Trumpet in the Land celebrates their 50th season
The outdoor drama has continually improved over its many seasons and is the longest running outdoor theatre production in the state of Ohio.
Trumpet in the Land recently celebrated their 50th season with an alumni performance on July 5 but the party is not over yet. There is still plenty of time to catch a performance of Trumpet or one of several special presentations this summer.
Trumpet in the Land tells the story of Moravian Missionary David Zeisberger and his Christian Indian followers as they struggled to preserve their peaceful settlement of Schoenbrunn amid the growing violence of the Revolutionary War. Performances are held five nights each week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday with a cast of 46 actors.
“It’s a powerful story that everyone needs to know,” said general manager Margaret Bonamico. Of the outdoor drama’s 50th season, “Trumpet in the Land is only the sixth outdoor drama to reach that milestone. It’s an accomplishment due to the support and dedication of the local community.”
The outdoor drama has continually improved over its many seasons and is the longest running outdoor theatre production in the state of Ohio. “The voices are absolutely beautiful and everyone is doing a great job,” Bonamico said.
Sixty performers gathered to celebrate the 50th season with an alumni performance.
“They had three hours to rehearse and didn’t have scripts in hand when they did the show,” said Margaret Bonamico. “A lot of them did the fire dance and they hadn’t done it for as much as 15 years. It was wonderful.”
Alumni came from California, New York, Florida, Philadelphia, Nebraska, Illinois and others. “It was good to see them and catch up on old times,” Bonamico said noting that many of the alumni told her how much doing the show meant to them. “It was instrumental in their lives.”
Tim Braden, who portrayed David Zeisberger for 23 years, barely missed a beat as he stepped back onto the stage to bring to life once again the man who shaped the early history of Tuscarawas County.
Joe Bonamico and Bart Herman, who play Simon Girty and David Zeisberger in the current production, stepped back into their original roles of Michael/Col. Williamson and Isaac/Col. Williamson in the alumni performance.
The alumni also participated in a scavenger hunt that included stops at area historical sites such as Schoenbrunn Village, Zeisberger’s grave in Goshen and Gnadenhutten.
The one thing that has not cooperated in the celebration is, of course, the weather. Rain has caused the cancellation of nine shows so far this season, eight of those in June. “With rain and rain down days – when it rains during the day but doesn’t cancel the show – we are down 30 percent in income and attendance,” Bonamico said.
Making it even harder, “The show does not receive any state funding and hasn’t for quite a few years,” Bonamico said.
“I love to watch a storm but I don’t like them in the summer,” Bonamico said adding the rain causes more headaches than reduced attendance. “We have to turn on the lights and sound and make sure nothing got hit, it takes 45 minutes to check out.”
Each year toward the end of the season, special shows are added to provide additional entertainment to keep visitors coming back. This year a beloved tale, The Wizard of Oz, will be performed on July 19, 27, and Aug. 2 and 10.
Taking advantage of the large and more weather proof pavilion at the top of the amphitheatre will be two shows, “Love Letters” and “8-Track: Sounds of the Seventies.”
“Love Letters,” is a two-person play that covers 50 years of hopes and ambitions, dreams and disappointments. Joseph Bonamico will portray Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and Marian Vogel will portray Melissa Gardner. “Love Letters” will be performed July 25.
“8-Track: Sounds of the Seventies” will be performed on Aug. 1 and Aug. 8. The show features music made popular by some of the top artists of the time including the Carpenters, Barry Manilow, the Doobie Brothers and more.
In the off season, the Trumpet Singers are available to perform at events for a donation to the outdoor drama. The group is comprised of Bart Herman, Cami Stanley, Missy Zickel, Larry Sams, and DeeAnne VanScoy. Call the office at 330-364-5111 to schedule an appearance.
The Trumpet Singers along with the full cast will perform at Tuscora Park on Aug. 4. They will also present a few numbers from the “Wizard of Oz” and “8-Track: Sounds of the Seventies.”
Anyone wishing to support Trumpet’s 50th Anniversary, and help insure the production will be here for another 50 seasons, can make a tax deductible contribution to Trumpet in the Land, P.O. Box 450, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.
Ticket information can be found at www.trumpetintheland.com or by calling the box office at 330-339-1132. The last performance of Trumpet is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 17.