Medora Musical
   HOME

TheInfoList



Click Here for Items Related To - Medora Musical
OR:
Medora Musical on:   [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Amazon]

The ''Medora Musical'' is a musical revue produced each summer at the open-air Burning Hills Amphitheater near
Medora, North Dakota Medora (, ) is a city in Billings County, North Dakota, United States. The only incorporated place in Billings County, it is also the county seat. Much of the surrounding area is part of either Little Missouri National Grassland or Theodore Roo ...
. The musical is a look back at the "
Wild West The American frontier, also known as the Old West, and popularly known as the Wild West, encompasses the geography, history, folklore, and culture associated with the forward wave of American expansion in mainland North America that bega ...
" days of the region and includes references to
Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), also known as Teddy or T.R., was the 26th president of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. Roosevelt previously was involved in New York (state), New York politics, incl ...
, who spent time in western
North Dakota North Dakota ( ) is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the indigenous Dakota people, Dakota and Sioux peoples. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north and by the U.S. states of Minneso ...
, including in the nearby
Theodore Roosevelt National Park Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a List of national parks of the United States, national park of the United States in the badlands of western North Dakota comprising three geographically separated areas. This park pays homage to the time that ...
. The musical premiered at the amphitheater in the summer of 1965 and is the successor to earlier shows about Roosevelt.


History

The Burning Hills Amphitheater was built in 1958 one mile west of Medora, for the production of ''Old Four-Eyes,'' to help celebrate Theodore Roosevelt's 100th birthday. Thirty of the thirty-three performances were sold out. Following its first season, 'Old Four-Eyes' experienced declining interest, leading to its closure in 1964. The show was replaced by 'Teddy Roosevelt Rides Again' for the 1963 and 1964 seasons. In 1965, businessman Harold Schafer purchased the amphitheater, marking a new era for the venue. Under Schafer's ownership, the amphitheater underwent renovations, including an expansion of the stage and seating area, in preparation for the launch of the Medora Musical in the same year. In 1986 the Schafer family and the Gold Seal company donated their share in Medora to the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation (TRMF). The foundation maintains the amphitheater and historical properties and other projects. From its inception in 1965, the Medora Musical was produced by Al Sheehan Productions under the direction of Harold Schafer. This partnership continued until 1991 when Curt Wollan and StageWest Entertainment assumed the role of producer. Starting in 2024, RWS Global will take over the production of the Medora Musical.


Burning Hills Amphitheater

The amphitheater was carved out of the side of the badlands in Burning Gulch by local volunteers, cast members and boys from the Home on the Range Ranch. The original theater seated between 1,000, and 1,200 people. It was constructed of wooden benches on the hillside with rustic buildings that formed a set around the stage. The natural acoustics of the hillside meant that no sound system would be needed. In 1991, the amphitheater received a $4.1 million facelift which enlarged the seating to 2,863, built new stage, installed escalators, and a wheelchair ramp. The new Burning Hills Amphitheater was completed in 1992 with the installation of new seats. Additional construction was completed in 1997. In 2005 another major renovation was made to the sets and the stage, resulting in the modernized appearance and functionality of the amphitheater as it stands today. A high-capacity elevator was added to the amphitheater in 2022 to improve accessibility and access to the venue.


Former show names

*''Ol’ Four Eyes'' 1958-1962 *''Teddy Roosevelt Rides Again'' 1963-1964 *''Medora Musical'' 1965–present


See also

*
List of contemporary amphitheatres This is a list of amphitheatres in use today with a capacity of at least 1,000. Amphitheatres by capacity See also * List of concert halls * List of jazz venues * List of opera houses * List of Roman amphitheatres * Lists of stadiums Ex ...


External links


''Medora Musical'' websiteNorth Dakota tourism website


References

{{coord, 46, 54, 52, N, 103, 32, 44, W, format=dms, display=title, type:event_region:US-ND Music of North Dakota 1965 musicals Amphitheaters in the United States Tourist attractions in Billings County, North Dakota Theatre in North Dakota Cultural depictions of Theodore Roosevelt