News
Area music teachers play important role in this week's musical production
Scott Wagar
02/18/2014
For those who attend the upcoming musical comedy, “Once Upon a Mattress,” at the Holwell Auditorium this week, they will be given the opportunity to see two great musical talents in their own rights as they come to the stage and assist with the music in the production.
The two men, Chris Beckman and Dave Schnackenberg, are music teachers in Belcourt’s school system. Both men are highly skilled in music and will bring a variety of artistic brilliance to the show.
Beckman is originally from Stanley, N.D., and will be one of the leads in “Once Upon a Mattress,” as Prince Dauntless.
Beckman attended the University of North Dakota where he studied music education. In his career in the music field, Beckman has been part of several musicals and for two years he participated in assisting people in opera workshops. He is a currently an elementary music teacher at Turtle Mountain Community School in Belcourt.
This will be Beckman’s first production with the Bottineau Community Theater Group, which for him has been a positive event in his life.
“It has been a fantastic experience,” Beckman said.
With his education, experiences and talents as a singer and actor, Beckman brings an extraordinary gift to the stage he will be performing on this week.
Schnackenberg has been a music specialist at the Bureau of Indian Education in Belcourt for the past 36 years where he is an elementary music teacher at the Turtle Mountain Community School.
He earned his bachelor of fine arts degree in music pedagogy from the University of Jamestown in Jamestown, N.D.
In his music career, Schnackenberg has accompanied, arranged and composed concerts in North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and in the province of Ontario, Canada along with recording sessions in New Mexico.
He has also conducted children performances at the International Peace Garden and the North Dakota State Capitol; worked with Rugby’s community theater group; assisted in re-composing the music for the production of “Medora” and is the accompanist for the Missoula Children’s Theater from 1984 to the present.
In “Once Upon a Mattress,” Schnackenberg will be the pianist for the orchestra and is responsible in playing over 20 songs during the performance.
Schnackenberg said that he is enjoying his time with Bottineau’s community theater group, especially the cast as they have been preparing together for the show.
Tim Davis, director for “Once Upon a Mattress,” is pleased to have Beckman and Schnackenberg being part of this year’s community play.
“They are both great assets to the community theater group,” Davis said. “They both have great talents and are enthusiastic and energetic, which are two qualities that are always needed in a production. They are great individuals and I am enjoying them.”
Outside of Beckman and Schnackenberg, two more music teachers from the Bottineau School District, Jacque Marum and Andy Beyer, will also be part of the musical.
Marum is a 5-12 choir teacher in the district and holds the lead in “Once Upon a Mattress” as Princess Winnifred.
Marum is also the vocal director for the cast and has spent additional time assisting the actors in their song numbers.
Beyer, is the elementary music teacher in the school district and plays the Jester in “Once Upon a Mattress.”
With Marum and Beyer’s vocal talents, the theatergoers will get the chance to hear some captivating voices from Bottineau’s two music teachers.
With three music instructors on stage and one in the orchestra pit this week, the audience who attends “Once Upon a Mattress” can be certain they will have the opportunity to enjoy one delightful show thanks to their musical talents and guidance they bring to the production.