The Soo Theatre Project will provide a special musical treat for all attending this evening's Music in the Park event at 7 p.m. on the Soo Locks Park grounds.
“They will perform highlights from 'The Sound of Music,' 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown,' and 'Pirates of Penzance,'" Education Director Maggie Twining said. “There will be a lot of community performers and students who take lessons here. Our orchestra will play. It is a big collaboration."
Theatre and orchestra director Karen Beacom said tonight's performance will preview "Annie" on Friday, July 15 at 7 p.m. and "La Bohème" Friday, Aug. 12 and Sunday, Aug. 14.
Over 100 people turned out for Music in the Park when the season kicked off last Wednesday to hear their favorite Irish hits like “Whiskey in the Jar” and “Tell My Ma.”
“The Pub Runners have been on the bill for 20 years,” Music in the Park committee member Ray Bauer said. “A lot of people like them. It is fun bringing them back.”
Making up the Irish American band is fiddle and mandolin player Jerry Belanger, who began singing as a child in Flint, Mich; guitar player Doug Berkshire, who grew up with an interest in Irish and Scottish music; and fiddle and mandolin player Michael Francis, who equally shares their love of Celtic music.
“We come out of the Gaylord area,” said Berkshire. “I think we are the only band they have had back every year. We play sailing songs, Irish American folk, a little bit of country, a little bit of everything, whatever the fiddle player is in the mood for. We just want people to enjoy it.”
Irish folk band members were born and raised from multiple generations of Michigan families.
“We just have a deep love and respect for our Great Lakes,” Francis said.
The Pub Runners have completed two tours throughout Ireland.
“We just completed our second about a month-and-a-half ago,” said Berkshire. “People from the Sault have come to every trip we’ve taken. We take anywhere from 70 to 80 people with us.”
One of the band’s favorites is “The Great Lakes Song.”
“It talks about Sault Ste. Marie, Alpena and Great Lakes,” said Francis.
"Sweet Mother Michigan, Father Superior coming down from Mackinaw and Sault Ste. Marie. Blue water Huron rolls down to Lake Erie-o, falls into Ontario, and runs out to sea. The Great Lakes are a diamond on the hand of North America.”
Upcoming weekly 7 p.m. Wednesday performances will include: Tyler Roy on July 6; Blue Water Rambles strumming traditional folk and country on July 13; Petoskey Steel Drum Band, playing sounds of the Caribbean on July 20; Dominic Fortuna spinning the oldies on July 27; Night of Native Music sharing the culture on Aug. 3; Neil Dover rocking the shore on Aug. 10; Conga Se Menne genre bending Finnish Reggae on Aug. 17; and original country by Gentleman George on Aug. 24.
Next week’s Tyler Roy is said to be a “high energy” performance, playing everything from country to rock.
For more information, visit the Downtown Sault Ste. Marie Michigan Facebook page.
