The Grand Marais Playhouse summer season is ready to roll! The casts have been gathered (almost) and rehearsals have begun.
The cast of “The Games Afoot” is Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux, Jane Gellner, Jan Healy, Kevin Kager, Gary Latz, Aliya Marxen, Sam Seitsema and Diane Stoddard.
The Cast of “The Pajama Game” is Mark Abrahamson, Karen Blackburn, John Bragstad, Susan Bragstad, Kate Fitzgerald, Hilja Iverson, Thomas Stamps and Karina Roth. We are still searching for one more guy to complete the cast.
The Grand Marais Summer Theater Festival runs weekends July 20 through August 13. Go to grandmaraisplayhouse.com to see the schedule and buy tickets.
The Playhouse is excited to welcome visiting director and choreographer Carrie Nath to Grand Marais. Ms. Nath will direct “The Games Afoot” and choreograph “The Pajama Game.” Artistic Director Sue Hennessy will direct “The Pajama Game” and design both shows. Karina Roth will be the music director, Steve Byers will be the scenic artist, and Emma Bradley and Sharon Eliasen will do costumes.
Above: The talented cast of the Grand Marais Summer Theater Festival is getting ready to perform for audiences all summer long. Back row, from left, are Gary Latz, Kate Fitzgerald, Diane Stoddard, Mark Abrahamson, Thomas Stamps, Jane Gellner, John Bragstad, Kevin Kager, Hilja Iverson. Front row from left, Carrie Nath, Jan Healey, Karen Blackburn, Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux, Karina Roth, Aliya Marxen, Sue Hennessy. Not pictured are Susan Bragstad, Sam Seitsema and one more guy. Left: Sue Hennessy, right, welcomes visiting Theater Artist Carrie Nath to the Grand Marais Playhouse.
Carrie Nath comes to Grand Marais from Louisville, Kentucky, where she most recently served as the executive director for The Kentucky Center Governor’s School for the Arts. Ms. Nath has been making stories for over 30 years. Because she is passionate about every aspect of creating opportunities for all ages and abilities to experience this glorious thing called performing arts (as well as a good belly laugh) she rarely serves in one capacity at any one place.
Directing, choreography, period style movement and/or acting credits include Seattle Opera Yong Artist’s Program and the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre Department; Walden Theater, Louisville Kentucky, where she devised the Feast of Fools, a 90-minute ensemble-generated piece based in commedia and mime techniques; The Manhattan School of Music; Seattle, Nebraska, Kentucky and Baltimore Shakespeare Companies; The Immediate Theater in Seattle and The Baltimore Lab School, a school for students with intellectual disabilities ages K – 12. Additional teaching credits include Actor’s Theater of Louisville, New Voices program; EcoDrama, Stage One Theater; the Washington National Opera and the Shakespeare Theater in D.C.
With an affinity for spreadsheets she has also administrated as the director of education at The Kentucky Arts Council; the associate director of education for the Seattle Opera; director of education for The Nebraska Shakespeare Festival and education consultant for the Ford’s Theater in D.C. She has served on an arts education advisory committee for The Lincoln Center in New York City and on arts education panels for the National Endowment for the Arts. She is very excited about getting to create something wonderful with the fabulous members of The Grand Marais Playhouse and the whole community.
Ms. Nath is also offering three workshops in June: . Make ’em Laugh: ages 8-12, June 5-8 Monday through Thursday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Bust out your mad comic skills and get ready to rumble. Whose Line Is It Anyway? YOURS!! This class will focus on comedy improv, basic clowning and slapstick comedy. If you’ve ever been accused of being the class clown, this is the place for you.
. Make ’em Laugh, too: ages 13-18, June 12-15 Monday through Thursday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Comedy Improv take II. Mad comic skills, improv and clowning for the older crowd. Who knows, we may just head into town to try our skill on the unsuspecting touristas. Still touting that class clown title? Bring It!
. Hey Shakespeare, Over Here: ages 15 – adult, June 19 – 22 Monday through Thursday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Lunatics, lovers and madmen… Shakespeare had them all. And this is your opportunity to try them on for size. Unlock the secrets hidden in Shakespeare’s text through movement, sound and a little trickery. Whether you are a seasoned aficionado, new to the world’s greatest playwright or maybe want a jump-start on the high school fall play, this is the place for you.
For more information and registration go to grandmaraisplayhouse.com
Ms. Nath’s summer residency is supported by a grant from the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation.
Ms. Nath will return this fall to direct Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” for the Playhouse and do residencies in the schools. Carrie and Sue will hold a theater intensive Sept. 29-Oct. 1 called “Another’s Shoes, Exploring the power of theater to create empathy.”
Ms. Nath’s fall residency is supported by a grant from the Cook County Community Foundation.
Grand Marais Playhouse Artistic Director Sue Hennessy provides this behind-the-scenes look at Grand Marais Playhouse activities.
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