Chancellor:: Provost: College of Arts & Communication Dean: Associate Dean:
Director: Development Director/Assistant Director Technical Director: Audience Services Manager: Marketing Director: Coordinator of Education & Outreach: Office Manager:
Richard Telfer Beverly Kopper Mark McPhail Robert Mertens
Ken Kohberger Keir R. Johnson J.D. David Nees Michael Morrissey Stacy Sherman Shannon Dozoryst Malinda Hunter
Mission Statement Young Auditorium serves as a presenting organization for the performing arts and as an educational and cultural center enriching the lives of the campus and regional communities. Vision Statement Young Auditorium: Artstanding in Creativity, Artstanding in Collaboration, Artstanding in Education, Artstanding in its Field. Non-Profit Status Young Auditorium is a non-profit organization under Section 115 of the Internal Revenue Code. A Note To Our Patrons: • Latecomers will be seated at the first convenient interval at the discretion of the audience services staff. • Patrons are requested to turn off pagers, cellular telephones, and hourly signaling watches during the performances. • Photography or video/audio recording of the performance is strictly prohibited. • No smoking or food allowed in the theater. Only beverages purchased in the reusable cups available in the lobby will be allowed. • Personal hearing enhancement devices are available at the guest services desk. • No state tax revenue supported the printing of this program. Ordering Tickets UW-Whitewater Ticket Services Voice & TTY: 262-472-2222 Fax: 262-472-1329
Group Ticket Sales Groups of 10-24 = 10% discount Groups of 25+ = 20% discount For more information call 262-472-5705.
Purchase tickets in person at two locations Greenhill Center of the Arts Box Office M-F 9:30 am – 5:00 pm (Short term, metered parking at this location)
Facility Rental Young Auditorium facilities are available for banquets, receptions, concerts, meetings and dances. For information call 262-472-4444. Facilities include the Auditorium, Kachel Center, Main Lobby and the Fern Young Terrace.
University Center- Information Services Desk UC 159 on the main floor lobby of the University Center. M-F: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm Young Auditorium Lobby at 5:00 pm prior to performances. Contact Us Young Auditorium 930 West Main Street • Whitewater, WI 53190-1790 Phone: 262-472-4444 www.uww.edu/youngauditorium E-mail: youngaud@uww.edu
Accessibility Features The Young Auditorium strives to make our facility accessible and inviting to all of our patrons. A variety of services are offered to compliment the theater experience. Please alert our staff at least three weeks before you plan on attending a performance to any requests for handicapped access or other services such as wheelchair accessible parking and/or seating, patron drop off, sign language interpretation, audio amplification needs, foreign language interpretation, or Braille and large print materials. If you require any of these services, please contact Ticket Services, 262472-2222, or Michael Morrissey, Audience Services Manager at morrissm@uww.edu or 262-472-1487. Young Auditorium
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014 • 7:30 PM
Bramblett Chamber Series and Cultural Affairs Present
SONIC ESCAPE “Circle the Sea”
“Circle the Sea” invites listeners to an exciting and uplifting journey across Europe, Asia, North and South America, all while incorporating an unprecedented range of sounds and techniques on the flute, violin and cello.
THE MUSICIANS Flute.............................................................................. Shawn Wyckoff Violin.................................................................... Maria Kaneko Millar Cello.......................................................................... Nan-Cheng Chen The taking of pictures and/or making of visual or sound recordings are expressly forbidden. Please check the houseboard for any program changes.
THANK YOU TO OUR MEDIA SPONSORS:
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THE BRAMBLETT MEMORIAL CHAMBER SERIES The Bramblett Memorial Chamber Series was created in 1998 to honor the memory of our dear friend and colleague, Jerry Earl Bramblett, who served on the music department faculty from 1973-1994, the year he passed away. He was a vital force in the Music Department, not only throughout his many performances, but also in the musical excellence he expected from his students and from the department in general. As a solo pianist and chamber music collaborator, he presented over 300 recitals on campus, as well as throughout Wisconsin and elsewhere in the U.S. A dedicated teacher, he was greatly respected by his students. To those of us who knew and heard Jerry perform, it was when he was performing in the chamber music setting that his true genius as an artist was realized. With Jerry’s dedication and artistry as our inspiration, the series seeks to actively promote and bring high-level chamber music to the campus to enrich the cultural environment of the University and the community. Former chancellor Greenhill wrote: “He was a vigorous performer, teacher and scholar whose energies and musicianship provided a model of professionalism for his students. BR AMBLET T CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES DONORS 13-14 Advocate Karen E. Wilberg Barbara R. Bren Robert & Marion Burrows Edward and Kathryn Drexler Ann & John Fowler H. Gaylon & Hannah Greenhill Frank Hanson & Linda Kimball Geraldine Jennings Keir & Barbara Johnson Milo & Joan Jones
Carole D. Scharinger Ruth & Richard Schauer Betty H. Schoonover Barbara & Charles Taylor Richard & Veronica Telfer Donor Craig & Bonnie Anderson Dean & Shirley Taylor Margaret & Dennis Rohrs Arthur & Carleen VanderKoy Gordon & Helen Parks
Elizabeth M. Asher Lynn & Cheryl Binnie Nancy & Rollin Cooper Glenn & Christine Hayes Bunny & Jerry Schoen Miles & Nancy Stejskal Friend Rick and Jeanine Fassl
FREE THEATRE TICKETS… Just one of the many perks working for s Soasilteions
p lable avai
To apply or learn more, email your cover letter, resume, or questions to mthiele@footlights.com 4
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SONIC ESCAPE As graduates of The Juilliard School, Shawn Wyckoff (flute), Maria Kaneko Millar (violin) and Nan-Cheng Chen (cello) have performed in classical music’s greatest halls – The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, to name a few. They’ve also traveled the world in roles as diverse as fiddle-dancing in Riverdance, jamming with Beale Street blues bands, soloing & drumming with taiko troupes, improvising with Native-American flute masters, dancing while performing the tango music of Astor Piazzolla, and playing rock clubs across New York City (NYC). This lifelong commitment to devouring new sounds and pushing boundaries – both within themselves and the musical establishment – is why Sonic Escape came to be. It’s also how the trio amassed a ridiculous technique that makes audiences swear they’re hearing an orchestra of a dozen different instruments or the synchronous voice of one. Ultimately, the total Sonic Escape experience is what makes lifelong believers out of initiates. Humor and candid conversation draw audiences into the
music, while the players’ backgrounds in acting, singing and dancing turn concerts into unforgettable performance events. Improvisation takes it up a notch, infusing shows with pure, dynamic energy. As music and stories intertwine, audiences are taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, revelations, and ultimately, the desire to learn more. Interaction and innovation are the hallmarks of Sonic Escape. Sonic Escape is the recipient of two Canada Council for the Arts Composition Grants, a Puffin Foundation Award and a Chamber Music America Residency Grant. The group has performed in 22 states & provinces across North America, including concerts at Lincoln Center (NYC), Irish Arts Center (NYC), Chautauqua Institution (Chautauqua, NY), Summer Arts Festival (Huntington, NY), Hofstra University (Hempstead, NY), Homestake Opera House (Lead, SD), Penn State Erie’s Music at Noon (Erie, PA), Eckhardt-Gramatté Concert Hall (Calgary, AB), El Dorado County Community Concerts (El Dorado, CA), Elora Festival (Elora, ON) and the Cherry Blossom Festival (Philadelphia, PA).
BIOGR APHIES Maria Kaneko Millar Violinist and composer Maria Kaneko Millar has performed as a soloist throughout Canada, Ireland, China, Japan and the US; The Canadian, British and American Broadcasting Corporations as well as The WB’s One World Jam, CBS Sunday Morning and CBS The Early Show have aired her work. 170 performances as Solo Dancing Fiddler in Riverdance On Broadway and the North American and Asian Tours of Riverdance: The Show featured improvised solos and simultaneous dance. Maria also performed in Radio City Music Hall’s One World Jam and premiered her creation
for 5 prerecorded violin tracks and 1 live dancing violinist, All for One, on CBC’s nationally televised The Great Canadian Music Dream. Maria has toured North America with her one-woman show of original works for violin, voice and dance, playing venues such as The Kennedy Center and The Library & Archives of Canada. Canada Council for the Arts, Alberta Foundation for the Arts and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council have awarded Maria with composition and space grants; Samson sponsors Maria, providing audio, wireless and effects processing equipment specific to her roles as singer, acoustic/electric violinist and dancer. Maria lives to improvise: her arrangements and aural transcriptions of Asian, Celtic, Gypsy, Klezmer, Tango, Young Auditorium
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Turkish, blues, jazz, pop, rock and classical music have laid the foundation for fearless ad-libbing in any setting. Maria holds accelerated BM/MM’s in Violin Performance from The Juilliard School. Shawn Wyckoff Flutist Shawn Wyckoff is an avid solo and chamber musician who has been featured in performances at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, The Kennedy Center, Weill Recital Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, The Library of Congress, BargeMusic, MOMA and the Guggenheim Museum. Shawn is the artistic director, flutist and music arranger for TetraWind, a woodwind quartet specializing in contemporary American music. Shawn’s orchestral work includes concerts with Continuum, One World Symphony and The Harmonia Opera Company. Shawn is a First Prize winner of The Judith Lapple National Flute Competition, the Flute Society of Washington Competition and The Friday Morning Music Club Woodwind Competition. He was named a Maryland Distinguished Scholar of the Arts and received the Stephen Brewster Award (as chosen by a panel of National Symphony
Orchestra musicians), the John Philip Sousa Award and the National Alliance for Excellence Award. Shawn holds a BM in Flute Performance from The Juilliard School. Nan-Cheng Chen Cellist Nan-Cheng Chen, recently praised for his “beautiful tone” by New York Concert Reviews, is passionate about sharing music with music lovers. He has soloed with the Simon Bolivar Orchestra, Queens Symphony Orchestra, Metro-West Symphony, Quincy Symphony and Symphony Pro Musica. Recent recital and chamber music engagements include performances at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel and Weill Recital Halls, The Juilliard School’s Paul Hall, WMP Concert Hall and First Lutheran Church in Greenwich, CT. Nan-Cheng is the Executive Director of the New Asia Chamber Music Society and a member of Trio 212 and Chen Trio. He has also participated in music festivals including the Sarasota Music Festival, Banff Center, Heifetz Institute, Kneisel Hall and as teaching assistant at Walnut Hill’s Summer Music Festival. Nan-Cheng holds a BM and MM in Cello Performance from The Juilliard School.
SONG LIST Spökskepp [Ghost Ship]............................................................................................................Maria Millar Scandinavian Suite........................................................................ Shawn Wyckoff / Maria Millar (arr.) Reinlender / Lars Persson / Hornpipe Japanese Folk Tune Medley...........................................................................................Maria Millar (arr.) Ureshii Hinamatsuri / Hanayome Ningyo / Tōryanse El Negrito Bonito...........................................................................................................................Roy Brown Bach in Ireland......................................................................................................... J.S. Bach / Maria Millar Gigue / Jig / Corrente / Slip Jig / Allegro / Reel ~ Intermission ~ Trio No. 3 (“London”) in G Major, Hob. IV........................................................... Franz Joseph Haydn Log Driver’s Waltz........................................................................................................... Wade Hemsworth Walking the Woods in Twilight...............................................................................................Maria Millar My Neighbor Totoro...................................................................................................................Joe Hisaishi 6
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T H A N K YO U
Thank you to all of our sponsors and supporters for the 2013-14 Season! SEASON SPONSORS
CORPORATE SPONSORS
MEDIA SPONSORS
GRANTS
PREFERRED LODGING
PREFERRED CATERING Young Auditorium
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SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014 • 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Troupe America Inc., Executive Producer Curt Wollan Presents THE CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES In A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR BASEMENT
Inspired by the books of
Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson
including the best-seller Growing Up Lutheran Written by
Greta Grosch Music and Lyrics by
Drew Jansen Exclusive Touring Direction by Art Fegan Entertainment 320 Old Hickory Road , Ste. 408 Nashville, TN 37221 (615) 646-9606/ Fax: (615) 646-9608 www.artfegan.com
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TO U R I N G S TA F F O F T R O U P E A M E R I C A Company Managers...............................................................Lexie Wollan-Swenson & Chad Willow Production Stage Manager......................................................................................................... Patti Laird Technical Director.................................................................................................................Jeffrey Kasdorf Master Electrician................................................................................................................... Dana Kleiman Sound Engineer....................................................................................................................Kay Richardson Graphic Designer.................................................................................................................. Ruby McKusick Transportation.......................................................................................................................Mayo Tours, Inc Trucking.................................................................................................................... Stage Call Corporation General Manager.............................................................................................................. John Tsafoyannis Production Managers............................................................................ Scott R. Herbst & Tricia Hofeld Publicist............................................................................................................................................Linda Twiss Payroll Services.............................................................................................Wells Fargo Business Payroll Accounting................................................................................Brockman – Marchan & Company Ltd. Legal..........................................................................................................................Faegre, Baker & Daniels A NEW MUSICAL COMEDY A celebration of the church basement kitchen and the women who work there!
FEATURING (in order of appearance) Jeff March.......................................Pastor (Jan. 25 – May 18, 2014) Kay Francis................................................Mrs. Lars Snustad (Vivian) Nikki Savitt.......................................Mrs. Gilmer Gilmerson (Mavis) Carrie SaLoutos.....................................Mrs. Elroy Engelson (Karin) Kimberly Steffen......................................... Beverly Signe Engelson UNDERSTUDIES (Understudies never substitute for performers unless announced prior to the performance)
Tara Borman................................................. Beverly Signe Engelson Dorian Chalmers...............................Mrs. Elroy Engelson (Karin) & Mrs. Gilmer Gilmerson (Mavis) Tim Drake........................................................................................ Pastor Janet Paone..............................................Mrs. Lars Snustad (Vivian)
Costume Design KATRINA BENEDICT
Scenic & Lighting Design SCOTT R. HERBST
Music Director & Arranger DENNIS CURLEY
Sound Design MARK BRODIN
Choreography & Musical Staging WENDY SHORT HAYS
Directed by CURT WOLLAN Special Thanks: Pastor Gary Olson and Lakeview Lutheran Church, ARCA Minnesota, Zion Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids, Minnesota, Lutheran Digest, Joanne Deter who said “Curt, you should call those Lutheran Ladies,” Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson for their inspiration and stories of Confirmation. The operating of cameras or recording devices is strictly prohibited by copyright law. Please turn off anything that will make noise including cellular phones.
THANK YOU TO OUR MEDIA SPONSORS:
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SCENES & MUSICAL NUMBERS The entire action takes place on October 30, 1960–Reformation Sunday, with flashbacks to Spring, Summer and Fall 1960. ACT I The Reformation: PART 1
Prelude: Boogie Woogie Bulwark of A Basement.................................................................................................All) Scene 1: Friday, May 6, 1960 The Confirmation Banquet After I’m Confirmed......................................................................................Beverly, Vivian, Karin, Mavis) Scene 2: Later that Same Day The Ballad of Mrs. Elroy Engelson............................. (Pastor and Beverly with Vivian, Mavis, Karin) Scene 3: Sunday, May 8, 1960 Confirmation Sunday Growing Up, Letting Go........................................................................................................(Karin, Beverly) Scene 4: A Saturday in September, 1960 The Wedding Shower Scene 5: Later that Same Day Born to Farm........................................................................................(Mavis with Beverly, Karin, Pastor) All Heaven Broke Loose...................................................................................................... (Pastor with All) ACT II The Reformation: PART 2
Scene 1: October 30, 1960 Reformation Sunday/The Wedding Day An Absolutely Perfect Day................................................................................................... (Karin with All) Scene 2: August, 1960 The County Fair Vivian Snustad: Pickle Queen!......................................................................................................... (Vivian) Scene 3: October 30, 1960 Before Church Services Scene 4: After Church Services That’s Lutheran Love!................................................................................................ (Vivian, Karin, Mavis) All Heaven Broke Loose Reprise....................................................................................................... (Pastor) Scene 5: The Reception Postlude: All Heaven Broke Loose Reprise........................................................................................ (Pastor with All) 10
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WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST TIM DRAKE (Pastor) (January 9 – January 24) Raised a Catholic in the small town of Mayville, Wisconsin, the Producers of Church Basement Ladies thought he would be a natural to play the part of a Minnesota Lutheran Pastor. At the Plymouth Playhouse in Minneapolis he has appeared in Diamond Studs, Pump Boys and Dinettes, A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline, How To Talk Minnesotan The Musical, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and Guys On Ice, The Ice Fishing Musical. He recently finished touring in the Johnny Cash Musical, Ring of Fire also for Troupe America. Tim holds a BFA in Theater Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. KAY FRANCIS (Vivian) has performed professionally in regional theaters for many years and is delighted to join this touring cast of Ladies for this production. Kay has portrayed Vivian for Prather Entertainment Group in Fort Myers, FL, Mesa, AZ, and Lancaster PA; Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse in Rock Island, IL, as well as The Old Creamery Theater in Amana, IA. Recent professional work includes Away in the Basement, A Church Basement Ladies Christmas (Vivian), The Gin Game (Fonsia), On Golden Pond (Ethel), Busybody (Marion), The Mousetrap (Mrs. Boyle) for The Old Creamery; A Mighty Fortress is our Basement, Church Basement Ladies IV (Vivian) at Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse; Church Basement Ladies and Church Basement Ladies 2 (Vivian), Squabbles (Mildred) Broadway Palm Dinner Theater, Fort Myers, FL; Steel Magnolias (Clairee), Show Palace Dinner Theatre, Hudson, Fl. and Taming of the Shrew (Baptista) Shakespeare in Paradise, Naples, Fl. Other favorite professional roles include: Claire ( Rumors), Miss Tweed (Something’s Afoot), Fraulein Schneider ( Cabaret), Vera (Mame ) and Esther (Two by Two). When not on the road performing Kay and her “stage door Johnny” husband of 28 years Bruce make their home in Naples, Florida
with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and beloved dogs Max, Bubba and Dixie. JEFF MARCH (Pastor) (January 24 – May 18) Jeff is pretty darned happy to finally be donning the collar and joining the Church Basement Ladies in their Fortress! Past Troupe America credits include three national tours of Miracle On 34th Street (Fred Galey) and Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? at The Plymouth Playhouse in Minneapolis. Other favorite regional credits include Annie (Oliver Warbucks, Derby Dinner Playhouse), The Fantasticks (El Gallo, Old Schoolhouse Theatre), The Buddy Holly Story (The Big Bopper, Broadway Palm DT) and She Loves Me (Georg Nowack, The Mac-Haydn Theatre). Jeff is a native of Wayne, NE and grew-up spending his summers on Lake Okoboji, IA - two towns that remain close to his heart and places he loves to visit every chance he gets. His hometown was struck by a mile-and-a-half-wide tornado this past October 5. He was amazed at how resilient and effortlessly everyone brushed off the dust and rebuilt “Wayne, America” - because it’s just what you do. It is with great love and admiration to everyone back home that he dedicates this performance. To all of these Ladies and Gents both past and present who’ve helped shape our community and the character of those of us fortunate to have grown-up there…Thank You CARRIE SALOUTOS (Karin) Carrie is very excited to be back on the road with the Church Basement Ladies after playing Karin in Troupe America’s Tours: Away In the Basement (2011 and 2012) and A Second Helping: Church Basement Ladies 2 (2013). She was very proud to be a part of the Regional Premiere of A Mighty Fortress Is Our Basement at Circa ’21with these ladies too. Carrie Young Auditorium
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returns via Las Vegas where she regularly appears in Marriage Can Be Murder and has performed in productions of Nunsense (Las Vegas Hilton), Ba-Da-Bing, The Soprano’s Last Supper, and Reflections of the Rat Pack. Other credits include appearing in HATS! The Musical at Harrah’s in New Orleans, The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and the Plaza Theatre in Orlando. Carrie has performed on several World Cruise Lines and at Universal Studios in Osaka, Japan. Along with the Church Basement Ladies, National Tour credits include The Wizard of Oz (US and Korean Tours), Beauty & The Beast, and Singin’ In The Rain. Carrie has co-starred with Steve Gatlin in several production shows in Myrtle Beach, SC. Favorite theatre roles include Steel Magnolia’s (M’Lynn), Bingo: The Winning Musical (Honey), Nuncrackers (Sister Robert Anne) and Lucy in Lucy, I’m Dead with Faces and Places Alive in PA, Sheree in Dixie Swim Club, Carrie Innes in Ed Dixon’s Whodunnit…The Musical, Sister Robert Anne in Nunsense I &II, and Sue Ellen in Honkey Tonk Angels (Ted Swindley, Playwright/Director). NIKKI SAVITT (Mavis) After three consecutive tours of Away in the Basement, and last year’s adventurous CBL 2 tour, Nikki is beyond delighted to climb aboard the bus once again with her extended CBL family. She has also had many terra firma
experiences as Mavis including seven productions of the original CBL and three other production of CBL 2. Other favorite credits include Oklahoma! (Aunt Eller), Dixie Swim Club (Jeri Neal), Harvey (Veta), Rumors (Cookie), Nunsense (Rev. Mother), & Music Man (Eulalie). “As always, thank you Curt and Drew! I love you Sherri, miss you Renee, Grammy, and Daddy”. Please visit www.nikkisavitt.com KIMBERLY STEFFEN (Beverly) Kimberly originally from Spencer, IA, is thrilled to be back in “the basement!” Kimberly recently graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato (B.F.A. in Musical Theatre). In college, she performed The Odyssey (Athena) at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., earning a national award for her work. Since graduation, she was seen in: The Medora Musical (2012), National Tour of Miracle On 34th Street (2012), National Tour of Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second Helping (2013), and at Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse, Southern Crossroads (2013). Kimberly’s most recent CBL helping was at Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse in Rock Island, IL playing Beverly in Church Basement Ladies 4: A Mighty Fortress Is Our Basement. She dedicates this production to her very own church basement and hometown community that continues to show such love and support!
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WHO’S WHO IN PRODUCTION GRETA GROSCH (Playwright) Since 1989 Greta has worked as a freelance writer and performer across the country and has a wealth of experience in both commercial and business theater. An original cast member of Church Basement Ladies, Greta originated the role of Mavis and wrote the script for Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second Helping and Away in the Basement, A Church Basement Ladies Christmas and The Last (Potluck) Supper. A graduate of Mankato State, she bought her first guitar in the 90s and began writing comic songs. This led to a season at Dudley Riggs Brave New Workshop and a love of sketch comedy. She continues to write and perform original material with a variety of groups, and her company, Girl With Guitar, provides educational and entertaining programming, ranging from training seminars to company parties for organizations across the country gretagrosch.com. Additionally, Greta is the head writer for The Medora Musical in Medora, ND, is a voice over and commercial artist and is a founding member of the Looney Lutherans, thelooneylutherans.com. She wishes to extend a huge thank you to her co-workers for their contributions and support, to Curt for this opportunity and to Janet and Suzann...“what a trip!” Greta dedicates this show to her Norwegian sister-in-law, Lise, who was “Born to Farm.” DREW JANSEN (Composer, Lyricist) A native of Little Rock now residing in Minneapolis, Jansen is in the midst of a multi-faceted career as a performer, writer and composer. In addition to creating the scores for Troupe America’s “mega-hits” Church Basement Ladies and How To Talk Minnesotan The Musical and the History Theatre’s The Gangster Musical and A Servants’ Christmas, he is also one of the busier voice-over actors in the Twin Cities. His baritone may have prodded you to purchase anything from HOM furniture to Ordway Center tickets to Andersen
Windows. You may also remember him as the emcee in those quirky Minnesota Millionaire Raffle television commercials, or as the just-a-little-bit-too-perky husband in the long-running Patio Town commercial. Also on the small screen, Jansen enjoyed a two season run as Ernie, the unctuous announcer and musical commentator on Comedy Central’s cult classic, Let’s Bowl. Drew was a contributing writer for television’s Mystery Science Theater 3000 and has created text for numerous greeting cards, t-shirts, coffee mugs and syndicated comic strips. An accomplished pianist, he has had the honor of accompanying such legends as Celeste Holm and Carmel Quinn, and recently manned the keyboards in Las Vegas for Greg Proops and Chip Esten’s Whose Line Is It Anyway? Drew is a proud graduate of Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota and continued his education at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. This one’s for you Jimmy! CURT WOLLAN (Producer/Director) is the President and Executive ProducerDirector for Troupe America, Inc. He has directed many National Tours including The Odd Couple starring M*A*S*H’s Jamie Farr and William Christopher, the National Tour of Moon Over Buffalo starring Gavin MacLeod, the National Tour of The Sunshine Boys starring Dick Van Patten and Frank Gorshin and Same Time, Next Year starring Mackenzie Philips and Adrian Zmed. At Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, he directed Cottonpatch Gospel starring WKRP in Cincinnati’s Gary Sandy. In the last four years, Curt has directed twenty five productions of various Church Basement Ladies, two starring M*A*S*H’s William Christopher as the Pastor and one starring Barry Williams of The Brady Bunch. Curt has been based at the Plymouth Playhouse since 1979, and has directed most of its productions, notably the musical comedies Church Basement Ladies, Church Basement Young Auditorium
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Ladies 2: A Second Helping, Away in the Basement: A Church Basement Ladies Christmas,The Last (Potluck) Supper,How To Talk Minnesotan The Musical, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Diamond Studs which won the Twin Cities “Kudos” Award for Best Direction, Best Choreography and Best Musical, and the recent Playhouse hit musical that also toured the country last season, Ring of Fire: The Life and Music of Johnny Cash. Each summer Curt produces and directs The Medora Musical in the beautiful North Dakota Badlands and each Holiday Season, he directs for Dollywood in Tennessee most recently directing Dolly Parton in A Christmas Carol, where she appears as a hologram ghost. Curt dedicates this show to the memory of his mother, Lorraine, whose church kitchen legacy serves as an inspiration for his work on this production, curtwollan.com. DENNIS CURLEY (Arranger, Music Director) is a native of Syracuse, NY, and a graduate of Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). He composed music for Vampires! Horror!, Love After Hours, Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second Helping, U Betcha: The Making of a Minnesota Boy Band, Pride and Plot of Pointlessness, and Whistling Past the Graveyard. Dennis is the arranger of School-house Rock Live! and Schoolhouse Rock Live Too! (both published by MTI). In the Twin Cities he recently performed in Power Balladz (Lab Theatre), Hot ‘n’ Cole and My Way (Ordway Center), Mrs. Man of God, Orphan Train (History Theatre), Christmas Carole Petersen (Theatre Latte Da), Warm Beer Cold Women (Guthrie Theater), and Steerage Song (Fitgerald Theater). Dennis is a cofounder and executive producer of Table Salt Productions, TableSaltProductions.com. WENDY SHORT HAYS (Choreographer and Musical Staging) has been connected with Troupe America for over thirty years. She created the choreography for the original production of Church Basement 14
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Ladies as well as subsequent tours and productions. She has choreographed such favorites as Nunsense, Pump Boys and Dinettes and Diamond Studs for which she earned the Twin Cities Drama Critic Award for Best Choreography. She was on the writing team for The Lovely Liebowitz Sisters and her original choreography for Pump Boys and Dinettes has been produced locally, on National tour and for an extended run at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Wendy is the Artistic Director of VISTA Productions which was chosen to represent Minnesota at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her work has also been seen on the stage of The Medora Musical, Hey City Stage, History Theatre and numerous national tours. Her directing credits include West Side Story, Wings, Children of Eden, Lost In Yonkers, Into The Woods, A Christmas Carol and Beehive. SCOTT R. HERBST (Scenic and Lighting Design) Scott has been working professionally in the Twin Cities since graduating from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre. His work is predominately in the Musical Theatre genre of the industry as a Lighting Designer and Stage Manager for many shows. His work with Troupe America has taken him around the country on many National tours and he has had the pleasure of working with actors like Jamie Farr and William Christopher of M*A*S*H fame, and Gavin MacLeod of Mary Tyler Moore show and the Love Boat. In addition, Scott has served as part of a team of Production Managers for Zoom 7 handling various venues for the Mary Kay Career Conference. As well as his work at the Plymouth Playhouse, Scott enjoys gardening and remodeling his house with his wife Mary and their two college age children. KATRINA BENEDICT (Costume Designer) is thrilled to be a part of A Mighty Fortress Is Our Basement having designed for Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second Helping
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and Away in the Basement based on the writing of Suzann Nelson and Katrina’s mother Janet Letnes Martin. She works as a freelance costume designer and draper at various theaters in the Twin Cities area including the Guthrie. Her most recent designs include Away in the Basement: A Church Basement Ladies Christmas, Kirby! for the History Theater, Sherlock’s Last Case for Minnesota Centennial Showboat and various productions at Normandale Community College. MARK BRODIN (Sound Designer) Mark designs and mixes sound for live theater, churches, recording artists and corporate events. With 20 years’ experience, you may have heard his work at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres in Minneapolis, The Medora Musical or on TV and radio. Mark won a regional Emmy Award for his documentary Delafield. JANET LETNES MARTIN (Co-author of Growing Up Lutheran) Janet Letnes Martin grew up in Hillsboro, ND, where the words “Norwegian and Lutheran” were synonymous. She graduated from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN and married Neil Martin, a 100 percent Scandinavian-Lutheran man from Newfolden, MN. Janet starting writing books in 1983 about her Norwegian/rural/ Lutheran heritage. She has authored three books, and co-authored three books with Allen Todnem, one with her sister, Ilene, one with David W. Cook, and nine with her college friend, Suzann Nelson. Janet and Suzann’s best-selling book, Growing Up Lutheran, What does this Mean? won the Minnesota Book Award for Humor, and is the inspiration for all four Church Basement Ladies musical comedies. Janet lives in Hastings, MN, and works with her daughter, Jennifer Green in her mail order online store, scandinavianmarket. com. Her daughter, Sarah is the national representative for the Norwegian Fjord
Flatware Company, and daughter, Katrina Benedict is the costumer of this musical. Grandchildren: Sophia, Ariana and Myana Green, Nora, Frida, and Martin Benedict, are the love of her life. She dedicates her contribution to this play to her late husband, Neil. Contact her at lutheranladies@aol.com SUZANN NELSON (Co-author of Growing Up Lutheran) Suzann could put “ditto” under Janet’s bio. Their books and performances as the humorous duo, “Those Lutheran Ladies,” draw upon life experiences growing up as hardworking, church-attending, 100 percent Norwegian-Lutheran farm girls. This is the nucleus of the heartwarming Church Basement Ladies musicals. Nelson began life as a Johnson near the Kensington Runestone, attended school in Evansville, MN, boarded a train for Augsburg College in Minneapolis, and met Ron (a ND farm boy). With a Scandinavian Studies diploma in one hand, a wedding ring on the other, a variety-pack life followed: attending Universities in MN and Oslo, directing a language camp and writing curricula. Changing from jeans into three-piece suits, she dabbled in government, wrote public policy reports and struggled to put on pantyhose. In time, humidity and hot flashes prompted her to team up with Janet for her next act. By then, Suzann, Ron, and daughters Senja and Siri, lived in Grand Rapids, MN. Now a widow and online bookstore owner, ruralroutebookstore.com, she spends nights pondering her mortgage, and days looking for misplaced things and laughing with four grandkids. TROUPE AMERICA, INC. (Producer) has been touring theatrical productions from coast to coast and in Canada since 1987 under Executive Director/Producer Curt Wollan. Past Troupe America tours include six seasons of Mr. Pickwick’s Christmas, Young Auditorium
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WHO’S WHO IN PRODUCTION
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two seasons of Dylan Thomas’ A Childs’ Christmas In Wales, five tours of Pump Boys and Dinettes, two tours of Stephen King’s Ghost Stories, three tours of the stage version of the Emmy Award-winning TV series “Schoolhouse Rock, Live!,” a coproduction of The Gifts of the Magi with the Lamb’s Theater Company of New York and tours of On Golden Pond, Driving Miss Daisy, Steel Magnolias and Forbidden Broadway with Big League Theatricals of New York. Troupe America also operates the popular Plymouth Playhouse in the Twin Cities area, having produced a fouryear run of Nunsense, a four-year run of Pump Boys and Dinettes, and critically acclaimed productions of Diamond Studs, A Day In Hollywood A Night In The Ukraine, Little Shop of Horrors, The Lovely Liebowitz Sisters, A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline, An Evening with Groucho starring Frank Ferrante, an eight-year run of a new musical based on Howard Mohr’s bestselling book How To Talk Minnesotan titled How To Talk Minnesotan The Musical, the off-Broadway success I Love You, You’re
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Perfect, Now Change, and five new musicals based on the best-selling book Growing Up Lutheran titled Church Basement Ladies and its sequels Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second Helping!, Away In The Basement, A Mighty Fortress (Is Our Basement) and The last (Potluck) Supper which will tour in 2015. In 1997, Troupe America produced a highly acclaimed national tour of The Odd Couple starring M*A*S*H’s Jamie Farr and William Christopher and in 1998-99, the national tour of Moon Over Buffalo starring Gavin MacLeod. In 1999/2000, Troupe America produced Hank Williams, Lost Highway starring Jason Petty, and in 2001/2002 produced and toured the national tours of The Sunshine Boys starring Dick Van Patten and Frank Gorshin and Same time, Next Year starring Mackenzie Phillips and Adrian Zmed. 2013 saw a highly successful National tour of Ring of Fire, The Life and Music of Johnny Cash and plans are underway for a National Tour of Love, Loss and What I Wore by Nora and Delia Ephron. www.troupeamerica.com
FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • 7:30 PM
presents
Our Season Spokesperson
John McGivern Starring in
Summer Stories This Emmy award-winner reminisces about the best times of summer as he takes us through Memorial Day, school’s end, the 4th of July, summer camp, family vacation, the dog days of August, and the dreaded arrival of Labor Day when it all comes to an inevitable end with the return to school.
First Act: 50 minutes Second Act: 45 minutes The taking of pictures and/or making of visual or sound recordings are expressly forbidden.
THANK YOU TO OUR MEDIA SPONSORS:
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BIOGR APHY John is pleased to be back at Young Auditorium. He was last seen as the Narrator in OUR TOWN. John is best known for his Emmy-award winning work on PBS. His one-man-shows, THE EARLY STORIES OF JOHN MCGIVERN, MIDSUMMER NIGHT MCGIVERN and JOHN MCGIVERN’S HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS tell the stories of being the third born of six kids in a working-class Irish Catholic Family in the Midwest. John can be seen on every PBS station in the state with his Emmy-Award-Winning MPTV weekly series-AROUND THE CORNER with John McGivern. His stories are personal and funny and touching and familiar. His themes are based in family and remind us all that as specific as we might believe our experiences are, we all share a universal human experience. John has been the keynote speaker for The Alliance for Children and Families, The State Department on Aging, The Children and Family Service Agency of Wisconsin, The Wisconsin Defense League, Christ Child Association, Foundation for Children with Cancer, Employee Assistant Professional Association and has been fortunate to entertain companies such as Time Warner, Kohl’s Department Stores, Baird, Acuity, and BMO Harris. John is proud to have been part of WE’RE FUNNY THAT WAY on HBO and OUT THERE II on Comedy Central. He was seen sitting next to Sally Field on POLITICALLY INCORRECT and knighted by Julie Andrews in the hit film THE PRINCESS DIARIES. Follow John on Facebook and visit his website: www.JohnMcGivern.com
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M E M B E R S 2 013 -14 Director’s Council James R. Connor Lolita Kachel Michael Ross Director’s Circle Ron & Ann Abele James & Julie Caldwell Robert & Yvonne Fiskum David & Kathy Granum H. Gaylon & Hannah Greenhill John & Sandra Heyer Dr. Beverly Kopper Mark McPhail Kenneth & Dorothy Otting Francine L. Pease Julian & Anne Stinson Chuck & Barb Taylor Richard & Veronica Telfer Ambassador Craig & Bonnie Anderson Richard & Kathy Haven Dawn & Lyle Hunter Mitzi Joseph Ken & Susie Kidd James E Killian & Roberta Rohdin Killian Ken Kohberger Everett & Ellen Long Craig & Amy Matzinger Dennis & Margaret Rohrs Carole Scharinger Betty Schoonover Richard & Judy Triebold Elmer Werhane Patron Bill & Karen Bohn Benjamin Strand & Kari Borne Robert & Marion Burrows Winona Campbell James Carlson Jo Coulthart Donna G. Fox
Ginny Hall Glenn & Christine Hayes John & Nancy Hoffmann John Hunter Geraldine Jennings Keir & Barbara Johnson Orville & Carol Larson Nels & Gloria Madsen Connie & Alan Marshall Rowland & Audrey Mc-Clellan Michael & Jean Morrissey Margaret Mueller Terry & Arlene Ostermeier Jan Palzkill Mary Hill-Roth & Ted Roth Dennis & Mary Salverson Jim & Sue Schlough Jerry & Bunny Schoen Lewis & Kathleen Scott Cynthia Smith Charles Taggart Dean & Shirley Taylor Donald & Marjorie Triebold Pamela & David Van Doren Robert Wright & Elizabeth Asher Karl & Doris Zahn Supporter Curtis & Diane Abendroth Helmut & Martha Ajango Stanley & Ann Alger Jackie Amundson & DeanZweifel Rod Anderson Julia & Robert Armstrong Michael & Karen Atwood Patricia & Thomas Bauhs Thomas & Christine E. Beckman Dale Benson James & Ginger Best Lynn & Cheryl Binnie Ron & Marilyn Binning Bryan & Rose Ann Bishop Elizabeth Blumberg
Forrest Bright Susan Burkhardt Mary Beth Byrne Gerald & Lois Caslavka Mr. & Mrs. Cohen Antionette Czebotar Dean & Bonnie Dahnert Jack & Betty Frawley Deb & Dave Gamble Audrey & Christian Gatz Nancy & Leo Geidel Barry & Margo Goldberg Karla Goodman Kathy & Jim Gross Carol Guequierre Mark Gustafson & Su Ash Gustafson Hans Hahn & Carla Cheek Margaret Hancock Diane Hanson John & Jean Henderson Mark Hildebrand Lloyd & Daphne Holterman Gene & Charlotte Huntley Helene Hurdis Richard & Susan Kaja Mary Kenne Mary & Steven Kennedy Debra & Ken Kirkeby Sharon & Jeff Knight Bob & Gloria Knipschild Leota & Steve Larson Leece & Phillips Law Office Gregg & Laura Lester Dr. Steven & Larissa Lyon Sandra Matson Don McComb Barbara McGlynn Mary Kaye Merwin Jim & Carol Miller Dr. Hank Mol John & Arlene Newhouse Lois O’Brien Tom & Mary Oehler Kim & Denise O’Keefe Michael & Marie Olson Richard & Judy Owens Young Auditorium
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M E M B E R S 2 013 -14 Mark & Terrie Parenteau Larry & Mary Peiffer Kirke & Elaine Plank Stephen & Diane Raebel Rauland Realtors Dale & Colleen Riggs Janet M. and Robert Rortvedt Dick & Julie Ruhe Daniel Sable Kathleen Salzwedel Doug & Karen Saubert Alice Scherer Ervin Schlepp Dennis & Evelyn Schulz Robert & Sharon Schweitzer William & Marlyne Seymour Roger & Helen Shimon Larry & Edie Simons Patrick & Luly Snyder Barbara Stallman Dave & Bonnie Stanley David & Cheryl Stedman Ann & Howie Stiff Lee Stoneking Michael & Heidi Swerdlow Richard & Arlene Trewyn Karolyn & Hugo Tscharnack Ron & Sandra Van Able Carleen & Arthur VanderKoy
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John & Darlene Varnes David F. Veith Mary Lynn & Dennis Vogel Marge Ware Vivian & Fred Welch Estelle Wiesmann Eda Wilson Richard & Margaret Winz Carole & Monte Witkowski Rod & LaVonne Wittwer Mark & Peggy Wuenstel Contributor Mary Adams Chris & Kristine Cameron George & Harriet Christopherson Janice Evans John Finney Margaret & Dale Fose Carol Grulich Jean & Wayne Hartwig Eleonora Jedrysek Kristin Koeffler Carole Koehler Dr. & Mrs. Robert Koenitzer Paul & Sue Kremer Fred Aschmann & Diane LaFontaine-Aschmann Steven Landfried Mary Lawrence Tammy McElwee
Susan Mealy Rosemary Metzdorff Bob Mischka Barry Mullen Thelma Robbins James & Cheral Sadler Merle & Mary Lou Schinke Alice & Curt Schwarz Thomas & Patricia Spiegelhof Steve & Linda Steinhoff Miles A. & Nancy Stejskal Gayle & Dale Stettler Robert Taylor Patricia Wales Doris & Alphonse Zimmerman David Zittnan Student Joseph Berman Owen Kirkeby Gerald Roche Lisa Tessene-Martin Matching Gifts USG Foundation, Inc.