April 2021
THIS EVENT IS FREE, TICKETS ARE NOT REQUIRED.
Face coverings and social distancing required.
Featuring a Q&A with Benny the Cabdriver, Mel Johnson Jr.
Johnson will be performing a one-person production called Frederick Douglass: In the Shadow of Slavery at the Reif on Friday, April 16.
Mel Johnson Jr.
MEL JOHNSON JR. - Actor | Director | Producer - Though easily recognizable from his TOTAL RECALL co-starring role opposite ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Mel is equally comfortable these days discussing the production of his new one man show "Frederick Douglass In The Shadow Of Slavery" which recently had its extremely successful world premiere in California at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, and he is discussing his work with such companies as Goldman Sachs, American Express and Credit Suisse as a corporate councilor.
While living in Los Angeles, Mel was the Executive Producer of Shadow Entertainment's Urban Horror label "Big City Pictures," he produced four feature films "Ragdoll," "The Horrible Dr. Bones," "Killjoy" and "The Vault" - All of which can be found on video. Mel was also the Artistic Director of The Imagination Workshop, a group of actors, writers, and directors who work within the psychiatric community and with kids at risk. He's extremely proud of the fact that during his tenure as Artistic Director, The Imagination workshop won the first Ovation Award given to a company for "Outstanding Community Outreach."
Mel has countless credits from a resume that reflects his work on stage, screen and television. As a theater director, his work is best embodied by the award-winning "Give'em Hell Harry" starring JASON ALEXANDER, "Oscar To Oscar," "The Me Nobody Knows," "The Ballad of Lizard Gulch" and the critically acclaimed "The Last White Man in the World." Most recently, he directed the World Premiere of Tom Dugan's one man show "Robert E Lee, Shades of Gray" at the Carpenter Center in Richmond, Virginia.
When his acting career is mentioned, Mel finds it difficult to point to his most significant work, but can quickly identify the roles that gave him the most pleasure. In addition to his film work, the list includes Broadway stints in "On The Twentieth Century," "Eubie!" with Maurice and Gregory Hines, "The Rink" with Liza Minnelli, and Chita Rivera. Bob Fosse's "Big Deal," Mufasa in "The Lion King" and most recently starring in the new Earth, Wind and Fire musical, "Hot Feet!" Mel would be remiss if he didn't mention his long-standing relationship with The New York Shakespeare Festival, where he most recently starred in the revival of the musical "Two Gentleman Of Verona" for the festival's, Shakespeare In The Park. On television, he was a regular on David Lynch's "On The Air" and guest starred on numerous other T.V. shows from "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" to "The Pratice."
Mel has always found it extremely rewarding sharing with others what he has learned from his education, at the High School of Performing Arts and Hofstra University and his vast life experience. He has taught classes in both New York and Los Angeles, coached individually and spoken with numerous schools, colleges and community organizations around the country. MEL JOHNSON JR. is as excited about his future as he is proud of his past accomplishments.
Purchase Tickets
Frederick Douglass: In the Shadow of Slavery
Available on-demand through May, 31 2021
Starring: Mel Johnson Jr. | Written & Directed by: Tom Dugan
Running time 1.5 hours
Frederick Douglass: In the Shadow of Slavery is a one-man theatrical journey that chronicles Douglass' remarkable life; from his childhood in slavery to his perilous escape to freedom, from his intense friendships with Susan B. Anthony, John Brown, and Abraham Lincoln to his crucial work on behalf of former slaves following the Civil War. Incorporating gripping plantation songs, lush lighting and sound design, the story of Frederick Douglass' struggle for African American freedom, as performed by Mel Johnson, Jr., star of Broadway and film, is a fascinating evening of theatre that will inspire, educate and entertain.
MEL JOHNSON JR. - Actor | Director | Producer - Though easily recognizable from his TOTAL RECALL co-starring role opposite ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Mel is equally comfortable these days discussing the production of his new one man show "Frederick Douglass In The Shadow Of Slavery" which recently had its extremely successful world premiere in California at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, and he is discussing his work with such companies as Goldman Sachs, American Express and Credit Suisse as a corporate councilor.
While living in Los Angeles, Mel was the Executive Producer of Shadow Entertainment's Urban Horror label "Big City Pictures," he produced four feature films "Ragdoll," "The Horrible Dr. Bones," "Killjoy" and "The Vault" - All of which can be found on video. Mel was also the Artistic Director of The Imagination Workshop, a group of actors, writers, and directors who work within the psychiatric community and with kids at risk. He's extremely proud of the fact that during his tenure as Artistic Director, The Imagination workshop won the first Ovation Award given to a company for "Outstanding Community Outreach."
Mel has countless credits from a resume that reflects his work on stage, screen and television. As a theater director, his work is best embodied by the award-winning "Give'em Hell Harry" starring JASON ALEXANDER, "Oscar To Oscar," "The Me Nobody Knows," "The Ballad of Lizard Gulch" and the critically acclaimed "The Last White Man in the World." Most recently, he directed the World Premiere of Tom Dugan's one man show "Robert E Lee, Shades of Gray" at the Carpenter Center in Richmond, Virginia.
When his acting career is mentioned, Mel finds it difficult to point to his most significant work, but can quickly identify the roles that gave him the most pleasure. In addition to his film work, the list includes Broadway stints in "On The Twentieth Century," "Eubie!" with Maurice and Gregory Hines, "The Rink" with Liza Minnelli, and Chita Rivera. Bob Fosse's "Big Deal," Mufasa in "The Lion King" and most recently starring in the new Earth, Wind and Fire musical, "Hot Feet!" Mel would be remiss if he didn't mention his long-standing relationship with The New York Shakespeare Festival, where he most recently starred in the revival of the musical "Two Gentleman Of Verona" for the festival's, Shakespeare In The Park. On television, he was a regular on David Lynch's "On The Air" and guest starred on numerous other T.V. shows from "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" to "The Pratice."
Mel has always found it extremely rewarding sharing with others what he has learned from his education, at the High School of Performing Arts and Hofstra University and his vast life experience. He has taught classes in both New York and Los Angeles, coached individually and spoken with numerous schools, colleges and community organizations around the country. MEL JOHNSON JR. is as excited about his future as he is proud of his past accomplishments.
. . . Being a celebration of the Life, the acts
and the exuberant excellence of THEODORE ROOSEVELT!
The Man In The Arena is a celebration of Theodore Roosevelt – the essential American. Owen Wister, who knew him well, called him “the most American American who ever lived!”
He is famous for what was supposedly his favorite saying: “Speak softly and carry a Big Stick!” In fact, his favorite saying was “Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are.” He loved power, and he used power like no president before or since, not even Lincoln in wartime – but always with a profound sense of responsibility. He fought hard for regular people, he held out for high ideals, and he never preached anything he didn’t practice. That was the example he left us with. His courage, his honesty, his character, his energy and his profound vision for America are beacons shining through the ages. At his best, he showed us what we can be at our best, and taught us what it means to be Americans.
Our debt to him in this is almost beyond calculation. But even more than that, his attraction lasts as one of the most interesting men who ever lived – a man who was interesting because he was interested. There is no subject about which he did not thirst for knowledge: history, politics, philosophy, nature, linguistics, taxidermy, poetry – the list is endless. He loved books – he read in seven languages, including Portuguese. He wrote books – thirty-six books in all on a bewildering variety of subjects. He was a man who loved to talk philology with Harvard professors and bug collections with six-year-olds. His colossal and kaleidoscopic passion for life and learning is just another of the many layers of his personality and another cause for our admiration.
In the words of Derek Evans, who so aptly portrays President Theodore Roosevelt, To bring this astonishing man alive…is the purpose of The Man In The Arena.
Derek Evans is a professional actor and scholar who has spent a career of almost 40 years engaged in educational presentations for schools, colleges, museums and libraries. He has conservatory training at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco and at New York University and holds bachelors and masters degrees from Northwestern University. He is a veteran of over 40 stage productions in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and San Francisco.
In addition to his legitimate theatre career, from 1969 to 1988 he wrote, produced and performed in educational programs in association with Chicago’s Urban Gateways. These totaled almost seven thousand performances for more than two million students over a period of twenty years and included Shakespeare, opera and American and British literary adaptations.
Since 1995 he has concentrated on living history presentations on Theodore Roosevelt, which have now totaled over 500 performances.
May 2021
VIDEO ON DEMAND THROUGH MAY 31, 2021
Grades 4 – 12
Jack London’s classic tale comes to life on stage. This multi-media adventure mixes performance and storytelling with projected illustrations to tell the story of Buck, the magnificent offspring of a St. Bernard and Scottish Collie.
THANK YOU TO SPONSOR
For In-Person tickets, please contact the Reif Box Office.
M,W,F Noon - 5PM
(218) 327-5780
boxoffice@reifcenter.org
The spring Reif Education Theater Arts production is here! The show is made of area student in grades 3-12.
Hermes and Cupid stir up trouble of Olympic proportions in this “myth-guided” tale. A beautiful young maiden named Phoebe and her shepherd suitor, Bastian, fall victim to the mischief of the gods. Chaos lurks around every corner in this comedic retelling of the events which lead to the Trojan War . . . almost.
Tickets available by calling the Reif Box Office (218) 327-5780
The Box Office will be open to foot traffic
8:30 AM – 5 PM M-F; Monday, May 17
The Itasca Symphony Orchestra is happy to present their first live performance in over a year!
We are very excited to bring back the virtuosic pianist Alexander Sandor. Conductor Keith Swanson has selected music along with Sandor to highlight the strengths of the talented Twin Ports based piano player along with our local strings musicians. Sandor is known nationally as a Ragtime performer and has performed as a freelance classical soloist for over 20 years. “Sandor, who’s built like a wrestler, deploys tremendous power across the piano keyboard and also possesses a soft, light, heart moving touch…”- Grand Rapids Arts
Repertoire will include the popular St Paul Suite by Gustav Holtz, Bach’s joyful Keyboard Concerto No 4 in A Major followed by Gerald Finzi’s pastoral Eclogue for Piano and Strings.
The strings only concert will be presented to a limited audience and will run without intermission. Tickets will be available by calling the Reif Center box office at 218-327-5780 M, W, F noon-5:00. Seating will be chosen based on customer preference and available seating subject to social distancing. You will want to purchase ticket for your entire group as tickets sold at a later date may not be able to be seated with the group.
Tickets $20 each
Concert date – May 22nd
Concert time – 7:00 pm
Sponsored by : Julie Takkunen – Raymond James
June 2021
THANK YOU SPONSORS
Reif Dance's 30th spring show!
Utilizing much of the score from the ballet, Cinderella, by Sergei Prokfiev, this Reif Education production also uses a wide selection of fun, contemporary music to tell the classic story of a young, orphaned girl who is mistreated by her stepfamily. Through the help of her fairy godmother, she comes to marry the handsome prince. You can expect the unexpected, as we have follow the original fairytale more than the Disney version that most people are familiar with.
THANK YOU SPONSORS
Outdoors (covered) under the Jerry and Shirley Miner Family Pavilion at the IRA Civic Center
- Rain or shine
- Bring a chair
- No outside food/drink
- Beer/Seltzer options available
- No readmission
- Designated smoking areas
- No firearms
- No tents
- FREE PARKING!
Gates 4:30 PM
The Bill Berguson Band 5:30 PM
Head Games 7 PM
Beer/Seltzer Available!
Foreigner is one of the world’s best selling bands with worldwide sales of more than 80 million records, including 37.5 million records in the US. Head Games is a seven piece band fronted by Tom Uecker (Outside Recess) that will bring you all the hits including; JUKEBOX HERO, HOT BLOODED, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS, DOUBLE VISION, and many more! In addition to their hits, the band will play some deeper album cuts and versions of songs recorded for their “Acoustique” album, in which Foreigner stripped down their hits to perform them acoustically. With 5 singers, backing this outstanding instrumentation this show will surely satisfy any musical fan, but leave the Foreigner fan wanting more!
The Bill Berguson Band is a four-piece ensemble based out of Duluth, Minnesota. Members of the band include Bill on guitar and vocals, Chris on bass, Travis on drums, and Mark on keys and cello. Their music is all original and delightfully dynamic! You'll hear roots of soul and jazz coupled with the flash of rock and roll and the melancholy echo of classical music. Years of dedicated practice and expertise have created an original sound like nothing else you've heard!
Gear-up for the weekend with a FREE boat-in concert on Pokegama Lake! The east side of Sherry’s Arm, south of Crystal Springs beaches. Look for the purple flowers on the dock, with a willow tree and brown house.
Featuring the classic country/rhythm and blues sounds of Torn & Frayed!
Free-will donations accepted on behalf of the Reif Youth Arts Fund.
Enjoy a FREE Concert at the Hibbing Memorial Building Parking Lot with the Daytrippers! Playing everything from the classic Beatles' tunes to modern classics. Fun for the whole family!