2004-2005

2004-2005

SEASON

STAFF
Artistic Director – Ron Peluso
Managing Director – Virginia Nugent
Development Director – Leo Treadway
Audience Services Director – Chari Hall
Group Sales Manager – Dan Adolphson
New Works Associate – Sarah Gioia
Public Relations Director – In-Fin Tuan
Company Manager – Janet Hall
Stage Manager – Sara Schuette
Technical Director – Cara Ullrich
Master Carpenter – Kristen Larsen
Master Electrician – Wu Chen Khoo
Light Board Operator – Chris Kidder
Follow Spot Operators – Todd O’Dowd, Mike Piedl
Audience Services Associate – Kasey Tunell
Box Office – Beth Cashman, Anne Hammel, Jodi Larson, Marj Hammer, Linda Berglund, Eric Herr, Andy Frye, Trevor Skaar
Artistic Associates – Sue Scott, Jan Puffer, Sarah Gioia

Christmas of Swing
November 13, 2004-January 1, 2005
By Bob Beverage, in collaboration with Ron Peluso, Jan Puffer & David Lohman

A story about the extraordinary efforts on the part of the popular, prolific and Minnesota-born Andrews Sisters to bring their music to service personnel all over the world during WWII. They were the sweethearts of America’s Armed Forces Radio Service during that period, and they worked tirelessly to bring some R&R (rest and relaxation) to soldiers. The play is set in a New York City rehearsal space on December 24, 1944.

Cast
Patty Andrews – Ruthie Baker
Maxene Andrews – Norah Long
LaVerne Andrews – Patty Nieman
Man #1/Lou Levy/Lou Costello/Danny Kay & Soldiers – Mark Rosenwinkel
Man #2/Bing Crosby/Bud Abbott/Delivery Man & Soldiers – Bill Scharpen
Vic – David Saffert
Understudies – Bonni Allen, Terry Lynn Carlson

Artistic Team
Director – Ron Peluso
Choreographer – Jan Puffer
Music Director – David Lohman
Assistant Director – Chris Kidder
Scenic Designer – Nayna Ramey
Sound Designer & Operator – Montana Johnson
Video (by Tru Ruts Endeavors) – e.g. bailey, Nick Bochek, Holly Sander
Lighting Designer – Pamela Kildahl
Costume Designer – Shannon Lee
Stage Manager – Kara Schuette
Assistant Stage Manager – Shannon O’Brien
Company Manager – Janet L. Hall
Properties Designer – Gwen Heyn
Sign Language Interpreters – Susan Nelson, Rachelle Cooper Armstrong, Dena Stole

Musicians
Pianist – David Saffert
Drums – Will Kemperman
Reeds – Bill Nimchuk
Bass – Dan Haugh

Musical Numbers
ACT I
Overture
Jing-A-Ling, Jing-A-Ling – Andrews Sisters
I’ve Got A Guy In Kalamazoo – Andrews Sisters
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow – Andrews Sisters
Santa – Andrews Sisters
Sleigh Ride – Andrews Sisters & Lou Costello
Winter Wonderland – Andrews Sisters
Jingle Bells – Andrews Sisters & Bing Crosby
Christmas in Killarney – Andrews Sisters & Bing Crosby
Mele Kalikimaka – Andrews Sisters & Bing Crosby
Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning – Bud Abbott & Lou Costello
Christmas Candles/ Christmas Tree Angel – Andrews Sisters
Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers – Andrews Sisters & Danny Kaye
A Merry Christmas at Grandmother’s – Andrews Sisters & Danny Kaye
Oh, Holy Night – Maxene Andrews
Strip Polka – Andrews Sisters

ACT II
Beat Me, Daddy, Eight To The Bar/ Scrub Me, Mama, With A Boogie Beat/Bounce Me, Brother, With A Solid Four (Medley) – Andrews Sisters
I’d Like To Hitch A Ride With Santa Claus – Andrews Sisters
Poppa Santa Claus – Andrews Sisters & Bing Crosby
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – Andrews Sisters & Bing Crosby
Here Comes Santa Claus – Andrews Sisters & Bing Crosby
I’ll Never Smile Again – Andrews Sisters & Lou Costello
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy – The Men
Shoo-Shoo Baby – Andrews Sisters
Der Fuehrer’s Face – Soldiers
Pistol Packin’ Mama – Andrews Sisters
Hot Time In The Old Town of Berlin – Andrews Sisters & Bing Crosby
You’re All I Want For Christmas – LaVerne Andrews & Soldier
Christmas Carol Montage – Andrews Sisters & Soldiers
Finale – Andrews Sisters

Sons of the Bedtime Nooz (World Premiere)
January 15-February 6, 2005
By Andy Moore & Peter Moore

This play honors the memory of WCCO television evening news anchor Dave Moore, who held that position for 34 years. He loved being on camera so much that he also hosted a zany comedy and satire show for Minnesotans on Saturday nights that preceded (by far) Saturday Night Live, Monty Python, SCTV and MAD TV. Meanwhile, he also taught an “acting for the camera” class for students in the U of M’s Theatre Department and occasionally performed in live theatre, including History Theatre. Here, we get to know Dave in ways that can only be conveyed by his sons, who wrote and performed in this show.

Cast
Peter Moore – Peter Moore
Andy Moore – Andy Moore

Artistic Team
Director – James Cada
Scenic Designer – Nayna Ramey
Lighting Designer – Pamela Kildahl
Costume Designer – Lisa Rae Windloss
Sound Designer – C. Andrew Mayer
Properties Designer – Gwen Heyn
Assistant Director – Ben Kutschied
Video Engineers – John O’Brien, Matt Bradins
Stage Manager – Janet L. Hall
Assistant Stage Manager – Kara Schuette
Light Board Operator – Shannon O’Brien
Deck Manager/Video Operator – Michael Kledl
Technical Director – Cara Ullrich

FireBall: The Great Hinckley Fire Project (World Premiere)
March 5-29, 2005
Produced in Association with Joe Chvala & the Flying Foot Forum
Conceived & developed by Joe Chvala, Roger Nieboer & Peter Ostroushko
Written by Roger Nieboer, with additional text and lyrics by Joe Chvala
Musical Score Composed by Peter Ostroushko

This show tells the tragic story of the Great Hinckley Fire of 1894. The story is set in Hinckley, Minnesota in 1894 and 1954. The show was a dance piece that used multimedia presentation during the production.

Cast
James Root/Eddie – Joey Babay
Woman #1 – Jan Campbell
Tom Corbett/Bud’s Dad – Terry Lynn Carlson
Bob – Joe Chvala
John Blair/Al – Brian Grandison
Mrs. McNamara – Karla K. Grotting
John McNamara – Michael T. Jacobsen
Man at Station/Bert – Sam L. Landman
Frank/Bud – Ryan McCartan
Frank/Bud – Dylan Frederick
Minnie/Lois – Zoe Pappas
Kantor/Mrs. Garrity – Martin Ruben
Woman #2 – Amber Sausen
Tommy Dunne/Lee – Joe Scrimshaw
Nellie Bly/Alida – Karen Weber
Mahkadaygwan/Geri – Pat Welch

Musicians
Mandolin, Violin – Peter Ostroushko
Piano – David Saffert
Cello – Diane Tremaine
Percussion – Mark Anderson

Artistic Team
Director/Choreographer – Joe Chavala
Assistant to the Director – Dana Buchwald
Music Director – David Saffert
Dramaturg – Carrie Ryan
Lighting Designer – Marcus Dillard
Costume Designer – Lynn Farrington
Sound Designer – C. Andrew Mayer
Stage Manager – Janet L. Hall
Video Designer – Nick Bochek
Scene Designer – Joe Chvala, Cara Ullrich
Properties Designer – Gwen Heyn
Light Board Operator – Jeff Johnson
Sound Board Operator – Mike Pledl

Musical Numbers
ACT I
The Hinckley Waltz
Red Sun
Lumber Barons Are We
James Root, The Engineer
Stayed Too Long
This Land is Ours
What No One Remembers

ACT II
To The Water
Mrs. Garrity’s House
The Mighty Fortress
A World, A Memory
The Hinckley Waltz (reprise)

Beyond the Rainbow (World Premiere)
April 16-May 29, 2005
By William Randall Beard

This show musically tells the story of Judy Garland, an entertainer from Grand Rapids, Minnesota who started her singing career as part of The Gumm Sisters, a Vaudeville “sister act,” and went on to International fame in radio, concerts, television and film. The setting of the show is Carnegie Hall in New York City on April 23, 1961 and in Judy Garland’s memory.

Cast
Garland – Jody Briskey, Jen Burleigh-Bentz
Judy – Norah Long
Ethel Gumm, Hedda Hopper and others – Cathleen Fuller
Louis B. Mayer, Sid Luft and others – Peter Gregory Thomson
Frank Gumm, Vincente Minelli and others – Christopher Gabriel

Artistic Staff
Director – Ron Peluso
Musical Director – Jimmy Martin
Musical Arranger – David Lohman
Dramaturg – Sarah Gioia
Scenic Design – Kate Sutton-Johnson
Costume Design – Rich Hamson
Light Design – Chris Johnson
Sound Design – C. Andrew Mayer
Properties – Gwen Heyn
Stage Manager – Kara Schuette
Technical Director – Cara Ullrich
Master Electrical – Wu Chen Khoo
Master Carpenter – Kristen Larsen
Company Manager – Janet Hall

Norah Long

Musical Numbers
ACT I
Overture
When You’re Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You) – Garland & Judy
Born In A Trunk – Garland
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love – Garland
Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart – Garland & Judy
You Made Me Love You – Judy
We’re Off To See The Wizard – Judy, Haley & Bolger
Rock-a-Bye Your Baby To A Dixie Melody – Garland
Be A Clown – Garland & Judy
The Trolley Song – Garland
Do It Again – Garland
How Long Has This Been Going On? – Garland
Who Cares (As Long As You Care For Me) – Garland
That’s Entertainment – Garland

ACT II
Entr’acte
Come Rain or Come Shine – Garland
Alone Together – Garland
Get Happy – Garland
After You’ve Gone – Garland
You Go To My Head – Garland
For Me And My Gal – Garland
Swanee – Garland & Judy
Stormy Weather – Garland
The Man That Got Away – Garland
Over The Rainbow – Garland

Comment
History Theatre has played an integral role in my career since Ron Peluso first cast me in Avenue X when I was a young, emerging actor; over the years we have developed a rich professional relationship rooted in respect, honesty, and frequent collaboration. I have traveled with the History Theatre team multiple times to Florida sharing Beyond the Rainbow with ecstatic new audiences; premiered Sisters of Swing and Christmas of Swing as both LaVerne and Maxine Andrews; brought highly successful New York shows such as Lombardi and This Side of Paradise to Minnesota for their regional premieres; workshopped and developed many pieces that found great success on the History Theatre stage, including Sweet Land and Glensheen. The list goes on. Some of my most enjoyable and challenging characters have come to life on this stage, and I am grateful for the many opportunities History Theatre has afforded to develop new roles and tackle existing ones.

Integrity is one noteworthy hallmark of this long-tenured team; it is an attribute with which everyone in the organization approaches their work, staff, and artists and one reason so many artists return again and again to this stage. I trust Ron implicitly as both a leader and individual and am grateful to call him not just employer but friend.

The company’s primary hallmark, though, resides in its mission. History Theatre anchors a very important and specific corner of the Twin Cities’ theater tapestry: creating and presenting works based on true stories specific to Minnesota and our region. It is a unique and delicious experience to be able to collaborate on a new piece of theater from inception to fruition as a full production, and this experience is one History Theatre offers time and again through their commitment to commissioning and developing new works by local playwrights and composers, using local performers.

This commitment enriches the Twin Cities in many ways. History Theatre productions not only entertain audiences but inform, ground, and build community: when we better understand our shared past we are better able to build a successful shared future. But the creating of these works is also vital in itself. It broadens the canon of theatrical repertoire, nurtures and develops the skills of those participating, employs many Minnesota artists, provides a platform for writers to have their creative voices heard, and often eventually extends its reach beyond Minnesota to theater companies and patrons across the country. What a contribution. What a legacy.

May that legacy continue to grow as History Theatre develops and shares many more important stories of our state and region and empowers more local writers, composers, and actors to boldly make their voices heard. Congratulations, History Theatre, on a stellar 40 years! Here’s to 40 more. I am proud to call you family.

– Norah Long, Actor