1980-81
SEASON
HISTORY THEATRE STAFF
Director of Programs, Community Programs for the Arts (COMPAS) – Lynnell Lohr
Playwright in Residence – Lance S. Belville
Producer, COMPAS – Kate Houston
Executive Director, COMPAS – Molly LaBerge
Bronko (World Premiere)
September 26-October 19, 1980
By Lance Belville
This is the story of Bronislau “Bronko” Nagurski, who played football for the University of Minnesota (“both ways”), earning All-American status in 1929. The play follows his career for more than 30 years, as he bounced from professional football to professional wrestling and back again, eventually becoming one of the first players to be inaugurated into the Pro Football Hall of fame in 1963.
Cast
Lisa Denham – Margot Ruckstein
Karl Fishbacher – Hy Kilborn
Ron Delano/Bronko Nagurski – Mick Kirkeby
Coach Spears/Referee – Allen Brookins-Brown
Dave/George Halas – Raymond Walsh
Herb Josting/Red Grange/Gustafson/Masked Marauder – Steve Hosley
Art Farmer/Dutch Sternaman/Tony Stecher – Tony Kish
Steve Hosley as Herb Jostings
Production Staff
Director – Steven J. Kinney
Designer/Technical Director – Glen S. Bjornson
Stage Manager/Costumer – Patricia Frazer
Sound Designer – Russell Borud
Sound Tech – Randy Seitz
Musician – Steve Brainard
Researcher – Deborah Gelbach
This show was produced in cooperation with
COMPAS (Community Programs in the Arts)
This production was presented at the Weyerhaeuser Auditorium
in the Landmark Center in St. Paul
Deadly Decades
October 11-21, 1981
By Lance S. Belville
This play is an investigation into the manners and morals of Prohibition America as seen through the eyes and experiences of the men and women who spent at least part of their lives in and around the then-Federal Courthouse, now known as the Landmark Center, in St. Paul.
Information about this play’s performances is based upon newspaper articles, photographs, advance marketing and advertising material in our archives. Unfortunately, a program for this production, our primary source of data, could not be located.
Cast
Martin – Unknown
Abe – John Pekas
Bob – John Detjen
Doreen – Sarah Jane Olson
Claire – Unknown
L-R: Unknown, John Detjen, Sara Jane Olson, Unknown
Artistic Staff
Executive Producer – Lynn Lohr
Producer – Kate Houston
Director – Glenn Cox
Set Designer – Glen Bjornson
Costume Designer – Eileen Johnson
A Servants’ Christmas on Victorian Summit Avenue (World Premiere)
December 5-28, 1980
By John Fenn
This is a celebration of the holiday season at the beginning of the last century as seen through the eyes of a Jewish servant girl. The play is set in the Warner mansion on Summit Avenue in St. Paul during the early 1900s.
Cast
Eric Horne – Bruce R. Bohne
Frieda – Lauralee Perdue
Monica – Jo Howarth
Rich Warner – Craig Weston
Anne Warner – Stephane Hodge Novotne
Miss Pettingill – Susan Graves
A Visitor – Lynn Musgrave
Jo Howarth
Artistic Staff
Director – Carolyn Levy
Choreographer – Jerome Melchior
Music – Scott Killian
Stage Manager – Janet Hall
Set Designer – Colin Tugwell
Lighting Designer – Angela Riserbato
Costumer – Lynn Farrington
Technical Director – Byron Peterson
Technical Assistant – Lee Pottinger
Tech Crew – Kurt Zilley, Russell Curry
Light Operators – David Hannula, Christopher M. Denton
Sound Operator – Randy Seitz
Sound Effects – Scott Peters
Properties – Sharon Selberg
Research – Deborah Gelback, Stephen Davis
This show was produced in cooperation with COMPAS (Community Programs in the Arts)
This production was presented at the Weyerhaeuser Auditorium in the
Landmark Center, St. Paul
Children of Tyrone (World Premiere)
February 6-March 1, 1981
By Lance S. Belville
Lynn Lohr, in a program note about this show, wrote:
“…all of us who enjoy the arts in Minnesota owe Sir Tyrone Guthrie a great deal. He, along with the enlightened community who formed the theatre that bears his name, were participating architects of that ‘quality of life’ of which Minnesotans were so proud…his life speaks to all people who care passionately about what they do and who labor flat out to do things very well. …the play…speaks to all of us who search to find out what we can do best, who try to find our definition and independence from the mentors who shaped our careers, and who seek to find a balance in our lives for work and love.”
The setting of the play is a large Western city in the present day. The people referred to in the play are real; the characters are fictional.
Cast
Lloyd Bujold – Paul Boesing
Margo Butchko – Margaret Chase
Voice of Randy – John Cochrane
Artistic Staff
Director – Graham Thatcher
Stage Manager – Janet Hall
Assistant Stage Manager – John Williams
Set Designer – Jim Bakkom
Lighting Designer – Kim Moline
Lighting Technician – Patti Schmalzried
Costume Designer – Lynn Farrington
Costume Construction – Sue Hennessy
Construction Supervisor – Bill Holaday
Auditorium Technician – Randy Seitz
Sound Recording – Russell Borud
This show was produced in cooperation with COMPAS
(Community Programs in the Arts) and was performed in the
Weyerhaeuser Auditorium at St. Paul’s Landmark Center
You Can’t Get to Heaven Through the USA
April 10-May 3, 1981
By Lance S. Belville
This is a humorous play based on the journals of Swedish and Italian immigrants, who wrote about life and intolerance in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood on the east side of St. Paul. The production was staged in the room that once was known as “Courtroom 317” at the Landmark Center in St. Paul.
Program note: “No character in this play is based entirely on any one specific real-life person. They all embody the experiences and histories of many.”
Cast
Immigrant Swedish Pastor – Bruce R. Bohne
Immigrant Italian Priest – Joe Kudla
Bjorn/Geno – Peter Wells Farley
Nicola/Anna – Elsa Cornell
Angelina/Ingrid/Rosa – Cheryl A. Brown
Musician/Alter Man/Bjorn’s Father/Parishioner – Tom Gravelin
L-R: Bruce R. Bohne, Cheryl Brown, Peter Wells Farley, Elsa Cornell
Production Staff
Director – Larry Whiteley
Stage Manager – James B. Hussey
Costumes – Lynn Farrington
Lighting Designer – Kim Moline
Lighting Assistants – Jeff Bartlett, Angela Riserbato
Technical Crew – Steve Streif, John Moriarty, Jack Kennelly, Dave Gaarder, Tom Meyer, Curt Zilley
This show was produced in cooperation with COMPAS
(Community Programs in the Arts)
