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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Frost Fire Summer Theatre to present 'The Last Five Years'
Jun. 10—GRAND FORKS — Frost Fire Summer Theatre will open its 2025 season with the musical "The Last Five Years" on Friday, June 13, with performances to be staged here and in Walhalla, North Dakota. The musical is the first of two productions the theater company is presenting this summer. The other is "FAME, the Musical," which opens July 8 for several performances at the Empire Arts Center, with a preview set for July 2 in Walhalla. The company is based at Frost Fire Park, seven miles west of Walhalla. In Grand Forks, "The Last Five Years" will be presented June 19-22 and 26-29 at the Empire Arts Center, 415 DeMers Ave. Curtain times are 7 p.m. on Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. For tickets, $25 plus fees, go to or call (701) 746-5500. In Walhalla, shows will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 13 and 14, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 15, at the Walla Theater, 909 Central Ave. For tickets, $20 each, visit or call (701) 549-3600. Misti Koop and Michael Marcotte, both well-known local actors, musicians and Frost Fire alums, are the sole cast members in "The Last Five Years." Gina Uhlir, of Grand Forks, also a Frost Fire alumna, is the director. The musical, written by Jason Robert Brown, will feature a live, string ensemble — Tamara Bertram, Victor Chukwu, Garett Peterson, David Hysjulien and Adrian Luevano — and pianist Yen Loh; the stage manager and lighting director is Autumn Horton; and sound director is Spencer Black, all of Grand Forks. The emotionally powerful and intimate musical tells the story of a five-year relationship between Cathy Hiatt, a struggling actress, and Jamie Wellerstein, a rising novelist. It uniquely unfolds as Wellerstein's story is told in chronological order (starting just after the couple have first met) and Hiatt's story is told in reverse chronological order (beginning the show at the end of the marriage). The characters do not directly interact except for a wedding song in the middle as their timelines intersect. The 90-minute production, with no intermission, "emphasizes precise eye contact and physical placement to help the audience follow the characters' differing timelines while being in the same space," according to the event announcement. According to Uhlir, "This story showcases the unraveling of a relationship with all the joys, missteps and emotions present along that path. We hope that in this story, you find threads of your own: a beginning, an ending or maybe just a memory of feeling deeply." In announcing the upcoming performances, Koop wrote, "I can't wait to share this beautiful piece with all of you! I am getting to stretch my vocal and acting chops again! It's an incredible feeling!" As someone who, for years, has been dedicated to providing rich theatrical experiences, Koop said about the Frost Fire productions and all of live theater, "In today's world where everything is a screen-touch away, it is a privilege to go to the theater and feel. No screens, no AirPods, no white noise ... just the live story being told in front of you." A production of "The Last Five Years" opened in 2001 at the Northlight Theatre in Chicago and was produced off-Broadway in 2002. It has had numerous productions in the U.S. and internationally, and a subsequent Broadway production. A film adaptation, starring Jeremy Jordan and Anna Kendrick, was released in 2014. Because the show has some mature language, it is recommended for audience members 16 years and older. The Frost Fire Summer Theatre company has been unable to present productions since the roof of its amphitheater at Frost Fire Park collapsed due to heavy snow in April 2023. Since then, performances have been staged at other locations, including the Grafton High School auditorium in Grafton, North Dakota, where the company presented the musical "Oklahoma!" The amphitheater must be completely rebuilt to meet requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, according to Koop, the Frost Fire Theatre manager. Soil and topography work is completed and architectural designs are ready. The organization has received grant funding, financial gifts and donations to support the effort and is "working daily to match our Destination Grant of $1.75 million (from the North Dakota Department of Commerce) to start construction," she said. "We've secured over $700,000 in gifts and pledges" and several requests are pending. The Frost Fire Summer Theatre company welcomes donations to continue the project. For more information, or to make a donation, contact Koop at (701) 330-8626 or email mistikoop@ .
Winnipeg Free Press
23-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘This challenge is beyond our control'
Manitoba brewery closures are a growing concern among some in the industry — and members have renewed calls to change government policy. 'We're seeing a bunch of breweries right now who are very, very pinched,' said Colin Koop, president of Devil May Care Brewing Co. Expansion has paused at his Winnipeg company. It's 'not a good time' for hiring or growing, he said. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Devil May Care co-owner Colin Koop said expansion has paused at his brewery. Over the past few years, Koop and fellow business owners have endured a global pandemic and rapid inflation. Now, amid trade wars, brewers are bracing for higher costs. Koop joined 20 other Manitoba brewery executives in signing a letter last month expressing their concerns to Premier Wab Kinew. They're urging a review of provincial beer markups, which increase drink prices. 'We strive to be resilient and adaptable, but this challenge is beyond our control,' the joint letter states. 'Without change, the long-term sustainability of Manitoba's craft beer industry is at risk.' Manitoba's price increases are restrictive compared to Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta; they hinder competitiveness and are unhelpful in the economic environment, the brewers argue. Per the April letter, the signatories produce more than 95 per cent of Manitoba-made beer. Twenty-five per cent tariffs — or higher — on aluminum cans could be incoming. Canada and the U.S. have placed 25 per cent tariffs on each other's steel and aluminum. Often, the production chain of an aluminum can spans both countries. Hops, adjuncts and equipment not found in Canada are also subject to tariffs, impacting local brewers. 'If one day we go to buy cans and they're 25 per cent more expensive, that money's got to come from somewhere,' Koop said. 'We have to make sure we have enough reserve. 'I think anything that we can do as an industry to get some of that markup back into (our) own hands, that's a good thing.' Koop shared his general markup experience: if a can of Devil May Care beer is on local liquor store shelves for $4.25, roughly $1 of the price is provincial markup. Breweries producing 20,000 hectolitres or less see a total markup of 36 per cent and a surcharge of 10 cents per litre. (A hectolitre is 100 L.) Lower government markups elsewhere propel companies outside Manitoba to grow, local brewers told the Free Press. Ontario just slashed its rates. Starting in August, it'll cut its basic tax rate applicable to local microbrewery-made beer in half to 19.88 cents/L from 39.75 cents/L for non-draft beer and 17.98 cents/L from 35.96 cents/L for draft. The axing is among a suite of changes affecting Ontario brewers announced in the province's 2025 budget. Large multinationals are better positioned to take hits from sudden cost increases — like tariffs — than their smaller competition, the Manitoba breweries' letter reads. 'A reduction in (markups) can be implemented quickly and would immediately offset the increased packaging costs we are facing,' the letter continues. '(It would) provide relief to local businesses and consumers alike, while ensuring our industry can continue growing.' A provincial government spokesperson directed comment to Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corp., who sets the markup rates. Markups microbrewers face are much smaller than the total 75 per cent increase seen by large-volume producers, an MLL spokesperson stated. There isn't a markup for liquor purchased in local brewers' taprooms and farmers markets. 'The alcohol retail, pricing and distribution model differs from province to province and, as such, direct comparisons are difficult,' the spokesperson wrote in an email. '(MLL) believes that Manitoba offers a very fair and supportive operating environment for local craft liquor producers.' In 2014, two craft brewers operated in Manitoba. More than 50 craft liquor producers call the province home now, the spokesperson highlighted. MLL evaluates its micro producer program annually and considers feedback from craft producers, the spokesperson added, noting the Crown corporation made a 20-point support strategy aimed at fostering growth last year (following consultations with industry). Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. Aligning Manitoba beer markups with other provinces would cost government approximately $1.26 million in revenue, an October 2024 economic impact assessment commissioned by the Manitoba Brewers Association reported. The association did not pen the letter to Kinew. However, it supports 'all efforts to collaborate with the province, and the (MLL), to help grow the small producers in Manitoba,' director Brad Chute wrote in a statement. In 2023-24, Manitoba held 26 brick-and-mortar breweries and another 12 contract breweries. The sector contributed $14 million to the provincial GDP directly and another $10 million indirectly. Industry members have been lobbying for lower markups for years. Gabrielle PichéReporter Gabrielle Piché reports on business for the Free Press. She interned at the Free Press and worked for its sister outlet, Canstar Community News, before entering the business beat in 2021. Read more about Gabrielle. Every piece of reporting Gabrielle produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Associated Press
24-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Koop Launches Housekeeper: An AI Agent for Compliance and Insurance
JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY / ACCESS Newswire / February 24, 2025 / Koop Technologies, Inc. ('Koop'), the all-in-one trust management platform, has unveiled Housekeeper, a powerful AI agent set to transform how tech companies handle compliance, insurance, and risk AI Housekeeper fully automates data collection from any tool, at any scale, and dynamically adjusts settings configuration to ensure adherence to compliance best practices. It supports major compliance frameworks, including SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA, as well as specialized frameworks and custom security questionnaires. Beyond compliance, Housekeeper streamlines insurance processes for General Liability, Errors & Omissions, Cyber, and Management Liability, among others. Companies leveraging Housekeeper can achieve compliance and secure insurance with 95% less manual effort, outperforming even the most advanced GRC solutions-at a fraction of the cost. 'Housekeeper's potential to reinvent compliance and support our continued growth is massive. We're thrilled to be early adopters,' said Matt Wyman, Co-Founder & CEO of Okareo. 'Housekeeper redefines how companies achieve and maintain trust. Now, an AI agent proactively handles compliance, fills out security questionnaires, and finds insurance policies to meet contractual requirements-completely automated,' said Sergey Litvinenko, Co-Founder and CEO of Koop. 'It's incredibly powerful, and we can't wait to bring it to the world,' Litvinenko added. The Next Wave of GRC Automation The first wave of compliance automation focused on consolidating audit evidence in a single platform. As the industry evolved, new solutions introduced integrations with third-party tools-cloud services, productivity suites, HRIS, and more-to automate data gathering for compliance. While these integrations delivered on their promise to some extent, they came with significant drawbacks: they were costly to develop, slow to update, frequently pulled incorrect data, and often fell short of expectations. Over time, the industry recognized the limitations of static integrations and structured data in achieving true compliance automation. Now, the landscape is shifting. AI agents are ushering in a new era of compliance automation-one that goes beyond data collection to deliver real, intelligent automation. Agentic AI is set to transform how companies manage compliance, implement controls, and procure insurance. By handling everything from data gathering to configuration changes, AI eliminates the need for dedicated compliance teams or expensive platforms, making GRC seamless and accessible for companies of all sizes. Introducing Housekeeper, the Ultimate AI Agent for GRC Housekeeper is Koop's purpose-built AI agent designed for compliance and insurance, enabling tech companies to seamlessly meet contractual requirements from enterprise and government customers. By adopting Housekeeper, companies can dramatically reduce the manual effort needed for compliance and insurance preparation. For SMEs and enterprises alike, Housekeeper delivers unmatched efficiency: Unlike existing AI agents-many of which are too generic or unreliable for GRC tasks-Housekeeper delivers precision, reliability, and industry-specific accuracy at an entirely new level. Housekeeper surpassed Runner-H and others on the Web Voyager benchmark for web agents, with a 94% success rate. Become Enterprise-Ready on a Unified Platform Enterprise and government contracts impose strict compliance, security, and insurance requirements. Meeting these requirements quickly and reliably is critical for growth. For companies without dedicated compliance and insurance teams, Koop's Housekeeper provides a seamless, AI-powered solution. With 130+ companies already leveraging Koop's fully integrated platform, businesses can now achieve compliance, complete security reviews, and procure insurance-all in one place, powered by a top-performing AI agent. Visit for more information about the AI agent. About Koop Koop streamlines compliance, security, and insurance for tech companies, helping them save time, cut costs, and build trust with customers and partners. Its all-in-one trust management platform enables startups to achieve SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA certifications and secure contractually required insurance-quickly, reliably, and without unnecessary complexity. By removing compliance roadblocks, Koop empowers companies to commercialize and scale with confidence. Learn more at
