In 2026, a new adaptation of Norman Maclean’s celebrated book "A River Runs Through It" premiered as an innovative blend of opera and musical theater, bringing the story of family, loss, and fly-fishing to the stage in Montana. The 90-minute production explores themes of masculinity and grief through a combination of music and drama, reflecting the deep cultural ties of the narrative to Montana’s landscape and history.
The idea to transform Maclean’s work into an opera came in 2024, when John Maclean, the author’s son, was contacted by Foss, a longtime stage director involved with Montana Shakespeare in the Parks. Foss had initially attempted to adapt the story into a conventional play but found it challenging to capture the essence of fly-fishing, a central motif in the book. John Maclean suggested considering opera after drawing inspiration from a recent performance of "Turandot" at the Kennedy Center.
Composer Zach Redler contributed original music that captures the relationship between the Maclean brothers, Norman and Paul, with distinct musical motifs: a slower, deliberate melody representing Norman’s careful nature and a soaring, vigorous theme portraying Paul’s more impulsive character. The adaptation also places a renewed emphasis on female characters. For instance, Mother Clara is given her own aria, while a character previously known as "Old Rawhide" is renamed Heidi and features a lively country-style song.
Norman and Paul Maclean grew up in Missoula, Montana, a rough logging town, where their Presbyterian minister father taught them about faith and introduced them to fly-fishing on the Big Blackfoot River. Norman later became an English professor at the University of Chicago, and Paul pursued journalism. The central tragedy of Norman’s life—the unsolved death of Paul, who was beaten in a Chicago alley in 1938—underpins much of the narrative. John Maclean’s 2021 memoir, "Home Waters," revisits the circumstances around Paul’s death, suggesting it may have stemmed from a risky confrontation rather than solely from his struggles with alcohol and gambling.
Norman Maclean wrote the book decades after the event, beginning in 1973. Despite initial publisher hesitations, the University of Chicago Press released it to critical acclaim. The story later gained broader recognition when it was adapted into the acclaimed 1992 film directed by Robert Redford, which won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography and helped popularize fly-fishing nationwide. However, John Maclean notes local resentment toward the book and film for contributing to Montana’s transformation into a destination attracting affluent tourists, altering the region’s character.
The opera’s production incorporated authentic fly-fishing techniques, guided by fly-fishing educator and consultant Borger, who appeared as Brad Pitt’s fishing double in the original film. Borger provided casting demonstrations that were integrated into the show’s visual elements, and he worked directly with lead performers on the Gallatin River near Axtell Bridge shortly before opening night to ensure realistic portrayals of the sport.
The stage adaptation of "A River Runs Through It" seeks to honor the original story’s complexities while engaging contemporary audiences through music and theatrical innovation, preserving its enduring connection to Montana’s cultural and natural heritage.