Songs cast on to other opportunities

By Rebecca Petersen | The Daily Journal

Published Monday, October 8, 2007

Well, we’ve put “Songs from the Tall Grass” to bed for now.

We’ve sent the actors and musicians and tech crew back to their homes and normal lives. Many of them have some fun projects coming up. Listen to these: Sommer Robles (“Songs” stage manager) is co-directing the high school fall play and she’s also performing at The Best Western’s Z103 club this month.

Anthony Miltich (“Songs” father) is also performing at Z103 on Oct. 26, as well as many other wonderful musicians including Ben Shaw on Oct. 12, and Megan Johnson on Oct. 19.

Rick Schara (the bachelor/trapper) is gearing up for a directing opportunity here at A Center for the Arts - the Radio Drama of “It’s A Wonderful Life.” He’s already asking me if we can take it on tour. Delaney Schara, Rick’s daughter (“Songs” middle girl) just auditioned for and was accepted into the seventh- and eighth-grade girls’ Minnesota All-State Choir.

David Stoddard (“Songs” music director and piano player) is performing in Minneapolis this weekend and also hosts Open Mike Night on the first Thursday of the month.

Cameron MacKenzie (“Songs” little shoes girl) is making a movie.

Randy Hale is working on a project for Disney.

Well the list goes on and on. This was a very talented cast, band and crew. No doubt you’ll hear more about them all in the future.

Here at the theater we’re tidying up around the edges and wondering if there will be a reprise for the 25th anniversary or not. Lots of people are asking. Every community we visited wants the show back with more performances. But we’re all tired and we need to step back for awhile.

There are many other wonderful opportunities coming up that will help us celebrate our 25 years of existence here in the theater as the entity A Center for the Arts, which was incorporated as a 501(c)3 in 1982.

Next on the calendar, Pam Chabora, as Emily Dickinson in the Belle of Amherst. Neal Page saw her do this show in Fargo. He said it was an amazing one woman show. She’ll do the show on Sunday, October 14th at 2 p.m. with outreach activities with the schools on Monday, Oct. 15.

The following Sunday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m., The Butch Thompson Trio sponsored by The Heartland Arts Fund performs at A Center for the Arts. Oct. 23, The FM Opera brings us a preview of their upcoming opera, The Mikado in a rush hour performance at 5:30. Then, Oct/ 25, Midori waltzes into town for a 7:30 performance. Tickets for Midori are going fast, thanks to a sponsorship and announcement from The Fergus Falls Concert Association.

Sign up for a membership and get announcements and mailings about all of these upcoming events. Visit our website at www.fergusarts.org. You’ll find reviews, film clips, links to other web sites and more. Enjoy this great weather and take the opportunity to enjoy the arts as well.

Rebecca Petersen is the director at A Center for the Arts in Fergus Falls.