Show #6: Hibbing, MN

Hibbing High School Auditorium
January 31, 2006
Piano du jour: 7' Steinway (more on this one later!)

The highlight of our drive today was seeing five bald eagles! The first was spotted high in a pine tree. A few miles later, four of them were feeding on a deer carcass on the side of the road. As we approached, they all soared into the air and flew away – thrilling!

Several weeks ago, Stacey won a six-foot subway on a radio promotion which had to be used by today! So on the way to the venue, we picked up one massive sandwich for dinner.

Let's eat!

We arrived at Hibbing High School, walked out onto the stage and our jaws dropped.

Dennis, the school's grounds keeper, stage manager and all-around historian filled me in on the history of the place. Originally, the town of Hibbing was located three miles to the north. A particularly rich vein of iron ore was discovered below the town, so the mining companies offered to move Hibbing a few miles away. To sweeten the deal, they offered to build the town a showpiece of a high school. Hibbing took them up on their offer, and in 1920, this magnificent building was built. The 1800-seat theatre was modeled after the Capitol Theatre in New York City, and was built at a cost of $4 million.

The crystal chandeliers, imported from Belgium, cost $15,000 each

The lobby

Footlights

The original film projectors

Patrick warming up onstage

Susan getting some pre-show inspiration from Audra McDonald

The theatre is reportedly haunted by the ghost of the
original stage manager. Seat J47 is the seat from where
he watches over his theatre to this very day!

The women in the wings before the show

Grounds keeper Dennis told me that the piano that I would be playing had been played by Bob Dylan when he attended high school here. He said that people come from all over the world to get their picture taken with it. It was truly the best instrument I've had so far.

This was an exciting night!!

Miles traveled: 100
Hotel: Super 8