Sitting down with Krista Storey, Manager, Gravenhurst Opera House
On the hottest day of the summer, I had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with Krista.
I asked about her career in the music industry, a field she knows a great deal about, having been an integral part of it since five years of age, starring in her kindergarten musical.
Jazz Singer
To this day, her siblings, remind her of singing into the vacuum cleaner to the McGuire Sisters, and to numerous other standards from way back when! Then there was the stint at Deerhurst performing with the then “Eileen” Twain, now Shania.
Today Krista’s love remains in the jazz classics of Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Duke Ellington, the list goes on.
When the opportunity arises, performing with local talent Jim Cronk never disappoints. Performing a little bit country, a little bit rock “n” roll, Krista jokingly admits they are a real life Donny and Marie!
First Season
As the Manager of the Gravenhurst Opera House and having just wrapped up her first year our conversation took a more reflective turn.
Asked to sum it up Krista laughingly said, proud and tired. Ninety seven shows, a ton of effort and the community’s deep love for the Opera House made this first year absolutely incredible.
“The right time, the right support of a wonderful community and recognizing a fabulous opportunity when it presented itself tallies up to one great Culture and Arts Centre right here in Gravenhurst. We rebranded, re-evaluated, restructured the business plan and realigned staff.
A lot of people don’t know that Gravenhurst is the birthplace of summer theatre! Donald Sutherland got his “springboard” start right here on this turf.
Whether it’s musical concerts, live theatre, visits with Santa, dance recitals, the local movie theatre, it is all happening at the Gravenhurst Opera House, year round!”
Downtime
As a mom of two young boys 10 and 13, I asked Krista about downtime.
She laughed, hmmm, wish I knew, then added she does like to shut down and get away to the cottage with her family if time allows. Perhaps next year when things are not so hectic there will be more play time.
Future Goals
“Time to sing again, but more importantly, whatever I do here at the Opera House, I plan to be successful.
I believe in not burning bridges, going with the flow, inviting change, recognizing a window of opportunity when it presents itself, bob and weave, ebb and flow…life!”
To quote the late Gilda Radner…
“Some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle or end.
Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it without knowing what’s going to happen next.
Delicious ambiguity!”
