seeing dancing moose. Hearing that sparked my interest and I started planning to shoot this documentary. I wanted to follow the question: ‘Why would anyone voluntarily go through so much pain and risk their life?’

“So I filmed the race in 2019, which happened to be the coldest race they had ever had in over 15 years, with temperatures around 40 below Fahrenheit (hence the movie title 40 Below). It was during the extreme Polar Vortex. Schools in Minnesota were closed. I remember seeing on the news in the days leading up to the race that they told everyone to stay at home and not go outside. That's when the racers went to the starting line, and I started filming. My wife kissed me goodbye and said, ‘Be extremely careful out there. You have no idea what this kind of cold temperature actually means!’

 

“Coming from Germany and not being used to temperatures anywhere near this cold was really tough and extreme for me in making the film. I figured I had to be like the racers and just keep going and never quit!”

Anderson shared that some of the biggest challenges of making this film were the risk of frostbite, crewmember vehicles getting stuck, keeping his gear warm enough to function, and lack of sleep.

Successes

But these challenges have been well worth it. 40 Below is proving to be a huge hit with audiences.

“After five sold-out screenings at the MSPIFF 2023 film festival in Minneapolis, and winning the Audience Choice Award amongst 190 films - and after screenings in San Francisco and other places (which were all sold out) - we are now preparing for our largest screening yet, the hometown screening,” Anderson said. “40 Below will be the big opening-night film of the Duluth Superior Film Festival.”

Lessons

Anderson shared the most important lesson he wanted to impart to 40 Below’s viewers. “In the end, I learned that the most important thing in life is to try. This is a lesson that anyone can appreciate, not just outdoors enthusiasts or athletes.

“I hope that people who watch this film will get a sense of the camaraderie, community, and goodwill that springs from this race,” he added. “And I hope they’ll begin to wonder what they can do to push themselves off the couch and out of their comfort zone and try something new, whatever that may be.”

Details

We at Destination Duluth had the privilege of pre-screening the movie, and trust us: it is a must-see film, jam-packed with heart and adventure. Even if you aren’t an ultra-athlete, it contains nuggets of inspiration – and plenty of enjoyment - for all viewers.

40 Below will screen for one night only in Duluth on Friday, October 6^th at 7 pm at The Historic Norshor Theatre, as part of the Duluth Superior Film Festival. After the Duluth screening, the film will be shown at other film festivals in the US and abroad, with plans to have it available for streaming in 2024.

Those who are interested can sign up for a newsletter at www.40belowmovie.com to be the first to know about upcoming screenings and also about streaming options in the future.

 

Watch the trailer here 

Here's the link for Event info and tickets:

Find general info at www.40belowmovie.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The frankest and freest product of the human mind and heart is a love letter," wrote Mark Twain. Sadly, the love letter has all but disappeared in the age of texts, tweets, video chats, and generic greeting cards.

The love letter is, however, very much alive and well in A.R Gurney’s 1988 two-person play Love Letters at Fitger’s Spirit of the North Theatre.

Gurney insisted that Love Letters requires “no theatre, no lengthy rehearsal, no special set, no memorization of lines.” The Boat Club production, with work from designers Jeff Brown and Curtis Phillips, does add some beautiful set pieces to give richness to the contrasting environments in which the two characters read their letters to each other.

Director Jonathan Manchester cast two favorite actors from the Twin Ports theater scene for these challenging roles, Michael Kraklio and Julie Ahasay. Both bring a wealth of acting experience to this show and, for Ahasay, also a number of directing gigs. Manchester too brings his varied theatrical background of acting and directing to guide his actors through a story of love, wrong turns, and fate.

Since its first performance in 1988, when the play was presented at the New York Public Library, with the author himself and actress Holland Taylor playing the roles, it has become a staple of community, regional, and professional theater, including on Broadway. Love Letters was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama in 1990.

The list of some of the big-name actors who have taken on these two parts is impressive and includes: Carol Burnett and Brian Dennehy; Sigourney Weaver and Jeff Daniels; Katharine Ross and Sam Elliott; Alan Alda and Candice Bergen; Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks; Sally Field and Bryan Cranston; and Elizabeth Taylor and James Earl Jones, among a legion of others.

The biggest challenge of the show is for the actors to bring these two complex characters to life, through only the reading of cards and letters that they write to each other over the fifty years of their relationship. For the most part, the two actors sit and read the letters, not looking at each other throughout much of the play.

Kraklio has the less showy role as the conservative, shy, sometimes stuffy and hesitant Andrew Makepeace Ladd III.  As his middle name suggests, he is more likely to make peace, than to face confrontation.

Kraklio best uses his comic acting chops in places like in his funny discussion of a groin pull that prevented him from dancing with Melissa.

He also shows well his true love of writing in his eloquent speeches about why he wants to write to Melissa.”I feel like a true lover when I'm writing you. This letter, which I'm writing with my own hand, with my own pen, in my own penmanship, comes from me and no one else, and is a present of myself to you.”

Kraklio shines when he talks about the importance of writing letters in amusing lines such as, “One thing about letters, you can’t hang up on them.” Melissa, of course, quickly retorts, “You can tear up the letters though, enclosed are the pieces.”

While at times, Kraklio could have used more facial and vocal variance, he is truly wonderful as an effective foil, occasional adversary, dear friend, and finally, a remorseful lover, who realizes too late the years lost, not spent with his true soul mate.

Ahasay is in entirely in her element, showing the many sides of the prism that is Melissa, an awkward, rebellious, wild, artistic, troubled, and, at times, “lost princess,” a phrase that Andrew uses to describe her from the first time he saw her in elementary school.

Ahasay reflects Melissa’s entirely different view of writing letters in her own uninhibited way. “Why do they keep pushing us together then pulling us apart? I think we’re all being brought up by a bunch of foolish farts. Now we’ll have to write letters which I hate.”

Using her absolutely magnificent repertoire of facial expressions, Ahasay has many shades of emotion showing on her face, whether she is reading one of her own letters or listening and reacting to one of his.

Her pacing, expression, and tone are demonstrative of her character’s petulance, anger, sadness, sense of humor, and ultimately her long unrequited love for her Andy.

Gurney, in praising actors who have played Andrew and Melissa, said, “What they do is a testament to the actor’s art. They just have the text. It’s like hang-gliding, they jump off the cliff and they fly. “

Both Kraklio and Ahasay do take the required leaps, and each of them delivers a performance that most often flies. Then the audience and their imaginations fill in the blanks between the lines to understand this tale of love land sadness, joy, and remorse, and these two flawed but fascinating people.

This play is both a love letter to the theater and an ode to the lost art of writing love letters. It deserves to be seen. A disappointment was the small number of audience members in attendance for opening night.

It is vital for audiences to also be patrons for the smaller arts organizations. Without the support of area audiences, it is challenging for these smaller organizations to continue to add their important piece to our theatrical and cultural landscape.

Bravo to producers like the Boat Club’s Jason Vincent and to companies who sponsor and contribute to arts organizations, small and large.

A Boat Club Production

Love Letters by A.R.Gurney At Fitger’s Spirit of the North Theater

SHOW DATES & TIMES
September 22-23 7:30pm | September 24 2:00pm
September 28-30 7:30pm | October 1 2:00pm

Box Office Phone Number: (218) 623-7065

Buy tickets at boatclubrestaurant.com  Click on tickets from main site menu.

Next up for Boat Club Productions is A Don’t Hug Me Christmas Carol, running December 8-17. Tickets are available now.

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About Sheryl Jensen

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos by Mike Busche

Introducing Eat & Drink Duluth  (E&DD)
by Andrea Busche, the new Destination Duluth Foodie Editor. Andrea and her photographer husband, Mike, will be reviewing locally-owned restaurants and breweries.

E&DD REVIEW
Azteca’s Mexican Grill Is A Fiesta for All Five Senses

Every now and then, I experience a craving that simply must be satisfied – an intense longing that can only be extinguished with gooey melted cheese, crispy tortilla chips, creamy guacamole, and the sweet-tart delight of a potent Margarita

Yes, my friends, we are talking about the pleasures of Mexican cuisine. And boy, do we have a treat for you today.

We recently dined at Azteca’s Mexican Grill, located at 2224 Mountain Shadow Drive. While the restaurant is housed within a strip mall, you’d be remiss to judge a book by its cover.

Inside, you’ll find an absolute fiesta of Mexican delights. The restaurant, owned and operated by Jenny Campante since 2016, is bright and cheerful, and the food is superb. Everything from the food and service to the music and atmosphere invokes feelings of a party – where you’re the guest of honor.

Please join us as we Eat & Drink Duluth – Azteca’s style!

The Vibe

We visited Azteca’s at 4 pm on a Tuesday (Taco Tuesday)! We intentionally arrived before the dinner rush to munch on some chips, leisurely sip a Marg, and get the lay of the land.

We were greeted promptly and led to a booth in the restaurant; Azteca’s has a spacious restaurant and a smaller bar area.

Upon arrival, we were the only patrons in the restaurant. But that changed by about 5 pm, when the restaurant began to fill up with college students, families, and a couple “ladies’ night out” tables.

Our senses were instantly tickled with the festive sounds of Mariachi music, bright, cheerful décor, and delicious aromas coming from the kitchen. The combination of booths and tables are decked out in all colors of the rainbow, providing a joyful atmosphere.

We were soon greeted warmly by our server, Juan, who brought us a warm basket of thick tortilla chips, a side of refried beans, and two dishes of fresh salsa.

The Food

We kicked off our dining adventure by ordering our beverages. I told Juan I was craving a Margarita, and he recommended the Cadillac Margarita, made with Patron tequila and Grand Marnier. Yes, please.

Mike opted for a cold, classic domestic: A Michelob Ultra. This would later prove a wise decision, to help extinguish the heat from his spicy meal.

The Marg – which packed a punch - was everything I had dreamed of. It was the perfect combo of sweet and tart, with a generous layer of coarse salt lining the rim. I didn’t really notice anything different with the addition of the Grand Marnier, which is a blend of fine cognac and bitter orange-flavored liqueur.

One of our neighboring tables ordered a jalapeno margarita. The drink was beautifully presented, with thin slices of fresh jalapenos floating in the glass.

While we perused the menu, we dug into the chips, using them as vehicles to scoop up salsa and beans. The chips, which are on the thicker side, had a very satisfying crunch. The beans had a creamy, smoky flavor. And the salsa was more of a puree, featuring small chunks of white onions and cilantro.

The menu at Azteca’s is enormous. It features six pages of apps, enchiladas, combos, burritos, egg dishes, soups, salads, veggie dishes, pollo (chicken), mariscos (seafood), carnes (meat), American meals, a la carte items, postres (desserts), and even a “Little Amigos” menu. There are also daily specials. And a wide variety of beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are available.

Mike chose the fajita trio. From the menu:

Steak, chicken, and shrimp over sauteed onions and bell peppers. Served with rice, beans, and tortillas, and garnished with guacamole, sour cream, cheese, Pico de Gallo, and lettuce.

The enormous plate of fajitas arrived still sizzling and steaming. There was no shortage of protein between the plentiful strips of well-seasoned chicken and steak, and large portion of plump shrimp.

Underneath the meat was a tender, caramelized blend of white onions and green peppers. Thick slices of tender carrots rested atop the meat, which was an interesting ingredient I had never seen before. Patrons can choose either flour or corn tortillas; Mike chose a ½ and ½ combo.

While extremely flavorful, his fajitas were spicy. If you aren’t into spice, please mention it to your server, to request a milder preparation.

The fajitas also came with a giant serving of sides: lettuce, sour cream, pico, creamy and flavorful guac, fluffy Spanish rice and a side of refried beans. An entire meal in and of itself.

I ordered the Enchijitas. From the menu:

Two quesadilla-style enchiladas stuffed with grilled chicken and steak. Topped with guajillo sauce and creamy crema sauce. Served with Pico de Gallo, lettuce, green onions, and whole pinto beans with rice.

This dish was scrumptious. One enchilada contained strips of steak, and was topped with a mild red sauce (guajillo). The other contained chicken and was topped with the crema sauce. Both enchiladas were topped with a generous portion of gooey, melted cheese.

The “whole pinto beans” were served in a liquid, and topped with cheese. They were tasty, and I had never seen this type of presentation before.

My dish was on the mild side, which I was grateful for. And I was glad to be able to share Mike’s plate of “extras,” mixing and matching each bite of enchilada with different permutations of pico, guac, sour cream, lettuce, rice, and beans. Heaven.

The portions at Azteca’s are absolutely huge, and we departed with tons of leftovers.

The Service

Our server, Juan Ramirez, was charming and more than willing to chat. Originally from Guanajuato, Mexico, Juan has been working at Azteca’s for a year.

Juan and some of the other servers we overheard interspersed their conversations with a few basic Spanish words that most patrons would understand (si; gracias). The experience felt like a welcoming celebration of Mexican culture, cuisine, and community.

Juan enthusiastically answered all our questions about the food and beverages with a positive, friendly attitude. He even agreed to a photo!

The Verdict

Azteca’s Mexican Grill offers authentic Mexican food at a great price. The portions are enormous and the service is wonderful. The vibe is festive and cheerful. And the Margaritas are a dream come true.

Perhaps we should use the clever quip Mike provided to summarize our experience:

“It was Juan-der-ful!”

To learn more, see a full menu, visit aztecasmexicangrillmn.com, or find them on Facebook.

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About Andrea Busche, E&DD Editor

Andrea Busche is a Duluth and regional freelance writer credited with over 1,000 bylines in local print and digital publications. Her food column, Local Pairings, was featured in Duluth.com magazine and later published in the Duluth News Tribune from 2016-2018.

It was a raucous evening of theater at the NorShor as the Duluth Playhouse opened their 2023-24 season with the Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein. The opening night crowd came ready to laugh, and the stellar cast was prepared to give them every opportunity to chuckle, chortle, cackle, and often downright howl and roar at the ridiculous shenanigans onstage.

Mel Brooks’ wildly successful 1974 film Young Frankenstein, a cult black-and-white classic, was the inspiration for him to write the music and lyrics for his musical version that opened on Broadway in 2007.

When it went to London’s West End in 2017, the musical’s original creative team including Brooks himself, made some revisions and enhancements to the Broadway version. It is the celebrated West End version that the Playhouse used for their production.

In Young Frankenstein, Brooks made his signature use of every kind of humor possible: sight and running gags, physical comedy, puns, pratfalls, innuendos, double entendres, and often just plain naughty, bawdy, and occasionally downright raunchy dialogue and lyrics. The Playhouse cast does justice to them all, playing to an appreciative audience of both people who seemed to know almost every line and bit to first-timers.

With this musical, Brooks also wanted to parody Broadway-style tunes, Golden Age movie musicals, and Universal Films’ classic black-and-white monster and horror movies of the 1930s. While using the classic characters of Frankenstein lore, Brooks brings it to a second generation when a young Doctor Frankenstein, mortified by his father’s legacy, returns to Transylvania when he inherits the family castle.

Wes Drummond, Executive Director at the Playhouse, both directed and choreographed the show. His direction is crisp, sharp, and as Brooks intended, on-point with parodies of the original source material of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Boris Karloff’s Frankenstein, and the later sequels of Bride of Frankenstein and Son of Frankenstein.

Keeping the pace fast throughout, Drummond and his exceptional cast take the audience on a runaway ride of nonstop hilarity from start to finish. His choreography is equally on point, with its peak in the show’s signature tap-dancing mega-production number, “Putting On the Ritz,” that brought some of the opening night audience to their feet.

Leading the troupe of madcap players is Equity actor Kyle Weiler playing Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (or Fronkensteen, as the character repeatedly insists). Paying homage to the film’s young Frankenstein Gene Wilder, Weiler’s curly, wild mane of hair becomes an unbilled character in itself. Yet, he makes the role his own, without trying to be a carbon copy of Wilder’s performance..

Weiler is indeed a triple threat as a dancer, a singer, and an actor. A Julliard graduate in dance, and a veteran of the original Broadway cast and three National Tours of Hamilton (as a Universal Swing and Dance Captain), his every move is that of a dancer who is in complete control of the demanding physical aspects of the role, throwing his body around with wild abandon one minute and then dancing with complete finesse the next.

His voice is also completely up to the task, ranging from a fast almost rap style in “The Brain” and a leading man’s panache and power in “Frederick’s Soliloquy.”

Weiler is believable every second, acting a role that, in turns, requires him to be panicked and nearly maniacal, to tender and sweet, and then back to frenzy and despair. Always in command of every line, pitch, tone, gesture and nuance, Weiler’s performance was a true star turn for an actor who deserves more leading roles.

His sidekick Igor (or Eyegor as he also demands), played brilliantly by Sif Oberon, is the Doctor’s constant companion. Oberon is impressive in a physically demanding role, requiring them to be bent over and having to drag themself back and forth with alacrity across the stage as the Doctor’s faithful flunky.

Oberon doesn’t miss a beat with their accented delivery, grim and often menacing facial expressions, and having to keep track of the mysteriously shifting hump on their back. Again, while many in the audience were aware of Marty Feldman’s masterful performance of the character in the film, Oberon too does their own distinct take with the role.

The actresses who play the musical’s leading women’s roles are also on top of their games. Hope Nordquist plays Inga, the sexy assistant to the Doctor. She becomes an irresistible temptation to him from the first when she sings and yodels about the joys of a “roll in the hay” while the couple bounces around on a wild hayride to the castle.

Nordquist is a delightful foil to the Doctor’s uptight fiancée Elizabeth played by Lacy Sauter  Sauter has an incredible soprano voice, clearly showing her soaring range and power from playing major roles in both opera and theater.

Sauter’s acting chops are also on display when she goes from being a prude in her song “Please Don’t Touch Me” at the beginning of the show to a sex-crazed nymphomaniac at show’s end, after her “encounters” with the Monster with her song, the blush-inducing “Deep Love.”

Janet Rowney was an audience favorite, playing the castles’s mysterious housekeeper Frau Blücher whose very name induces wild, high-pitched whinnying from horses. Rowney’s hilarious Cabaret and Marlene Dietrich style song,“He Vas My Boyfriend,” laments her lost love, the original Dr. Frankenstein.

Recreating the iconic monster himself, Phillip Hoelscher had the “gigantic” task of walking on mile-high boots and making guttural vocalizations reflecting his emotions without saying a word. While lacking some of the monster’s beefier physicality, Hoelscher conveyed both the threatening and sweet nature of the bewildered creature.

Hoelscher’s standout laugh-inducing moment was in “Putting on the Ritz,” where, without giving too much away, he becomes the lead song and danceman, joined by the entire cast in true Broadway musical style.

Jeff Brown’s sets provide creative locales, varying from a boat dock, to the woods, from different locales in the creepy castle, to a hermit’s cottage. Brown designed each to be visually impressive and, at the same time, easy to shift to a new scene.

Brown’s lighting was another powerful contribution to the show’s success. Using everything from old-fashioned, footlight-style instruments, to atmospheric castle shadows, and the eerie lighting of the Doctor’s chamber of horrors, Brown’s evocative lighting kept the audience in the moment.

The only thing lacking was some sort of definitive electrification, major lighting style bolt going into the Monster’s body for that bringing him “alive” critical moment.

The show’s ensemble took advantage of chances to shine playing everything from medical students, to pitchfork-wielding villagers, to a Broadway chorus line.

Kudos to Peg Ferguson for creating gorgeous costumes for all the residents of Transylvania and for the leads, reflecting hours of work for her and her talented volunteer seamstresses.

Bravo to the wonderful orchestra, led by music director Kyle Picha, meeting the challenges of playing all the different styles of music that the score requires. Special mention to violin player Lian Ojakangas for some truly beautiful solos.

On a personal note

My first encounter with Young Frankenstein was in its pre-Broadway run in Seattle in 2007 which featured the Broadway cast of some amazing stars including Sutton Foster (Inga), Andrea Martin (Frau Blücher), and Megan Mullally (Elizabeth Benning).

The night I saw it, Mel Brooks himself was in the audience a few rows ahead of us, laughing uproariously at his own musical reboot of his movie classic. I think that Brooks, even at age 97, would find the Playhouse production as hilarious and audacious as his own.

Young Frankenstein at the Duluth Playhouse NorShor Theatre runs now through October 1. Get more information and tickets at destinationduluth.co/YoungFrankenstein

About Sheryl Jensen

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.

Next up for the Playhouse is the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, The Sound of Music, running December 1-17.

Julie Ahasay has been a beloved member of the Twin Ports theater community for many years. Whether she is playing a comic or dramatic role onstage or directing shows for a number of area theater companies, Julie always brings her own magic to each production.

Born in Shell Lake Wisconsin, Julie grew up there and in the Twin Cities suburbs, graduating from Shell Lake High School.

She went to UWS where she majored in theatre and English and earned an MA in Communications Arts in theatre. “My college teachers had a profound effect on me. Al Katz, Ann Robb Taylor, Bill Stock and many others taught me to love literature, to have some discipline, and that ‘they are called plays for a reason.’”

After college, she worked in advertising, and public relations, taught Head Start, worked at a radio station, and spent many years teaching at the college level at UMD and St. Scholastica.

“I taught public speaking and interpersonal communication at UMD, and human communication, intercultural communication, advertising, and public relations and in the first-year student program at St. Scholastica,” she said. “I have also taught for the Playhouse Conservatory.”

Of her home life and time away from the theater, she said, “I’m married to the loving and supportive Lane Ellis. We live near Chester Bowl with three cats: Kukla, Twister and Arlo. I love to garden, hike, read, and ignore messes in my house.”

Julie and Lane enjoy traveling. Naming some of their favorite destinations, she said, “We loved the beaches on Kauai, the green beauty of Ireland, the Cotswolds, all of Edinburgh, and The Shambles in York.”

Playing Diverse Roles

Julie recalls, “My first theatre experience was in 5th grade where I played a kid who ate too much turkey and had a nightmare. We had class plays in high school, but no regular theatre program.”

In college, she was in “Medea,” “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” “ Ah, Wilderness” and “The Zoo Story,” among others. “From the start, what I loved most about theatre was collaborating with others to tell stories,” she said.

When asked about some of her favorite roles that she has played, she replied, “Elizabeth Bishop in ‘Dear Elizabeth’ at Renegade, ‘Shirley Valentine’ (thesis project for grad school), and Aunt Eileen in ‘The Cripple of Inishmaan’ at the Duluth Playhouse. Also, the Nurse in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ for Wise Fool, and various characters throughout the Colder by the Lake years.”

Many Stages, Many Shows

Julie has directed on many stages and for a variety of organizations. “Picking a favorite of the shows that I have directed is nearly impossible. I have really enjoyed working on new scripts: ‘Annapurna,’ ‘Grace,’ ‘Other Desert Cities,’ and the ‘The Pavilion.’

“But I am very fond of nearly every show I’ve directed,” she added. “I particularly enjoy small, character-driven works that ask the audience to think and feel deeply. I also love the sound of laughter from an audience.”

She said, “My first directing gig at the Playhouse was ‘The Secret Garden.’ I hadn’t directed anything of that scale, and I’d never directed a musical. It was terrifying and wonderful. Sitting in the audience on opening night and watching the work we did was a truly great night.”

Theatrical Inspirations

“I am grateful for the classic Hollywood films where I saw women like Rosalind Russell, Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwick and Myrna Loy be beautiful, glamorous and hilarious.”

Of shows she was inspired by, she said, “I loved the Renegade production of ‘The Sparrow’ for the beauty of the story and the inventive staging. UMD’s ‘Singing in the Rain’ was non-stop fun, and my face hurt from smiling so much. The Guthrie invited a British theatre company to bring its production of ‘Brief Encounter’ to Minneapolis, and it was so deeply moving and so creative in its presentation, that I find myself thinking about it quite often.

What’s Next?

Julie is in rehearsal for Boat Club Productions, “Love Letters” by A.J. Gurney, a charming two character show with Julie playing Melissa Gardner and Michael Kraklio playing Andrew Makepeace Ladd III The couple’s evolving relationship is revealed through letters they write to each other from the time they are children.

“With this show I hope to create a real person moving through a life full of joys and challenges. I hope audience members will see themselves in the character.”

In describing what she thinks people should take away from this show, Julie noted, “Love lasts. It gets pushed, shoved, challenged, and ignored, but it’s always there.”

Up next for Julie theatrically is the direction of “Murder on the Orient Express” at the Norshor in January, and next May, she’ll be directing POTUS for Zeitgeist Theater.

She is also excited for her next travel adventure. She said, “Right after this show closes, Lane and I are heading to Amsterdam, Delft, Bruges, Brussels, and visiting friends near Reading, UK.”

 

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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.

 

 

Charles Munch, the French-German conductor best known as the Boston Symphony Orchestra music director, said, “The conductor must breathe life into the score. It is you and you alone who must expose it to the understanding, reveal the hidden jewel to the sun at the most flattering angles.”

As the Music Director for the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra (DSSO)  since 2013, Dirk Meyer has been breathing life into scores and revealing the hidden jewels of the music in each concert ever since.

This year marks the 10th DSSO season for Meyer, and it will be a celebration of both him and all the wonderful music he and the DSSO have made together.

Extensive Resume

Meyers is originally from Dusseldorf, Germany. He received his Bachelor’s Degrees in music from the Folkwang Conservatory in Germany and the University Duisburg-Essen for philosophy. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts and Masters degrees in orchestral conducting from Michigan State University,

He explained, “I originally moved to the U.S. to pursue my graduate studies, thinking that I’d probably be back in Germany after four or five years. That was 21 years ago.”

After completing his graduate studies at Michigan State, Meyer served as Music Director to the Sarasota Youth Orchestras, giving his Carnegie Hall debut in New York City with the Sarasota Youth Philharmonic in 2008. Meyer also served as Associate Conductor, and later Principal Guest Conductor, of the Sarasota Orchestra in Florida.

Other appointments have included Assistant positions with the Traverse Symphony (MI) and Missouri Symphony Orchestras and the Music Director position with the Mason Symphony Orchestra in Michigan. In 2012, Meyer was named the winner of The American Prize in orchestral conducting.

Outside of North America, Meyer has conducted many orchestras in Europe and abroad, including appearances in South Africa, the Czech Republic and Germany. In the operatic world, he has led performances of Carmen and Don Giovanni with the Plovdiv Opera in Bulgaria and served as Assistant Conductor to the Michigan State University Opera Theatre.

Besides being the DSSO Music Director, Meyer is currently Music Director of the Augusta Symphony Orchestra. In Duluth, he is also Music Director of the Lyric Opera of the North (LOON).

“When moving to Duluth, I was very fortunate to quickly become friends with Sarah Lawrence and Cal Metts, the Artistic Directors of LOON. Lucky for me, they appreciated my love for opera and my desire to work with singers, and I soon became Music Director of that company. We have worked on many productions since. I have loved every single one of them!”

Welcomed in Duluth

Of his path to Duluth, Meyer explained, “In 2011, the DSSO started the search for a new Music Director. I knew our former principal flutist from conducting in Orlando, where she played as well. She mentioned this search to me and raved about the orchestra and the community. Of course, that got me intrigued, and I was thrilled as I progressed in the search. After I had visited Duluth for the first time during my audition process, I was sold! A great orchestra in a wonderful community, in the most amazing natural setting: What more could I ask for?”

“From my first arrival in Duluth, the Twin Ports have been welcoming and supportive to me, my family and, of course, the DSSO. The support we get from our patrons is simply wonderful,” said Meyer.

He added, “Look at this past season: After a long Covid hiatus, the community came out again to support their orchestra! We had two sell-outs last season, and another one just now in August with Jurassic Park.”

Orchestral Memories

When asked about some of his most memorable concerts with the DSSO, he replied, “There are so many! To me, many of our most memorable concerts have involved our wonderful chorus – another fantastic group of musicians that we are fortunate to have as part of our family. It is thanks to the combined artistry of chorus and orchestra, as well as the amazing chorus repertoire, that these concerts were so special. Our performance of Mahler’s Symphony No.2 comes to mind, for example.”

He added, “Then there were unforgettable moments with some of our guest artists. Working with our concertmaster Erin Aldridge as soloist every year is a treat.  Finally, there were those concerts with those inexplicable moments where the audience and musicians collectively hold their breaths. Those are experiences that stay with us, like when we performed the Brahms’ Violin Concerto with Geneva Lewis or our Michael Tippett’s A Child of our Time.”

Home Time

While he is incredibly busy with his crowded concert and opera calendar, he especially enjoys family time and time in the kitchen. “I love to cook and try new things in the kitchen. It’ll mostly be dishes from Germany, but also some other cuisines and anything that can be prepared on the grill. I absolutely love Indian cuisine and would love to learn more about that as well.”

Dirk’s wife Paula is from Fosston, Minnesota. She started as a lawyer with a firm in Duluth and then switched to a Minneapolis-based law firm, where she works remotely.

Dirk and Paula have two little boys, Sebastian (4) and Felix (3), who keep the couple busy. Both of the boys have just started soccer.

Meyer said that his kids’ musical tastes now are consumed by “music” from “Spider-Man” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” Sebastian will soon start on his first instrument, the piano. Dirk was adamant that he would not be his son’s piano teacher, since as “Dad,” it would be hard to be taken seriously.

“I am the only one from my family who lives in the U.S. My mother, sister, cousins all live in Germany. That’s why we try to visit every year so that the kids can grow up knowing their Grandma and extended German family,” Meyer said. “In addition, they are growing up bilingual and spending time in Germany and visiting a kindergarten while there is amazing for their language development.”

He said, “The kids are still a bit young, but my wife very much enjoys music and visiting my concerts. She is also an active board member of the Lyric Opera of the North. We also have two little dogs, Harvey and Teddy, who like to take us on at least two walks a day.”

Orchestral Music For Everyone

“Orchestras around the globe have not been very good at communicating the experience that they can deliver,” said Meyer. “Most people still think that an orchestral concert is a stuffy affair and something that their parents or grandparents enjoyed. In most cases, those same people have never been to a symphonic concert. If someone loves music (of any kind) and enjoys sharing an experience with other people around them, they should try out the orchestra! I am convinced they will be surprised how welcoming, open and fun it is.”

Meyer invites everyone to enjoy this season’s concerts. To kick off the season, they bring back pianist Orion Weiss to perform the Grieg Piano Concerto with the orchestra – just as he did ten years ago for Meyer’s first concert as Music Director with the DSSO.

For more information about DSSO concerts and tickets, visit dsso.com