If Duluth feels like home,
it's because it could be.

DD Artist Profile Series – Phillip Fazio Creates a Magical Place for People To Play

Phillip Fazio, Duluth Playhouse Producing Artistic Director, recalled a turning point in his life. “My Aunt took me to see the national tour of ‘Peter Pan’ starring Cathy Rigby when I was about six years old. To say that it was a life-changing experience would be a massive understatement. When the performance ended, I had decided I was going to spend the rest of my life doing theatre.”

He recalled how, later in his life, theater also became a refuge for him. “When I was growing up, I often felt like I did not belong in the environments I inhabited. I had different interests from a lot of the kids my age, and I often felt like an outsider. The place where I always knew I could be my true authentic self was at the theatre.”

Faziio was born and raised in Tempe, Arizona. “My family’s history in Arizona dates back over a hundred years, with my great grandparents moving to the area when it was still a territory in the early 1900s,” he noted.

After high school, he attended Boston Conservatory, where he earned a BFA in Musical Theatre with an emphasis on directing. After graduating, he began a three-year contract as an Artist in Residence at​ The​ Phoenix Theatre​ Company​ where he directed, acted, and taught at the Arizona School for the Arts.

After completing his contract, he moved to New York City and began working as a freelance director for almost ten years. During that time, he directed and assisted directed productions in NYC, as well as regionally in several other cities.

In 2020, he graduated from Penn State University with an MFA in Directing. At Penn State, he was mentored by award-winning director Susan H. Schulman.

“Susan directed the Broadway revival of “The Sound of Music” in the late 90s, and when I was working on the show last fall, Susan was an incredible resource. I reached out to her for advice on several occasions, and her influence was very present in the Playhouse production.”

As Fazio was finishing up his MFA at Penn State, he started applying for several Artistic Director positions. Duluth Playhouse was one of several organizations to which he applied.

He said, “In December 2019, I was invited to visit Duluth for a final in-person interview. Even though there had just been a blizzard, and my Arizona bones rattle when it dips below 30 degrees, I was immediately charmed by the city and the wonderful people living here.”

He added, “I was deeply impressed by the work that was currently being done and stunned by the amount of growth the organization had experienced over the last 20 years. As I was getting a tour of the NorShor Theatre during my visit, I remember thinking how lucky I was to be up for a job at such a fantastic place with so much promise for the future.”

Since starting at the Playhouse, Fazio has directed several productions, including “The Sound of Music,” “Kinky Boots,” “Into the Woods” “Ragtime,” and “Footloose.”

Fazio noted. “I am constantly amazed by all the incredible talent in the Twin Ports arts community. It is astonishing that there are so many brilliant artists and phenomenal arts organizations in an area of our population size. I have always been and will always be an advocate for the arts. The better we all do, the more people in the community will want to incorporate attending arts events into their routine. The more art we all create, the more word will continue to spread that the Twin Ports is an incredible destination for a fulfilling artistic experience. “

“Participating in the arts can be a magnificently powerful experience, but it must be welcoming, safe, and inclusive. As a leader of an arts organization, I feel a deep responsibility to create a magical, joyous place for people to play, watch, and learn. I honestly have no idea who or where I’d be if theatre hadn’t become a part of my life. I do know this though, I’d definitely be a lot less happy than I am.”

“When I took this job, I said my goal for the Playhouse over the next 20 years was to bring the same artistic and professional growth that Christine Seitz brought over the last 20 years,” he said. “I believe our 24/25 season is a continued elevation of the work we’ve been doing and I cannot wait to bring it to life with everyone.”

“Peter and the Starcatcher”

Fazio said, “Peter and the Starcatcher" is a show that has been near and dear to my heart ever since I saw the Broadway production over 10 years ago. I love how clever the creators are with the backstories for the iconic characters in “Peter Pan.’ As a director, the invitation to use imaginative storytelling techniques to bring the play to life is something that I find supremely appealing. Plus, I fell in love with theatre while watching a production of ‘Peter Pan,’ so it feels like a fitting full circle moment to return to this story so many years later. I hope audiences leave the show thinking about the value of found family and the power we all possess to shape our own destiny.”

Information “Peter and the Starcatcher”
A play by Rick Elice
Music by Wayne Barker
Based on the Novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

From the Playhouse website: “Peter and the Starcatcher” is a wildly theatrical adaptation, upending the classic story of the ‘Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up.’

Creating a clever backstory for Peter Pan and all his friends, this tale explores the depths of greed and the bonds of friendship.  From marauding pirates and jungle tyrants to unwilling comrades and unlikely heroes, “Peter and the Starcatcher” playfully explores the world of make-believe. Featuring a dozen actors portraying more than 100 unforgettable characters, “Peter and the Starcatcher” uses ingenious stagecraft and the limitless possibilities of imagination to bring the story to life.”

 

The Duluth Playhouse  May 24-25, May 30-June 1 at 7:30 pm
May 25 and June 2 at 2:00 pm
NorShor Theatre
211 East Superior Street  Duluth

Tickets at duluthplayhouse.org or call the box office at 218-733-7555

Audio Described performance: May 25 @ 2PM
Describer: Carol Cheslak

ASL Interpreted performance: May 31 @ 7:30PM
Interpreters: Rebecca Rick & Emily Engel

What is it? Solving the Mystery of  Uncle Harvey’s Mausoleum/The Cribs

Some call it “the cribs.” Others know it as Uncle Harvey’s Mausoleum. Some locals even grew up referring to it as the ice house.

Whatever you call it, this odd, crooked, building-like structure protruding from Lake Superior has long been surrounded by mystery and intrigue. Having the creepy term “mausoleum” in its name only adds to the mystique.

Over the years, people have speculated that it was a bunker, an illegal casino, or a fishing dock. But these theories have all subsequently been debunked.

So, seriously: what the heck is it?

Today, with help from our friends at Atlas Obscura, the DNT, and others, we finally solved this strange Lake Superior mystery.

Spoiler alert: The truth isn’t nearly as sexy or intriguing as some of the speculation. Nevertheless, let’s dive in.

History

The concrete structure known as Uncle Harvey’s Mausoleum rests in Lake Superior, about 30 feet from Canal Park’s shoreline. Today, it serves as a convenient resting place for tired birds. In the warmer months, adventurous swimmers enjoy exploring the partially submerged edifice.

The structure was initially built in 1919 by local businessman Harvey Whitney.

According to the website Atlas Obscura:

It is the foundation of an unloading dock built by local businessman Harvey Whitney in 1919. In the years following World War I, construction was booming in Duluth, and Whitney sought to make his sand and gravel business more efficient.

His company - Whitney Brothers of Superior - collected sand and gravel from the Apostle Islands and Minnesota, loaded it on barges, and carried it to the shore in Duluth. But the boats often had to wait to pass through the busy canal to dock, and Harvey Whitney came up with the idea to simply unload the boats into a hopper and let conveyor belts bring it the rest of the way.

But Whitney’s idea relied heavily on one thing: the building of an outer harbor. The city had long considered building one to buffer the effects of the lake’s unpredictable, severe storms, but it never happened. As a result, boats often couldn’t safely get close enough to unload into the hopper, not to mention the toll the beating waves took on the structure itself. By 1922 the project was abandoned, left to slowly abrade in the tempestuous lake.

Whitney had invested a lot of money in the project in hopes of strong returns - he’d even expected to supply the materials for the city to build the harbor. But instead, he ended up with a pile of concrete that family members lovingly nicknamed Uncle Harvey’s Mausoleum. As the marker notes: “He tried to deal with Lake Superior on its terms, and lost.”[1]

Another Mystery – The Missing Pillar

Another interesting facet is the now-missing concrete pillar that has disappeared from the structure.

According to a 2015 story by the Duluth News Tribune:

… Part of the structure known as “Uncle Harvey's Mausoleum” or “the cribs,” jutting out of the water of Lake Superior offshore from Canal Park, vanished sometime between New Year's Day and Valentine's Day.

It is—or was—a solitary concrete pillar that stood between the main "mausoleum" and shore. A photo shows it standing as recently as Jan. 1, but it isn't visible now.

Waves, or ice, or both appear to have toppled the nearly century-old column, a remnant of a short-lived operation to unload sand and gravel. In more recent years, the ruins have been a popular destination for swimmers and divers in summer, and occasionally some ice explorers in winter.

Tom Deschenes, who works at Canal Park Brewing Company, may have been the first to notice the column was missing. He said he had been contemplating setting up a slackline - similar to a tightrope - between the cylinder and the larger structure, sometimes called the icehouse.

On Valentine's Day morning, as he biked to work, "I was thinking the timing was getting to be about right to set up the line," Deschenes recalled. "When I looked to the icehouse, the cylinder piece was gone."

As word of the fallen landmark made its way around social media in recent days, Duluth's Jim Richardson - an avid freediver who shoots underwater videos and posts them online as Lake Superior Aquaman; find them here - weighed in with his observations.

"It was only a matter of time," Richardson reported on Facebook. "The column was composed of timbers sheathed in concrete but much of the concrete below water level was eroded away, leaving bare wood."

The column also may have had a steel jacket at some point, Richardson said, based on his underwater observations. He said the water is about 12- to 14-feet deep in that spot, so the column probably is lying on the lakebed.

The icehouse may face a similar fate someday; it already has a list that has become more pronounced in recent years.

Richardson said that his dives on the structure have revealed that the bottom crib is buckling in one corner. He said it doesn't appear to be in imminent danger of sinking further, but noted that someone with more engineering expertise would be needed to make an official determination.[2]

Mystery Solved

Well, there you have it. Uncle Harvey’s Mausoleum (and the missing pillar) is nothing more than the foundation of an old unloading dock. The structure known as “the cribs” is simply the vestige of a failed logistics experiment.

As noted, some of the fantastical myths are undoubtedly more compelling than the truth, but they remain a bit creepy nonetheless.

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Further resources:

Forgotten, but not gone: the story behind Uncle Harvey’s Mausoleum | by Carly Schwieters | Medium

A piece of ‘The Cribs’ disappears in Duluth | NewsCut | Minnesota Public Radio News (mprnews.org)

Inside Uncle Harvey's Mausoleum In Duluth During Summer (mix108.com)

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

 

 

[1] Uncle Harvey's Mausoleum – Duluth, Minnesota - Atlas Obscura

[2] Part of Duluth's 'cribs' goes missing in Lake Superior - Duluth News Tribune | News, weather, and sports from Duluth, Minnesota

DD PHOTOGRAPHER PROFILE SERIES – Photographic Storytelling with Ryan Rumpca

Photographer Ryan Rumpca describes his artistic niche as the “rugged outdoor lifestyle.”

His moody, monochromatic photos depict striking North Shore landscapes, alongside plenty of images from his adventures abroad. But the overarching theme of his craft has always been storytelling.

“I see my camera as a tool to explore new things,” he noted. “I always ask myself how I can portray a story to someone through photos. I like to peel back the curtain in a storytelling sense, rather than just taking snapshots. And I enjoy telling the stories that interest me.”

Early Life

Rumpca was born and raised in Anoka, Minnesota. His mother, Sue, worked as an accountant, and his father, who goes by “J,” worked for a medical device company. He has one older sister, Amanda.

Growing up, Rumpca enjoyed the outdoors and athletics. He played football and baseball and liked to hunt and fish.

When determining a career path, Rumpca was torn between physical therapy and engineering. Ultimately, engineering came out on top. “My analytical brain likes to understand how things work, at both a macro and micro level,” he explained.

He graduated from Bemidji State University in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in engineering technology.

Adventure

After college graduation, Rumpca took his first international solo trip - to New Zealand. There, he explored the country’s South Island for a month, while living in a rented camper van.

He was bitten by the travel bug; a wanderlust which continues to this day. “This trip was a huge foundational part of my life,” he noted.

After returning home to Minnesota, he asked himself what was next. The answer, it turns out, was Duluth.

“I knew if I wanted to stay in Minnesota, my top choice for sure was Duluth,” Rumpca said. “I was looking for a place where I could balance the ability to be social - and do things like see a movie or visit a brewery – but also be able to disappear in the woods. Duluth offers the best of both worlds.”

Rumpca landed a job at Cirrus in 2017 and relocated to Duluth. He started with the company as a manufacturing engineer, and today holds the title engineering project manager. In this role, he supports Cirrus’ engineering teams with their product development.

Equipment

Rumpca first became interested in photography during family vacations in his youth. He remembers being inspired during a trip to Alaska and wanting to capture those exciting moments. Images of rugged landscapes - viewed through the lens of adventurous travel - would become his lifelong muse.

He started out using an early model GoPro HERO3 White. This camera was a tool he used to capture both still images and videos. Later, in college, he upgraded to a Nikon D5100 DSLR camera.

In 2018, he upgraded again: to a mirrorless Sony Alpha 7 II. “This is a good, all-around camera,” he explained. “It gives you immediate feedback since you see what the sensor sees.”

Most recently, in 2021, he purchased a Sony Alpha 7R IV, a high-end mirrorless camera. He pairs this camera body with Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 and Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 lenses.

Rumpca is also a commercial drone pilot, and captures plenty of stunning images from overhead. For this, he uses a DJI Mavic 3 Pro, along with first-person view (FPV) drones that he builds himself.

Style

Rumpca explains his photographic style as gritty and monochromatic. “I’m drawn to things that take effort,” he said.

“For example, the North Shore is often known for calm sunrises and sunsets. But I like to capture the North Shore – and Lake Superior – at their most dynamic. I like storms and temperature differences. I like my photos to have some grit to them.”

Some of his favorite places to shoot include the Finland area, the Gunflint Trail, and the BWCA. He also enjoys taking photos while globetrotting. Some of his favorite international locales have been the Lofoten Islands (located off the coast of Norway), Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Switzerland, France, Italy, and New Zealand.

If Rumpca could give one tidbit of advice to other budding photographers, it would be to focus on style. “I would say find your style or voice, and tell the stories you find important,” he noted. “The vision of my work really changed when I developed my own style.”

Business

In 2019, Rumpca started his photography business. He’s been busy and successful ever since.

His photos have been featured at Bluefin Bay’s gift shop, the Coho Café, Duluth Gear Exchange, and a couple of coffee shops in the Twin Cities. They are also available for sale on his website.

While Rumpca enjoys the tangible nature of print media, he tends to focus more on business-to-business partnerships. This focus has brought opportunities to work with brands and organizations like Patagonia, Explore Minnesota, The Iditarod, Bon Iver, Visit Cook County, Duluth Pack, the DECC, and COGGS, among others.

His work was noticed by Destination Duluth in 2021. His photos have since attracted 1.2 million views of his images on Destination Duluth's Facebook and Instagram pages.

Rumpca served as the official videographer for the 2024 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska. He also recently directed and produced a 14-minute short film, “A Line in the Snow,” which was created in partnership with Save the Boundary Waters.

This film, which features a winter dog sledding journey in the Boundary Waters, premiered at Duluth’s Zeitgeist Theater. He has a couple more films in the works, too.

He has also volunteered his photography/videography skills, through capturing both the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon and the Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race.

Personal

Rumpca, who lives in Duluth’s Lakeside neighborhood, enjoys all forms of outdoor activities. Some of his favorites include gravel biking, hiking, backpacking, stand-up paddleboarding, and camping.

As noted, he also loves international travel. His next adventure is a sailing trip to the Arctic Circle in May.

Duluth

Rumpca intentionally sought out Duluth as his home. As a Duluth “transplant,” he is well-equipped to provide a hearty testimonial for the area.

“Here in Duluth, we have the option to do all the things in a city environment, but also lots of remote, adventurous things,” he noted. “There’s great accessibility for either.

“We are so blessed to have the North Shore literally at our back door. You can head up to Palisade Head after work, or watch the dynamic nature of Lake Superior. I really can’t emphasize enough how much I’ve fallen in love with the area.”

Ryan’s work can be viewed and purchased at ryanrumpca.com.

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

 

 

EAT & DRINK DULUTH REVIEW

With a name like OMC Smokehouse (an acronym which stands for “oink, moo, cluck”), you can probably deduce that its menu includes plenty of delicious smoked meats.

Indeed, this carnivore-friendly establishment features an abundance of tender meats – including brisket, pork, chicken, and ribs - that are smoked on-site daily. These are all served up with a variety of flavorful BBQ sauces.

But there are plenty of other options, too. There are vegetarian sloppy joes and “beyond burgers” for the plant-based eaters in your life. A few catfish and shrimp dishes are available, too.

Tons of uniquely southern side dishes round out the menu, such as elote, beans, mac & cheese, grits, coleslaw, collard greens, and cornbread. Whoopie pies are available for dessert. Beverages include unique cocktails and mocktails, local craft brews, wine, fresh iced tea, homemade lemonade, coffee, and a variety of sodas.

Please join us as we Eat & Drink Duluth … OMC style!

History

Located at 1909 West Superior Street, OMC Smokehouse was added to the “Duluth Grill family” in 2017. The restaurant is owned by Tom Hanson, and his son, Louie Hanson, is its managing partner.

When it comes to BBQ, the OMC crew keeps it as authentic as possible. Before opening, they traveled to several American BBQ hot spots - such as Nashville’s Hattie B’s and Q39 in Kansas City – for inspiration.

Vibe

The first thing we noticed upon entering is the amazing smells. The aroma of slow-smoked meat instantly got our mouths watering. And, old southern blues music on the stereo really sets the mood.

The color scheme includes shades of blue, teal, and gray. There is exposed brick and duct work. A combination of booths and tables are available, and there is a fire pit burning outside. Lighting inside the restaurant is dim and soft.

And, with a name like “oink, moo, cluck,” you can bet there are plenty of animals included in the décor. The restaurant includes depictions of cows, pigs, and chickens throughout.

Our fellow diners at 4 pm on a Thursday included couples, groups, and families with children. The restaurant was pretty slow at 4, but started picking up around 5.

OMC offers plenty of merch for sale, including clothing, sauces, dry rubs, and ceramic mugs. Catering and take-out meals are also available.

Food and Drink

Immediately upon being seated, our wonderful server, Stephanie, offered us a helping of crispy chicharrónes (pork rinds). You can dip your rinds in the restaurant’s four signature, homemade BBQ sauces, located in caddies at every table. Sauces include:

Chipotle-Cilantro BBQ - Notes of Rhubarb, cilantro, and adobe chilies. The perfect sweet heat.

Classic Honey BBQ - As classic as it comes. Zesty and sweet.

Bent Paddle 14° ESB BBQ - Bent Paddle’s 14° ESB was used to create this Carolina-style mustard-based sauce. A bittersweet neighborhood treat.

Alabama White BBQ - Great on anything – a tangy white BBQ sauce with a horseradish zip.

There are so many menu options at OMC. In addition to all the smoked meat dishes, there are also salads, fajitas, burgers, and fried chicken options.

Mike decided to keep it classic OMC by choosing one of their “time-honored classics.” From the menu:

We don’t mess with the classics. Smoked meat. Bun. Pickles. You pick the sauce. All sandwiches are served with one side option or add beef fat fries. OINK – Pulled pork. MOO – Brisket. CLUCK – Pulled chicken.

He selected the chicken. Or, “cluck,” in OMC vernacular.

The sandwich features a generous portion of tender, smoked chicken served on a soft and shiny bun. The nice thing is the sandwich comes “naked,” so diners can choose the sauce of their choice or even mix and match sauces if they’re feeling adventurous. Dill pickle slices are served on the side.

For his side, Mike opted for the beef-fat fries. OMC uses their brisket trimmings to grind and render the fat for frying these signature fries, which are on the soft side and served with a bottle of creamy malt vinegar aioli.

I chose the OMC shrimp fajitas, which are one of their newer menu choices. From the menu:

Your choice of smoked pulled chicken, smoked pulled pork, barbacoa beef, or sautéed shrimp with fajita-seasoned veggies on a sizzling platter. Served with warm tortillas, sour cream, salsa, queso fresco and guacamole.

This dish arrived sizzling and steaming, and includes six large, juicy shrimp, which are well-seasoned (with a kick!) and served atop a delicious mound of caramelized onions and green peppers. The sour cream, salsa, queso fresco (mild, white, crumbly Mexican cheese) and guac are served in ramekins on the side.

We both opted for local brews. Mike paired his meal with a Bent Paddle Cold Press Black, a porter/stout infused with delicious coffee from Duluth Coffee Company. I chose a Castle Cream Ale from Two Harbors-based brewery Castle Danger. This easy-drinking ale was a soothing elixir to the spicy shrimp.

Service

Our server was an incredibly friendly young lady named Stephanie Schlais, who was first hired at OMC as a busser/hostess in 2019. Stephanie is well-versed on the menu, beverages, and the nuances of those four amazing sauces.

Her personal favorite dish is the shrimp and fried grits. She also highly recommends the OMC smoked burrito bowl or haystack brisket sandwich.

OMC’s assistant manager, Sarah Hammack, also stopped by to say hello and inquire about our meal and experience. Everyone we encountered at OMC was very pleasant and friendly.

Verdict

OMC offers a wide and delicious array of smoked meats and BBQ dishes (among many other choices), served up in a comfortable setting. The service is outstanding, and the staff are glad to assist you in finding your perfect dish and beverage.

This establishment is yet another home run for Duluth, the “Duluth Grill family,” and for the Lincoln Park Craft District as a whole.

For more information, please visit omcsmokehouse.com.

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About Andrea Busche
Eat & Drink Duluth 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 first featured in Duluth.com magazine, and later published in the Duluth News Tribune from 2016-2018.

 

Glass creation evokes images of blowing giant bubbles and having them “magically” turn into colorful shapes and objects. At Lake Superior Art Glass (LSAG), a glass-blowing studio and gallery in Duluth’s Canal Park, their artisans share the mysteries of creating objects in glass with demonstrations and classes.

For those looking for colorful gifts, the LSAG gallery is filled with shimmering pieces from over 60 artists, each with a unique take on both decorative and functional items.

Amber Nichols, LSAG's General Manager, noted that the company has 20 employees, including gallery and support staff and glass blowers.

“We all love our Canal Park location with lots of foot traffic. We tend to see more tourists in the summer and more locals for classes and shopping the rest of the year,” Nichols said.

The building has space for the studios, the gallery, and for people to watch what the in-house glass blowers are creating.

Shopping for Treasures

Whether looking for a gorgeous piece of jewelry, that stunning decorator piece, or a variety of beautiful and functional glassware items, shoppers find that LSAG offers something for every interest and taste.

Their gallery showcases an immense collection of curated glass artistry, featuring works from their talented in-house artists, independent artisans, and world-renowned glass artists.

Jewelry items include pendant necklaces with leaf shapes, water images, and Lake Superior-related pieces, including lake freighters, lighthouses, the Aerial Lift Bridge, waves, anchors, the BWCA, and more. Some of their earrings include leaf shapes, optic icicles, hearts, and colorful glass earring studs.

Other gallery favorites are their colorful glass flowers, hummingbird feeders, and kaleidoscopes

Functional items are popular for gifts or for people to buy for themselves. Some options are stemless wave glasses, glass straws, swizzle sticks, martini glasses, wine goblets, blue glassware, and bottle stoppers,

Their collectible items are a veritable menagerie of animals, birds, and fish. They also have specialty items for every holiday on the calendar.

Custom Unity Glassware

Unity glassware is a unique process most often used by wedding couples. The Unity Ceremony involves blending pieces of colored glass (frits). Every Unity piece is handmade and unique. An engaged couple individually chooses their own color and then blends them together during the wedding ceremony.

Afterward, they bring the colored glass back to LSAG, and their artists use the special blend in the sculptural or functional glass items of the couple’s choice. The pieces can vary from wine glasses to vases and much more.

Make It Yourself!

Having the chance to create a beautiful glass piece and the bragging rights to say, “I made that,” draws people to LSAG for a variety of classes seven days a week.

Taking a glass-blowing class at Lake Superior Art Glass will create memories and mementos for people of all ages.

“We offer mostly beginners’ classes that do not require prior experience with glass, but people who are interested in learning more can take intermediate and advanced classes as well,” added Nichols.

Customers’ glass creations are cooled slowly in a kiln overnight and are available for pick up the next morning or can be shipped.

Kids (ages 4-13)  can make jewelry pendants. People (14+) can take classes in the flamework or hot shop studios to make a variety of glass items, such as decorative paperweights, glass flowers, and blown ornaments.

Private and group classes are perfect for bachelorette parties, Girl Scouts’ gatherings, corporate events, birthday parties, and couples’ classes for special occasions.

Artist and Entrepreneur Dan Neff

From the moment Dan Neff first started blowing glass at age 17, he was hooked. He started working informally as an apprentice to learn the basics.

All through college at UMD, Neff would look for housing where he could have a glass-blowing studio in the garage or basement. In 2006, he started selling his glass objects at craft fairs, shows, and bazaars.

“I was finding out what people liked, getting feedback,” he said. “In 2011, working with the Entrepreneur Fund, I started Lake Superior Art Glass LLC. In 2012, I opened my gallery and studio at the corner of 2nd Ave. East and Superior Street.”

He added, “It was a great location! I loved working in the window where people could go by and watch the process.”

Neff continued to hone his craft spending time working with world famous glass masters from whom he learned some of the techniques he uses today.

In 2019, he moved the business to Canal Park. “I love having a garage door in front where we can open up, to have people see what is going on inside.”

Neff’s signature items are his gorgeous vortex marbles, what he calls a “modern-day paperweight.” He, however, makes them in a perfect sphere so they can be looked at from 360 degrees. as a one of a kind piece of art.

“I love being challenged in deciding what I want to make and what I need for each marble. Everything, colors, tools, must be planned out in advance, so I have to envision a project and all the the steps to get there,” he explained.

“It is all about the process and my vision for each marble,” he added. “I enjoy watching people looking at the optical illusion inside each marble and seeing it from so many different vantage points.”

The staff at LSAG invites people to “Dive into an array of unique finds that speak to the soul, and functional favorites that marry beauty with everyday utility. Let each piece whisk you away on a journey of discovery, celebrating the timeless allure of glass art.”

For an extensive online shopping gallery, class offerings, and more information on Lake Superior Art Glass, visit their website at lakesuperiorartglass.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you call 911 in Duluth, there’s a chance your first responder will be firefighter Caleb Kittleson.

And you’d be lucky to have him. At just 21 years old, Kittleson is young, strong, well-trained, and passionate about helping others.

In addition to fighting fires, Kittleson and his crew respond to any 911 call that isn’t a police matter. For instance, firefighters respond to medical emergencies, car accidents, water emergencies, trail rescues, and fire alarms in tandem with the Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service. All firefighters are trained EMTs, and some are paramedics.

Firefighters are even called out for dog rescues. You may have seen the Duluth Fire Department in the news recently when they heroically rescued a dog from the Canal Park harbor.

Whether called to assist a human or pet, it’s a calling Kittleson takes very seriously. “Our job is to be there for people on the worst day of their lives,” he noted. “The public puts 100% of their trust in us. We have to perform for them 24/7/365.”

Hometown of Rochester

Kittleson was born and raised in Rochester, Minnesota. His father, Gary, worked as a career firefighter with 30 years of service. His mother, Erin, worked as a nurse at the Mayo Clinic. His parents have both recently retired and have relocated to Dallas, Texas, to work for Samaritan’s Purse - a ministry-based non-profit.

So, it may come as no surprise that Caleb would follow in his parents’ footsteps. But it took him a while to reach that conclusion.

“For most of high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do,” he said. “But then, the Rochester Fire Department and my high school teamed up to offer courses through the PSEO program (post-secondary education option).

“I took some classes and realized it was a pretty cool career. Growing up, having my parents as role models helped, too. I earned my Firefighter I, Firefighter II, EMT, and HAZMAT certificates when I was still in high school.”

Growing up, Kittleson and his family frequently visited Duluth and the North Shore. He fondly remembers trips to the BWCA and enjoying the Superior Hiking Trail. It became his goal to eventually end up in Duluth.

A Few Pivots

After high school, Kittleson enrolled at Lake Superior College, where he completed his associate’s degree - in fire science and administration - online. He moved to the Twin Ports in 2021. Here, he initially worked for Continental Ski & Bike.

A few detours would follow. Kittleson left Duluth twice: his first move was to Mankato after receiving a job offer. Later, he worked for the Rochester Fire Department with his dad for a while. But still, Duluth beckoned.

“Neither Mankato nor Rochester offered much for my hobbies or the life I wanted,” Kittleson said. “I love golfing at Nemadji, hiking and biking on the Superior Hiking Trail, and snowboarding at Spirit Mountain. Duluth has such amazing landscapes, opportunities for my hobbies, and great people. So, I came back in 2022.” This time, he plans to stay.

DFD

Duluth has a total of eight fire stations. Kittleson works for the Duluth Fire Department’s downtown headquarters – also known as Station 1. He and his crew of 11 fellow firefighters and an assistant chief work 24-hour shifts there.

His crew at Station 1 works from 7 am to 7 am, but they are always early. “The culture here is always to show up early to relieve the other crew,” Kittleson noted.

The firefighters are always ready to drop everything and go when called. But on a slow day, the crew works together on tasks like cooking meals, cleaning the station, inspecting their equipment and fire truck, continuing their training, and completing administrative tasks.

Since their job is so physically demanding, staying in shape is imperative. The station has a gym, and the crew often work out together.

The call for lights out happens at 9 pm. At the station, the firefighters have dorm-style arrangements for sleeping. But that certainly doesn’t mean they have a peaceful night of rest ahead.

“Sometimes we sleep all night, and sometimes we get five calls after midnight. You just never know,” Kittleson said.

Camaraderie

Kittleson and his crew share a deep bond that goes beyond being colleagues. “You basically live at the station with your coworkers,” he said. “They become like your family.

“One of the best parts about working in the fire service is that you’re living with some of your favorite people,” he added. “You do everything together. You have to be able to trust these people with your life completely. You ultimately grow super close because you know they have your back at all times.”

Beyond Fires

It may be surprising to learn that fighting fires is just a small part of what firefighters do. “I would say that roughly 90% of the calls we go on are medicals and lift assists,” he said.

One of Kittleson’s most memorable calls resulted in him saving the life of a dog. “I went into a burning house to do a primary search,” he explained. “It was dark and smoky, and I pretty much stumbled into this dog. I got the dog out, handed him off to another firefighter, and went back to fight the fire. The dog received oxygen and survived.”

“I hope to have a long career as a firefighter,” he said. “I want to continue learning and just be the best firefighter - and person - I can be.”

Personal

Kittleson enjoys many outdoor activities in his off time, such as hiking, biking, snowboarding, and golfing. Ultimately, he’d like to settle down and start a family. But at just 21, he has plenty of time.

Most Rewarding

If you have the opportunity, please tell a firefighter that you appreciate their service. Kind words and gratitude mean a lot to them. And feedback is rare.

“The most rewarding thing about this work is getting thanked by people afterward,” said Kittleson. “We often don’t know what happens after we respond to a call. So, it’s always nice to hear later that we made a difference.”

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

UMD Marshall Performing Arts Center (MPAC) celebrates its 50th anniversary with the production of “Natasha, Pierre and the Comet of 2012”

“Gonna have to study up a little bit
If you wanna keep with the plot
'Cause it's a complicated Russian novel
Everyone's got nine different names
So look it up in your program
We'd appreciate it, thanks a lot”
“Prologue,” “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812”

The musical “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812” is based on a little seventy page “sliver” of Leo Tolstoy’s epic over 1,500 page Russian novel War and Peace. UMD ’s Theatre department is performing “Comet” for its spring production, opening on the weekend of the 50th anniversary of the Marshall Performing Arts Center and a reunion of past students, faculty, and administrators.

One of the most energetic casts in a UMD show since Covid, the 25-member cast lit up the stage with their unabashed joy, performing this distinctly atypical  Broadway musical. Many of them also played musical instruments throughout the show, adding to the full sound of the terrific 9-piece onstage “Comet” band.

An eclectic, sometimes dissonant, sometime lush, and always unique score was undoubtedly a challenge for the musicians and the singers. Music Director Patrick Russell did a masterful job keeping all the styles cohesive in this beast of a score, with everything from ballads to a mockery of opera, all the while conducting a company that was literally all over the house.

Throughout the evening, the cast had great fun interacting with the audience, flirting, giving high fives, and dancing in the aisles. Their full company vocals were another highpoint of the evening with both lush harmonies and fun variations of folk, rock, electro-pop, and even highly discordant “opera.”

Ryan Armstrong stood out from his first moment onstage as the ringleader and “master of shenanigans” of the company, as the audacious Balaga. Armstrong was always great fun to watch, playing his accordion, dancing, leaping, and helping to establish the Russian folk style of some of the music.

At the story’s center is the young and virtuous Natasha (Mackenzie Ammon) who has been left behind as her fiancé  Andrey (Erik Rasmussen) has gone off to war. It doesn’t take long before she falls prey to the lascivious Anatole (Tanner Longshore) who sees her as nothing more than his next conquest.

Ammon brings a youthful naïveté and a sweet soprano voice to the role, and she made her arc, from a wide-eyed child to a broken and disgraced fallen heroine believable. Her “No One Else” solo was her standout moment as she proclaimed her love for her young soldier at war.

Longshore and John Toven, playing Anatole’s partner in crime, are dashing figures in their bright red and gold-trimmed military costumes. Longshore’s movie star good lucks worked to establish him as the stereotypical wolf in sheep’s clothing. Toven was always convincing as Anatole’s smarmy sidekick, also showing his talents as a musician (guitar and viola), and with some incredible dance moves.

In the role of Marya, the kind but firm godmother to Natasha, Olivia Nelson is eminently watchable, both in her humorous moments and in her tirades. An audience favorite from her first moment onstage, her hilarious facial expressions and body language, and later her Act II enraged showstopper “In My House,” showed her range.

As Pierre, the alcoholic, unhappy scholar, and lonely outcast who hides from the world, Aaron Dumalag portrayed the depths of despair of this miserable man, who seeks redemption for his wasted life. Dumalag has one of the strongest voices in the company, particularly in his tragic lament, the heart-rending “Dust and Ashes.”

The show is at its best in the full company production numbers, with choreography from Lila Ann White, notable in the song “ Balaga,” an over 10-minute all-out music and dance explosion. The cast was literally “passed out” on the floor at the end, with a few of them humorously begging audience members for water. White obviously had great fun mixing up her dance style choices to go with the ever-changing score.

Three of the major technical positions were UMD seniors: Lisa Scott, Samantha Brown, and Moriah Babinski. 

Impressive work from Scenic Designer Lisa Scott, creating the spectacle of the show from the commanding chandelier/comet overhead to the red star symbol on the stage floor, and the stunning upstage “wall” of color and bold graphic design, all evoking the majesty of Russia iconography.

Samantha Brown’s lighting design even became another character in the show with some eye-popping effects, particularly with the lighting of the chandalier/comet piece. The intricate and complex lighting plot was impressive and helped to set the mood and tone throughout.

Costume Designer Moriah Babinski clad the chorus in some Russian peasant looks, mixed in with anachronistic leathers, plaid punk gear, and studded denim to contrast with the traditional early 19th-century silhouettes for the principal men and women.

Bravo to Director Thomas Jacobsen for his creative vision for this show and for tackling “Comet,” which many professional companies won’t touch because of its many staging, musical, and casting complexities. The opening night audience stuck with the intricacies of the Russian Matryoshka stacking dolls’ characters and plot to let the evening of music, dance, and most of all the love of performing from this cast, to wash over them.

“Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812”
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Dave Malloy
adapted from the novel War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Apr 12th, 13th | 7:30 PM
Apr 14th | 2:00 PM (ASL Performance)
Apr 17th, 18th, 19th | 7:30 PM
Apr 20th | 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM

Marshall Performing Arts Center - Mainstage Theatre
Reserved seating Call 218-726-8561 for tickets and information.
Learn more about MPAC and its 50th Anniversary Celebration

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 "In the quantum multiverse, every choice, every decision you've ever and never made exists in an unimaginably vast ensemble of parallel universes.” ― “Constellations” playwright Nick Payne

What is ”Constellations” at the Lab at the NorShor Theatre really about? The story spins around in a tilt-a-whirl going in different directions, echoing two actors’ movements around each other as they discuss love, anger, quantum physics, beekeeping, death, romance, sex, jealousy, and, indeed, the very meaning of life.

The Playhouse Lab is an intimate 60-seat space that helps to draw the audience even more into a universe of potential paths one couple’s relationship could take.

Every shifting scene goes “backwards, forwards, and sideways” showing the multitude of choices and decisions the characters in this “two-hander” make. The audience is left to decide what the couple’s true linear path is, or if there ever is a linear path to their lives.

“Constellations” is a tour-de-force acting high wire act for real-life husband and wife Phil Hoelscher and Alyson Enderle. Hoelscher plays Roland, a funny, romantic, sweet, caring, and down-to-earth beekeeper. Enderle as Marianne,  is a theoretical physicist, who is brilliant, passionate, complex, quick-witted, and endlessly frustrating.

As the two characters try to learn about each other, it is not just the small stuff they attempt to figure out, but the big questions of time, space, fate, and free will, as they ride an emotional roller coaster together and apart.

Being so close to the actors allowed the audience to see both the fire and frustration in Enderle’s eyes and the pain and pathos in Hoelscher’s. There was a an undeniable sense of the deep inner life that they each brought to these roles.

However, the nature of the configuration of audience seats means that the actors have their backs to the audience part of the time. People seated to the extreme far left and right (as I was) missed hearing a few lines and seeing some of the actors’ facial expressions. The actors do their best to compensate, making this only a small issue throughout the show.

Watching the actors execute the exhausting and intricate blocking patterns required, and realizing what memorization of this tremendously complex script would have taken them, adds to how impressive these talented actors are. At one point, they even replayed an earlier scene, this time using sign language, offering a whole set of nuances and meaning different from the spoken word.

“Constellations” is a challenging, engaging, and at times, funny piece of theater that raises more questions than it answers. Are Roland and Marianne truly in love? Are they in other relationships? Do they end up together? How do their lifelines connect or diverge? Why do conversations keep rewinding and unwinding, spooling and unspooling in rapid succession?

While making this emotional voyage with the couple, audience members can’t help but ponder their own life choices and how changing even a few small details could derail or improve the train ride of one’s life.

At a fast-paced seventy minutes, without an intermission, the audience is at the center of a whirlwind of alternate realities. Director Justin Peck and his actors had obviously delved into layers of character analysis and the depths of late-night philosophical discussions on some of life’s great conundrums.

And, as if the show is not complex enough, Peck raised the bar even more by using four actors over the nine-performance run. Alyson Enderle and Jess Hughes will alternate as Marianne; with Phil Hoelscher and Hunter Ramsden alternating as Roland.

The impact of this casting choice is certain to make some audience members want to see the show more than once to note the changing dynamics that will happen with the actors as they play the same roles with different actors playing opposite them.

“Constellations” requires quite a bit, not only from the actors, but from the audience as well. Yet, it is a play that is sure to elicit many thoughtful after-show discussions as audience members share views on what they saw and heard, what they felt, and what this thought-provoking show is really all about for them.

“Constellations”
By Nick Payne
April 11-27
The Lab at the NorShor Theatre
213 E. Superior St., Duluth, MN

Performances:
April 11 at 7:30pm – Phillip Hoelscher / Alyson Enderle
April 12 at 7:30pm – Hunter Ramsden / Alyson Enderle
April 13 at 7:30pm – Phillip Hoelscher / Jess Hughes
April 18 at 7:30pm – Phillip Hoelscher / Alyson Enderle
April 19 at 7:30pm – Hunter Ramsden / Jess Hughes
April 20 at 7:30pm – Hunter Ramsden / Alyson Enderle
April 25 at 8pm – Hunter Ramsden / Jess Hughes
April 26 at 8pm – Phillip Hoelscher / Alyson Enderle
April 27 at 8pm – Phillip Hoelscher / Jess Hughes

Visit the box office at the NorShor Theatre Monday through Friday 10 am-5 pm, call 218-733-7555, or go to www.duluthplayhouse.org/shows/constellations

 

 

UMD will celebrate MPAC's 50th Anniversary on Saturday, April 13, 2024

In 1974, the campus of UMD held dedication ceremonies for the new Marshall Performing Arts Center (MPAC), built at a cost of $2.8 million. The School of Fine Arts was established at the same time, giving the music, theatre, and dance programs a home.

MPAC was named to honor the parents of Duluthian sisters Caroline and Julia Marshall who were major donors, along with their sister Jessica Marshall Spencer, and Marjorie Congdon Dudley. The Dudley Experimental Theater housed in MPAC was named for Dudley.

According to the UMD website, “The Marshall Performing Arts Center (MPAC) houses the Department of Theatre and offers two unique performance venues. Within the Marshall Performing Arts Center, there is a 550-seat flexible thrust/proscenium theatre as well as a black-box experimental theatre. The 100-seat black box Dudley Experimental Theatre has a flexible seating arrangement, presenting UMD Theatre productions and Stage 2 productions annually.”

“Multiple studios provide designated space for actors, designers, and dancers, while fully equipped scenic, welding, and costume shops, in addition to state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment, allow student designers and technicians to explore their crafts in lab and production work.”

Strong Department Leadership

Bill Payne was at UMD from 1993 to 2022 as a Professor of Acting & Directing, later serving as the Dean of the School of Fine Arts. “An educational performance space like MPAC is an incredible asset for our community. Though our students are still learning, they still bring a great infusion of talent to the region and display it in a great venue at an affordable cost to the public,” said Payne. “Our community needs artists and art just as much as it needs business people and businesses.”

President Emeritus from Baldwin Wallace University, Richard Durst, was at UMD from 1977 to 1996 serving as a  scenery designer, Department Head of Theatre, Artistic Director for Minnesota Rep, and the Dean of the School of Fine Arts.

“I was always thrilled at the community support for theatre and the connection to all the arts in Duluth. MPAC provided a state-of-the-art facility that allowed us to bring high-quality theatre to Duluth,” noted Durst. “The Marshall sisters provided that economic support that allowed it all to happen. The quality of the program enabled us to recruit superior faculty and students to build upon the successes.”

Richard Graves, an Associate Professor and Department Head from the Fall of 1976 through the Spring of 1984, said, “The performing arts are vital to a well-rounded undergraduate education, and MPAC provides an extraordinary cultural asset to the community.”

Mark Harvey came to UMD in May 1983 as the staff technical coordinator for the Marshall Performing Arts Center. He joined the faculty in 1985 and served as Acting Department Head from 1986-1988. He has served as Department Head since 2011 and will retire this May. He designed lighting or sound (and a few times both) for over 150 theatre and dance productions in the Marshall Center, as well as supervised UMD Theatre's lighting, sound and stage management programs for 38 years.

Harvey was also the consultant for the three-million-dollar renovation in 2012 when extensive projects were done in both the Main Stage and Dudley Theatre, bringing needed technology updates such as lighting, sound, intercoms, and video monitors. Additional improvements included adding a voice studio, one new office, ADA compliance projects throughout, a sprinkler system, and a new rigging system on both the main stage and the Dudley Theatre.

According to Harvey, “Faculty, staff, and students, of course, have been critical for UMD Theatre's continually growing national reputation, as have been our amazingly loyal patrons and benefactors. However, our dreams and ambitions would not have been possible without a space to make them a reality.”

“The Marshall Center has made it possible for us as artists, practitioners, and audience members to come together as a community for an in-person storytelling experience, if just for a single performance, to laugh, cry and ponder the mysteries and challenges of life,” stated Harvey.

“Over the past 50 years, UMD Theatre has graduated over 800 Theatre majors and produced over 350 productions to over half a million patrons. Some of those 800 graduates went on to successful professional careers in the theatre,” Harvey added.

Alumni Memories and Reunion

Bonnie Anderson was a Theatre major/French minor at UMD from 1974-1978. She explained, “I am a strong proponent of arts education, offering skills to students and arts and messaging to our culture. Experiencing live theatre, music, and dance performances enriches our view of the world. Because MPAC was so new and so beautiful, the building itself made a big impact on me. I spent four  years in and out of every space in the building.”

Amy Hill, who attended UMD from 1973-1977, earned her BFA in Theater and was a teaching assistant, managing the costume shop until 1976. She worked on costumes for the first production at MPAC in 1974, the musical “Hello Dolly,” directed by her brother, Don Dornacker.

Hill, who is still a freelance Costume Designer in the Twin Cities, has fond memories of MPAC.”The building was brand new, so we, as students and TAs, had a lot to do with developing the useful new spaces. Each of us Tech TAs had office spaces and keys and worked all hours of the day. The building was new and wonderful, but the real treasure was the friendships and collaborations that occurred within its walls. Many of the friends I had there are still special friends today.”

Hill added, “UMD and MPAC are treasured in the community. I worked in educational theatre for 18 years and have sent many students to study theatre at UMD over the years. Its excellence in education and quality performance have grown exponentially.”

50th Anniversary Celebration 

On Saturday, April 13, 2024, UMD will celebrate MPAC's 50th Anniversary and welcome back students with a reunion. They have invited all students, staff, and faculty who have participated in events at MPAC during the past 50 years to return home.

The day will include social time, slide shows, tours, lunch, a soiree, and a performance of the UMD Theatre Department’s musical, “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812.” The performance will be followed by a planned cabaret and impromptu performances by alumni from the past 50 years at MPAC, as well as some current Theatre students.

Anderson is excited about the reunion. “When a group of my theatre alumni friends get together, we pick up the conversations right where we left off — however many years have passed. We have lifelong strong supportive friendships and really appreciate each other.”

“Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812”

Written by Dave Malloy
Directed by Thomas Jacobsen
Apr 12th, 13th | 7:30 PM
Apr 14th (ASL interpreted performance) | 2:00 PM Apr 17th, 18th, 19th | 7:30 PM
Apr 20th | 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Marshall Performing Arts Center Main Stage
Advance tickets are on sale at https://z.umn.edu/Great-Comet or 218-726-8561. Advance tickets $25 adult | $20 senior/UMD Faculty & Staff/Veteran | $10 all students. UMD students are also eligible for free rush tickets 30 minutes prior to a performance with a valid UMD student ID; subject to availability.

UMD’s Department of Theatre is concluding its spring season in spectacular fashion with a production of the twelve-time Tony nominee “Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812.”  Based on a scandalous slice of Tolstoy’s War and Peace, this electro-pop opera tells the story of Natasha, a beautiful (and betrothed) ingénue visiting Moscow, who is seduced by the dashing (and married) Anatole.

According to Mitra Emad — Associate Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812” is a unique and exhilarating example of how the arts at UMD enrich our region.”

“One of the things we do best in this college is create space for fresh, experimental, and widely appealing performances that showcase the hard work and talent of our students,” said Emad.

 

The Minnesota Ballet enchanted audience members, both young and old, with the first of their three performances of the classic fairy tale “Snow White.” The evening was a true showcase for the company of professional principal dancers, apprentices, and students.

While not an exact reproduction of the Disney classic film, the Brothers Grimm version, on which the ballet was based, gave the story elements that the audience was familiar with, including light and dark elements.

Music from composers Dmitrii Shostakovich and Holger Paulli had all the dramatic, sweeping, and playful elements needed for the dancers to bring this beloved tale to life.

Talented student dancers portraying the Seven Dwarfs were an audience favorite. From their first entrance in their colorful costumes, it was fun to identify the character traits of Dopey, Grumpy, Bashful, Sneezy, Sleepy, Happy, and Doc.

Piper Linn, Martha Kliewer, Adelaide von Rabenau, Kadence von Rabenau, Kylin Hahn, Zinnia Kracker, and Natalie Carter, were obviously having great fun using their dancing and acting skills to bring these classic characters to life.

Other students in the company charmed with their portrayals of birds, deer, bees, bunnies, and butterflies, enchanting Snow White, and bringing laughter and applause from the audience.

Providing opportunities for the young students to shine, to grow, and to feel a part of something much bigger than themselves, was clearly part of the evening’s mission. Whether playing pages, a master of ceremonies, or a sweet woodland creature, each provided an important threads to the tapestry of the ballet.

Will each of these students pursue a career in dance? Obviously not. But will they remember these performances with pride? Absolutely! And the chance to watch the professional company and how they pursue their craft is an invaluable life lesson.

Members of the professional company used both their exceptional dancing skills, as well as their clear characterizations, to bring new shades of meaning to the story. One standout was Matthew Frezzell, the Huntsman, who starts as a seemingly heartless villain, and ends showing the depths of his humanity and sympathy for Snow White. His dancing was athletic and powerful, and his stage presence was electric.

Ximena Azurmendi’s Evil Queen, with her legion of gargoyles, was everything one would want in a narcissistic and murderous diva. Beautiful, but lethal, Azurmendi was convincing throughout, both with her elegant dancing and her spot-on characterization, to the inevitable moment when she hands Snow White the bright red, poisoned apple.

Anthony Cefalu, in the role of the King, had some of the evening’s stronger dancing, and was an empathetic father to Snow White, even while being blind to the Evil Queen’s plots.

With a beautiful pairing with the Evil Queen on the other side of the magic mirror was dancer Jessica Lopes, evoking Snow White’s Mother, looking like Snow White herself, and serving as a stark contrast to the Evil Queen.

As the Prince, Issac Sharratt was a commanding presence and partnered well with Brianna Crockett as Snow White. He demonstrated both a strong ability to showcase Crockett and to dance as a polished soloist with skill and finesse. His lifts were gorgeous, showing the range of his strength and agility.

Crockett was a delight, channeling all the sweetness, innocence, and gentleness required for one of the all-time favorite fairy tale heroines. Her dancing was graceful and expressive as she moved with a seemingly effortless ease, while showing beautiful technique en pointe.

Crockett and Sharatt had marvelous dances in the wedding celebration scene at the end of the ballet, with both of them able to show their individual virtuosity and their partnering skills.

Serving as Artistic Director for the Minnesota Ballet and Choreographer for “Snow White,” Karl van Rabenau’s choreography was cohesive, creative, and appropriate for the varying ages and abilities of his dancers. He was able to bring out the talents of his smallest students, all the way up to challenging his professional dancers to show the depths of their talents.

Rabenau’s choreographic story-telling was strong throughout. It was only in the long wedding celebration in Act. III that things dragged a little, with a bit of repetition in the choreography and use of dancers.

The show’s technical elements, while not especially complex or intricate for the most part, provided the needed elements to tell the story. Ann Gumpper’s designs were especially effective in creating the ambience of the shadowy woods and in the drop for the elegant palace. The lighting was serviceable, but a bit dark at times, especially in the Dwarf’s cottage.

Costumes were decidedly a star of the show. Designers Heather Boudreau and Sandra Ehle did a marvelous job, from the cutest bunny tail or set of bees’ wings, to the regal and elegant costumes of the court and the principals. The detail work in each piece, for each dancer, was impeccable.

With “Snow White,” the Minnesota Ballet obviously had an “entry level” ballet for the youngest members in the audience, and also appealed to sophisticated ballet lovers who could enjoy all the nuances and power of the professional dancers in the company.

Fundraising Dinner/Auction Next Up for the Minnesota Ballet

“The Resplendent Table” on Friday, April 5 in the Depot’s Great Hall, is described as “an enchanted evening inspired by the grace and grandeur of classical ballet” with lavish tables, candelabra, and beautiful table settings.

The five course dinner from Midcoast Catering is accompanied by wine parings. Attendees can support the Ballet by shopping experiences and items from their silent and live auctions.

Table side entertainment by the Minnesota Ballet’s company dancers will add to the evening’s festivities.

For tickets and information, visit minnesotaballet.org or call 218-733-7570.

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