1998-99

1998-99

SEASON

STAFF
Artistic Director – Ron Peluso
Managing Director – Thomas H. Berger
Artistic & Literary Associates – Bob Beverage, Sarah Gioia
Director of Education & Group Sales Manager – Carole Marget
Box Office Manager – Chari Hall
Public Relations Manager – Julie Michener
Assistant to the Managing Director & Education Associate – Joe Spencer
Assistant to the Artistic Director – Natasha Jones
Technical Director – Erin Kasper
Stage Managers – Wayne Hendricks, Julia Cashman
Assistant Box Office Manager – Dorothy Gherity
House Managers/Box Office Staff – Sharon Gherity, Linda Berglund, Traci Czech, Beth Cashman, Dan Szymczak

Axel & His Dog (World Premiere)
October, 1998
By Don Stoltz

This play tells the story of Don Stoltz, who created the popular childrens’ TV show for WCCO television in Minneapolis. “Axel & His Dog”, which was aired between 1954 and 1966, did more than entertain upper-Midwestern kids; it shared a story about growing up and all of the highs and lows of life that accompany it.

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.

Orphan Train
November 6-December 27, 1998
Book by Patty Lynch
Music & Lyrics by Charlie Maguire

In story and song, this is the tale of children from the slums of New York City who were transported to farm families in Midwestern locations from Texas to Alaska between 1858 and 1929. The play’s events are set in 1889.

Cast
Aloysius O’Connor – Lukas Walrath
Sally Ann Wright – Dylan Bullard
Amanda – Hadija Steen-Omari & Clarice Yuette Mays, Rachel Bellfield
Franz – Andrew Bergee, Karl Grindal
Katrin – Elena Glass, Greta Chapman
Clarissa – Erin Hampe, Maggie D’Ambrose
Carl – Josh Peterson, Sam Olstein
Fredrick/Chorus – Cooper D’Ambrose
Miss Grimstad/Mrs. Humboldt – Carole Jean Anderson
Mr. Louis – Julian Bailey
Andy Hawkins/New York Papa – Tom Poole
Photographer/Judge Humboldt – Blayn Lemke
Fireman/John Lincoln Jones – Joe Nathan Thomas
Henrik Studt /New York Shopkeeper – Clark Cruikshank
Gertrude Studt/Street Vendor/Figure – Rosalie Tenseth
Mary Stanley/Sick Mother – Lavinia Erickson
Chorus – Christopher Audet, Quinn Mae Berger, Samantha Biegler, David Edge, Eddy Hampe, Ari Hopstock, Jim Kenny, Virginia Kingman, Laurent Kuehnl, Sebastian Kuehnl, Maria Long, Elsie Jamin-Maguire, Caitlin Milligan Sheaffer, Hannah Milligan Sheaffer, Sam Olstein, Eve Overland
Understudies – Eve Overland (Sally Ann), Taylor Schulz (Aloysius & Fredrick), Rex Isom (John Lincoln Jones & Fireman), Malia Long and Gretchen Douoma (Miss Grimstad, Mrs. Studt, Mrs. Stanley)

Dylan Bullard

Orchestra
Piano – Joel Spineti
Guitar/Mandolin – Erik Peterson
Bass – Gordy Abel
Violin – Tim Reese

Artistic/Production Team
Director – Ron Peluso
Music Director – Joel Spineti
Arranger, orchestrations & underscoring – Lawrence Siegel
Choreographer – Vance Holmes
Sound Designer – C. Andrew Mayer
Stage Manager – Julia Cashman
Production Stage Manager – Wayne Hendricks
Scenic Designer – Robin McIntyre
Scenic Artists – Kim Lawler, Alicia Ward
Lighting Designer – Chris Johnson
Costume Designer – Lynn Farrington
Properties Designer – Maggie Scanlan
Technical Director – Erin Kasper
Master Electrician – Andrew C. Kedl
Electricians – Christian Gaylord, Jacob Heinrichs, Carin Olson
Carpenters – George Grubb, Rob Roll, Nate Saul
Light Board Operator – Rob Roll
Followspot Operators – Linda Berglund, Steve Kath
Followspot & Sound Board Operator – Ryan Healey

MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT I
Rockabye – The Figure
Family – Aloysius, Shopkeeper, Orphans
Get Up – Katrin, Franz, Orphans
Wildflower – Sally Ann
Orphan Rider – Fireman, Orphans
Dare You – Aloysius, Sally Ann
Orphan Rider (reprise) – Fireman, Company

ACT II
Littleton Polka – Orchestra
Dog – Franz, Orphans, Town kids
I Love Him – Sally Ann
Shooting Star – Katrin & Miss Grimstad
I Remember Love – John Lincoln Jones, Company
Rockabye (Reprise) – The Figure
Orphan Boy – Sally Ann & Aloysius
America – Company

To Kill a Mockingbird
January, 1999
Adapted by Christopher Sergel

A stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s world-famous and Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, which takes us back to the mid-1930s, when racism, poverty and ignorance dominated the American landscape. Lawyer Atticus Finch steps up to fight bigotry, intolerance and injustice in a small Alabama town.

HMONG! The CIA’s Secret Army
(World Premiere)
March 10-April 3, 1999
Based on the Screenplay by Lee Vang
Adapted for the stage by Lee Vang & Jaime Meyer

This play tells how the Hmong people were pulled into America’s fight against the military forces of North Vietnam. Hmong men were trained as soldiers by CIA personnel and flown to the front lines of the struggle against communist Pathet Lao and Viet Cong troops in Laos. Based on a true story of love, war and immigration to St. Paul, we see another side of the most controversial conflict of the 20th century.

Cast
Young Pa/Villager – Sandy ‘Ci Moua
Young Meng/young soldier – Chy Nou Lee
Middle-aged Pa/Old Pa/Villager – Hlee Vang
Middle-aged Meng/Old Meng/Vietcong/Soldier – Kenny Lee
Middle-aged Za/Tasseng Thao/Soldier/Uncle – Cy Thao
Young Za/Soldier 2 – Hang Lee
Middle-aged Mao/Old Mao/young Hmong girl – Pang Houa Moua
Young Man/Villager – Diana Yang
Colonel Neng/Soldier/Vietcong – William Kao Yang
Chue/Ger/Soldier/Vietcong – Zong Khang Yang
Vang Pao/Mr. Thao/Meej Kooj #2/ Soldier/Vietcong – Chan Chang
Lee Lue/Thai Colonel/Soldier – Richon Xiong
Moua Sue/Recorder Man/Soldier/Meej Kooj #1 – Tom Thao
Blia/Tasseng’s Wife/Villager/Colonel Neng’s 1^st wife – Mai Houa Hao
Pa’s Mother – Diana Thao
Colonel Harry/Marshall – Bob Beverage
Colonel Texas/Senator – Fred Wagner
Man in Suit – Julian Bailey
Stephen – John Riedlinger
Psychiatrist/Government Spokesperson/Interviewer – Marilyn Murray

Top to Bottom: Hang Lee, Chy Nou, Hlee Vang

Artistic & Production Staff
Artistic Director & Co-Director – Ron Peluso
Co-Director – Lee Vang
Assistant to the Artistic Director – Sara Johannas
Scene Designer – Emily Tepe
Lighting Designer – Pamela Kildahl
Costume Designer – Molly Jordon Kral
Sound Designer – C. Andrew Mayer
Properties Designer – Jenn James
Production Stage Manager – Julia Cashman
Stage Manager – Wayne Hendricks
Technical Director – Erin Kasper
Assistant Technical Director – Nate Saul
Master Electrician – Andrew C. Kedl
Electricians – Stephanie K. Brehe, Ed Franke, Jacob V. Heinrich, Brian Maher, Karin Olson
Carpenters – Brian Sherman, Rob Roll, Herb Lindorff, Aaron Rublein, Melissa Skluzacek, Luke Yarbrough, Windy Fleischaker
Light Board Operator – Rob Roll
Sound Board Operator – Ryan Healy
Deck Manager – Linda Berglund

Swede Hollow, The Lost Immigrant Village of Saint Paul (World Premiere)
April 14-May 16, 1999
By Buffy Sedlachek

For 100 years, poor immigrants resided in the Swede Hollow area of St. Paul without modern comfort, but with a great deal of faith. The play is a testament of the values and strength of the Swedes, Irish, Germans, Poles, Italians and Mexicans who lived there during those years. The events of the play span a period of history from 1880 through 1947, experienced during a three-minute time period in 1956.

Cast
Anna Holmquist – Kirsten Frantzich
Nils Holmquist – Peter Gregory Thomson
Sven Monson – Jim Haun
Jenny Safverblad-Monson – Karen Kullman
Richard/Papa Ruiz – J. Alfredo Panelli
Joe/Papa DeSalvo – Martin Rubin
Lola/Mother Ruiz – Paula Allen
Maria/Mama DeSalvo – Shelli Manzoline
Caitlin Connelly – Joy Davina
Michael DeSalvo – Dan Symczak
Rosa Ruiz – Jacqueline Rivera-Garrido
Little Sonja Hokanson – Britta Lee Nordahl
Karl Holmquist – David Edge
Mickey Connelly – Stephen Anthony
Ricky Ruiz – Graham Ballou
Theresa Ruiz – Greta Chapman
Violinist – Michael Kissin

Britta Lee Nordahl and Kirsten Frantzich

Artistic Staff
Director – Peter Moore
Dramaturg – Chad Sylvain
Scenic Designer – Nayna Ramey
Lighting Designer – Chris Johnson
Properties Designer – Bruce Charlesworth
Sound Designer – C. Andrew Mayer
Costume Designer – Susan Fick
Production Stage Manager – Wayne Hendricks
Stage Manager – Julius Cashman

Production Staff
Technical Director – Erin Kaspar
Master Electrician – Andrew C. Kedl
Electricians – Christian Gaylord, Brian Mahr, Karin Olson, Jennifer Setlow
Carpenters – George Grubb, Rob Roll, Jodi Larson, Aaron Rublein, Chris Kelly
Scenic Artist – Emily Tepe
Soft Goods – Dorothy Gherity
Sound Board Operator – Jodi Larson
Light Board Operator – Rob Roll