MOLLY RHODE

Associate Artistic Director / Director / Performer

The Fish Whisperer marks Molly’s 30th show with Northern Sky. She’s honored to direct another world premiere for the park stage and thrilled to join a new cast of Cheeseheads! Molly joined Northern Sky as an actor in 2007, directed her first new work in Pen. Park in 2013, and joined the staff as associate artistic director in 2014. Her focus is new play development, and she is honored to work closely with so many extraordinary authors. Molly also works regularly with theaters in Milwaukee and Madison, and she represents Northern Sky on the leadership team of World Premiere Wisconsin. It’s been a thrill to witness the success of this statewide collaboration celebrating new plays and musicals! Wisconsin has a truly special ecosystem. Thank you, Northern Sky patrons, for always believing in new work. We make these shows for you.

in the question, ‘Are you going to come back?’ And when I would respond ‘Yes,’ there was a sense of relief in knowing I was comfortable here.“

Have you heard about Door County Amplify yet? We love it, and we want you to know about it! It’s a social-media endeavor begun by Lachrisa Grandberry and Molly Rhode (both known in the county for their work onstage at Northern Sky, of course). In January of 2021, the pair launched a community Facebook page to celebrate the work of BIPOC artists who work in Door County. BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous and People of Color.

The page’s impact is twofold: It brings more visibility to the diverse artistry found on the peninsula, and it fosters positive relationships between the community and the artists featured on the page.

“People I encounter often wonder what it’s like for me to be a Black artist in Door County,” Grandberry said. “They didn’t directly say it that way my first year. Instead, it was masked

“And I’ll be honest, I was hesitant about coming at first. But I have now completely fallen in love with the beauty and the community of the county. And I love spreading the message that Door County is for everyone.”

During its first year, Door County Amplify created 314 posts, amplifying 101 artists and 18 ensembles affiliated with 22 different Door County institutions. When publishing Amplify posts, Grandberry and Rhode tag the Door County organization, business, or gallery with which each artist is working. This social networking further celebrates community and acknowledges our collective progress.

To follow the page, “like” it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DoorCountyAmplify . Followers can join in the amplifying by sharing Amplify’s posts and inviting friends to follow the page. If you’d like to help support the page financially, or if you have suggestions for content, please contact Lachrisa and Molly at doorcountyamplify@gmail.com.

Associate Managing Director

A passionate advocate for Northern Sky’s mission since she first sat on a bench under the stars at the age of eight, Holly is honored to be named as the organization’s next managing director. Much gratitude goes to her mentors who have helped bring her to this next major milestone. These mentors include many folks closely associated with Northern Sky: Mark Breseman, Carla Peterson, Mary Seeberg, Cyndy Stiehl, and numerous others. “Deepest thanks goes to Dave Maier who will remain in a support role at Northern Sky and ranks right up there with my mom as my biggest cheerleader.” She would also like to thank the generous supporters who ensure the future of this special place. Holly brings over two decades of experience in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership to the new position. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point’s arts management program, Holly has supported the fundraising success of numerous non-profits across Door County. In addition to her behind-the-scenes contributions, Holly has been seen singing on stage with Katie Dahl, Doc Heide, Jeffrey Herbst, Jimmy Kaplan, Eric Lewis, and Karen Mal. Holly’s husband, Jason Feldman of Jason Feldman Landscapes, and their three grown children, Georgia, Elliott, and Scout have called Door County home for over 20 years.

Doc Heide

Artistic Advisor / Co-Founder / Playwright

This summer Doc celebrates 50 years on the Peninsula State Park stage. He first appeared here in 1973 in NST’s predecessor troupe, The Heritage Ensemble. For the next half-century, he returned in summers from Pennsylvania and California to sing under the stars in his home state of Wisconsin. Doc has authored or co-authored almost two dozen musicals including Guys & Does, When Pigs Fly!, Packer Fans from Outer Space, Belgians in Heaven, and several with Second City founding director Paul Sills. Doc has released three CD’s and a songbook (2022’s Tangled in Wonder) and published in lots of dense professional journals with imposing titles. His award-winning research on relaxation-induced anxiety has been heavily cited for 40 years and even generated a colloquial term (“stresslaxation”). Retiring from fulltime teaching in 2020, Doc is Professor Emeritus at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University and teaches improv (with Lee Becker) at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He now premieres his newest songs for Bailey, his darling 2-year-old granddaughter.

Fred Alley

Co-Founder & Playwright

Fred Alley collaborated on over 20 original shows at AFT. He wrote the book and lyrics for Lumberjacks in Love and Fishing for the Moon, and was a contributor to Bone Dance. Fred also wrote perennial favorites Guys on Ice and The Bachelors with composer James Kaplan. Fred’s work has been celebrated throughout the country and in particular at both Madison and Milwaukee Repertory Theatres. The Spitfire Grill, which he wrote with composer James Valcq, earned them the Richard Rodgers Award and has been produced over 600 times from Off-Broadway to Europe and East Asia. Fred was also an accomplished performer and created many memorable characters, including Moonlight in Lumberjacks in Love, Lloyd in Guys on Ice, and Leo in Belgians in Heaven. Fred’s ability to help us laugh at ourselves, through his characters, makes his shows entertaining and timeless.

David Alley

Technical Director & Lighting Designer

David is happy to be back for another great season of theater under the stars and in the air-conditioned splendor of the new Gould Theater. He is excited to be part of Northern Sky’s tenth season, continuing to oversee technical operations as he did for 25 years with American Folkore Theatre.

Chef’s Hat Café

“Door

Just miles from Northern Sky Theater

NEAR: Peninsula State Park (hike, bike, golf, beaches, lighthouse, tower, sunsets) Wineries, Peninsula Players Theatre, Skyway Drive-In Movie Theater, Boat & Trolley Tours

ACROSS FROM: Shopping, Dining, Galleries, Door Community Auditorium, Peninsula School of Art

LISA SCHLENKER Resident Designer & Production Manager

Lisa is humbled and delighted to serve Northern Sky Theatre as resident designer and production manager. She finds joy continuing the professional gumbo of new work, collaboration, design, administration, and storytelling up here in the north woods. Still leading an active freelance scene design life, Lisa looks forward to occasional creative collaborations with other friends as well. A proud member of the Production Managers Forum, the Society of Prop Managers, and United Scenic Artists Local 829, Lisa keeps work interesting through curiosity and a passion for learning new things. Lisa’s book with co-author Sandra Strawn, The Properties Director’s Tool Kit, is available through Focal Press and on Amazon.com. Recent scene design work: Sunflowered (Northern Sky); Misery (MCT); The Last Five Years (Third Avenue Playworks); Dad’s Season Tickets (Northern Sky & Milwaukee Rep); Cosi Redux (Florentine Opera); The Salon Du Marie Antoinette (Opera Lafayette at NYC’s Museo del Barrio and the Kennedy Center); There Is a Happiness That Morning Is (Next Act Theatre). Projects coming soon: The Mystery of Irma Vep (TAP); L’Elisir (Florentine); Mousetrap (Next Act); What the Constitution Means to Me (Forward Theatre).

SHAWN GALLIGAN Stage Manager

With a background in performance, Shawn switched to stage management in 2011. But that’s not to say he would balk at being dragged back onstage. He has worked for theaters in Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin, both onstage and backstage. For Northern Sky he has been a company member since 2014, starting as an intern then assistant stage manager and now finally as a stage manager. Shawn is also recreational cyclist, bike mechanic, and a lover of board games and miniatures gaming.

HEATHER SOPEL Stage Manager

Heather spent her first summer at Northern Sky in 2015 as a production intern and is returning this year for her third season as part of the stage management team. She is delighted to have the opportunity to spend another summer and fall back in Door County doing what she loves. Heather has also worked at American Players Theatre (Spring Green, WI), Nashville Repertory Theatre, Nashville Children’s Theatre, and Studio Tenn Theatre (Franklin, TN) as an assistant stage manager and carpenter. When she’s not working, Heather enjoys running, eating ice cream, and listening to audiobooks.

Postshow Afterglow at the Park

Sponsored by nicolet national bank

Join us after the show for gatherings around our fire ring to chat and hang out with our company members. Doc Heide, Jeff Herbst, and Molly Rhode will share their many talents.

Monday–Friday Nights Weather Permitting No additional charge • 20 to 30 minutes

Abby Simmons

Wardrobe Supervisor

Abby is excited to be joining Northern Sky for another season as a wardrobe supervisor. In the last six months Abby has been very busy between bagel slinging at the Black Hills Bagels and costuming at the Black Hills Community Theater. After her time at Northern Sky, Abby will be heading back to her home town of Rapid City, SD, to help open a brand new theater company focused on catalyzing community conversations around theater and promoting inclusivity. Abby thanks her loved ones for all the support, and you for coming to Northern Sky!

JORDAN WALLIN - SWANSON

Wardrobe Supervisor

Jordan is a third year theater arts and business major at Lawrence University. She is thrilled to be working with Northern Sky this summer. She has designed costumes for a scene in Lawrence University’s 2022 Spring Opera Scenes as well as Great Crossing High School’s Beauty and the Beast Jr. She has been a part of the costume shop and wardrobe crew for The Living, Alcina, Moliere Inspired, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. When she isn’t in the costume shop, she enjoys playing softball, bedazzling things, and experimenting with art mediums.

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Love Stings 2022

KAREN BROWN-LARIMORE

Costume Designer

Karen is a resident of Madison and is thrilled to be returning to Northern Sky. Her costumes have graced the stages of Madison Opera, Madison Ballet, Capital City Theatre, Madison Savoyards, Opera for the Young, Skylight Music Theater, Madison Rep and Children’s Theatre of Madison. Her recent designs include The Wanderers for Forward Theater, Shining in Misery, a Stephen King Parody for Capital City Theater (part of World Premiere Wisconsin) and Trouble in Tahiti and The Seven Deadly Sins for Madison Opera. Her upcoming designs can be seen in The Garbologists for Forward Theater and The Anonymous Lover for Madison Opera. She is a proud member of the IATSE 251 in Madison. Her design work may be found in your own home as she is the designer of original Molly, Samantha, and Kirsten doll clothes for the American Girl Doll Collection.

We Like It Where? 2019

Shima Orans

Costume Designer

Shima has been on the costume staff at Skylight Music Theatre since 2003. She has designed 18 Cabot Theatre productions as well as many studio shows. Other Wisconsin design credits include Florentine Opera, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Winterdances, and the M & I Bank Holiday Display. She has also designed for Opera Saratoga, Syracuse Opera, Sterling Renaisssance Festival, Oswego Opera, Pittsburgh Playhouse, Apple Hill Playhouse, Acadia Repertory Theatre, and Albuquerque Civic Light Opera. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Costume Design from Carnegie Mellon University and has been on staff at Point Park University and the State University of New York at Oswego.

Jason Fassl

Lighting Designer

Jason returns to the Park after designing the lighting for Love Stings last summer. Previous Northern Sky/ AFT shows include lighting The Spitfire Grill (2011) and Packer Fans from Outer Space (2003). Other familiar titles include designs for The Bachelors, Muskie Love, and Guys on Ice repeatedly around the Great State of Wisconsin for Milwaukee Rep, The Marcus Center, Madison Rep and The Fireside. Jason has consumed mass quantities of electricity at American Players Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Ballet, First Stage Children’s Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks, Next Act Theatre, Forward Theatre Company, Skylight Music Theatre, Peninsula Players, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, The Fireside and many

Brian Weinkauf

Associate Lighting Designer

Brian has been helping Dave Alley with lighting at Northern Sky for nearly 10 years. Born in Wausau, he has lived in Madison for 25 years. Brian toured with Phantom of the Opera, Music Box Company, from 2005-2010. He is currently the head electrician for Capitol Theater at the Overture Center for the Arts and Production Manager for Madison Ballet. Brian is a proud member of IATSE Local 251. He sends his love to his wife Sabra and their cocker spaniel fur babies Zoey and Gio.

Jack Purves

Audio Designer & Technician

Jack is excited to be back at Northern Sky as a sound tech and sound designer! As a born-and-raised Wisconsinite, they are thrilled to be working on original shows in Door County. Credits include the following shows at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside: Macbeth (Digital Performance, Sound Designer), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [abridged] (Sound Designer), The Glass Menagerie (Sound Designer), Urinetown (Sound Board Operator), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the NightTime (Assistant Sound Designer), and the following shows at The Gateway Playhouse: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Audio Assistant), Holiday Spectacular on Ice (Sound Engineer).

Love Stings 2022

Northern Sky Fan since 1970

CharlotteJohnstonPoetry@gmail.com

Ben Werner

Audio Designer

Ben is excited to be back for his fifth season with Northern Sky designing shows such as We Like It Where?, What Ever Happened to Karl Janko?, and Dad’s Season Tickets. Ben, a graduate of the Theater Design & Technology program at Northern Illinois University, works as an administrator for a nonprofit venue in downtown Chicago. As a Wisconsin native from Milwaukee, he enjoys and appreciates Door County’s unmatched beauty. Ben hopes you enjoy your time at Northern Sky Theater and Door County. He would like to thank the Northern Sky family for their constant support. See you under the stars at Peninsula State Park!

Whatever Happened to Karl Janko? 2021

ALISSA RHODE Music Supervisor / Music Director / Performer

Alissa is thrilled to return for another season in the woods! She has musically contributed to the performance and/or development of more than 20 Northern Sky originals, is the composer of Dairy Heirs, and co-composer of Sunflowered –original cast recordings now available! Other credits include Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Skylight Music Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Door Shakespeare, Third Avenue Playhouse, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, First Stage, Children’s Theater of Madison, and Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua.

Alissa holds a Bachelors in Music Composition, Masters in Liberal Studies, and is a proud member of ASCAP, Dramatists Guild, and Maestra Music.

CHRISTIE CHILES TWILLIE Fill-In Piano Conductor

Christie’s music direction credits include Five Guys Named Moe, Newsies, The Gospel at Colonus, Raisin (Skylight), HAIR (Asolo), Indecent (Milwaukee Chamber), Dreamgirls (Paramount Aurora), Minnie’s Boys (Porchlight) and Jelly’ s Last Jam (CFRT). She composed original scores for A Raisin in the Sun (Invictus); America 2.0 (Definition); The Niceties (Forward) and Yellowman (FJT) and sound designed We Are Continuous and VietGone (GEVA), The Way She Spoke (Milwaukee Chamber), Fireflies (Northlight), CLYDE’S (TheatreWorks) and the Milwaukee Black Theatre Festival productions Black Butterflies, Pretty Fire, Kill Move Paradise, Stew and Home. Film credits include The Pandemic Trilogy, The Clearing and Alone.

ADAM CAIN Percussion

Adam has been immersed in music since an early age. He has played in various groups/bands throughout Northeast WI and was also the percussionist for Let Me Be Frank Productions in Green Bay, WI, from 2013 to 2020. His debut performance with Northern Sky Theater was the well-received Sunflowered. When not performing with Northern Sky, he’s playing throughout Door County with Dorothy Scott and the Peacekeepers, Paul Taylor, John Lewis among others. Adam is extremely grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the amazing Northern Sky family and can’t wait to see you at the shows!

BY PIGPEN THEATRE CO.

BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

RYAN CAPPLEMAN Music Director / Keyboard

Ryan is a performer, choreographer, musician, teaching artist, and dog dad based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Northern Sky audiences may remember him as music director for the previous run of Guys & Does, singing/playing piano with Jeff Herbst and Tom Donaghue in the 2018 Home for the Holidays, and from the Milwaukee cast of Packer Fans from Outer Space. Door County audiences may be familiar with his work at TAP, including An Evening of Sondheim, Gutenberg! The Musical, Tom Foolery, La La Lucille, and Billy Bishop Goes to War. Some other cool stuff: 3-time Footlights Award Winner for Outstanding Choreography, instructor of Dance and Voice at UW-Parkside and UW-Milwaukee, Waiting...a Song Cycle Off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theater in NYC, and dog dad to Dolly, the Black Mouth Cur, the Door County Humane Society. He is delighted to amongst many friends, mentors, and found family.

Dennis Keith Johnson

Bass / Guitar / Music Arranger & Orchestrator

Musician Dennis Keith Johnson’s Northern Sky credits include performances and orchestrations for Love Stings, Sunflowered, Dad’s Season Tickets, We Like It Where?, and more. Dennis has recorded/ performed with bands/artists Chase, Jim Peterik, Survivor, Software, Dennis DeYoung, Jerry Butler, B.B. King, Larry Carlton, and Paul Wertico. He has performed at Newport Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Budokan (Tokyo), Radio City Music Hall. His jingle recordings include Sears, Red Lobster, Cheerios, State Farm, Old Style Beer (composer) and United Airlines. He is founder of the Dennis Keith Experience (dkexp.com). Dennis has provided music for ABC-TV, Abbott, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cellular One, Citibank, CNA, Kraft, Merck, Miller Brewing, Motorola, and for national/ international events.

Eagle Harbor Inn

BILL KNIPFER Percussion

Bill has been playing since age 14. He has played in various club bands in Milwaukee and Chicago. Bill graduated from the Musicians Institute in LA in 1982, played in LA jazz workshops, and studied privately from Gregg Bissionette before moving to Nashville, where he has been for the last 28 years doing demo recordings and playing in various country and jazz bands.

CARRI DAHL Scenic Artist

Carri is delighted to be painting for Northern Sky this season! After a 19-season run as scenic charge at Skylight Music Theatre, she is now working as a freelance artist. She has charged most recently for Florentine Opera Company, as well as painted for Forward Theater Company, Opera Lafayette, Luci Creative, Black Arts MKE, Renaissance Theaterworks, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre and Kohl’s Wild Theatre. She also taught scenic painting at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for the spring 2022 semester. In addition to painting, she enjoys her garden and her cats.

ALEXIS GUNDERSON Tech Swing

Alexis currently attends the University of Wisconsin Whitewater where she has just finished her sophomore year. She is currently a theatre major and is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis on lighting design and technology. Alexis has visited Northern Sky multiple times as a child and is excited to have the chance to work where she has many good memories.

She is extremely excited for the summer season to start and hopes you enjoy the shows!

Thousands of hats in store...

Stewart Dawson

Head Carpenter (Lumber Coach)

Lumberjacks cut down trees and lumber mills turn the trees into plywood. Then sometimes I turn the plywood back into trees. Sometimes I cut the wood into smaller pieces and then stick it back together into bigger pieces. This is mostly what I do. I like the old westerns, especially Gunsmoke. I also wrote a book, but since now you have to pay the publisher... Whatever happened to the fat advance? Well, anyway, have a great season and enjoy tonight’s play.

Alejandra Favila

Master

Electrician

Ale is excited to return to Northern Sky for the full summer this year. From Illinois, she has been working closely with independent artists in Chicago, designing lights and running shows for anything from experimental dance to art installations. When not actively doing theatre, Ale enjoys working on other projects, ranging from recreating props and costumes from media, to completely renovating multiple bathrooms. She would like to thank her family for their undying support for her passions.

Lachrisa Grandberry

NOVA Program Director

Over her past five seasons, Lachrisa has been a performer, playwright, and composer. Starting this year, she will add ‘program director’ to her list of roles as she will lead our newly-formed NOVA Initiative.

What is NOVA? NOVA stands for Nurturing Original Voices and Artists. It’s our next-generation new works development and incubation initiative. The goal of NOVA is to foster, nurture, and expand creative opportunities for alumni, BIPOC, and emerging writers in Northern Sky’s development process. Elements of NOVA include: Writing Circle, explorative writing workshops; The Nesting Place, a writer to writer mentorship program; and Pot of Luck, a writer’s retreat festival. In addition to advancing these elements, Lachrisa will also serve on Northern Sky’s IDEAS Task Force (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Solutions) and will continue to reach out to old and new fans on our social media networks.

When Lachrisa joined us in the summer of 2018, she didn’t just embrace Northern Sky, she embraced Door County. Lachrisa’s commitment to storytelling here in the peninsula has enriched the creative fabric of our company. We are overjoyed that she’ll be lending her leadership skills to our team as we look to the future.

We thank the following donors for their leadership in generously supporting our Constellation Campaign.

Cassiopeia

$1,000,000 + UP

Barbara & Spencer Gould

URSA MAJOR

$500,000 – $999,999

Susan Crawford & Jeffrey Rosemann

Mike & Marge McCoy

MMG Foundation, Inc.

Orion

$100,000 –$499,999

Alexander Charitable Foundation, Inc.

Helen & Bruce Ambuel

E.H. Barker

Claire CaJacob & Debra DuMont

Jim & Susan Caldwell

Laurey & Phil Clampitt

The Jeff J Rosemann & Susan E Crawford Fund

Joseph & Gwenn Graboyes

Skinner Family Fund

Chuck & Jan Harmon

Jim & Judy Kottmeier

Werner W. & Susan M. Krause Family Fund

Martin & Alice Krebs

Carla & Ellsworth Peterson

Charitable Foundation

Emmy & Steve Stanley

Tim & Sue Stone

Scorpio

$50,000 – $99,999

Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant

The Cordon Family Foundation

John & Kathy Leach

Tony & Judy Licata

Tom & Kathie Moore

Jean Russell & Bob Childers

Maury & Ann Sullivan

Capricorn

$10,000 – $49,999

Tom & Sue Alt

Katy Andino

Sue & Louie Andrew

Bonnie & Barry Behnken

Pam Blanchard

O. C. & Pat Boldt

Tom & Renee Boldt

Vonnie & Dave Callsen

Carlson Erickson Builders

Andy & Jan Coulson

Jack & Betty-Jo Dahlman

Robert C. Davis III

Anne & Richard Egan Charitable Fund

Shanna & Wendell Ellsworth

Iris & Jim Friedlieb

Bill & Mardi Glenn

Dave & Mel Johnson

The Pam Kriger Donor Advised Fund

Heidi & Bob Ling

Main Street Market

Dennis & Eileen Mayborne

Nancy Mills

Helen & Earl Neville

Nicolet National Bank

Bob & Rita Radke

Luzern & Joann Richter

John & Jackie Sawyer

Mary Seeberg

Grainger Foundation

CRST International

Karen & David Studebaker

Dave & Shaun Tauber

Barb & Glenn Timmerman

Roy & Sandra Uelner

Don & Jane Vaughan

Greg & Wendy Vichick

Kathy Voelz

Mr. & Mrs. David Wenberg

Duane T. Williams

Jim & Elise Wilson

Lyra

$5,000 – $9,999

Helen Allen

Martha Bagley

Priscilla & Anthony Beadell

Trish & Jim Black

Linda & John Blossom

Mark Breseman & Jane Hillstrom

Jennifer & Jeff Bridges

John & Nancy Brock

The Virginia Burns Private Charitable Foundation

Dave & Robbie Carlson

Jim Cauley & Brenda Andrews

Janet & David Daniel

Bob & Lois Dittus

Marc & Kris Dubick

Jacinda Duffin, Realtor

Chuck & Joanne Dull

Mike & Marcia Eischen

Miriam Erickson

Jason Feldman LandscapesHolly & Jason Feldman

Gail Fischer

Diane & Pat Ford

The Franz Family of Poynette, WI

Steve & Mary Gerndt & Liz, Clay & Brody

Natalie & George Gorchynsky

Paul & Gloria Halverson

Jami & Joe Hanreddy

Bob & Donna Hays

Doc Heide & Jody Jessup

Darrell & Dina Herbst

Jeffrey Herbst & Charles Williams

Kandy & William Higley

Mark, Michaela, Michael & Oliver Holey

Jim & Nancy Huebner

Roger Johnson

Brian & Kristin Johnson

Richard & Charlotte Johnston

Jan Kemble