A man with long hair and glasses plays a mandolin in front of a microphone, with a blurry background of what appears to be a workshop or storage area.

Chalfonte Theatre

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Traverse City author, singer-songwriter, and storyteller Robert Downes returns to the Chalfonte Theatre with his multimedia show Stories &amp; Songs on Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Elk Rapids Cinema. The performance is a fundraiser for the Chalfonte Theatre Capital Campaign, supporting preservation of the historic home of The Platform, Village Radio, and Elk Rapids Cinema. Downes first brought Stories &amp; Songs to Chalfonte Theatre on June 4, 2026, where the show drew an enthusiastic audience and left a strong impression on the community. He returns to Elk Rapids this fall by popular demand. &quot;That June show was one of those rare nights that managed to be both educational and enchanting all at once,&quot; said Aaron Timlin, President of the Chalfonte Foundation, which owns and operates the Chalfonte Theatre. &quot;We knew immediately we wanted to bring Robert back for our audiences this fall.&quot; Blending live music, storytelling, photography, and projected visuals, Stories &amp; Songs combines theatrical presentation with original acoustic ballads and narratives drawn from Downes&#39;s books and travels around the world. Downes will again be joined by percussionist Mark Cantrell for the performance. &quot;I think of the show as a theatrical cabaret experience paired with compelling stories and visuals,&quot; Downes has said of the production. &quot;My songs are all ballads, meaning they tell stories as well &mdash; stories that resonate deeply with audiences.&quot; Downes&#39;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. 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. &quot;Elk Rapids gave me one of the warmest receptions I&#39;ve had with this show,&quot; said Downes. &quot;I&#39;m glad to be coming back to a community that has embraced Stories &amp; Songs the way this one has &mdash; and to keep supporting the Chalfonte Theatre and Elk Rapids Cinema, which are such an important cultural treasure.&quot; A suggested donation of $10 is encouraged, with proceeds benefiting the Chalfonte Theatre Capital Campaign. Children 12 and under are admitted free. 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. Event DetailsWhat: Robert Downes, with percussionist Mark Cantrell &mdash; Stories &amp; Songs multimedia show Where: Elk Rapids Cinema, home of Chalfonte Theatre&#39;s The Platform When: Thursday, November 19, 2026, 7:00 p.m. Admission: $10 suggested donation; children 12 and under free

Hi First name, Thank you for registering for our event and supporting our cause. Your registration greatly helps our mission. 🚀 If you would like to contribute further, contact us to become a volunteer, or talk to your friends about our cause! Aaron Timlin aaron@chalfonte.org

Traverse City author, singer-songwriter, and storyteller Robert Downes returns to the Chalfonte Theatre with his multimedia show Stories &amp; Songs on Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Elk Rapids Cinema. The performance is a fundraiser for the Chalfonte Theatre Capital Campaign, supporting preservation of the historic home of The Platform, Village Radio, and Elk Rapids Cinema. Downes first brought Stories &amp; Songs to Chalfonte Theatre on June 4, 2026, where the show drew an enthusiastic audience and left a strong impression on the community. He returns to Elk Rapids this fall by popular demand. "That June show was one of those rare nights that managed to be both educational and enchanting all at once," said Aaron Timlin, President of the Chalfonte Foundation, which owns and operates the Chalfonte Theatre. "We knew immediately we wanted to bring Robert back for our audiences this fall." Blending live music, storytelling, photography, and projected visuals, Stories &amp; Songs combines theatrical presentation with original acoustic ballads and narratives drawn from Downes's books and travels around the world. Downes will again 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," Downes has said of the production. "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. 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. "Elk Rapids gave me one of the warmest receptions I've had with this show," said Downes. "I'm glad to be coming back to a community that has embraced Stories &amp; Songs the way this one has — and to keep supporting the Chalfonte Theatre and Elk Rapids Cinema, which are such an important cultural treasure." A suggested donation of $10 is encouraged, with proceeds benefiting the Chalfonte Theatre Capital Campaign. Children 12 and under are admitted free. 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. Event DetailsWhat: Robert Downes, with percussionist Mark Cantrell — Stories &amp; Songs multimedia show Where: Elk Rapids Cinema, home of Chalfonte Theatre's The Platform When: Thursday, November 19, 2026, 7:00 p.m. Admission: $10 suggested donation; children 12 and under free

Chalfonte Theatre

Robert Downes Returns to Chalfonte Theatre for Fall "Stories & Songs" Performance

205 River St

General Admission

$10

12 and under

Free

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