Northern Sky Announces 2018 Summer Season

(Left to right) Chase Stoeger, Jeff Herbst, Fred “Doc” Heide and Doug Mancheski in Lumberjacks in Love. Photo by Len Villano.

Northern Sky Theater announces ticket sales and casting for the 2018 summer season. The season includes three musical comedies playing in repertory from June 13 to Aug. 25 at the outdoor amphitheater in Peninsula State Park. Northern Sky will premiere two new musicals this summer and offer a new twist on one of its all-time favorite shows.

The world premiere, Boxcar, by Laurie Flanigan Hegge and James Valcq, features veteran company members Jeff Herbst, Doug Mancheski, Molly Rhode, and Alex Campea, and introduces performers Doug Clemons, Nadja Simmonds and local nine-year-old Ben Martin.

Audiences may recognize Martin from Sevastopol High School’s 2016 performance of Big Fish where he played Will Bloom’s son in the final scene.

The world premiere, Dairy Heirs, by new collaborators Joel Kopischke, Eva Nimmer, and Alissa Rhode, features veteran company members Chase Stoeger, Molly Rhode, Eva Nimmer, and Alex Campea, and introduces performers Doug Clemons and Lachrisa Grandberry.

Lumberjacks in Love, by Fred Alley and James Kaplan, returns to the woods once a week with a new twist – as a sing-along. Patrons are invited to dress up as inspired by the show for a pre-show costume contest. Northern Sky volunteers will hand out lyrics so audience members can sing along.

“We are proud to have last year’s Lumberjacks cast all returning for this fun twist on the show and we are thrilled to be bringing new faces to our stage for the two premieres,” said artistic director Jeff Herbst. “Doug Clemons and Lachrisa Grandberry have been taking Milwaukee and Madison stages by storm. Nadja Simmonds will be a new graduate from Marquette University and is poised for a marvelous career. We’re very excited to introduce our audience to these new talents.”

Tickets go on sale April 2. For tickets or the complete 2018 schedule, go to NorthernSkyTheater.com, or stop by the box office at the Green Gables shops in north Ephraim. April office hours are 10 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday.