The Sault Opera Legacy

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1975

Orestes (Michael Kimball), Leona (Barbara McGuire), Rat Pack, Calchas (Roy Tonkin), and Parthenis (Jo-Ann (Morgan) Wilson in "Helen Goes to Troy"

Sault Opera celebrates five years of excellence in presenting live musical theatre in Sault Ste. Marie with the Canadian premier of "Helen Goes to Troy" and its first ever rock opera, "Jesus Christ Superstar".

Some of the cast members of "Helen Goes to Troy"

In the spring, Sault Opera produced a special adaptation of Jacques Offenbach's opera "La Belle Helene" by playwright Dr. Arthur Roberts, "Helen Goes to Troy" premiering in Canada by the Sault Opera Society on March 20, 1975. Dr. Roberts planned to be in Sault Ste. Marie for this special presentation; unfortunately, he was unable to attend due to a previous commitment. Nevertheless, he sent a telegram to the executive of Sault Opera and the cast of "Helen Goes to Troy" offering his best wishes. The cast featured the established Sault Opera regulars David Feltham, Dorothy-Ann Nelson, Roy Tonkin, Lydia Fritsch, Jo-Ann (Morgan) Wilson, Barbara McGuire, Bob MacDonald, Ernie Peeling, Vilma Ambel, and others as well as Denis Nadon making his Sault Opera debut along with Michael Kimball, who played in the pit orchestra for the previous shows.

"Helen" hit the road for a special engagement at Elliot Lake Secondary School for the 1975 QUONTA Regional Drama Festival in May and came back with two awards: Arno Ambel received the award for Best Production and his wife Vilma received the award for Best Costumes.

King Herod (Denis Nadon) and Herod's group (The Helen Syjut Dancers) in Act II of "Jesus Christ Superstar"

Over the summer, the gang got together to construct and pose in costume for a float in the annual Rotary Community Day Parade. The float, constructed using flats and scenery from the Sault Opera stock and mounted on a 45-foot flatbed semi-trailer, featured scenes from all the shows performed in the past five years and the coming fall show, "Jesus Christ Superstar". It won the First Prize for a Group Entry in the parade and a good time was had by all.

Sault Opera opened the fall season with the rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar" featuring a cast of 100 with Darius Dudley, Jim Wilde, and Philip Baker making their debut along with the Sault Opera regulars and an enthusiastic young crowd who rehearsed over the summer months with accompaniment supplied by the rock band. After overcoming the struggles to negotiate the rights for the show and resolving some technical glitches with the set and sound equipment (they almost literally hanged Judas due to a problem with the rigging), the show was a huge success with sell-out houses.

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