Paul Nelson, Bay Views leading man

June 13, 2007

He’s a Petoskey High School graduate – class of 1978 – who calls New York home. But each summer, Paul Nelson can be found in Bay View, where he’s been vacationing with his wife, Elizabeth, since 1989. As new director of theatre arts, Nelson has big plans for Bay View theatre and hopes all of Northern Michigan will take part.
“My wife and I were professional opera singers before we had kids,” says Nelson, father of two and performing arts director at Trinity-Pawling prep school for boys in New York. Keeping up with professional theatre, he attends Broadway shows with his students 12 times a year.
An opera major at the University of Michigan, who also has a Master of music degree from the University of Cincinnati, Nelson’s love of performing began early.
“I did the Little Traverse Civic Theatre’s children’s program,” remembers Nelson. “It started with Connie Tanner and June Zoerhof. We’d do children’s shows and take them to schools all over Northern Michigan. We started in eighth grade and did it all through high school.”
Bay View provided another venue in which Nelson could hone his talent.
“When I was a kid growing up in Petoskey, I joined the Bay View shows,” says Nelson. “Hello, Dolly” was my first memory in Bay View. It was 1970 or 1971 that I realized [Bay View] wasn’t just a place of old houses.”

LOCAL COMMUNITY IS KEY
Legendary Bay View director Willard Pierce was well-known for showcasing popular summer musicals. If people weren’t involved with the show, they were attending the performance.
“It’s been 10 years since Willard left,” says Nelson, “and attendance has fallen. There’s been a whole procession of theatre directors in there and it’s been an interesting experiment. I think the thing that Bay
View really wanted to do…is return to what it used to be.”
Community involvement – summer and local – is key to Bay View’s success.
“Bay View wouldn’t exist without Petoskey,” admits Nelson. “(Former Petoskey Mayor) Hiram Rose was
hugely instrumental in getting Bay View
to be where it is. For 125 years there’s
been a long relationship between the two.”
Combining resources and talent between Bay View and the surrounding areas could be a good solution to creating successful theatre ventures.
“There are so many things I want
to do,” explains Nelson. “I really want
to integrate Bay View’s resources…and
be really cooperative with the other (theatre) groups.
“Our goal is to include community people in the productions and really return these productions to good quality community theatre which is what Little Traverse Civic Theatre has been doing for years.”

ON STAGE THIS SUMMER
This sum-mer’s first pro-duction is “Hooray for Hollywood,” in July.
“We’re going to put a musical revue where the play was…with some community people, with some students, maybe some professionals,” says Nelson, who is the director of the revue. “I put it together; it’s all music from the movies. There’s a loose, silly storyline that goes along with it, but mostly it’s just great music.”
“Carousel,” by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, is this summer’s musical. It’s a story about love, tragedy and redemption, commenting on prejudice and attitudes of society.
“We’re looking for families to be in Carousel: old people, young people and they don’t even have to sing,” says Nelson. “There are lots of parts left for the community and for the chorus. We need people in every aspect of production….It’s a great way for people to make new friends and have a good time.” Area residents can help out building sets, running lights and making costumes for all productions.
Opera became part of the theatre program at Bay View just seven years ago. “That was the first thing I wanted to do when I came on board was showcase the opera a little more,” admits Nelson. “There’s now a lot more theatre and musical theatre in the area than there ever was growing up, but nobody has an opera.”
“La Cenerentola” (Cinderella) will be performed in August with Bay View Music Festival and Summer Conservancy participants taking on major roles and performing in the orchestra.
Nelson’s enthusiasm about the upcoming season is contagious. “I’m the guy who has to do everything behind the scenes,” he says, with a laugh. “Bay View is nostalgic for the day when different generations got together and a lot of people went to Bay View shows. I’m looking to work on making it a big community event like it used to be.”

THE LINE-UP
“Hooray for Hollywood” performances are July 5, 6, 9, 12 and 14 at 8 p.m. in Voorhies Hall in Bay View.
“Carousel” auditions are June 17. Chorus auditions are July 1 from 4-6 p.m. Anyone interested in helping out backstage may sign up at the same time. Call the Theatre Office at 231-348-0901 for more information.
“Carousel” will be performed July 26-28 at 8 p.m. at John M. Hall Auditorium in Bay View.
“La Cenerentola” (Cinderella) will be performed at 8 p.m., Aug. 9 and 10, at the Crooked Tree Arts Center and at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 11 and 2 p.m. on Aug. 12 at the Cheboygan Opera House.

Tickets are available at the Bay View Box Office, open 9:30 a.m.-Noon beginning June 18, or call 231-348-9551. “Hooray for Hollywood” & “Carousel” Prices: General admission $17, Reserved $20. “La Cenerentola:” All seats, reserved: $25.