Makaelyn Gennaro

Makaelyn Gennaro snagged top honors in Zimmerman High School’s annual talent contest, “Starstruck,” on Monday evening, March 4.

Michael Dorso

Gennaro, a junior, sang Michael Jackson’s “The Earth Song” with a style similar to Adele.

Chet Peterson was awarded second place, performing “Stairway to Heaven” with Flamenco guitar.

The group MMIZ placed third, performing Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel.” Members are Peterson, Michael Dorso, Dalton Thompson, and Parker Sturlaugson.

Dorso got fourth place for a piano solo of Billy Joel’s “Piano Man.”

Chet Peterson

The band MMIZ

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Nathaniel Norton plays over 20 Biblical characters in “A God in Love.” (Photo by Kelly Johnson)

by Kelly Johnson, ECM Publishing

Theater and spirituality are two cornerstones of Nathaniel Norton’s life.

As a pastor’s son, spirituality holds a prominent place in Norton’s heart.

So, too, does theater, in which he first became involved in first grade.

Today, Norton is able to combine those passions with New Seed Theatre.

A pastor’s son, Nathaniel Norton admits reading the Bible was confusing at first. His endeavor is to help make it real. (Photo by Kelly Johnson)

It’s a company the Elk River resident and 2005 St. Francis High School graduate founded recently to produce quality theater that also makes the Bible and its stories accessible to a larger number of people.

Norton began in theater as a youngster participating in church musicals. As he grew, he participated in community theater and high school theater.

“I love the story telling, the camaraderie with working with people,” he said.

As he was looking at theater and the church, he noticed something was missing.

“There just seems to be a niche that needs to be filled,” Norton said.

So he set out creating a theater company and production that combined both in a way that could be replicated by other theater companies looking to share stories of faith with audiences.

“A God in Love” is a one-man show in which Norton portrays more than 20 characters.

“It’s a blast going from one character to another,” Norton said.

He wrote the play after reading the Bible cover to cover in high school.

“I’m a pastor’s kid and I found it more confusing,” Norton said.

So he set out trying to create a way to retell the Bible as a story.

The result is “A God in Love,” which Norton performed in workshops more than a year ago before finalizing the play and performing it at area churches.

Two more performances are planned, including one in Ramsey, before Norton takes the play to the Minnesota Fringe Festival in August.

This is his first time performing at the Fringe Festival, although Norton has performed with Theater for the Thirsty.

“This will be a new, exciting adventure,” Norton said. “I like the story that I’m doing.”

“A God in Love” will be presented May 27 at 7 p.m. at Hope Fellowship, 6000 167th Ave. N.W., Ramsey. Tickets are $6 and are available at http://newseedtheatre.com or at the door.

Minnesota Fringe Festival performances at Aug. 3, 1 p.m.; Aug. 4, 7 p.m.; Aug. 7, 10 p.m.; Aug. 8, 8:30 p.m.; and Aug. 11, 5:30 p.m., at HUGE Theatre, 3037 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis. Tickets for the Fringe Festival require a Fringe button and are $12. Tickets are available at http://fringefestival.org/.

For more information about New Seed Theatre, visit http://newseedtheatre.com.

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Carter Schunk, Matt Brisbin, Casey Curney (middle), Mark Walentyn and Nick Griffth in the brass section play “Broadway One Step.” (Photo by Erik Jacobson)

Elk River High School bands presented their final concert of the school year, Spring Pops, on Tuesday evening, directed by John Rossner. Seniors getting special recognition were Dan Alfveby, Jake Esterberg, Nicholas Griffiths, Amanda Hookom, Bridgette Hulse,  Autumn Laniel, Adam LaValley, Lori MacArthur, Megan Perry, Alison Rudolph, Willa Samuelson, Elizabeth Velez, and Paige Wheeler.

The flute section including Autumn Laniel, Amanda Hookom , Ivana Arrington, Emily Soderstrom and Jessica Langbehn plays “Finlandia.” (Photo by Erik Jacobson)

Jesse McCormick (front) on alto sax. (Photo by Erik Jacobson)

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Taylor Kleven received the People’s Choice award for this painting.

Rogers High School was very successful at the Mississippi 8 Conference Art Competition held at Big Lake May 16-17. Rogers brought 29 pieces and received 25 awards (first, second or third).

Participating schools were St. Michael-Albertville, Big Lake, Monticello and Rogers, with a total of more than 100 works.

All Rogers entrants will be on display Monday, May 20, at Rogers High School Arts Night.

Taylor Kleven of RHS got the People’s Choice award for an acrylic painting called “Midnight Snack.”

First places in various categories went to Kleven (color drawing), Lizzy Meyer (mixed media), Bobbi Jo Renneberg (jewelry), Nicole Magnuson (print making), Wyatt Vaa (ceramics), Nicole Fricke (painting, acrylic and oil), Brittany Wickoren (painting, watercolor), and Mitchell Clark (adaptive art).

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“This move is part of our overall emphasis to re-position our organization within the community that we have called home for almost 40 years,” said Aaron Carpenter, music director. “The Elk River community has been very supportive … not only musically, but developmentally with these boys …  We are making strides in re-introducing the community to the musical treasure they have in their own backyard.”

LOLCB is selling its property in Nowthen to make a move back in to Elk River, a press release stated. They were originally located at Highway 10 and County Road 15 before the state built the off-ramp for CR 15 at that site.

The dessert reception and silent auction begins at 2:30 p.m. The concert begins at 4 p.m.

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Jordan Mathewson

Mathewson plans to attend UW-Menomonie for the Graphic Design and Interactive media program.

At ERHS she’s in dance team, National Honor Society, Just For Kix, Yellow Ribbon (suicide prevention club), the Arts Magnet Program and the high school yearbook. With NHS, she completed over 50 hours of volunteer work.

As part of the Advanced Placement Studio Art Class with artist Dan Mondloch, she helped design and paint a mural in the High school.

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Front: Abby Benson, Rayna Cabak, Adeline Tiggelaar. Back: McKenna Miller, Callie
Werk, Elizabeth Hackbarth. Not pictured: Alexandria Chapman,Greta Gleiter.

Six students of Elk River piano teacher Jean Bostrom will perform in the 77th annual Minnesota Music Theatres Association Honors Concert next Saturday, at the University of Minnesota.

Elk River pianists selected in competition March 16-17  were Abby Benson (primary), Adeline Tiggelaar (Junior A), Elizabeth Hackbarth (Junior B) and McKenna Miller (Junior B).

Four other Bostrom students were selected as alternates. They are Rayna Cabak, Alex Chapman, Greta Geiter, and Callie Werk.  Geiter and Werk wound up being called, so they will also perform.

Dr. John Froelich will conduct the performers in an ensemble contest.

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River Valley Winter Guard

River Valley Percussion Theatre and River Valley Winter Guard, featuring students from Elk River, Rogers and Zimmerman, have both completed successful seasons.

The Percussion Theatre placed first out of six drumlines in the Scholastic A class during the Minnesota Percussion Association Championship Show in St. Cloud, achieving their highest score of the season, 91.95 out of 100, in their final event. They placed first in all five shows in which the competed.

The Winter Guard placed second out of five drumlines in the Scholastic A class during the North Star Circuit Championship Show held in Osseo, to close their season. They finished with three first places and four second places in seven competitions. The Winter Guard
was moved into a higher class this year after winning first in their division last season.

View performances on YouTube at this address: www. y o u t u b e . c om/watch?v=

River Valley Percussion Theatre

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Eunice Upton, who lives at Guardian Angels Care Center, inspects her painting of a cat. (Photo by Bruce Strand)

Art shows featuring paintings by senior center residents who took up this hobby late in life will be presented Thursday evening at two locations.

Painting by a Guardian Angels At The Lake resident

The event at Guardian Angels Care Center (400 Evans) will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., and the event at Guardian Angels At The Lake (13439 185th LN) will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Residents interested in painting for fun meet Tuesdays afternoon at each facility in classes organized and supervised by members of Harvey Schroeder Painting Studio.

Refreshments will be served, no admission is charged, and the resident artists will be on hand. This is a chance to greet some of our senior citizens and compliment them on their art work.

Arlyss Holl, who lives at Guardian Angels At The Lake, works on a painting with help from Valerie Greely, one of the Schroeder Studio volunteers. (Photo by Bruce Strand)

Painting by Eunice Upton

Painting by Evelyn Strobel

Painting by Millie Pearson

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Grace Hayne (right) and her sidekick Savanah Hulse as kargaroos in “Seusical the Musical.” (Photo by Bruce Strand)

by Bruce Strand, Sports editor

Elk River High School’s spring play “Seussical the Musical” will close its two-weekend run with a performance tonight (Saturday) at Zabee Theatre.

One of the highlights has been senior Grace Heyne’s vibrant, soulful solos in two scenes as Sour Kangaroo.

“Isn’t her voice absolutely amazing?” director Michelle Brooks said. “Sobbing here to lose her (after this!)”

Heyne has an Aretha Franklin energy as she belts out “Biggest Blame Fool,” “Chasing the Who’s,” “Egg, Nest and Tree” and “The People vs. Horton” with her young sidekick, Savanah Hulse.

“That’s the way the part was written, to sound like Aretha,” said Heyne. She is relishing the biggest role she’s had in about seven stage appearances at ERHS: “This is my favorite play ever.”

Heyne also is a member of a band, The Elms, with two fellow students, and sings in the ERHS choir.

“Music is just a hobby,” said Heyne, asked about her college plans. She plans to go into criminal justice.

“Seussical” is a funny, colorful romp with the very capable Adam Harbaneh and Cara Fromm in lead roles as Horton and Gertrude.

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