The 2025 Medora Musical
Front of House Manager, Master Carpenter, Emergency Costume Character
A little history. A little humor. A whole lot of Western spirit. Experience the ultimate Country Western Music Revue in Medora, ND! This live outdoor spectacle showcases a variety of music favorites - from Dolly to Disco.
It’s good old-fashioned family fun with thrilling variety acts, live horses on stage, a firework finale, and new twists each summer. All while celebrating the history of Medora, Teddy Roosevelt, and the historic American West!
As the House Manager for the Medora Musical, I was in charge of all Front of House operations at the Burning Hills Amphitheatre. As the House Manager, I was in charge of scheduling up to 40 people to work at Overhire Front of House positions. All of these positions were filled by people who had different jobs around the town of Medora and would volunteer to work at the Amphitheatre, and because of this, they weren’t able to work a consistent schedule. I would collect up to 80 requests for shifts and schedule people based on expected attendance.
I was also in charge of the guest experience. As a show that had a large senior patronage, I managed our handicapped seating. I was also in charge of making sure that the volunteer Ushers were properly trained. Every show had a different set of volunteers and I would spend 15 minutes before the house opens training them.
I did not start off the season as the emergency costume character. We had two shows on June 21st and during the opening number of the second show, the performer playing Sheriff Bear sprained his ankle. Sheriff Bear’s first appearance on stage is roughly 8 minutes after the end of the opening number. I, the front of house manager, volunteered to cover Sheriff Bear, as I knew the choreography the best. I ran backstage and changed into the costume and was on stage a couple minutes later. After that emergency, I was quickly taught Sheriff Bear’s act two choreography and performed in his final number. I played Sheriff Bear for another week after that date, without a put in rehearsal. I was called on several times during the season in an emergency role.
Photos courtesy of the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation.
