Schroon Lake’s Seagle Festival has announced its performance lineup for its 109th annual season. Beginning June 16th, the concert season features a host of opera and theater performances. With performances ranging from classic Italian opera to Broadway classics to a special Juneteenth concert, there is a performance for everyone.
Seagle Festival has been the Adirondacks’ premiere organization for opera and musical theater for over a century. Singer/teacher Oscar Seagle founded the festival in 1915 as a family run operation. In 1920, Seagle purchased the property that now houses the festival, with it quickly becoming a hub for enterprising young musicians. Throughout the past century, it evolved into a non-profit run by leading vocal trainers and theater performers. Today, the organization focuses on cultivating the talent of aspiring performers, and producing high quality theater performances.
The Summer season begins June 16th at 2:00pm with a special Juneteenth Concert. This performance includes a curated collection of works by eight African American composers, sung by emerging vocalists. Old Friends & New follows this performance, officially kicking off the season. This performance will introduce all 31 emerging performers in both solo and ensemble pieces. Additionally, there will be a post-concert reception where audience members can meet and greet performers.
Mainstage performances will begin on July 3rd, with a performance of the Broadway hit Brigadoon. This hit show features classic songs like “The Heather on the Hill,” “Waitin’ for my Dearie,” and “Almost Like Being in Love.” There will be performances on July 3rd, 5th, and 6th at 7:30pm, with a special matinee July 5th at 2:00pm.
July 17th, 18th, and 20th will feature a performance of the classic Mozart opera Don Giovanni. The opera that follows the Casanova-like Don Giovanni in a story that mixes comedy, drama, and beautiful vocals. The performance will be in its original Italian, with English supertitles. On top of the three evening performances, there will also be a matinee performance July 19th at 2:00pm.
The third mainstage performance is Dragon’s Breath based on the novel by Charles Frazier. The play’s story tells the tale of a Confederate deserter returning home, in a narrative that mirrors Homer’s Odyssey. This performance is part of the organization’s goal to promote contemporary American opera, and marks the first female-composed opera produced by the festival.
The final mainstage production of the season is the Sondheim classic Sweeney Todd. With a story that has captivated audiences since 1979, this musical provides a great forum for the festival’s performers to demonstrate their talent. With complex characters, and challenging vocal performances, Sweeney Todd is sure to be an eventful send-off for the mainstage season.
In addition to mainstage performances, there will be two additional children-focused events during the season. On July 6th, the festival will present a children’s opera titled Dragon’s Breath. This opera focuses on a boy named Alan who learns to deal with his anger, personified as a dragon. Following this performance, the Seagle Festival will tour the show throughout the North Country’s elementary schools. The Musical World of Disney will close out the concert season with a September 7th performance. The show will celebrate Disney’s centennial with a revue of classics dating back to the 1920s.
Performance Schedule
Juneteenth Concert – June 16 at 2:00 PM
Old Friends & New – June 22 at 7:30 PM
Brigadoon – July 3, 5, 6 at 7:30 PM, July 5 at 2:00 PM
Dragon’s Breath – July 6 at 10:30 AM*
Don Giovanni – July 17, 18, 20 at 7:30 PM, July 19 at 2:00 PM
Cold Mountain – July 31, August 1, 3 at 7:30 PM, August 2 at 2:00 PM
Sweeney Todd – August 14, 15, 17 at 7:30 PM, August 16 at 2:00 PM
The Musical World of Disney – September 7 at 7:30 PM
The Oscar Seagle Memorial Theater on the Seagle Festival campus at 999 Charley Hill Road, Schroon Lake, NY will host all performances unless otherwise noted. For more information on scheduling and ticket prices, visit the Seagle Festival website here.
Enjoy a performance from the Seagle Festival’s 2018 production of The Great Gatsby.
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