2008-2009

2008-2009

SEASON

STAFF
Artistic Director – Ron Peluso
Managing Director – Kathleen Hansen
Resident Director of New Works – Bob Beverage
Production Manager – Janet Hall
Technical Director – Ian Commins
Master Electrician – Mike Pledl
Marketing Director – Rachel Flynn
Director of Development – Barbe Marshall
Institutional Development Consultant – Betsy Husting
Audience Development Director – Chari Hall
Group Sales Manager – Jill Vaughn
Box Office Assistant – Kevin Martin
Front of House Staff – Beth Cashman, Anne Hammel, Marj Hammer
Graphic Designer – Matthew Foster
Photographer – Scott Pakudaitis
Artistic Associates – Sue Scott, Jan Puffer, Richard D. Thompson, Steve Barberio

Tyrone & Ralph (World Premiere)
October 2-November 9, 2008
By Jeffrey Hatcher

In 1963, the founders of the Guthrie Theater and its supporters gave birth to what is now one of the great theater communities in America and ignited what became known as the “regional theater” movement. The play takes us back to the very beginning of planning the theatre; it is set from 1959 through 1963 in Minneapolis, New York, London, Ireland, Canada and Denmark. Sir Tyrone Guthrie was widely known as the famous British artist who led many English theatrical companies to greatness.

One notable fact about History Theatre’s Crawford Livingston Theatre is that it was designed by Tyrone Guthrie’s partner in the planning of their new theatre. That designer, Ralph Rapson, was a Minnesota-based architect who led the U of M’s architecture department for many years, and who also designed all four of the theatres in the Rarig Center in Minneapolis, home of the University of Minnesota’s theatre department. So at Crawford Livingston theatre, the current home of the History Theatre, we reap the benefits of having a structure based on the excellent design of the original Guthrie. We occupied Crawford Livingston in April of 1988. By the time History Theatre’s 88-89 season began, the staff had Crawford Livingston all shined up and ready to go, bringing about a new era in History Theatre’s development.

This story tells us how the collaboration of Ralph Rapson and Sir Tyrone Guthrie brought about one of the most famous and emulated theatre companies in the world: The Guthrie!

Cast
Tyrone Guthrie – Steve Hendrickson
Ralph Rapson, et al – Mark Benninghofen

Standing, Mark Benninghofen; Seated, Steve Hendrickson

Artistic Team
Director – Ron Peluso
Stage Manager – Janet L. Hall
Fight Choreographer – Peter Moore
Set Designer – Erik E. Paulson
Light Designer – Mike Wangen
Costume Designer – Amanda M. Hunter
Sound Designer – C. Andrew Mayer
Video Designer – Cory McLeod
Property Designer & Technical Director – Ian Commins
Deck Manager – Maria J. Howes
Master Electrician – Mike Pledl
Resident Director of New Works – Bob Beverage

Production Staff
Technical Director – Dave Pust
Master Carpenter – Matt Erkel
Stage Manager – Janet L. Hall
Deck Manager – Sten Wall

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

The World Premiere production of Tyrone & Ralph earned History Theatre
the prestigious Ivey Award for Overall Excellence in 2009

A Servants’ Christmas
November 20-December 28, 2008
By John Fenn
Music & Lyrics by Drew Jansen
Additional Lyrics 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 the Warner home on Summit Avenue in St. Paul during the early 1900s.

Cast
Mr. Warner – William Gilness
Eric Horne – Clark Cruikshank
Frieda – Cathleen Fuller
Monica – Nicky Schuenke
Miss Pettingill/Lillian Russell – Nancy Marvy
Angelina Warner – Tara Marlena Laberge
Anne Warner – Taylor Bolstad
Richmond Warner – Lukas Bolstad

L-R: Lukas Bolstad, Nancy Marvy, Taylor Bolstad, Nicky Schuenke

Artistic Team
Director – Ron Peluso
Music Director – Drew Jansen
Choreographer – Linda Talcott Lee
Stage Manager – Wayne Hendricks
Scenic Designer – Erik Paulson
Costume Designer – Amanda Hunter
Lighting Designer – Mike Wangen
Assistant Lighting Designer – Wu Chan Khoo
Properties Designer – Maria J. Howes
Technical Director – Justin Hooper
Production Manager – Janet L. Hall
Master Electrician – Mike Pledl
Resident Director of New Works – Bob Beverage

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

Musical Numbers
ACT I
Overture
Double Up – Eric & Frieda
Do I Dare Dream – Monica
Stereopticon – Warner & Angelina
Better Than My Best – Warner, Monica, Eric, Pettingill & Children
Do I Dare Dream (reprise) – Monica & Anne
It Simply Isn’t Done – Miss Pettingill
Prayer – Warner, Miss Pettingill & Children
Velvet Chair – Richmond
Monica’s Song – Monica

ACT II
Entr’acte
‘Twill Soon Be Christmas – Servants & Children
Double Up (reprise) – Eric, Frieda & Monica
I Know My Lines – Monica & Lillian
Where Did You Get That Hat? – Eric & Lillian
The Miracle of Light – Lillian
Finale – Full company

Note:
Words & music for “Where Did You Get That Hat?” by Joseph J. Sullivan
German lyrics for “‘Twill Soon Be Christmas Day” by Lisel Mueller

The Miracle Worker
January 8-February 21, 2009
By William Gibson

The story of Helen Keller and her dedicated teacher Annie Sullivan is a reminder of the power of courage and the human spirit. The time is 1887. The place is Tuscumbia, Alabama.

Cast
Annie Sullivan – Stacia Rice
Helen Keller – Scarlett Thompson
Kate Keller – Jodie Briskey
Captain Arthur Keller – Clark A. Cruikshank
James Keller – Randy Schmeling
Aunt Ev – Linda Sue Anderson, Karen Wiese Thompson
Doctor/Mr. Anagnos – Robert Bruce Brake
Helen Keller understudy – Lauren Vlach

Stacia Rice & Scarlett Thompson

Artistic Team
Director – Craig Johnson
Set Designer – Michael Hoover
Lighting Designer – Mike Wangen
Costume Designer – A. Emily Heaney
Properties Designer – Robert-Bruce Brake
Sound Designer – Mike Hallenbeck
Assistant Sound Designer – Katherine Horowitz
Stage Manager – Janet L. Hall
Technical Director – Justin Hooper
Master Electrician – Mike Pledl
Deck Manager – Maria J. Howes

ASL Coordinator – Susan Masters
ASL Interpreters – Mary Catherine, Tammy A. Hansen, Lisa Harper & Susan Masters
AD Interpreter – Mari Griffin

Blue Collar Diaries
March 28-April 19, 2009
Written and Performed by Michelle Myers Berg

Author and actor Michelle Myers Berg tells us stories about middle-class America and the everyday people who do extraordinary things each day for family, friends and perfect strangers. Through their work and their commitment to their communities, they make living in America special. The setting of the play is in St. Paul, Minnesota from the 1960s to the present.

Cast
Michelle Myers Berg

Artistic Team
Director – Suzy Messerole
Dramaturg – Bob Beverage
Set Designer – Andrea Heilman
Light Designer – Pamela Kildahl
Sound Designer – Katherine Horowitz
Properties Designer – Maria Howes
Production Stage Manager – Janet L. Hall
Technical Director – Justin Hooper
Assistant Technical Director – Gunther Gullickson
Master Electrician – Mike Pledl

Original Music Composed and Arranged by Raymond Berg

20 Days to Find a Wife (World Premiere)
May 2-31, 2009
Book & Lyrics by Laurie Flanigan
Music by Marya Hart

This is a sensitive, well-told story about an isolated lighthouse keeper and his decision to find a wife and break out of his self-imposed solitude. The show examines the heart and heartache of the human experience through song and laughter. The action of the play occurs on Pottawatomie Island, Door County, Wisconsin and Escanaba, Michigan in 1845.

Cast
David Corbin – Alan Sorenson
Katherine – Molly Sue McDonald
Hyacinth/Violet – Janet Hanson
Mike/Inspector/Sigvald – Martin Ruben

Artistic Team
Director – Ron Peluso
Musical Director – Yvette Guillaume
Choreographer – Tinia Moulder
Set Designer – Erica Zaffarano
Lighting Designer – Pamela Kildahl
Costume Designer – Amanda M. Hunter
Properties Designer – Maria J. Howes
Production Stage Manager – Janet L. Hall
Dramaturg – Bob Beverage
Assistant to the Director – Crystal G. Schneider
Technical Director – Justin Hooper
Assistant Technical Director – Gunther Gullickson
Master Electrician – Mike Pledl

Molly Sue McDonald & Alan Sorenson

Musicians
Piano – Yvette Guillaume
Violin – Molly Sue McDonald

Musical Numbers
ACT I
Here I Am – Company
Mortar – Corbin
Pretty Soon – Kat
Bring Back A Wife – Inspector & Corbin
Clear Night – Hyacinth & Kat
Ice Boat – Corbin
Shopping List – Kat, Corbin, Sigvald
A Good Match – Sigvald
Please Choose Me – Hyacinth

ACT II
Torn Apart – Kat, Mike, Corbin, Hyacinth & Violet
Come Spring – Corbin & Kat
Extra Nice – Sigvald
Four Hands – Kat, Corbin, Hyacinth & Mike
Goodbye – Kat & Corbin