South Dakota musician, author and sheep rancher Eliza Blue will present her middle-grade novel and its musical theatre adaptation, The Adventures of Pearl and Theo, on Thursday, June 19, at 6 pm. The performance, aimed at young audiences though enjoyed by all ages, features songs by Blue as well as Livingston-based Americana singer/songwriter Shelly Besler Kersbergen. A book signing will follow.
“The Adventures of Pearl & Theo is a delightful and captivating story that introduces young readers to the orphaned lambs, Pearl and Theo, who, under the tender care of their surrogate mother Liza, learn to navigate the joys and challenges of life on a ranch. Set in the vast, unhurried beauty of the prairie, The Adventures of Pearl & Theo is a tale of growth, friendship and the power of family, told from the perspective of the two lovable lambs.”
“I never imagined that two orphaned lambs would change my life forever,” says Blue. “The real Pearl and Theo were the reason my temporary adventures in shepherding became a calling. Thirteen years ago, I was a confirmed urbanite on sabbatical in the country, but after adopting Pearl and Theo, I knew there was no going back to city life. I owe so much of what I have today to how much I loved them – and how much they loved me back.”
This musical is an offering from Roots & Grass Theater that brings high-quality, interactive, ecosystem-specific music and live theatre directly to communities. Their traveling productions are more than just performances – they are immersive, regionally inspired experiences that celebrate the unique stories, landscapes and culture of the High Plains. The company transforms barns, fields and main streets into living stages, forming connections through art that’s rooted in place and designed to inspire a deeper awareness of organic community.
Blue is a writer, folk musician, and shepherd living on the short grass prairie of western South Dakota. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, The Guardian, and NPR’s “All Songs Considered.” She writes a syndicated weekly column about life on the prairie and has produces seasonal audio “postcards” from her ranch for South Dakota Public Broadcasting and Prairie Public Radio. Her first book, Accidental Rancher, was chosen as the Siouxland One Book 2023. Her second book, Little Pasture on the Prairie, was released by the South Dakota Historical Society Press in 2024.
For those who can’t attend in person, the event will live-stream at YouTube.com/ElkRiverBooks.
