Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Boundy and Sara Parks.
Hi Amanda and Sara, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Amanda: I grew up in a very rural county of the Upper Peninsula and always had to work really hard to participate in theatre and music. I would drive an hour or more to take lessons, be in choirs, and act in shows. I went to college downstate with no intention to major in music, but that is what ended up happening! My world just kept getting bigger and bigger as I studied and I eventually ended up in Baltimore at the Peabody Conservatory of Music where I got a Master of Music in Voice. In subsequent years, I lived in Texas, Virginia, and Georgia teaching at the university level, working as an arts administrator and continuing to perform. I eventually pivoted from opera performance to musical theatre, but I like to keep a foot in both the musical theatre and classical worlds. Almost two years ago, I moved back home to the U.P. and started Wild Bird Voice Studio to teach children’s choir, musical theatre, early childhood music, and voice lessons. At the same time, Sara Parks and I started Big Lake Theatre Company (BLTC). At BLTC, we perform small-scale musicals in non-traditional spaces and really focus on strong musicianship and storytelling rather than large sets and costumes.
Sara: My journey in theatre began at age eleven when I was cast as Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol. I was hooked from that point on, and though my focus was much more on music in middle school and high school – a passion that Amanda and I have always shared – I did not play a lead role on stage until my final semester of college as a music education major. My 8-year-old daughter and I were cast in the roles of Young Cosette and Cosette in Northern Michigan University’s production of Les Miserables. It was an experience I will never forget, and since then I continued to perform in both university and community groups in Marquette over the next ten years. I also worked as an elementary music teacher, and more recently as Artistic Director for the local youth theatre. When Amanda moved back to the area and suggested we begin our own theatre company, it was a no-brainer for me. I am beyond thrilled to be working with my friend again on something we are both extremely passionate about. It seems like just yesterday we were singing duets together in high school!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Amanda: Nothing is ever smooth! It is fairly difficult to live as a working musician alone, so I’ve always worked in more traditional jobs at the same time. Right now I work for a non-profit focused on addressing poverty in vulnerable populations, which is very rewarding, but it means there are constraints on how much time I can put into my creative pursuits. Running a start-up theatre company in a small town comes with a lot of challenges. We had to work really hard to communicate our vision and fundraise just so we could get to the point that we can bring our first full production to the community. We have been persistent and very clear in sticking to our mission, so we felt really great about recently receiving our first grant from the University of Michigan Arts Initiative in partnership with the U-M U.P. Scholars Program. I’ve been really lucky to have such a strong partner in Sara who has been consistently performing and teaching in this community for many years. We pushed through the struggles, used our resources, and now we just announced our cast for a production of Bonnie & Clyde the Musical which will be performed at Ore Dock Brewing in Marquette on June 23-26th, 2025.
Sara: We have definitely had our share of challenges in making Big Lake Theatre Company a reality. Amanda and I both have a busy work life so doing this on the side has required a good deal of sacrifice on both our parts in order to get our new non-profit organization off the ground. As an active participant in the Marquette theatre scene for over ten years, it made sense for me to take on the task of reaching out to the people I know and networking like I never have before! Being successful in the performing arts is all about making meaningful connections with people, and I am very thankful to know so many kind and talented actors, designers, and directors. I look forward to getting more and more and more people involved in this company.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Amanda: Big Lake Theatre Company specializes in small-scale musicals performed in non-traditional spaces. We work to bring live performance out into the community in unexpected places like breweries, libraries, galleries, and restaurants. By scaling down to small casts with limited sets, we get to the heart of the story and focus on quality performance. We are most proud to deliver consistent, professional-caliber theatre performances, empower local and regional performers to grow and flourish, and provide a welcoming, inclusive, and professional environment for guests, performers, and volunteers. We are unique because we don’t have a home. BLTC doesn’t perform in the same space for every show, but our venue always fits the vibe. Whether it’s a bookstore, brewery, bar, church, restaurant, library, or gallery – Big Lake makes sure the space is a part of the story.
Sara: We are a theatre company with a unique vision. We want to create small-scale, high quality productions that focus on storytelling and getting to the heart of the human experience. Rather than big, flashy shows, our goal is to bring deeply real and intimate performances to our community. For us, that means working with singers, actors, and designers who embrace and respect the process of creating beautiful art together, and working hard to reach their highest potential. The last thing we want is to be seen as mediocre, and Amanda and I are both very driven to set a high bar of excellence. We believe our community will be very receptive to our unique concept and the quality we strive to bring to each performance.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Amanda: I don’t know if this is surprising, but I feel very strongly about not pigeon-holing myself or others. People grow and develop in surprising ways! At BLTC, this means that we don’t pre-cast any roles even if we have seen a performer before. We want to hear/see where people are right now and not get stuck in some idea of who they were a year ago, or even a month ago. I feel the same way about the type of music I choose as a performer. I trained as a classical singer and spent a lot of time pursing opera. I can sing that music. But I can also sing musical theatre, choral solos, etc. There is no reason to decide to be the same person or the same performer forever!
Sara: I think people would be surprised to know that Amanda and I both come from very small beginnings. We were small-town country gals who went to a tiny high school with a graduating class of less than 40 students. Our school did not have a thriving arts program, which meant we had to work even harder to pursue our passions and create opportunities for ourselves. For example, in our senior year of high school, Amanda and I commuted together to Marquette Senior High School to participate in their top choral group. Being exposed to an excellent choir program was extremely important to us and we were very thankful to be given the opportunity. I would not be the musician I am today without this experience and I am very passionate about arts advocacy because of it. People who work in the arts are essential to the life and vibrancy of the schools and communities they serve, and it is our hope that Big Lake Theatre Company will be a source of joy and connection in this community.
Pricing:
- $25/ticket to Bonnie & Clyde the Musical on June 23-26th at Ore Dock Brewing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.biglaketheatreco.com/
- Instagram: @biglaketheatreco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559814437624
