Instead of bathtub gin, the guests enjoyed a more legal fare of hor d’oeuvres and beverages as they celebrated the 2024-2025 lineup.
Above: Local artist Xandria Naurer, left, joined Opera House Operations Manager Brynn Kusic in front of a backdrop fit for Gatsby’s mansion.
Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
The Pocahontas County Opera House was transformed into a 1920s speakeasy last Saturday night for the annual Season Preview party. The women dressed as flappers and the men had on their pinstripes as they prepared to have a nifty time in the ritzy hall.
The celebration was a reveal of what’s to come to the Opera House stage for the 2024-2025 season. Additionally, it was a 25th celebration of the Opera House Foundation, which formed in 1999 and revived the historic building and its use as a center for entertainment.
When selecting a theme, operations manager Brynn Kusic said the Silver Anniversary led to the glitzy and glamorous Roaring 20s, which was embraced fully by attendees who found costumes fit for the evening.
“People felt inspired,” Kusic said. “We were transported in time and also in space.”
Part of the reason the Opera House has succeeded in bringing so many wonderful performances to the county is the great collaboration between the board of directors, employees and community.
“How wonderful is it that the Opera House just continues to grow and attract more people who are skilled and creative and have all different kinds of skill sets,” Kusic said. “We have board members from the forest service, the libraries, from all these amazing organizations.
“We just have such a great board, and Caroline [Hertko] and Ryan [Krofchek] are the most wonderful, dedicated, devoted, multi-talented savants to be a team to make everything we have happen, happen,” she added.
As for the lineup for the upcoming season, Kusic is thrilled to announce there are returning favorites, Opera House newbies and some international performers.
“There are quite a few highlights,” she said.
The season unofficially beings this summer with three drama performances. The Rustic Mechanicals will perform The Tempest in a matinee on Sunday, July 13. The summer drama workshop will also perform the week of July 22 to 27. County youngsters will take just one week to learn parts, craft costumes and backdrops for the performance of Gulliver’s Travels in Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27.
The third drama performance will be by the county’s very own drama workshop, which is presenting Breaking Legs on September 20 and 21.
The new season begins officially on Saturday, September 28, with Americana band Kindred Valley.
“I saw Kindred Valley last year at Cass Days,” Kusic said. “It is a group of students from Marshall University – a new band – that was immediately picked up by Mountain Stage.”
Returning to the stage on Saturday, October 12, all the way from Tuvan – near Mongolia – is Alash – and traditional throat singing group. On Friday, October 25, The Onlies, a contemporary old-time band will perform.
Next up in November on Saturday, the 9th, is the Piedmont Bluz Acoustic Duo.
“When we were doing the story sessions, we were doing research into what kind of music was in the mountains that inspired the music that we have here today, and we realized that there was a lot of blues music that was happening here,” Kusic said. “The man that is part of the duo actually makes these really amazing percussion instruments. He takes all these vintage metal pieces and makes percussion boards – the two of them are as good as it gets in terms of being representatives of that style of music that just isn’t played that much anymore.”
Saturday, November 23, mentalist Craig Karges will trade the stage of Las Vegas for the Opera House to perform his skills for a crowd of about a fifth of the usual size.
The rest of the season includes local favorites like the Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys Saturday, December 14, Opry Night Saturday, February 15, and The Bing Brothers featuring Jake Krack Saturday, March 1.
Saturday March 15, will feature the contemporary old-time style of The State Birds. Multi-instrumentalist Bruce Molsky will perform Saturday, April 5. Nashville country star Glen Shelton will take the stage Saturday, April 19. Friday, May 2, Nora Jane Struthers and the Party Line will return to the Opera House and the season will conclude on Saturday, May 17, with the Ecuadorian pan pipes group Andres Manta World.
“Every year, I’m just blown away by the lineup,” Kusic said. “It takes a lot of work, and it’s a puzzle.”
There were many highlights to the season preview party – not just the performance list – but also the fun had by all, which concluded with several of the flappers in attendance taking the stage and dancing the Charleston.
To learn more about each performance or to order season passes, visit pocahontasoperahouse.org or call 304-799-6645.