The Grand Marais Playhouse is very proud to present As You Like It, one of Shakespeare’s great comedies, at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts November 12-15 and 19-22. Thursday – Saturday performances are at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 adults and $5 students. The Playhouse is offering two specials for this productions. Friday, November 13 is Buy One Get One FREE with a $10 donation of food or cash to the local food shelf. Sunday, November 15 is Donations Day! Pay ANY amount for your ticket!
On Sunday, Nov. 22 following the performance, there will be a special award presentation to high school seniors who have excelled in theatre throughout their school career.
The cast of As You Like It includes Linnea Henrikson, Finn Garry, Erica Marxen, Kevin Kager, Robin Henrikson, Aurora Schelmeske, Santina McMillan, Shae Morawitz, Mark Abrahamson, Patricia Elfvin, Tina Krauz, Sam Kern, Janet Healy, Dick Swanson, Amelia Roth, Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux, and Jackson Nickolay.
Opening night! At press time, the Grand Marais Playhouse was preparing for the debut of As You Like It. Some of the talented cast is pictured here. Front: Santina McMillan. Kneeling: Mark Abrahamson, Marco Good. (L-R, middle) Sam Kern, Dick Swanson, Kevin Kager, Finn Garry, Linnea Henrikson, Erica Marxen, Shae Morawitz, Patricia Elfin. (L-R, back) Amelia Roth, Robin Henrikson, Aurora Schelmeske.
In As You Like It, witty words and romance play out against the disputes of divided pairs of brothers. Orlando’s older brother, Oliver, treats him badly and refuses him his small inheritance from their father’s estate; Oliver schemes instead to have Orlando die in a wrestling match. Meanwhile, Duke Frederick has forced his older brother, Duke Senior, into exile in the Forest of Arden.
Duke Senior’s daughter, Rosalind, and Duke Frederick’s daughter, Celia, meet the victorious Orlando at the wrestling match; Orlando and Rosalind fall in love. Banished by her uncle, Rosalind assumes a male identity and leaves with Celia and their fool, Touchstone. Orlando flees Oliver’s murderous plots.
In the Forest of Arden, Rosalind, in her male disguise, forms a teasing friendship with Orlando. Oliver, searching for Orlando, reforms after Orlando saves his life. Rosalind reveals her identity, triggering several weddings, including her own with Orlando and Celia’s with Oliver. Duke Frederick restores the dukedom.
On December 12 the Grand Marais Playhouse will host a “Curry Cook-off and Broadway Musical Showcase.” Please enter our curry cook-off with your best curry recipe, or sign up to sing a solo or ensemble number for the showcase. We have people willing to accompany you on piano, just let us know and we can get you connected. This is a fundraiser for the Grand Marais Playhouse. Come support your local theater!
A short membership meeting will take place at 6 p.m. and the curry cook-off will begin at 6:30. The Broadway hits will start at 7:30 p.m. at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. Cost is $10 for the cook-off to enter and to eat, and $10 for the showcase! A great evening for only $20. Mark your calendar!
Also, in early December, the Playhouse will be holding auditions for three short play cuttings of Death of a Salesman, Arsenic and Old Lace and The Wizard of Oz. These three plays were the very first plays the “Playhouse” did back in January of 1971 before it was the “Playhouse.” Called an “Experiment in Theater” the community packed the First Congregational Church on a cold and stormy January night. This successful event led to the formation of the Grand Marais Playhouse which became incorporated on July 19, 1971.
Death of a Salesman is a drama that will be directed by Dick Swanson. The Wizard of Oz was (and will be) a children’s production and will be directed (as it was in 1971) by EvaLyn Carlson. Arsenic and Old Lace is a comedy and will be directed by Sue Hennessy.
Auditions will be Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. There will be parts for all ages. Rehearsal schedules will be worked out by each cast. Performance date yet to be finalized but will be a Saturday in January. For more information on any of the above contact the Playhouse at playhouse@boreal.org or (218)387-1284×2.
Grand Marais Playhouse Artistic Director Sue Hennessy provides this behind-the-scenes look at Grand Marais Playhouse activities.
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