2007-2008

2007-2008

SEASON

STAFF
Artistic Director – Ron Peluso
Managing Director – Kathleen Hansen
Director of Individual Giving – Jennifer Patti
Audience Development Director – Chari Hall
Production Manager – Janet Hall
Group Sales Manager & Volunteer Coordinator – Jill Vaughn
Institutional Development Consultant – Betsy Husting
Business Manager – Kelly Schaub
Resident Director of New Works – Bob Beverage
Marketing Consultants – Toolbox Consultants
Technical Director – Cara Ullrich
Master Electrician – Mike Pledl
Front of House Staff – Beth Cashman, Anne Hammel, Katie O’Rourke, Marj Hammer, Katie Hawley, Kevin Martin
Graphic Designer – Matthew Foster
Photographer – Scot Pakudaitis
Artistic Associates – Sue Scott, Jan Puffer, Rick Thompson, Steve Barberio

Kirby (World Premiere)
October 11-November 4, 2007
By Syl Jones

This play, about baseball great Kirby Puckett, asks the audience to consider how we treat our heroes. Puckett’s career was like a classic Greek tragedy. He was an inspirational player who was admired by millions, who later fell from grace among fans before dying unexpectedly.

Cast
Kirby Puckett – Anso Akyea
Coach – Terry E. Bellamy
Kirby’s Mom/Kirby’s Wife – Sha Cage
Kirby’s Mistresses – Michelle Hutchinson
The Big Guy – Gus Lynch and Fred Wagner

Artistic Team
Director – Steve Moulds
Dramaturg – Fay Price
Scenic Designer – Eric Paulson
Lighting Designer – Erik Paulson
Costume Designer – Katrina Benedict
Sound Designer – Mike Hallenbeck
Properties Designer – Ian Commins
Video Designer – Gerald Smith
Stage Manager – Alan Pagel
Production Manager – Janet L. Hall
Assistant Stage Manager – Ian Commins
Master Electrician – Mike Pledl
Technical Director – Cara Ullrich
Artistic Director – Ron Peluso
Resident Director of New Works – Bob Beverage

AD Interpreter – Mari Griffin
ASL Interpreters – Susan Nelson & Bernadette Halverson

Hormel Girls (World Premiere)
November 28-December 30, 2007
Based on an idea by Perrin Post
Book and Lyrics by Laurie Flanigan
Music by Hiram Titus

A musical tale set between 1947 and 1953 about Jay C. Hormel’s “Hormel Girls Caravan,” formed after WWII in an effort to promote jobs for returning veterans. The group started as a drum-and-bugle corps, then became a radio orchestra with their own program called Music with the Hormel Girls, all while traveling across America, performing and selling Hormel products.

Cast
Meredith – Jen Burleigh-Benz
Bud – Richard C. Grube
Ruby – Tracie Hodgdon
Adele – Stacey Lindell
Betty – Tinia Moulder
Billy – Sondra Norland
JC Hormel – Mark Rosenwinkel
Viola – Angela Timberman

Seated back row, L to R: Stacey Lindell, Tracie Hodgdon, Sondra Norland
Seated front row, L-R: Tinia Moulder, Jen Burleigh-Benz
Standing: Angela Timberman, Richard Grube

Band
Piano – Yvette Guillaume
Percussion – Elizabeth Varela
Sax/Flute/Clarinet – Maggie Roston-Etchard
Bass – Kellie Nitz

Artistic Staff
Artistic Director – Ron Peluso
Director – Sari Ketter
Musical Director – Yvette Guillaume
Choreographer – Linda Talcott Lee
Technical Director – Cara Ullrich
Resident Director of New Works – Bob Beverage
Scenic Designer – Nayna Ramey
Lighting Designer – Marcus Dillard
Sound Designer – C. Andrew Mayer
Costume Designer – Amanda Hunter
Properties Designer – Ian Commins
Production Manager – Janet Hall
Assistant Stage Manager – Ian Commins
Master Electrician – Mike Pledl
Dramaturg – Perrin Post

MUSICAL NUMBERS
ACT I
Take Me Back – Hormel
Look Sharp! – Hormel, Bud, Meredith, Viola, Betty
Door To Door – Meredith, Viola, Betty & Housewives
Face To Face – Bud & The Girls
Diamonds In The Rough – Hormel & The Girls
Let’s Eat! – Rainbow Trio
Big Bad Wolf – Betty & The Girls
My Favorite Girl – Bud
One With The Road – The Girls

ACT II
We’re Swingin’ (Show Medley) – The Girls
I Need A Break – The Girls
TLC – Viola and Stew
If We Could – Bud & Adele
One Last Road – Billie & The Girls
May The Wind Be At Your Back – Meredith
Diamonds Reprise (Finale) – The Girls

Comment
“Every city in America should have a History Theatre.” – Erin Hart

We call it a “History Theatre moment.” The lights come up, the talkback starts, hands are raised—and there’s one hand that insists on being heard. Time after time after time, that hand is connected to a story, a very real, personal story that relates to the play, or is quite literally related to the play, and (in spite of the fact that it happens with such frequency in the warm, inviting thrust that the History Theatre calls home) it never fails to take one’s breath away.

I’ve heard countless stories of “History Theatre moments,” and have witnessed a few myself. Artistic Director Ron Peluso says the History Theatre “belongs to the people,” and it’s not uncommon that ideas for new works come to the History Theatre from all corners, whether it be a playwright, a documentary, or an audience member who brings a family photo into Ron’s office with a compelling story. Over his tenure, Peluso has commissioned over eighty new plays, the majority of which have continued on to full production – and of the utmost importance to me, the History Theatre has a remarkable track record of commissioning women and writers of color long before our larger community was talking about making intentional decisions around #parity, which stems directly from the History Theatre’s mission and commitment to the community in which the theatre is rooted.

Every single work I’ve seen on the HT stage has had relevance to our present time, and with every passing day, paying attention to our shared history, our lost history, and our ignored history feels ever more urgently important. “Can you imagine,” Ron said to me once, “if every city in the country had a history theatre? If a person could go to the theater and learn about the place they were visiting and the people who lived there? If every community had the opportunity to see themselves on stage, if every voice were welcome at the table, all across the country?”

Asking those questions feels like a call to action. What are the voices in your own community, and are their stories being told? I’m so glad that St. Paul has such a place, and am proud to be a part of the History Theatre community.

– Laurie Flanigan Hegge
Playwright and Actor
Twin Cities Regional Representative, The Dramatists Guild
(Excerpted from an article in The Dramatist magazine, March/April 2018)

Peace Crimes: The Minnesota Eight vs. the War (World Premiere)
February 22-March 9, 2008
By Doris Baizley

Peace Crimes tells the story of “the Minnesota 8” – eight men who were prosecuted in Minnesota for raiding Selective Service draft boards in July of 1970. Three trials were held in the Minnesota federal district courts in Minneapolis and St. Paul. One of the 8 pleaded guilty and received probation. The other 7 received the maximum sentence of 5 years in federal prison. The time and place is 1968 to 1973, moving back and forth between draft board raids, trials, imprisonment, the release of the Minnesota 8 and now.

Cast
Frank – Nick Freeman
Diane – Natalie Remus
Cliff – Jason Snetting
Brad – John Riedlinger
Mike – Billy Mullany
Pete – Mike Lubke
Bill – Andrew Thompson
Don – Joe Leary
Chuck – Wyatt Weber
Ensemble – Angie Janas, Aida Leguizamon, David Eulus Wiles, Brent Grihalva, Noah Rios, Kirby Bennett, Kathryrn Jorgenson, Carly Wicks, Jasmine Rush

Production Team
Director – Ron Peluso
Stage Manager – Wayne Hendricks
Assistant Stage Managers – Benjamin C. Jordan, Amanda Levens
Dramaturg – Polly Carl
Scenic and Video Design – Michael Horejsi
Prop Design – M. Maria Lopez
Costume Design – Jason Resler
Lighting Design – Andrew Brackett
Sound Design – Martin Gwinup
Light Board Operator – Selsa Castillo
Sound Board Operator – Sao Her
Projection Operator – Barbara White
Stage Crew – Carissa Anderson
Wardrobe Crew – Kelsie Bias

Scenery Construction – Lauren Anderson, Charlie Beattie, Wilson Borchert, Selsa Castillo, Katherine Clanton, John Columbus, Christine Dix, Ryan Dixon, Date Dorrough, Drew Draeger, Dan Dukich, Brian Fank, Donald Firnstahl, Kristie Gaalswyk, Laura Goetsch, Michael Hinds, Daroline (Turney) Hood, Katherine Holmes, Keith Hovis, Shelly Johnson, Mitchell Lee, Mallory Lorge, Nicholas Ochs, Rachel Piersdorf, Maggie Pint, Max Savage, Eric Schulzetenberg, Ethan Schwenker, Katie Sickels, Spencer Tollackson, Lindy Voeltner, Carly Wicks, Kat Wodtke, Emily Wyman

Costume Construction – Lola Abdul, Jason Askew, Taria Avalon, Cole Bylander, Kati Cowardin, Briar DeHaven, Elspeth Driver, Maria Effertz, Elizabeth Estervig, Kia Grovender, Cassie Hougdahl, Dana Huseth, Melody Jackson, Laura Joachim, Martin Johansen, Katie Jorgenson, Ro Khiev, Laine Kyollonen, Jennifer Lagos, Amanda Levens, Jenna Lory, Alissa McCourt, Jessica Monette, Alina Muellerleite, Cameron Nelson, Nathaniel Neshiem-Case, Kevin O’Neil, Megan Reichle, Anika Reitman, Jennifer Robinson, Thomas Rupp, Jasmine Rush, Sarah Sacrison, Katie Schmieg, Rebecca Struch, Tiffany Tarrolly, Carl Thomsen, Emily Thorkildson, Anna Thurmer, Spencer Tollackson, Allison Trombley, Robin Wohlfeil

Lighting Set-up/Strike – Deepa Dharmadhikari, Deborah Ervin, Maggie Pint, Jason Underferth

Audience Services – Kelsey Dahlquist, Maggie Davis, Andrea Eger, Kristie Gaalswyk, Laura Joachim, Merrick Mayer, Nick Ochs, Katherine Schmieg, Andrew Thews

This production was presented in collaboration with the
University of Minnesota Department of Theatre and Dance
at the Rarig Center in Minneapolis

The Lady With All the Answers
April 5-27, 2008
By David Rambo

A one-woman show about nationally syndicated advice columnist Ann Landers, the play naturally centers on questions she receives and answers she provides to the millions of readers who eagerly sought her practical, down-to-earth advice. The action takes place in Chicago on June 30, 1975.

Cast
Ann – Cathleen Fuller

Artistic Team
Director – Suzy Messerole
Scenic Designer – Ron Peluso
Lighting Designer – Pamela Kildahl
Sound Designer – Anton Jones
Costume Designer – Suzy Messerole
Artistic Director – Ron Peluso
Stage Manager – Janet Hall
Technical Director/Properties Designer – Ian Commins
Master Electrician – Mike Pledl
Resident Director of New Works – Bob Beverage
Wig Mistress – Andrea Moriarity-Dahlberg

AD Interpreter – Mari Griffin
ASL Interpreters – Susan Nelson, Bernadette Halverson

These Shining Lives
May 10-June 1, 2008
By Melanie Marnich

This one-act play occurs in Chicago and Ottawa, Illinois during the 1920s and 30s. It treats the place of mining unions in protecting and defending workers against the ravages of black lung disease, radium and the indifference of powerful mine owners.

Cast
Catherine Donohue – Stacia Rice
Tom Donohue & others – Brian Goranson
Pearl – Jamila Anderson
Charlotte – Ann Michaels
Frances – Simone Perrin
Mr. Reed & others – Julian Bailey
Catherine Donohue understudy – Zoe Benston

Artistic Team
Director – Ron Peluso
Scenic Designer – Ron Peluso
Lighting Designer – Pamela Kildahl
Sound Designer – Martin Gwinup
Costume Designer – Kathy Kohl
Artistic Director – Ron Peluso
Stage Manager – Janet Hall
Technical Director/Properties Designer – Ian Commins
Master Electrician – Mike Pledl
Resident Director of New Works – Bob Beverage

AD Interpreter – Mari Griffin
ASL Interpreters – Susan Nelson, Bernadette Halverson