A lively revue brings stars from near and far to celebrate 10 years and look to the future
STONINGTON – Opera House Arts celebrates 10 years of original programs in "The Best of OHA: Looking Forward, Looking Back," a two-night revue August 14-15 which returns Opera House favorites from near and far to the stage of the Stonington Opera House. As a part of this 10th anniversary revue on Sunday, August 16 at 6 p.m. OHA will also present a double feature of two of the organization's original movies, "Tire Tracks" by John Steed and "Island Prom" by Leti Douglass and Galen Koch.
At the heart of Opera House Arts, mission "to use the performing arts to foster and promote excellence in all the ways we perform our lives"is the creation of original performance created by area community members in collaboration with some of the world's best musicians and actors. In keeping with a tradition launched with its first Gala production in 2000, "The Best of OHA " will be hosted by acclaimed actor Jeffrey Frace. Frace is an associate and tours nationally with Anne Bogart's SITI Company, and is currently a professor of theater and movement at the University of Washington in Seattle.
The revue will be composed of a variety of skits, music, scenes, songs, and spoken word pieces, some from OHA's past productions and some which point toward future performances. Among the community and professional performers who will be appearing are pianist Paul Sullivan; Galen Koch ( "The Lobster Girl"); Maine's best jugglers and funny guys Randy Judkins and Mike Miclon; Pierre Diennet ( "Perdita;" the Moose Boy of The Ferry Musicals); Peter Richards (The Ferry Musicals; "As You Like It"); opera singer Judith Barnes ( "The Singing Bridge"); composer and singer Anna Dembska ( "The Singing Bridge"); Stonington's own singer-songwriter Frank Gotwals (The Ferry Musicals, radio shows, Bud Carter concerts and more); Judith Jerome ( "Bones"); and Joan Jubett ( "Hamlet," "As You Like It," and "Taming of the Shrew"). Scenes from some of OHA's student performances and "community hero" interviews will also be featured.
Show time is 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 for reserved premium seating; $20 for general admission; $18 for fixed income; $15 for under 17. Island Students Free.
Tickets may be purchased in advance online at Opera House Arts ; by calling the Opera House box office at 367-2788; or by stopping by the box office on the corner of Main and School Streets in downtown Stonington Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.