Fish Creek, Wis. (January 21, 2026) – Doc Heide, co-founder of Northern Sky Theater, has released a new album of original songs with his band Zen of Thieves. The album, titled Birthplace of the Thunder, features many Northern Sky performers including Eric Lewis, Steve Koehler, Karen Mal, Jimmy Kaplan, Amy Chaffee, Matt Zembrowski, Holly Feldman, and Lee Becker.
Also featured are cellist/bassist Hans Christian and drummer Paul Taylor, both nominated for Grammy Awards.
The songs, written by Heide, explore themes such as compassion (Welcome Pilgrim), hope in a dark time (The Lantern), and several Wisconsin-based stories (e.g., Adele, inspired by the devout Belgian immigrant Adele Brise and her survival of the Peshtigo Fire).
Included are songs Heide wrote for his close friend Fred Alley, a Northern Sky co-founder who passed away 25 years ago at age 38 shortly after winning the Richard Rodgers Award for Best American Musical.
“Fred’s voice was extraordinary,” Heide said. “And he left us before we were able to record several of our favorite songs. We’re sharing new versions of them on this album with lead vocals by Steve Koehler (Guys on Ice) and Matt Zembrowski (Something in the Water, Dad’s Season Tickets).”
One song on the album (Pure-Heart Guitar) is about Fred and Doc’s relationship and features quotes from many of Fred’s songs and musicals. Its lead vocal is by Amy Chaffee, who has done vocal coaching for Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Kathy Bates, Orlando Bloom, and many other film stars.
The mood of the album is ethereal, accentuated by Heide’s poetic lyrics and soaring melodies. “People have told us that it is peaceful, enjoyable, and thought-provoking,” said Heide.
Heide is a Kerrville New Folk Finalist who has authored or co-authored two dozen musicals such as Belgians in Heaven, Packer Fans from Outer Space, and Guys & Does. He most recently appeared with Eric Lewis and Holly Feldman in Northern Sky’s 2025 Home for the Holidays.
The album contains almost an hour of original material. Some songs (e.g., The World as I Found It) were written decades ago but never recorded. Others were written in the last few months (e.g., Nothing But A Song, North by Night). According to Heide, a unifying theme is their focus on human possibilities.
“At a time like this, it is important to reconnect to our fundamental goodness,” Heide said. “Music can be a powerful method for that. This album is trying to take a step in that direction.”
A CD of the album is available at the Northern Sky Theater Online Gift Shop. The album is streaming on all major platforms. Information is available at: http://zenofthieves.com.
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