1988-89

1988-89

SEASON

During this season, History Theatre founder Lynn Lohr fulfilled a long-held desire to enable the organization to grow its audience size and produce seasons that offered more plays. That happened in April of 1988, when the staff moved History Theatre operations to its current home, the Crawford Livingston Theatre at 10th and Cedar Streets in St. Paul, then in the annex of the Science Museum, which had built and moved to a new structure on Kellogg Avenue in St. Paul. One notable fact about the Crawford Livingston Theatre is that it was designed by Ralph Rapson, an architect who also designed all four of the theatres in the Rarig Center in Minneapolis, home of the University of Minnesota’s theatre department, and the original Guthrie Theatre. By the time the 88-89 season began, the staff had Crawford Livingston all shined up and ready to go.

STAFF
Producer & Co-Artistic Director – Lynnell Lohr
Playwright in Residence & Co-Artistic Director – Lance S. Belville
General Manager & Tour Director – Thomas H. Berger
Publicity & Marketing Director – Linda Twiss
Box Office Manager – Leola Daniels
Group Sales Coordinator – Merle McDill
Assistant to the Touring Director – Maureen Brennan
Box Office Assistant – Joni Vaughan
House Managers – Sue Spalding, Glenn Morehouse, Loretta Hitchcock

Entertaining Strangers (American Premiere)
October 22-November 19, 1988
By David Edgar

This is an account of the effects of the cholera epidemic of 1849 on the citizens of the town of Dorchester, England over 30 years of time. Founder, Producer and Co-Artistic Director Lynn Lohr reports that she had read about “promenade theatre” (the British genre out of which Entertaining Strangers was born), so she and Founder, Playwright in Residence and Co-Artistic Director Lance Belville went to London to see additional examples of promenade theatre. While in London, they also attended David Edgar’s adaptation of the genre at the National Theatre, which featured Timothy Piggott-Smith and Dame Judith Dench. Impressed by their experiences, they negotiated the rights for History Theatre to offer the first production in America of Mr. Edgar’s play.

In addition, David Edgar flew to the Twin Cities to see final rehearsals and the American Premiere of Entertaining Strangers.

Unless otherwise noted, all History Theatre MainStage performances from this point forward were presented at the Crawford Livingston Theatre, 30 East Tenth Street, Saint Paul.

Cast
The Eldridge Household
Sarah Eldridge – Suzanne Koepplinger
Charles Eldridge – Grant Richey
Christian, a maid – Jenner Snell
Sophie – Sophie Cravens
Emily – Tena Murray
Fanny Lock, a maid – Tinia Moulder
John James Besant – Steve O’Toole
John Tizard – Phil Callen
Sarah Albinia – Leisa Luis
Charles, as a child – Matt Gabor

The Moule Household
Henry Moule – Mark Crowell
Mary Moule – Laura Wunderlich
Ellen Wright – Lisa Belfiori
Horace – Trevor Vasey
George – Steve O’Toole
Charles – Dennis Paton
Handley – John Adler
George, as a child – Matt Gabor
Horace, as a child – Patrick Fisher

Court and Gentry
Capt. William Henning – Walt Weaver
Ann Henning – Jenner Snell
Mary Frampton – Flo Goodrich
Henry Frampton – Graham Thatcher
Robert Williams – Walt Weaver
Lieutenant Vandaleur – Dennis Paton

Professional
Thomas Patch – John Adler
George Andrews – Steve O’Toole
Dr. Christopher Arden – Jay Reilly

Trade
James Brooks – Dave Runeborg
Ann Besant – Renee Sugrue
Alfred Mason – Graham Thatcher
George Loder – Jay Reilly
John Galpin – Dave Runeborg

Labouring Agricultural
John Lock – Dennis Paton
Martha Lock – Renee Sugrue
Louisa Lock – Amy Reasoner
Jane Whiting – Flo Goodrich
William Bartlett – Steve O’Toole
William Fudge – Jay Reilly
Edward Fudge – John Adler
Natty Seale – Jay Reilly
Lizzie Sibley – Susan Cravens
Jane Sibley – Tena Murray
Albert Sibley – Matt Gabor
Martha Whiting – Leisa Luis
Florence Chaffley – Lisa Belfiori

Outsiders
Capt. Agustus Handley – Phil Callen
Mr. Macarte – Dave Runeborg
Mr. Hengler – Phil Callen
Mr. Turnley – Dennis Paton
Warder – Steve O’Toole
Sergeant – Dave Runeborg

Mummers
(Presenter, Father Christmas, St. George Dragon, Doctor, Fool, Lady) – Grant Richey, Graham Thatcher, Trevor Vasey, Phil Callen, Leisa Luis

Production Staff
Co-directors – Lynn Lohr & Pam Nice
Dramaturg – Lance S. Belville
Music Director – Sally Reynolds
General Manager – Tom H. Berger
Production/Stage Manager – Timothy Wilkins
Asst. Stage Manager – Joni Vaughn
Scene Design/Tech Director – Michael Cottom
Lighting/Costume Design – Nayna Rayme
Properties Design – Connie Cadwell
Sound Design – George Norby
Carpenters – Ed Mueller, Stein Rosberg, Dave Riisager, Peter Yackel
Lighting/Costume Assistants – Tom Barrett, Megan Maloney
Properties Assistant – Chris Johnson
Tech Assistants – Pam Bedsworth, George Norby, Trevor Vasey

Tree of Memory (World Premiere)
(in repertory with A Servants’ Christmas)
November 26-December 21, 1988
By Nancy Bagshaw-Reasoner, Lance Belville, David Hawley, Gareth Hiebert & George Sand

This is a series of stories based on Christmas letters deposited in the archives of the Minnesota Historical Society.

Cast
The Pilgrimage by Nancy Bagshaw-Reasoner
Susan – Susie Cravens
Mark – Grant Richey
Frank – Bruce Owens
Allison – Tinia Moulder
Jimmy – Trevor Vasey
Jo-Jo – Suzanne Koepplinger
Allen – Graham Thatcher

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Tree of Memory by Lance Belville
The Man – Bruce Owen

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The Christmas Star by George Sand
Jack’s Tape – Grant Richey
Jack – Graham Thatcher
Wanda’s Voice – Suzanne Koepplinger
Doctor – Trevor Vasey
Nurse – Tinia Moulder
The Angel – Bruce Owen

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Boxcar Christmas by Gareth Hiebert
Voice of Major – Graham Thatcher
Harvard – Bruce Owen
LT – Suzanne Koepplinger
Brain – Grant Richey
Frenchy – Susie Cravens
Columbus – Trevor Vasey
Voice of Mess Sgt. – Tim Wilkins
Passerby – Tinia Moulder

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Michiko’s Christmas by Lance Belville
Michiko – Suzanne Koepplinger

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PK Xmas by David Hawley
Ralph – Bruce Owen
Dan – Grant Richey
Margaret – Susie Cravens
Mark – Trevor Vasey
Timothy – Graham Thatcher
Ellen – Tinia Moulder
Sylvia – Suzanne Koepplinger
Understudies – Phil Callen, Jenner Snell

Top to bottom: Bruce Owen, Graham Thatcher

Production Staff
Direction of individual vignettes was by Graham Thatcher, George Sand, Lance Belville and Nancy Bagshaw-Reasoner
Stage Manager – Timothy Wilkins
Asst. Stage Manager – Joni Vaughn
Scenic Design – Steve Griffith
Lighting Design – Thomas H. Berger
Costume Design – Connie Cadwell
Sound Design – George Norby
Properties Design – Victoria Jo Norby
Musical Director – Sally Reynolds
Sound Operator – John Michener
Change-over Assistants – Don Wellen, John Michener, Chris Perry, Greg Stevens, Noel Meyer

Recorded Musicians
Piano – Sally Reynolds
Brass – Ralph Faville
Organ – Paul Manz
The Dale Warland Singers

A Servants’ Christmas
December 1-December 23, 1988 (in repertory with Tree of Memory)
By John Fenn

This is a story about the Christmas celebration in a St. Paul mansion at the beginning of the last century, as seen through the eyes of a Jewish servant girl. The play is set in December at the Warner home on Summit Avenue in St. Paul during the early 1900s.

Cast
Mr. Warner – Trevor Vasey
Eric Horne – Grant Richey
Frieda – Renee Sugrue
Monica – Tinia Moulder
Miss Pettingill – Susie Cravens
Anne Warner – Tena Murray
Richmond Warner – John Adler
A Visitor – Geanette Roberts
Understudies – Phil Callen, Carol Allesee

Artistic & Production Staff
Director – Ron Peluso
Stage Manager – Timothy Wilkins
Assistant Stage Manager – Joni Vaughn
Properties Designer – Victoria Jo Norby
Set Designer – Steve Griffith
Costume Designer – Connie Cadwell
Lighting Designer – Thomas H. Berger
Sound Designer – George Norby
Sound Operator – John Michener
Musical Director – Sally Reynolds

Recorded musicians
Piano – Sally Reynolds
Brass – Ralph Faville
Organ – Paul Manz
The Dale Warland Singers

You Can’t Get to Heaven Through the USA
January, 1989
By Lance S. Belville

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 approximate timing of this play’s performances is based upon advance marketing and advertising material in our archives. Unfortunately, a program for this production, our primary source of data, could not be located.

Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme (World Premiere)
February 25-March 19, 1989
By Frank McGuinness

The London Standard named Frank McGuinness as Most Promising Playwright in their 1986 Drama Awards

Eight Irishmen go off to France to almost certain death in WWI. On July 1, 1916, more than 60,000 soldiers of the British Empire died on that day alone. The most cynical and intelligent of the eight Irishmen survives and summons his fellows back like ghosts to show how and why each prepared for battle as if he were re-fighting the Battle of the Boyne. That battle occurred in Ireland between Protestants, who won, and Catholics on July 1, 1690. It is still celebrated by Irish Protestants annually on July 12th.

Cast
Kenneth Pyper as an old man – Graham Thatcher
Kenneth Pyper as a young man – Grant Richey
David Craig – Scott Thun
John Millen – Bruce Owen
William Moore – Dennis Paton
Christopher Roulston – Stephen O’Toole
Martin Crawford – Phil Callen
George Anderson – David Runeborg
Nat McIlwaine – Trevor Vasey

Time and Place
Part 1: Remembrance, somewhere in Northern Ireland after 1969.
Part 2: Initiation, British Army Barracks, Northern Ireland, 1915.
Part 3: Pairing. The action takes place simultaneously in four locations in Northern Ireland, five months later.
– Boa Island, on Lough Erne, Enniskillen, where there are several early Christian/Gaelic carvings dating from the 8th century.
– A Protestant Church, probably dating from the 18th century near Sion Mills, County Tyrone.
– A Rope Bridge, built by farmers, crossing a ravine in Coleraine.
– The Field, where the annual 12th July Celebrations take place.
Part 4: Bonding, the front line trenches, near the River Somme, France, July 1st, 1916.

Production Staff
Director – Derek Campbell
Production Manager/Stage Manager – Timothy Wilkins
Scenic Designer – Thomas H. Berger
Lighting Designer – Thomas Barrett
Costume Designer – Dawn D’Hanson
Sound Designer – John Michener
Properties Designer – Noel Meyer
Technical Director – Scott Thun
Scenic Artist – Kim Lawler
Musical Director – Sally Reynolds
Slide Photography – Gerald Gustafson
Technical Assistant – Trevor Vasey
Technical Crew – Diane Galvin, Paul Siegel, Dan Smith, Noel Meyer, Jeff Fredericks

Queen Clara: Rivers of Blood, Fields of Glory
(World Premiere)
March 31-April 8, 1989
By Lance S. Belville

This play is the result of a common interest in theater, history and the remarkable Clara Barton, and sponsored by the American Red Cross Chapters in the St. Croix Valley, the St. Paul area and in Greater Minneapolis. Proceeds from performances helped the Red Cross prepare for its future while sharing its past. The play is set in the mind of Clara Barton, born Christmas Day, 1821 and died at 9 am, April 12, 1912.

Carolyn Goelzer as Clara Barton

Cast
Clara Barton – Carolyn Goelzer
Undertaker/Dorothea/General Hitchcock/Colonel Rucker/Father/Doctor Dunn/Colonel Elwell/Frances “Aunt Fanny” Gage/Julian Hubbell/Mabel Boardman – Graham Thatcher
Understudy – Tom Price

Production Staff
Director – Lance Belville
Stage & Production Manager – Timothy Wilkins
Scenic and Light Designer – Chris Johnson
Costume Designer – Dawn D’Hanson
Sound Design – John Michener
Properties Designer – Noel Meyer
Keyboards – Dan Bury
Technical Director/Carpenter – Trevor Vasey
Technical Assistants – Paul Basques, Jeff Frederick, Diane Galvin, Rose Holmes, Shaun Kelly, Noel Meyer, Dan Smith

Cowgirls (World Premiere)
April 15-May 14, 1989
By Lance S. Belville
Music & Lyrics by Dolan Ellis

This country musical takes audiences right into the rodeo ring, where hearts and bones are broken and great dreams are either ridden to glory or reined to a standstill. Rough stock riders, barrel racers, clowns and rodeo queens tell us their secrets amidst the dust, blood and moonlight of one 24-hour span in the arena. From the high Sonoran desert, the piney ridges, and the big, dry, open plains, the cowgirls are riding in to ignite their own myths of the New West. The place is a rodeo in Sierra Vista, Arizona. The time is 1935 and the present.

Cast
Lu Teal, AKA Angora Mogollon – Michelle Myers

Old Time Cowgirls
Belle Bonacker – Susie Cravens
Peach Bonacker – Susan Tillman
Tuffy Siddles – Suzanne Koepplinger

Modern Cowgirls
Patty Lisandro – Tinia Moulder
Cody Quaid – Crystal Muirhead
Sammy St. Marie – Ruth Mackenzie
Sherry Nail – Carla Barwineck

Voice of Radio Announcer – Graham Thatcher
Understudy – Randi Harrington

Prairie Riders
Fiddle – Mary DuShane
Guitar, Accordion – Wendy Smith
Piano, Synthesizer – Gregory Theisen

Musical Numbers
Act I
Rodeo Road – Sammy & Cowgirls
Yuppieville – Cody, Patty, Sammy, Lu
My Rodeo Home – Belle, Tuffy & Cowgirls
Don’t Let Me Down – Patty
Don’t Let Me Down (reprise) – Peach & Belle

Act II
Bitch, Bitch, Bitch – Tuffy, Belle, Peach
Only the Dead Stay Down – Cowgirls
Wildflowers – Sherry & Cowgirls
Cowgirl & the Devil – Lu, Sammy, Belle
Goin’ Home to Springerville – Sammy
Cowgirls – Cowgirls

Production Staff
Director – Lynn Lohr
Music Director – Andrea Herschler
Music Adaptation & Arrangements – Gregory Theisen, Mary DuShane, Wendy Smith, Andrea Herschler
Vocal Harmonies – Andrea Herschler
Choreographer – Wendy Short
Scenic & Lighting Designer – Chris Johnson
Costume Designer – Dawn D’Hanson
Stage Manager & Production Manager – Timothy Wilkins
Properties Designer – Noel Meyer
Sound Designer – John Michener
Technical Director, Carpenter – Trevor Vasey
Carpenter – Scott Thun
Running Crew – Pam Bedsworth, Thomas Berger, Noel Meyer, Trevor Vasey
Followspot Operators – Jen Liebergot, Will Kervair, Tracey Wilkins
Technical Assistants – Charles Amundson, Paul Basques, Pam Bedsworth, Phillip Callen, Rose Holmes, Noel Meyer, Evan Morris, David Riisager

L-R seated: Michelle Myers, Carla Barwineck
L-R standing: Tinia Moulder, Suzanne Koepplinger, Ruth Mackenzie