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Once upon a time, in the forests around
Shawnigan Lake in the Canadian province of British Columbia,
there lived a very tall tree called Sir Douglas Fir …
So begins the musical adventure, “The
Journey of Sir Douglas Fir,” performed by the
UW-Marshfield/Wood County Symphony at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec.
11, in the Helen Connor Laird Theatre at the
UW-Marshfield/Wood County Campus, 2000 W. 5th
St., Marshfield
The Journey of Sir Douglas Fir is a
music-filled account of actual events that resulted when a
Douglas fir tree blew over in a storm in Canada, but
survived to achieve a surprising destiny. The
Broadway-style, musical drama is a harmonious blend of a
contemporary score and a heart-warming story, said Tim
McCollum, symphony conductor.
“The music and lyrics are really
delightful,” he said. “The music is stimulating for both
audiences and musicians, and the dramatic message is one
that appeals to all age groups.”
For this performance, the 40-member
UW-Marshfield/Wood County Symphony will be joined by a
chorus, including Andrew Stevning-Roe, a freshman at
Marshfield Senior High, singing the role of Earl the
Squirrel.
“This performance is just a good
learning experience for audiences of all ages,” Stevning-Roe
said. “It teaches a lot of moral values that need to be
learned throughout life. And the music is fun, pop-culture
music.”
Randall Hastreiter, who has been
playing bass clarinet with the symphony for about 25 years,
said the group traditionally has performed mostly symphonic
orchestra pieces.
“So this is a real transition for us,”
he said. “I think that’s a good thing. Sir Douglas, like
many musicals, has a wide appeal. And with this particular
production you’re also attracting younger audiences.”
The Journey of Sir Douglas Fir has been
performed before sold-out crowds throughout the nation. It
is the winner of the 2000 Independent Publisher Book Award
for Best Children’s Audio Book and has been endorsed by The
Grammy Foundation’s Leonard Bernstein Center for Learning.
“The production is a unique one
because it blends story telling with an actual book with a
live performance,” said Ric Reitz, author of The Journey of
Sir Douglas Fir. “It’s literally a libretto – it’s simply a
book performed live.”
The production is similar to a live
radio performance – opening with a live symphony, chorus and
sound effects.
“There’s a whole generation that has
never been exposed to live radio shows,” he said. “So this
becomes a really fun, listening experience.”
Tickets
for The Journey of Sir Douglas Fir are $10 for adults, $6
for those 16 and under. The Campus Box Office is open 11
a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour
before performances. Tickets can be ordered by calling
389-6534. VISA, MasterCard and Discover are accepted. All
seating is reserved. Tickets are non-refundable.
Celebrating its 40th season this
year, the Marshfield/Wood County Symphony Orchestra is
comprised of both UW-Marshfield/Wood County students and
community members.
