This weekend will be the final performances of Always, Patsy Cline and Shout! The Mod Musical, the Playhouse’s experiment in repertory theater. More than 2,500 tickets have been sold, many smiles and much laughter shared, outstanding performances presented by our neighbors and many friendships made and strengthened. A success all around!
This extraordinary company of talented community members has given Cook County the gift of live musical theater in its own backyard. The comments heard from audience members illustrate why we, as a community, should be so proud of these local performers. Fabulous! Amazing! So professional! So unexpected! What a treat! Fantastic! Just to name a few.
A thunderous Bravo, Brava, to the entire company: Diane Blanchette, Karen Blackburn, Yvonne Block, Kerri Bilben, Emma Bradley, Will Brandenburg, Kay Costello, Mike DeBevec, Julie Fredlund, Hilja Iverson, Kris Johnson, Erika Haglund, Molly Hicken, Jack Nickolay, Maria Nickolay, Sue Maijala, Karina Roth, Mike Roth, Tom Van Cleve and Russ Viton.
Bud Hennessy was one of the many people who enjoyed the British invasion of Shout! The Mod Musical in recent weeks. There are only a few more chances to catch this wonderful show this weekend! (L-R) Molly Hicken, Hilja Iverson, Bud Hennessy with Karen Blackburn, Kerri Bilben, Karina Roth.
Thank you for your gift to this community and its visitors.
The Grand Marais Playhouse is a community theater. It depends upon the gifts of time and talent from local community members to put on a show. These two musicals are a great example of the magic that happens when people come together and work hard to bring something to the community. The performers invest many hours at rehearsal, time memorizing lines and blocking (where you walk, stand, sit, etc.) and researching their character, costume, make-up and props.
Behind the scenes there is another group of people who build sets, create sound cues, collect or build props, collect, alter and create costumes, help with hair and make-up, run the lights, run the sound, manage backstage during the show and manage the rehearsals.
The Grand Marais Playhouse is barely taking a break before offering another production. Bob Carter and Marcia Hyatt rehearse a scene from Gas and Candles by David Henry Wilson which premieres August 25.
The level of commitment the cast and crew has demonstrated with these two shows is evident in their performance. If you haven’t witnessed these extraordinary productions, we encourage you to come. There are only two more chances to catch each show. Saturday is Always, Patsy Cline and Friday and Sunday is Shout! The Mod Musical. Fri. – Sat. 7 p.m. and Sunday 2 p.m. Tickets are $15.
The next production will include another group of talented community members and is already in rehearsal, ready to jump on stage next week. Gas and Candles by David Henry Wilson will open August 25. Bob Carter, Marcia Hyatt and Braidy Powers will bring to life this full-length comedy of a pair of pensioners drawing attention to their plight by staging a mock siege. These veteran actors have entertained many audiences in the past and will undoubtedly do it again.
Gas and Candles runs Aug. 25-28 and Sept. 1-4. Tickets are $12 adults and $7 students.
There are a lot of your friends and neighbors currently working hard to present high quality theater right here in Grand Marais. One role is still open—yours. Every play needs an audience. The bigger and more responsive the audience, the better the performance, so please play your role and come be thoroughly entertained, impressed, proud and be happy that you live in such a talented community, a community that has been delivering great theater for 41 seasons.
Grand Marais Playhouse Director Sue Hennessy provides this behind-thescenes look at Grand Marais Playhouse activities.
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