2014-2015

2014-2015

SEASON

STAFF
Artistic Director – Ron Peluso
Artistic Associate – Anya Kremenetsky
Production Manager – Janet L. Hall
Master Electrician – Matthew Early
Technical Director – Gunther Gullickson
Artistic Advisors – Bob Beverage, Michelle Hutchison, Jan Puffer, Sue Scott, Richard D. Thompson

Managing Director – Karen Mueller
Development Manager – Doug Tiede
Development & Marketing Assistant – Jennifer Newell
Education Manager – Paul de Cordova
Arts Training Coordinator – Jen Rand
Financial Consultant – The Mobius Group
IT Consultant – Kurt Buller

Audience Development Director – Chari Hall
Group Sales Manager – Jill Vaughn
Box Office Manager – David Hopkins-Hile
Volunteer and Internship Coordinator – Daniel Baltz
Box Office Associate – Nic Delcambre
Front of the House Staff – Anne Hammel, Megan O’Brien, Linda Berglund, Zoe Hopkins-Hile, Gina Musto, James Vincent
ASL Interpretors – Linda Gil, Nella Titus
Audio Describer – Rick Jacobson

Marketing Director – In-Fin Tuan
Graphic Designer/Web Developer – Matthew Foster
Photographer – Scott Pakudaitis
Videographers – Joe Filpas – Sugo Media, Alan Naumann – Memoryvision

Radio Man (World Premiere)
September 27-October 26, 2014
By Garrison Keillor
Songs by Richard Dworsky & Garrison Keillor

Garrison Keillor created his first stage play, Radio Man, at the request of the History Theatre in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion (APHC) radio show. In the play, we visit with the familiar characters and situations that turned APHC into a national treasure. The time is the present; the place is the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul.

Cast
The Host – Pearce Bunting
Ensemble – Jay Albright
Ensemble – Jon Andrew Hegge
Ensemble – Laurie Flanigan Hegge
Ensemble – Kendall Anne Thompson
Ensemble – Peter Thomson
Ensemble – Angela Timberman
The Boy – Jonah Harrison
Mary Louise – Sandra Struthers Clerc

Pearce Bunting, Sandra Struthers Clerc

Artistic Team
Director – Ron Peluso
Musical Director – Jay Albright
Dramaturg – Wendy Weckwerth
Choreographer – Jan Puffer
Scenic Designer – Chris Johnson
Costume Designer – E. Amy Hill
Lighting Designer – Pamela Kildahl
Sound Designer – C. Andrew Mayer
Properties Designer – Kirby Moore
Stage Manager – Katie Hawkinson
Master Electrician – Matthew Earley
Technical Director – Gunther Gullickson
Light Board Operator – Ruby Ferguson
Deck Manager – Tracy J. Swenson
Wardrobe – Mary Farrell
Carpenters – Skot Rieffer, Zach Morgan, Cooper Sheehan
Carpenter/Scenic Artist – Justin Hooper
Scenic Artist – Dee Skogan
Electricians – Brent Anderson, Philip Marten, Adam Raine, Nate Stanger
Light Board Programmers – Brent Anderson, Merritt Rodriguez

Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story
November 22-December 21, 2014
Written by Alan Janes
Original London production directed by Rob Bettinson

This musical story depicts the remarkable development of Buddy Holly from a West Texas singer-songwriter to an internationally acclaimed recording artist and pop star, all in the course of about three years. The action of the play takes place in Lubbock, Texas, Clovis, New Mexico, New York City and Clear Lake, Iowa between January 1956 and February 1959.

Cast
Buddy Holly – Nicholas Freeman
Joe, bassist for the Crickets – Ryan Janssen
Jerry, drummer for The Crickets – Zac Spicer
Hipockets Duncan/Norman Petty/Ensemble/Clear Lake Backup Singer – Charles Fraser
Vi Petty/Ensemble – Laurie Flanigan Hegge
Maria Elena/Ensemble – Andrea San Miguel
Candy/Ensemble – Lynnea Monique Doublette
Denzel/Ensemble – Munyaradzi Tirivepi
The 4th Cricket, Guitar – Blake Foster
Band Leader/Keyboards – Nic Delcambre
J.P. Richardson (“The Big Bopper”)/Ensemble – Brant Miller
Ritchie Valens/Ensemble – Allen Malicsi
Ensemble – Ben Barna, Shana Berg, John Ensrud, David Hopkins-Hile
Apollo Performers – MiKayla McKasy, Mack Moren, Alicia Trice
DJ Backstage at Apollo/Engineer/Clear Lake Backup Singer – Bryan Porter
Shirley/Ensemble – Miriah Trimm
Ensemble – Nathaniel Brelsford, Samuel Castillo, Johannah Easley, Lexis Galba, MiKayla McKasy, Mack Moren, Noah Ratgen, Lailah Reynolds, Fiona Steen, Alicia Trice, Ian Udulutch
Maria Elena Understudy – Angel Vance

Artistic Team
Director – Ron Peluso
Choreographer & Co-director – Jan Puffer
Musical Director – Gary Rue
Assistant Musical Director – Andrew Fleser
Scenic Designer – Justin Hooper
Lighting Designer – Chris Johnson
Costume Designer – Lynn Farrington
Technical Director – Gunther Gullickson
Sound & Video Designer – C. Andrew Mayer
Properties Designer – Kirby Moore
Wardrobe – Mary Farrell
Stage Manager – Janet L. Hall
Assistant Stage Manager – Diane Foss
Master Electrician – Matthew Earley
Electricians – Brent Anderson, Mike Lubke, Phillip Marten, Merritt Rodriguez
Followspot Operator – Roy Bauer

Musical Numbers
Prologue – Lynnea Monique Doublette

Act I
Rose of Texas – Hayriders
Ready Teddy – Buddy & The Crickets
Frigo Jingle – The Garyettes
That’ll Be The Day – Buddy & The Crickets
Ollie Vee – Buddy & The Crickets
Everyday – Buddy & The Crickets & Vi Petty
Good Times – Candy & Denzel
Party – Candy
True Love – Candy
Not Fade Away – Buddy & The Crickets
Peggy Sue – Buddy & The Crickets
Words of Love – Buddy & The Crickets
Oh, Boy – Buddy & The Crickets

Act II
True Love Ways – Buddy
The Star Spangled Banner – Mary Lou Sokoloff
Why Do Fools Fall In Love – Jack Daws & The Snowbirds
Chantilly Lace – The Big Bopper
Maybe Baby – Buddy & Company
Heartbeat – Buddy
La Bamba – Ritchie Valens & Company
Rave On – Buddy & Company
Johnny B. Goode – Company

This show was co-produced with McNally Smith College of Music

Zac Spicer, Nicholas Freeman, Blake Foster, Ryan Janssen

God Girl (World Premiere)
February 7-March 1, 2015
By Kristine Holmgren

This play recounts the trials, insults and challenges of the title character as she attends and graduates from an elite theological seminary, then attempts to seek placement with a congregation she can serve as their pastor. The play takes place at the seminary “somewhere on the East Coast” in the Autumn of 1975.

Cast
Kristine Holmgren – Summer Hagen
John McGovern – Sean Dooley
Dean Adams/Dr. Peters – Richard Ooms
Bernice Holmgren – Peggy O’Connell
Cathy Myers – Hannah Benedict
Debi Clifford – Meagan Kedrowski
Rocky Calhoun – Matt Wall
Stanley Hudson – Neal Beckman
Students – Nic Delcambre, Eric Heimsoth

L-R: Meagan Kedrowski, Summer Hagen, Hannah Benedict

Artistic Team
Director – Ron Peluso
Scenic Designer – Rick Polenik
Lighting Designer – Kathy Maxwell
Sound Designer – C. Andrew Mayer
Properties Designer – Kirby Moore
Wardrobe – Mary Farrell
Stage Manager – Kate Hawkinson
Production Manager/Assistant Stage Manager – Janet L. Hall
Master Electrician – Matthew Earley
Technical Director – Gunther Gullickson
Carpenter – Justin Hooper

The Debutante’s Ball (World Premiere)
March 21-April 12, 2013
By Eric “Pogi” Sumangil

The Debutante’s Ball reminds us of the struggle that many young Americans undergo in an attempt to fit into this great American puzzle. While they struggle with new social norms, they are expected to remember the traditions of their homelands. Everyone’s journey is unique as they decide what to give up and how long to hang on. The time of the play is now. The place is various locations in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota.

Cast
Jun – Jeric Basilio
Ana – Stephanie Bertumen
Gina – Kylee Brinkman
Marli – Joelle Fernandez
Mondo – Alex Galick
Tita Belinda – Sherwin Resurreccion
AJ – Maxwell Thao

L-R: Joelle Fernandez, Alex Galik, Stephanie Bertuman, Jeric Basilio, Sherwin Resurreccion (background), Kylee Brinkman, Maxwell Thao

Artistic Team
Director – Randy Reyes
Choreographer – Eric “Pogi” Sumangil
Assistant to the Director – Hope Nordquist
Scenic Designer – Sarah Brandner
Scenic Artist – Dee Skogen
Lighting Designer – Karin Olson
Costume Designer – Kathy Kohl
Sound Designer – C. Andrew Mayer
Properties Designer – Merritt Rodriguez
Production Manager/Stage Manager – Janet L. Hall
Master Electrician – Brent Anderson
Technical Director – Gunther Gullickson
Carpenters – Teresa Audet, Jon Ledo, Kevin Opatz, Leah Stanek, Zach Morgan

River Road Boogie – The Augie Garcia Story
May 2-31, 2015
By Joe Minjares

A St. Paul, Mexican-American veteran of Korea overcomes the trauma of war with music that brought order and happiness, not only to his life, but also to the lives of people who heard him perform. In the process, the title character becomes “the godfather of Minnesota Rock ‘n Roll”.

Cast
Augie Garcia – Ricardo Vazquez
Papa Garcia/Ensemble – Pedro R. Bayon
Willie Brown/Ensemble – Shawn Hamilton
John Gospeter/Colonel Parker/Ensemble – Eric Knutson
Nancy/Ensemble – Kelly Matthews
Jessie Lopez/ Ensemble – Riley Jacobson
Jimmy Cornbread Harris/Ensemble – Corey Stampley
Mike Continelli/Joe Zingalli/Ensemble – Matt Rein
Tio Frank/Ensemble – Javier Trejo
Mama Garcia/Ensemble – Lara Trujillo
Donny Rustad/Joe Leon/Ensemble – Benjamin D. Wagner
Dancers – Samuel Castillo-Freberg, Noah W. Ratgen, Nakita Kirchner, Roni Page

L-R: Corey Stampley, Benjamin D. Wagner, Ricardo Vasquez, Shawn Hamilton

Artistic Team
Director – Raul Ramos
Musical Director – Sarah Hohenstein Burk
Choreographer – Regina Peluso
Scenic Designer – Tom Mays
Lighting Designer – Karin Olson
Properties Designer – Kirby Moore
Sound Designer – C. Andrew Mayer
Costume Designer – Cana Potter
Production Manager/Stage Manager – Janet L. Hall
Assistant Stage Manager – Laurie Flanigan Hegge
Assistant to the Director – Lucas Skjaret
Master Electrician – Kiki Mead
Sound Engineer – Alex Olson
Technical Director – Gunther Gullickson
Scenic Artist – Dee Skogen
Carpenters – Teresa Audet, James Duncan, Justin Fowler, Max Gilbert, Justin Hooper, Jon Ledo, Kevin Opatz, Zach Morgan

Musical Numbers
ACT I
Jump Jive an’ Wail – Augie & Company
La Bamba – Tio Frank, Papa & Augie
Cancion Mixteca – Augie, Tio Frank, Papa, Mama
I’m All Through With You – The Augie Garcia Quintet
River Road Boogie – The Augie Garcia Quintet
Hello Baby – The Augie Garcia Quintet
Fannie Brown – The Augie Garcia Quintet
Hi Yo Silver – The Augie Garcia Quintet
Ivy League Baby – The Augie Garcia Quintet
Hi Yo Silver (reprise) – The Augie Garcia Quintet

ACT II
Going To Chicago Blues – The Augie Garcia Quintet
Sabor a Mi – Augie, Tio Frank, Papa, Mama
Drinking Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee – Augie & Bunker Soldiers
Let the Good Times Roll – The Augie Garcia Quintet (original recording)

Comment
My whole experience with the History Theater has been magical. My first time visiting the space was as an actor in the Mixed Blood production of Quinceañera. I had never been there and I found it warm, inviting and very “creative-friendly.” My second visit was as a playwright, accepting a commission to write the musical and true-life story of legendary West St. Paul musician, Augie Garcia. The play River Road Boogie: The Augie Garcia Story enjoyed a very successful run and was highly acclaimed by the media.

Although I would like to claim to be the reason for its success, I can’t. Ron Peluso and the staff of the history theater took me by the hand and walked me through a process that was truly amazing. Together, we took a premise and explored the hidden corners of the story through workshops and table reads, and finally put together an experience that people will long remember. For me personally, I was honored that this project was about a man, a Mexican-American man, with a similar background to mine. Doing the research for the play gave me a chance to reflect back on my own life.

I think what made this production so special was the addition of Raul Ramos as the director. Thus, it became a play about a Mexican-American musician, written by a Mexican-American playwright and directed by a Mexican-American director. For that to happen at the History Theater is truly commendable.

I learned a lot and I treasure the experience.

– Joe Senkyr Minjares
Playwright