‘Trumpet in the Land’ new season will open June 23
The 2023 “Trumpet in the Land” cast.
When “Trumpet in the Land” opens its 54th season this year on June 23, there is much behind-the-scenes work the public will never see.
“It takes a lot of hard work; a lot of blood, sweat and tears; and a lot of dedication from a lot of people that have been with the organization for a long time,” said Margaret Bonamico, general manager of Trumpet in the Land, “and just friends that come back and help us with certain things year after year.”
Volunteers helped make the costumes, helped with construction work and helped get the theater ready for the season.
“That’s a huge advantage to us because those are funds that we would have to put out to have that done but they have volunteered their time and their expertise,” Bonamico said.
Bonamico has been with the production for 52 years, and her brother Joe Bonamico has been in the show for 42 years. Joe Bonamico is best known for his portrayal of Simon Girty.
Work during the offseason is a must with some board members who are on committees taking care of the grounds year round, doing marketing year round and doing grant writing.
“Trumpet in the Land” is Ohio’s official state play and longest running outdoor theater production. It brings to life the story of David Zeisberger and his Christian Indian followers as they struggled to preserve their peaceful settlement despite the growing violence of the Revolutionary War. The story begins in 1772.
Aside from the regular season, one of the busiest times of the year is the holiday season. Though they have fundraisers throughout the year, The Trumpet Singers, comprised of local actors and vocalists, are most in demand during that time.
“Right before the end of the year, we do a lot of the annual campaign and fundraising type of work. And so that keeps us pretty busy,” Margaret Bonamico said.
Trumpet in the Land has proved to be a valuable part of the local economy, bringing in an average of 8,000-10,000 visitors in just a two-month period. Once the season gets going, the schedule includes multiple shows over consecutive nights to entice visitors to stay extra time in the area.
Most seasons Trumpet attracts people from all over the United States.
“I think last year we had 47 of the states. And we had all but two of the counties in the state of Ohio and probably about 14 foreign countries,” Margaret Bonamico said.
There also are people that come in from out of town because their children are in the show, and they tend to bring their entire extended families with them.
Trumpet in the Land is part of the 2023 Travel Tusc ticket program operated by the Tuscarawas County Convention & Visitors Bureau in partnership with the county commissioners. The tickets provide free admission to many area attractions for local residents.
There are no better ambassadors for the show than local residents.
“In the past couple of years, when they had the tickets, they were only good for Trumpet. This year you can use them on any of the shows,” Margaret Bonamico said. “It’s an opportunity for people that might not be able to afford some of the attractions to be able to enjoy what’s in the county.”
The extra shows include “Fiddler on the Roof;” “Circus Time,” a one-hour children’s show that will provide activities afterward; and musical reviews that include a show featuring Disney music and one featuring Broadway tunes.
Following the season will be two productions: “Assassins,” a musical that looks at the lives of nine individuals who assassinated or tried to assassinate a U.S. president and breaks the rules of time and space to bring them together, will be Sept. 9-10. For the Halloween season, “Dracula” will play on two weekends, Oct. 6-7 and Oct. 13-14.
While the Trumpet story stays the same, the show changes a little bit every year.
“It depends sometimes on the size of cast; it depends on a lot of different things. Sometimes if you have a person that has a particular skill, like in a dance or something, then that becomes a little bit different,” Margaret Bonamico said.
For the 2023 season, Margaret Bonamico has just two wishes. “A lot of sunshine and a lot of people walking up over the hill,” she said.
Local members of the Trumpet cast are Joe Bonamico as Simon Girty, Bart Herman as David Zeisberger, Tom Reed as John Heckewelder, Ethan Parrish as Michael, Zac Rusk as Chief White Eyes/Col. David Williamson, Vic Haverfield as Walking Dog, Frank Huff as Zeke Gibbs, Noah Beachy as Sandy Blanchard, Emma Lesieki as Keziah, Rachel Ralston as Esther, Shannon McCullough-McKee as Anna Benigna, Dawn Furness as Sarah Heckewelder, Trenton Huff participates in singing and dancing, and Katlyn Marlatt as a maiden.
Other cast members include Anthony Harbert as Grube/DePeyster, Tyler Farrebee as Isaac, DJ Miller as Big Rock/Strong Cat/Pop Pegram, Keon Dalziel as Capt. Pipe and other roles, Nate Kiliany as Ben Campbell, Isabel Passero as Susan Lecron, Laura Peterson as Zenobia, Courtney Baucom as Juliana, and Kat Robertson as Ann Charity. Gabby Takacs and Zibby Nolting also perform as singers and dancers.
Visit www.trumpetintheland.com.