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Seagle's 102nd Anniversary Season 2017: Another Stunner

The 2017 Seagle Music Season is sure to be  a memorable one. Here are the highlights from the folks at Seagle:

"The Early Bird Community Concert will take place at the Schroon Lake Central School on June 17. Five Colony singers will share highlights of the upcoming season as well as other special favorite songs.

Old Friends and New will introduce us to brand new as well as returning emerging artists. It is always thrilling to watch the singers continually grow during the season, thanks to their hard work and your enthusiastic support. This event takes place on SaturdayJune 24, in the Oscar Seagle Memorial Theater. This concert is always a sell-out, so be sure to get your tickets early. You are invited to meet the singers after the concert at a reception in the Shames Rehearsal Studio.

The Light in the Piazza by composer Adam Guettel was nominated for eleven Tony awards after its premiere in 2005. Performances are scheduled July 5-9 with a matinee performance on Friday, just like all four mainstage shows. Set in the 1950’s, the actions takes place in Italy and features a mother and daughter touring Tuscany. The musical includes romance, a secret, cultural differences, and beautiful songs. Guettel is the grandson of composer Richard Rodgers. Rodgers was once a counselor at Camp Paradox near Schroon Lake. 

Pre-Show Talks: These popular and informative talks with question and answer sessions will be held in the Shames Rehearsal Hall one hour before the two operas.

Little Red’s Most Unusual Day will keep children and adults of all ages spellbound on July 8 at 10AM and 11:30AM at The Schroon Lake Boat House Theater. Hearing operatic tunes by Rossini and Offenbach, and learning to trust and follow good advice are all part of the opera featuring a forest ranger, Grandma, Wolf, and of course Little Red Riding Hood. John Davies, who adapted this show and wrote the libretto, has also been a professional opera singer at the Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Opera, and father of six children. His operas have been performed by over 100 opera companies throughout the United States and Canada.

The Seagle Colony Singers will perform in the Town Park after the 63rd annual 4th of July Parade and before the amazing fireworks. Remember as always to BYOC (Bring Your Own Chairs).

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead will have its piano-vocal premiere on July 19-22. Tom Stoppard, one of the world’s leading dramatists, wrote the play on which the opera is based, and Herschel Garfein, Grammy Award winning composer, wrote the music and libretto. These will be the first full performances of this comic opera, based on two minor characters from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. These performances are not to be missed!

The Magic Flute, which will be performed on August 2-5, is considered one of the greatest and most popular operas ever written. The opera will be sung in German with English supertitles and English dialogue. Its form is singspiel, a popular form that includes singing and spoken dialogue. The humor, the Queen of the Night’s   spectacular coloratura singing, and Papageno’s “The Birdcatcher Song” are unforgettable.

My Fair Lady by Lerner and Loewe takes place August 16-19, a lively ending to the season. The musical’s 1956 Broadway production set a record as the longest run of any show on Broadway up to that time. It has been described as, “wonderfully entertaining…simply loverly.” And, who could forget the songs, “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly”, “With a Little Bit of Luck”, “Get Me to the Church on Time”, and “I Could Have Danced All Night?”

Vespers Concerts at 5 PM will be held on August 13 and August 20. Circle your calendar for the two dates of these beautiful concerts of solo and choral music. Come early to get a seat. The annual meeting of Seagle Music Colony, Inc., led by SMC President Seth Bader, will be held on August 13 immediately following Vespers. This brief meeting is an opportunity to hear about season highlights and to learn about future activities at the Colony.

Boulevards of Song features SMC fall outreach artists who will be traveling across the North Country sharing memorable songs made famous on Broadway and Hollywood. The show takes place on September 9 at the Oscar Seagle Memorial Theater.

Patrice Munsel Gala

The 23rd Annual Patrice Munsel Gala will be held in a giant tent by the theater on Saturday, July 15. The festive event will include special memories of Broadway and Metropolitan Opera star Patrice Munsel, who passed away during the past year. She was a continually enthusiastic cheerleader for Schroon Lake as well as Seagle Music Colony. This major fundraising event is a wonderful opportunity to mingle with fellow supporters as well as greet the Seagle Music Colony emerging artists in their beautiful and handsome outfits.

Attendees will have plenty of chances to bid on the unique silent auction items, and exciting and memorable live auction items. The Lily and the Rose will cater the event. The Colony singers will perform. Dancing will be to the very popular Frank Conti Band which will conclude the memorable evening. Valet parking by the Schroon Lake Lions Club helps make everyone feel especially welcome.

This year the Gala will honor Seagle Music Colony active supporter Laurence (Laurie) Meltzer of Brant Lake and New York City. Laurie is a dedicated board member, participant in work days at the Colony, host of emerging artists, and a generous supporter of Seagle Music Colony. 

The 2017 Alumni Honorees are David Blalock and Jonathan Blalock, and this occasion will mark the first time brothers have ever been honored at the Gala. David has been described as having a “lyric voice with widely ranging repertoire.” He has performed with companies such as Atlanta Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Virginia Opera, and Fairbanks Symphony. Jonathan was featured in “Being Blalock” in Classical Singer magazine. He wowed the audiences in Mark Adamo’s Becoming Santa Claus at Dallas Opera. Jonathan feels strongly about three P’s: Passion, Purpose, and Perseverance.” and believes in Social Media for making connections in the singing field. Thanks to Gala chair person, Heidi Kelly, as well as her devoted committee.