"It was where I learned how to have big feelings and where I learned that I could be safe," says Rose Freeman, director of the upcoming Lyric Opera of the North production of La Bohème. Performances take place on June 14th and 16th at the Marshall Performing Arts Center at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
Freeman's twenty-year directing history has frequently gravitated to the avant-garde artist lifestyle, including time spent living in a commune with a wide variety of fellow artists. "That was the life I had when I was in my own La Bohème," says Freeman. This is the director's first time involved with a production of this classic opera.
Freeman notes the similarities between the stage story and the vibe in the Twin Ports. "Something that has struck me so hard about Duluth is how chosen-family-oriented and community-oriented this area is, and that is the spark of Bohème for me," says Freeman. "The minute I came into Duluth I was handed a rhubarb bar... and I was like Oh, Wow! This community understands chosen family. This community will understand Bohème."
La Bohème opens on June 14th at 7pm. For more information about showtimes and tickets, visit the LOON website.
You can hear Community Connection every Tuesday and Thursday at 8am on Northland Morning.
