Robert Downes @ Chalfonte Theatre

Traverse City author, singer-songwriter, and storyteller Robert Downes will present his Stories & Songs multimedia show at the Elk Rapids Cinema on Thursday, June 4, at 7:00 p.m.  The show is a fundraiser for the Chalfonte Theatre Capital Campaign, to preserve and strengthen the historic home of The Platform, Village Radio, and Elk Rapids Cinema. 

Blending live music, storytelling, photography, and projected visuals, Stories & Songs combines theatrical presentation with original acoustic ballads and narratives drawn from Downes’s books and travels around the world. Downes will be joined by percussionist Mark Cantrell for the performance.

“I think of the show as a theatrical cabaret experience paired with compelling stories and visuals,” said Downes. “My songs are all ballads, meaning they tell stories as well — stories that resonate deeply with audiences.”

Downes’s presentation features stories and songs inspired by subjects ranging from Native American history and folklore to world travel, literature, wilderness, and the human experience.

Last November, Downes debuted Stories & Songs at the Traverse City Opera House to an overflow audience and enthusiastic response.

A world traveler, transcontinental cyclist, journalist, and musician, Downes is the author of nine books with strong regional and historical themes, including his acclaimed historical fiction trilogy The Wolf and The Willow, The Sun Dog, and Windigo Moon.

“I’m looking forward to connecting with the people of Antrim County through a show that’s quite unlike anything most audiences have experienced,” Downes said. “And I’m honored to help support the Chalfonte Theatre and Elk Rapids Cinema — such an important cultural treasure for the community.”

A suggested donation of $10 is encouraged, with proceeds benefiting the Chalfonte Theatre Capital Campaign.

The performance is presented as part of The Platform, a live performance series curated by the nonprofit Chalfonte Foundation, which brings nationally and internationally recognized artists to Elk Rapids in an intimate setting.