Playing Local

V1 Staff |

In the past year, Chippewa Vallians have paid homage to their respective stomping grounds towns through various mediums (the musical composition An Eau Claire Story and the play The Threshing). Now, our neighbors to the north in Ladysmith are following suit. On July 19, after nearly two years of creative development, the Fourtissimo! Coalition along with The Flambeau Valley Arts Association will open the production of The Ladysmith Story. The opera, set at the turn of the century, tells the story of the town’s namesake, Isabel Smith and her choice between duty and passion interwoven with the town’s struggle for progress. The cast is made up of locals and professionals with Minnesota Opera veteran Tracey Gorman as the leading lady. The opera will be featured both at the Ladysmith High School Theatre and the Red Eye Theatre in Minneapolis. For further production and ticket information, visit LadysmithStory.org.

We can also remember a late-nineties two-art musical tracing the history of Eau Claire through show tunes. If memory serves the plays were penned by former UWEC professor Wil Denson and were staged in the Kjer Theatre. Anyone else know more about this?