
The Medora Musical opened its 60th season Thursday with a tribute to its late founders, Harold and Sheila Schafer, who created the show in 1965 to preserve the town’s history and transform it into a North Dakota landmark.
For the first time since their deaths, the couple appeared as silhouettes on stage at the Burning Hills Amphitheater, with their voices recreated using artificial intelligence technology. The emotional moment gave longtime attendees goosebumps, according to audience members who knew the Schafers personally.
The musical has evolved significantly over six decades, becoming more Broadway-style under new management by RWS Global, one of the world’s largest production companies. While some longtime fans prefer the traditional western country music over newer songs by artists like Taylor Swift, the show continues to draw devoted audiences who attend dozens of times each summer.
The production remains a cornerstone of North Dakota tourism, supported by major donors contributing over $25,000 to its endowment fund.
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