Sprague Community Theater 25th Anniversary Event
Thank You!
Thanks to all who joined in a special celebration and milestone anniversary for the Sprague Community Theater. A digital copy of the concert playbill is available here: Playbill PDF
Sprague Community Theater Marks 25 Years with Gala Dinner and Concert!
Performing arts fans are invited to join friends and community members in the Sprague Community Theater’s 25th Anniversary Celebration. Bandon Showcase and the Bandon Arts Council are pleased to present this unforgettable dinner and concert gala, featuring new and returning Sprague Theater alumni performers, on Saturday, Sept. 27.
Celebrate with Lachlan Miller and friends in a lively concert of classic and contemporary music theater selections, with opera, art songs and chamber music. Classically trained vocalists and instrumentalists include Bandon native Lachlan Miller, baritone; Nicole Stover, soprano; Redfish Music Festival Ensemble members Fritz Gearhart on violin, Zachary Deak on piano, and Noah Seitz on cello; along with intergenerational Sprague Theater alumni in the Anniversary Community Chorus.
“Those who’ve had the experience of participating in Sprague Community Theater events, as performers or audience members, know what a treasure the venue is for Bandon and the South Coast region,” said Geneva Miller, event co-producer.
“The 25th anniversary is a terrific chance to invite our performing arts supporters to celebrate the space, to honor the many people who have contributed over the first two decades and envision the next two decades’ worth of opportunities at the theater,” Miller added. “Our performers and production team have had fun creating a lineup of repertoire that highlights the performers’ talents and the acoustic quality of the space.”
Before the show, enjoy a delicious dinner catered by Black Market Gourmet with beverage service courtesy of 2 Mile Bistro, featuring wines from Oregon’s Foris Vineyards. During intermission, indulge in delectable sweets from Coastal Mist Fine Chocolates and Desserts.
The celebration kicks off at 5 p.m. with dinner at the Bandon Community Center, followed by the concert at 7 p.m. next door at the Sprague Community Theater. Both venues are located on 11th St. SW in Bandon City Park.
Admission & Dinner Entree Options
Dinner and concert admission is $100 per person or register a group of eight for $750. Dinner and concert reservations have been extended through Thursday, Sept. 18. Visit our Tickets Page for online ticketing.
Choice of entree for the catered dinner is either Boeuf Bourguignon or vegan Stuffed Portobello Mushroom. In addition to the entree, the meal includes mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, green salad, bread and butter.
This anniversary event is proudly presented by Bandon Showcase and the Bandon Arts Council with support from George and Darcy Cardas, the City of Bandon, 2 Mile Bistro, Foris Vineyards, and Coastal Mist.
Meet the Performers
Lachlan Miller, Baritone: Lachlan Miller is excited to return to his hometown theater in his first appearance at the Sprague since 2019. After a childhood spent making music with his family (which includes parents Robert S. “Robin” Miller III and Geneva Miller) and around his home community of Bandon, Lachlan attended the American Boychoir School in Princeton, New Jersey. The experience of touring and recording with the American Boychoir solidified his desire to pursue a music education.
Lachlan completed his bachelor’s degree in music at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and earned his Master’s of Music at the Peabody Conservatory. Memorable operatic roles with Peabody productions include Toppy in “Rhoda and the Fossil Hunt” and Masetto in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.”
Lachlan now sings with Grace and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Baltimore. His experiences with Baltimore-area opera companies include chorus roles in productions of “Die Zauberflöte,” “L’elisir D’amore,” and “Die Fledermaus.”
Beyond the stage, Lachlan lends his voice to audiobooks, letting him share more stories with the world. He’s pleased to return to Bandon to once again share music with his hometown community.
Nicole Stover, Soprano: Nicole Stover is a vibrant soprano with a passion for collaborative storytelling, holding performance degrees from both Peabody Conservatory (MM) and the University of North Texas (BM). Nicole loves to sing as part of a group and finds the most rewarding part of a performance is discovering the community that makes it possible.
Nicole’s favorite roles include Miss Jessel from Britten’s “The Turn of the Screw” and Nella in Varna International’s “Gianni Schicchi.” She has also been featured as a soloist in oratorio works.
Nicole performs regularly with the Emmanuel Choir in Baltimore and is one of the founders of Charm City Opera Retreat in Baltimore, a new program to help other opera singers both locally and online. She also teaches voice and piano in the DC metro area and loves working with new voices of all ages. When not preparing, performing or teaching, Nicole finds inspiration digging through art song texts or in her home garden.
Redfish Music Festival Ensemble
Fritz Gearhart, Violinist: Described as “supple and imaginative” by the New York Times, Fritz Gearhart is a celebrated violinist who has performed in major halls across the country and is frequently heard on NPR. He has had a rich career in chamber music, including membership in the Chester Quartet and the Oregon String Quartet, and has recorded several albums. Fritz is also the festival director for the Redfish Music Festival in Port Orford, Oregon.
Zachary Deak, Pianist: Zachary Deak has appeared in recital as a soloist and chamber musician in the United States and internationally. Recent stage highlights include performing with ODU Symphony Orchestra, as well as appearances in multiple music festivals. His music awards include the Hopkinson silver medal at the prestigious Chappell Medal Piano Competition in London in 2012. Zachary serves as Assistant Professor of Piano and Musicology and Director of Keyboard Studies at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia; and he teaches online at “Piano with Zachary Deak” via the ArtistWorks platform.
Noah Seitz, Cellist: Noah Seitz earned his cello performance degree from UMKC Conservatory and pursued master’s work at the University of Oregon. He serves as the artistic director of the Chintimini Chamber Music Festival and performs with the Eugene Symphony, Oregon Mozart Players, and Corvallis-OSU Symphony. Noah also teaches cello at various universities and schools. Noah also offers private music instruction through Mistwood Music in Keizer, Oregon.