2016-2017

2016-2017

SEASON

STAFF
Artistic Director – Ron Peluso
Artistic Associate – Anya Kremenetsky
Production Manager – Wayne Hendricks
Master Electrician – Joshua Stallings
Technical Director – Gunther Gullickson
Artistic Advisors – Bob Beverage, Michelle Hutchison, Jan Puffer, Sue Scott, Richard D. Thompson

Managing Director – Karen Mueller
Fund Development Consultant – Tom Tarnow (The Mobius Group)
Development Associate – Martha West
Administrative & Marketing Associate – Ashton Schneider
Development Intern – Alexis Haley Brown
Education Manager – Paul de Cordova
Financial Consultant – The Mobius Group
IT Consultant – IT Whatever

Audience Development Director – Chari Hall
Group Sales Manager – Craig Cerrato
Box Office Manager – David Rummel
Box Office Associate – Lynae Morrison
Front of House Staff – Linda Berglund, Anne Hammel, Sophie Hendricks, Armand Hayes, Kyla Moloney, Lane Rapp Jr., Doug Tiede
Open Captioner – Sheila Bland
ASL – Linda Gil, Susan Masters
Audio Description – Elana Centor
Marketing Director – In-Fin Tuan
Graphic Designer/Web Developer – Rocketfish
Photographer – Scott Pakudaitis, Rick Spaulding
Videographer – Alan Naumann – Memoryvision

Teen Idol: The Bobby Vee Story (World Premiere)
October 1-30, 2016
By Bob Beverage in collaboration with Jeff & Tommy Vee
Presented in association with McNally Smith College of Music

On “the day the music died,” February 3, 1959, a 15 year-old from Fargo, ND would step into the spotlight amidst the tragedy that took the life of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Richie Valens. Bobby Velline would develop into one of the great pop stars of his generation: Bobby Vee.

The play is set in Fargo and around the world between 1959 and 2011.

Cast
Bobby Vee – Tyler Michaels
Bill Velline – Matthew Rubbelke
Dad/Bing/Arnie/Mature Bobby – Tod Petersen
Junior/Dick Clark/Freddie Cannon – Jordan Oxborough
Mom/Teacher/Mature Karen – Charity Jones
Nurse – Jamila Joiner
Ronny Kerber/Jeffrey – Otto Dregni
Jim Stillman/Del Shannon – Ben Bakken
Bob Korum/Jerome – Geoffrey Randall
Charlie Bone/Johnny Burnette – Peter Middlecamp
Suzie Baby Contestants – Dora Dolphin, Kayla Jenerson, Anna Beth Baker, Leslie Vincent
Hope Landsford – Dora Dolphin
Dion/Dylan/Nimoy – Bowen Cochran
Snuffy Garrett – Josh Carson
Karen Bergen – Eleonore Dendy
Eddie/Bobby Freeman – Peyton Dixon
Chubby Checker – Kenny Watson
Late Girl/Dancer – Olivia Hedeman

Tyler Michaels leads the Teen Idol company in a rock ‘n roll romp

Off-Stage Band
Keyboard, Guitar – Nic Delcambre
Lead Guitar – Blake Foster
Bass, Percussion – Kenny Watson
Percussion – Geoffrey Randall

The Shadows
Bob Korum – Geoffrey Randall
Jim Stillman – Ben Bakken
Bill Velline – Matthew Rubbelke

Dion & The Belmonts
Dion – Bowen Cochran
The Belmonts – Matthew Rubbelke, Jordan Oxborough, Peter Middlecamp

Little Anthony & The Imperials
Little Anthony – Kasono Mwanza
The Imperials – Peyton Dixon, Michael Brown, Kenny Watson

The Ronettes
Ronnie Bennett – Kayla Jenerson
The Ronettes – Caitlynn Daniels, Jamila Joiner

The Shirelles
Shavunda Brown – Shirley Owens
The Shirelles – Kayla Jenerson, Caitlynn Daniels, Jamila Joiner

Artistic/Production Team
Director – Ron Peluso
Music Director/Arranger – George Maurer
Assistant Music Director – Nic Delcambre
Choreographer – Jan Puffer
Scenic Designer – Rick Polenek
Scenic Artist – Dee Skogen
Lighting Designer – Barry Browning
Costume Designer – Kathy Kohl
Costume Design Assistant – Mary Farrell
Properties Designer – C. Andrew Mayer
Production/Stage Manager – Wayne Hendricks
Assistant Stage Managers – Lisa M. Smith, Mary Farrell, Haley Walsh
Technical Director – Gunther Gullickson
Master Electrician – Joshua Stallings
Electricians – Kyla Moloney, Phillip Uttech, Alisha Gehrke, Jordan Beckers, Kurt Jung, Sean Sewell
Carpenters – Zach Morgan, Sean Sewell
Spot Operator – Kyla Moloney

MUSICAL NUMBERS
ACT I
Wake Up Little Suzie – Bobby
Whole World In His Hands – Ronny Kerber
Wake Up Little Suzie – Bobby & The Shadows
Summertime Blues – Bobby & The Shadows
Suzie Baby – Bobby & The Shadows
Come Back When You Grow Up Girl – Bobby & Ensemble
Lotta Lovin’ – Bobby & The Shadows
Dreamin’ – Johnny Burnette & Studio Singers
Rubber Ball – Bobby & The Holiday Singers
More Than I Can Say – Bobby
Walkin’ With My Angel – Bobby
Let’s Twist Again – Chubby Checker
The Night Has A Thousand Eyes – Bobby & Company
Run To Him – Bobby, Co-eds & Mrs. Schmidt
Be My Baby – Ronettes
Ave Maria – Wedding Singer
Finale – Full Company

ACT II
Mama Said – The Shirelles
Runaround Sue – Dion & The Belmonts
Hurts So Bad – Little Anthony & The Imperials
Palisades Park – Freddie Cannon
Runaway – Del Shannon
I’ll Make You Mine – Bobby
Bus Medley – Caravan of Stars
When I Get To Heaven – Caravan of Stars
Goin’ Nowhere – Bobby
The Wanderer – Dion
Rubber Ball – Bobby & Band
I Go To Pieces – Del Shannon
Mama Said (reprise) – The Shirelles
I Wouldn’t Change A Thing – Bobby
If I Needed You – Bobby
More Than I Can Say – Bobby & Karen
Take Good Care Of My Baby – Bobby & Full Company

Orphan Train
November 11-December 18, 2016
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 – Ryan London Levin
Sally Ann – Devon Cox
Miss Grimstad – Norah Long
Mr. Louis – Peter Thompson
Fireman/John Lincoln Jones – T. Mychael Rambo
Andy Hawkins – Terry Hempleman
Franz – Peder Lindell
Katrin – Maia Hernandez
The Figure/Mrs. Stanley – Karen Weber
Shopkeeper/Mr. Studt – Carl Schoenborn
Mother/Mrs. Studt – Melanie Wehrmacher
Photographer/Judge – Eric Knutson
Amanda – Laruen Bonner & Donna Commodore
Frederick – Jordan Muschler
Carl – Marcus Adams
Clarissa – Josie Turk
Ensemble – Evie Bair, Carley Clover, Noah Coon, Ethan Davenport, Zoe Hollander, Gavihn Lee, Callie Schroer, Angela Steele
Understudies – Noah Coon (Aloysius), Callie Schroer (Sally Ann), Carley Clover (Katrin), Marcus Adams (Franz)

Orchestra
Piano – Andrew Fleser
Guitar – Blake Foster
Bass – Max LeRock
Fiddle/Mandolin – Eric Christopher

Artistic/Production Team
Directors – Ron Peluso & Anya Kremenetsky
Music Director – Andrew Fleser
Choreographer – Emily Michaels King
Scenic Designer – Gunther Gullickson
Original Scenic Designer – Nayna Ramey
Scenic Artist – Dee Skogen
Lighting Designer – Chris Johnson
Costume Designer – Lynn Farmington
Sound Designer – C. Andrew Mayer
Properties Designer – Abbee Warmboe
Dialect Coach – Norah Long
Stage Manager – Janet L. Hall
Assistant Stage Manager – Laurie Flanigan Hegge
Technical Director – Gunther Gullickson
Master Electrician – Joshua Stallings
Electricians – Kyla Moloney, Phillip Uttech, Alisha Gehrke, Katie Deutsch, Megan Winter
Carpenters – James Duncan, Brian Hesser, Jon Ledo, Kathleen McCarthy, Zach Morgan, Carl Swanson
Spotlight Operators – Kyla Moloney, Kenji Shoemaker, Deirdre McQuillin

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

ACT II
Dog – Franz, Sally Ann, Orphans, Townies
I Love Him – Sally Ann
Shooting Star – Katrin & Miss Grimstad
I Remember Love – John Lincoln Jones, Amanda, Ensemble
Rockabye (reprise) – The Figure
Orphan Boy – Sally Ann & Aloysius
America – Ensemble

The Highwaymen
February 4-26, 2017
By Josh Wilder

The Highwaymen tells the story of how an entire neighborhood in the city of St. Paul was decimated by the construction of Interstate 94 in the 1950s. What and who were involved in that destruction? Among other things, progress, politics, families, churches, businesses, race, legacy, homes, children, schools and most of all, a neighborhood called Rondo. The year is 1956.

Cast
George Shepard – James Delmar
Floyd Massey – Rex Isom Jr.
CJ – Darrick Mosley
Frank Marzitelli – E.J. Subkoviak
George Herrold – Peter Thomson
Timothy Howard – Kevin D. West

L-R: Peter Thomson, Kevin D. West

Artistic Team
Director – Jamil Jude
Playwright – Josh Wilder
Scenic Designer – Wrara Plesolu
Lighting Designer – Wu Chen Khoo
Costume Designer – Trevor Bowen
Sound Designer – Topher Pirkl
Properties Designer – Abbee Warmboe
Production/Stage Manager – Wayne Hendricks
Assistant Director – Sophie Peyton
Dramaturg – Gina Musto
Wardrobe – Mercede Hanson
Technical Director – Gunther Gullickson
Master Electrician – Joshua Stallings
Board Operator – Katie Deutsch
Electricians – Kyla Moloney, Phillip Uttech, Alisha Gehrke, Kenji Shoemaker, Katie Deutsch
Carpenters – Zach Morgan, James Duncan, Evan Sima
Deck Manager – Haley Walsh
Scenic Artist – Dee Skogan

The Things They Carried
February 13-23, 2017
Based on the book by Tim O’Brien
Adapted for the stage by Jim Stowell

Minnesota author Tim O’Brien was drafted into the Army shortly after he graduated from Macalester College in 1968. His book gives readers a first-hand picture of battle against Viet Cong soldiers in Vietnam. Another Minnesotan who served in the military before Vietnam is Red Wing storyteller Jim Stowell, who was impressed by O’Brien’s book and adapted it from the page to the stage. The title of the story reflects the “things” carried by soldiers in O’Brien’s Alpha Company. Some of those things were tangible, like matches, morphine, rifles, and candy; other things were intangible, like guilt and fear.

Cast
Tim O’Brien – Pearce Bunting

Artistic Team
Director – Ron Peluso
Original Scenic Designer – Sarah Brander
Set Design Adaptation – Ron Peluso
Costumes provided by – Pearce Bunting
Lighting Designer – Barry Browning
Sound Designer – Martin Gwinup
Stage Manager – Wayne Hendricks
Technical Director – Gunther Gullickson
Master Electrician/ Board Operator – Josh Stallings

The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin (World Premiere)
March 18-April 9, 2017
By Jessica Huang

This is a complex story about the impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which was extended in 1892 and then made permanent in 1902. It was the first American law to prevent a specific ethnic group from coming to America. During the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, birth documents were destroyed. As a result, the US government allowed Chinese men to travel back to China as US citizens. Upon arrival, these men reported that their wives had given birth to a son, making the child a US citizen; the fathers received a document to that effect. In turn, the fathers could use the document to ensure that their son qualified as a US citizen. However, many fathers sold the documents to other Chinese in America. Those who bought the documents were later referred to as “paper sons” and “paper daughters”. American officials created a rigorous interrogation process to ensure that the “right people” had been granted citizenship. False testimony, if discovered, could result in the deportation of entire families. The play is an immigrant’s tale about the desire to start anew, the humiliations of the immigration process and the endless haunting of memories from the homeland. The play is set in 1970, with flashbacks as far back as 1939. The action occurs in St. Paul, Minnesota, the Seattle Immigration and Naturalization Service office, a boat, a restaurant, a courtroom and in the mind of Harry Chin.

Cast
Harry Chin – Song Kim
Sheila – Meghan Kreidler
Laura – Sandra Struthers
Poet/Immigration Officer – Sherwin Resurreccion
Boss/Interrogator – Roland Martinez
Yuet/Susan – Audrey Park

(L-R): Sherwin Resurreccion, Audrey Park, Sandra Struthers, Song Kim, Meghan Kreidler

Artistic & Production Team
Director – Mei Ann Teo
Scenic Designer – Joel Sass
Lighting Designer – Wu Chen Khoo
Costume Designer – Trevor Bowen
Sound Designer – Katharine Horowitz
Properties Designer – Abbee Warmboe
Video Designer – Kathy Maxwell
Videoscope – Stefan Sigurdson
Hair Designer – Tricia Stogdill
Stage Manager – Janet L. Hall
Assistant Director – Kayla Girdner
Lighting Assistant – Shoshana Freund
Dramaturg – Jeremy Tiang
Production Researcher – Xingying Peng
Wardrobe – Hannah Fiedler
Technical Director – Gunther Gullickson
Master Electrician – Joshua Stallings
Light Board Operator – Kyla Moloney
Electricians – Kyla Moloney, Philip Uttech, Alisha Gehrke, Ashley Stock, Nick Petting, Courtney Schmitz, Katie Deutsch
Carpenters – Zach Morgan, James Duncan, Evan Sima
Deck Manager – Haley Walsh
Scenic Artist – Dee Skogan

Sweet Land, the musical (World Premiere)
April 29-May 28, 2017
By Perrin Post and Laurie Flanigan Hegge
Lyrics by Laurie Flanigan Hegge
Music by Dina Maccabee

Sweet Land is a lyrical adaptation of a short story titled “A Gravestone Made of Wheat” by Minnesota writer Will Weaver and a film by Ali Selim titled Sweet Land. The play tells the story of a German woman who came to America shortly after WWI to marry a Minnesota farmer from Norway. Unfortunately, many of his friends and neighbors lost their sons in the war and hesitate to embrace her. We watch as the couple draws close and as the community shifts from judgement to generosity. The setting is 1920 and 1975 in Park Rapids, Minnesota.

Cast
Inge Altenberg – Ann Michels
Lars Torvik/Olaf Torvik – Robert Berdahl
Neighbor/Alvin Frandsen – Jon Andrew Hegge
Neighbor/Brownie Frandsen – Tinia Moulder
Neighbor/Pastor Sorenson – Michael Gruber
Gail Torvik/Esther Larson/Olaf’s Mother – Norah Long
Neighbor/Station Agent/Judge/Harold – James Ramlet
Neighbor/Amundson/Clerk/Auctioneer/Guitar – Matt Riehle
Neighbor/Nelson/Piano/Accordion – Jason Hansen
Neighbor/Anna/Violin – Colleen Bertsch
Neighbor/Larson/Cello – Randall Davidson
Neighbor/Bass – Josh Ackerly
Neighbor/Train Conductor/Woodwinds/Guitar – Dylan Younger

L-R: Robert Berdahl, Jon Andrew Hegge, Ann Michaels, James Ramlet

Artistic and Production Team
Director/Playwright – Perrin Post
Lyricist/Playwright – Laurie Flanigan Hegge
Composer – Dina Maccabee
Choreographer – Joe Chvala
Musical Arranger – Robert Elhai
Costume Designer – Paul Post
Lighting Designer – Mike Grogan
Properties Designer – Lee Christiansen
Scenic Designer – Erica Zaffarano
Sound Designer – C. Andrew Mayer
Musical Director – Jason Hansen
Production/Stage Manager – Wayne Hendricks
Assistant Stage Managers – Diane Foss, Janet L. Hall
Scenic Artist – Gunther Gullickson
Master Electrician/Sound Operator – Joshua Stallings
Electricians – Jessica Coil, Kyla Maloney, Phillip Uttech, Alisha Gehrke
Carpenters – Zach Morgan, Evan Sima, James Duncan
Programmer – Phillip Uttech

MUSICAL NUMBERS
ACT I
Land So Sweet – Ensemble
Don’t Look Back – Inge
Ducky – Frandsen, Inge, Olaf
Not One Of Us – Pastor, Clerk, Judge, Mother
The Photograph – Olaf
Bigger, Better Faster – Brownie, Frandsen
Baseball Rag – Ensemble
Barn Dance – Instrumental
Peace And Quiet – Inge
You Took A Bath – Olaf, Inge
Pay the Price – Harold, Brownie, Frandsen, Olaf, Inge

ACT II
Summer – Ensemble
When We Are Married – Olaf, Inge
Ducks Dream – Inge, Olaf
Threshing Time – Ensemble
The Auction – Auctioneer, Ensemble
Frozen Fields – Olaf, Frandsen, inge, Brownie
Call Me Inge Torvik – Inge, Olaf, Pastor
Finale / Land So Sweet (reprise) – Ensemble