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, Billings County, North Dakota, United States. The only municipal corporation, incorporated place in Billings County, it is also the county seat. Much of the surrounding area is part of either Litt ...

. The musical is a look back at the "

Wild West The American frontier, also known as the Old West or the Wild West, encompasses the geography, history, folklore, and culture associated with the forward wave of American expansion in mainland North America that began with European colonial ...

" days of the region and includes references to

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...

, who spent time in western

North Dakota North Dakota () is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the Native Americans in the United States, indigenous Dakota people, Dakota Sioux. North Dakota is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north a ...

, including in the nearby

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Theodore Roosevelt National Park is an American national park of the badlands in western North Dakota comprising three geographically separated areas. Honoring U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, it is the only American national park named direct ...

. 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. Due to waning interest in the following years after its first season ''Old Four-Eyes'' was closed in 1964. The show was replaced by ''Teddy Roosevelt Rides Again'' for the 1963 and 1964 seasons. In 1965 businessman

Harold Schafer Harold Schafer (February 1, 1912 – December 2, 2001) was a North Dakota businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded the Gold Seal Company, the original maker of '' Mr. Bubble''. He also was a major benefactor in the tourist town of ...

purchased the amphitheater. After undergoing some renovations, including expanding the stage and the seating area, the ''Medora Musical'' opened. 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. In 1991, the amphitheatre 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 bolting in of the new seats. Additional construction was completed in 1997. In 2005 another renovation was made to the sets and the stage. Curt Wollan is the musical's longtime director and executive producer.

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.

Former show names

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

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

History

Burning Hills Amphitheater

Former show names

See also

External links

References