SPA History

The Summer Performing Arts Company in Grand Forks, North Dakota, is a summer theatre and music program for area students currently enrolled in grades K-11. SPA is a performance-based activity that provides Arts programming to over 1,000 students every year. Arts educators from around the region use SPA to showcase their talents outside of traditional classroom instruction each summer. SPA is a program of the Grand Forks Public Schools.

SPA was founded in the late 1980s after a need arose for summer vocal lessons. Though there was a small summer program for Elementary students, there were no opportunities for Middle or High School students. Grand Forks teachers Dean Opp, Brad Sherwood, Connie Sherwood, Jolly Sherwood, Tom Young, Lori Young, and Mike Weber worked together to create the foundation that ultimately became SPA. Though resources at the time were limited, vocal lessons soon led to structured recitals, which then led to musical revues, and within a few years, SPA became known for its full-scale, auditioned productions that are still in place today.  In 1988, the summer musical was a revue entitled An Evening with Andrew Lloyd Webber.  There were 30 cast members, 15 backstage helpers, and 13 staff members. Since 2002, SPA has averaged over 1,000 total participants per year.

The Body Electric

Following the curtain call of each SPA performance, there is a final musical number. All the students in the Summer Performing Arts Company assemble in the auditorium to perform "I Sing the Body Electric." It is a symbolic song that is able to tie the entire program together. The song has different meanings to different students, but there is a common theme that can be found in the literal text. The students are celebrating not only the arts, but their growth in the arts yet to come. They will go on to create their own tomorrow as they continue in music and theatre over the years. The song also symbolizes the passing of a class. Students may only participate through the summer prior to their senior year. This "passing of the tradition" is represented by the two soloists selected to sing. A senior is selected to sing the first verse, and a younger student, one who is new to the SPA company, is selected to sing the second verse. The soloists from previous years are listed below.

"And in time we will all be stars."

Soloists for "I Sing the Body Electric"

• 1990 -- Craig Smyser, senior; and Ryan Karels, seventh-grader
• 1991 -- Sam Black, senior; and Lana Bollman, eighth-grader
• 1992 -- Travis Lien, senior; and Mike Marcotte, eighth-grader
• 1993 -- Judy Nyhlen, senior; and Jeff Jacobi, eighth-grader
• 1994 -- Jamie Cady, senior; and Jenni Durieux, eighth-grader
• 1995 -- Ryan Karels, senior; and Jill Johnson, eighth-grader
• 1996 -- Erik Hunter, senior; and Casey Koop, eighth-grader
• 1997 -- Misti Koop, senior; and Billy Poehls, eighth-grader
• 1998 -- Abby Lochner, senior; and Chase Burkhart, eighth-grader
• 1999 -- Matt Luney, senior; and Maren Tunseth, seventh-grader
• 2000 -- Tera Kilbride, senior; and Lauren Palay, eighth-grader
• 2001 -- Jason Melin, senior; and Molly Kinney, sophomore
• 2002 -- Chase Burkhart, senior; and Devin Levang, freshman
• 2003 -- Beth Laidlaw, senior; and Kirby Black, freshman
• 2004 -- Maren Tunseth, senior; and Jace Beehler, freshman
• 2005 -- Marcus Woodard, senior; and Amelia Klaus, freshman
• 2006 -- James Freestone, senior; and Ben Sun, freshman
• 2007 -- Zach Spicer, senior; and Jacy Thibert, freshman
• 2008 -- Brit Lazur, senior; and Ian Sherwood, freshman
• 2009 -- Casey Smith, senior; and Cole Sherwood, freshman
• 2010 -- Jenna Spicer, senior; and Ben Breidenbach, freshman
• 2011 -- Will Beaton, senior; and Kenny Price, Jr., freshman
• 2012--Ryan Schuster, senior; and Locutus Lo, freshman