The Grand Marais Playhouse opens its 43rd season on April 25 with the production First Baptist of Ivy Gap by Ron Osborne.
A Samuel French publisher describes this entertaining production this way: “During WWII, six women gather at the church to roll bandages and plan the church’s 75th anniversary. Overseeing things is Edith (Sarah Larsen), the pastor’s wise-cracking wife who dispenses Red Cross smocks and witty repartee to Luby (Mara MacDonell), whose son is fighting in the Pacific; Mae Ellen (Michaela Peterson), the church’s rebellious organist who wants to quit but hasn’t the courage; Olene (Calin Carpenter), who dreams of a career in Hollywood; Sammy (Adrianna Berglund), a shy newcomer with a secret; and Vera (Brenna Hay), an influential Baptist with a secret of her own. When Luby learns her son has been wounded, she confounds the others by blaming the vulnerable Sammy.
Twenty-five years later, the “First Baptist Six” reunite. Back to reconcile with Luby—whose son died of his wounds—is Sammy, whose own son is now in Vietnam and Olene, whose flashy show business career will set the town on its ear. There to welcome them are Vera, her secret still safe; Mae Ellen, still rebellious and still looking for an escape; and Edith, whose biggest challenge isn’t the church’s upcoming centennial but revelations that shake relationships formed over a quarter of a century. With humor and pathos, these six very different women find comfort, forgiveness and redemption in each other.”
The cast of First Baptist of Ivy Gap in their Red Cross smocks—Sarah Larsen, Adrianna Berglund, Cailan Carpenter, Mara MacDonell, Brenna Hay, Michaela Peterson. The show opens at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on April 25.
First Baptist of Ivy Gap runs April 25,26, 28 and May 2-5, Thursday – Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Advance tickets are available online at www.tix.com. The box office is open one hour before each performance. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students (18 and under).
Friday, April 26 is Food Shelf Friday—buy one ticket, get one ticket free when you bring five useable items or a $10 donation to the food shelf (you must buy one ticket to get the free one) and Sunday, April 28 is donation at the door. Pay any amount for your ticket to this performance.
There is no play performance on Saturday, April 27 due to the appearance of Red Horse—Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka and Lucy Kaplansky—in concert at the ACA.
The first summer show (if summer ever comes…) will be Fit to Kill by Victor Cahn. This play will be directed and designed by Jack Nickolay. Auditions are May 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the ACA. A perusal script is available now at the public library. This production will be produced in a black box configuration on the ACA stage, not as a dinner theater as previously announced. The audience and actors will all be on the stage together! Limited seating available.
The 2013 Grand Marais Summer Theater Festival will be held July 18 – Aug. 11. The plays, a comedy and a musical, will run alternately Thursday – Sunday for four weekends. The comedy is Moon Over Buffalo by Ken Ludwig, a hilarious farce about backstage life in the theater. Sue Hennessy will direct this production. The Playhouse will hold auditions on April 30 at 6:30 p m. A perusal script is available at the public library.
The comedy will share the stage with the musical Church Basement Ladies by Jim Stowell and Jessica Zuehlke with music and lyrics by Drew Jansen. The cast includes Linda Waterhouse, Diane Stoddard, Yvonne Mills, Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux and Mark Abrahamson. This production will be co-directed by Sue Hennessy, Karina Roth and Hilja Iverson.
During the Grand Marais Summer Theater Festival there will also be theater classes offered for adults and for students. More details will follow in the coming weeks.
The Grand Marais Playhouse will hold its annual fundraiser on July 20. The performance will be the Century of Jazz 2013 performed by skyBLUEquartet and Orange Girl. Silent Auction, appetizers, and dancing included.
More information about the Grand Marais Summer Theater Festival can be found at www.grandmaraisplayhouse.com. Grand Marais Playhouse Artistic Director Sue Hennessy provides this behind-the-scenes look at Grand Marais Playhouse activities.
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