Seagle Festival joins forces with other state opera companies for historic tour

SCHROON LAKE | A landmark collaboration- the first of its kind- will mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the epic life of the Seagle Festival, the Adirondack Region's premier destination for opera and musical theater. The 111-year-old non-profit announced its participation in a touring production of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's HAPPY END, joining creative forces with The Glimmerglass Festival, Opera Saratoga, and Finger Lakes Opera in a groundbreaking partnership. The tour will mark a significant milestone for Schroon's beloved, reinforcing Schroon's beloved opera house and musical theater organization as a vital pillar in New York State's cultural ecosystem. "Our mission has always been about fostering the next generation of talent while serving the Adirondack community," shared Tony Kostecki, Seagle Festival's General Director. "Collaborating with our colleagues at Glimmerglass, Opera Saratoga, and Finger Lakes Opera allows us to bring a provocative, world-class production like HAPPY END directly to our neighbors in Schroon Lake and beyond, helping cement our reputation for innovative art." HAPPY END is a jazz-infused musical satire that audiences across New York and Western Massachusetts will have the opportunity to enjoy, thanks to the tour growing from an original three to four scheduled performances to now around 10, including a stop at Tannery Pond Center for its Adirondack showing. Set in a 1920s Chicago speakeasy, the story follows an unlikely romance between a hardened criminal and a Salvation Army missionary. Directed by Mary Birnbaum (Artistic & General Director of Opera Saratoga) and music-directed by Rob Ainsley (Artistic & General Director of The Glimmerglass Festival), gangster comedy's ensemble is composed of elite artists with ties to all four partner companies, showcasing the depth of talent nurtured within the New York opera circuit. Ana Karneža, winner of the 2024 Lotte Lenya Competition, has a starring role as "The Fly." "When you are doing something like this and you have multiple artistic types, everyone needs to decide on the director, the singers, and hope everyone's taste mesh," noted Seagle Festival Artistic Director Darren K. Woods of the potential challenges that could come with a production of such a unique nature. Luckily, all directors shared the same taste in singers, so a strong cast wasn't difficult to assemble, and set design also fell into place with affability. Sets are currently in production, and are being designed for quick and easy portability in between venues. "We all operate in the Adirondacks so sillowed, and we all want to start producing in the off-season, not just give ourselves completely over to the summer," reflected Darren K. Woods, Seagle Festival Artistic Director. "This was an idea to all band together, put on a production, and see if we can get an audience. It has just blossomed, and we are all stronger for the collaboration." The ambitious collaborative effort comes at a favorable juncture for Seagle Festival as they look to expand from a summer season theater to a year-round musical entertainment destination. Currently in the midst of a capital campaign, Seagle Festival's intention is to build two new housing units for artists which would be completely winterized as well as a new dining hall and event space. The crown jewel will be the replacement of the theater, which now can only seat 175, leading to sold out shows and some disappointed would-be patrons. The new theater will be able to comfortably accommodate 250 performance lovers. Fully heated and also equipped with AC, there will be no stopping the Seagle Festival once the improvements are in place in successfully producing during all four seasons. "Rob Ainsley's idea for this production idea fell into our new strategy that we are trying to do more in the off-season to build that audience so that when we have a 250 seat theater up on Charley Hill Road and we do shows in October, December, and March, we will have an audience expecting us to do shows in the off-season," Woods remarked. HAPPY END will make its anticipated Tannery Pond Community Center in North Creek at 228 Main Street on Saturday, May 16, and will offer local audiences a rare opportunity to experience a high-caliber production before the traditional summer season begins. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit seaglefestival.org.

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Seagle Festival joins forces with other state opera companies for historic tour

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