The Grand Marais Playhouse’s 2015 Summer Theater Festival begins July 16! Two very entertaining productions hit the stage beginning with Ken Ludwig’s hilarious farce Moon Over Buffalo on Thursday, July 16 at 7 p.m. and then the musical comedy I Love You, You’re Perfect! Now Change! from book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music by Jimmy Roberts on Friday, July 17 at 7 p.m.
The festival continues weekends through August 9. Plays alternate each evening and each weekend. There are eight chances to see each production but don’t wait! Word of mouth will fill the houses up quickly. Come early and often. Bring your family and friends. Show off this talented community. Having these talented performers in Grand Marais is pretty “Cool!”
The publisher Samuel French, Inc. describes Moon Over Buffalo as a madcap comedy in the tradition of Lend Me a Tenor. The hilarious Moon Over Buffalo centers on George and Charlotte Hay, fading stars of the 1950s.
The sometimes-confused players in Ken Ludwig’s Moon Over Buffalo are (L-R) Jan Healy, Kevin Kager, Sarah Stover, Braidy Powers, Saraphine Metis, Tom Christianson, Marcia Hyatt, Bob Carter. The hilarious farce runs in repertory with the musical comedy I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.
As the play opens, they’re playing Private Lives and Cyrano De Bergerac in repertory in Buffalo, New York with five actors. On the brink of a disastrous split-up caused by George’s dalliance with a young ingénue, they receive word that they might just have one last shot at stardom: Frank Capra is coming to town to see their matinee, and if he likes what he sees, he might cast them in his movie remake of The Scarlet Pimpernel.
Unfortunately for George and Charlotte, everything that could go wrong does, abetted by a visit from their daughter’s clueless fiancé and hilarious uncertainty about which play they’re actually performing, caused by Charlotte’s deaf old stage-manager mother who hates every bone in George’s body.
Bob Carter plays George Hay and Marcia Hyatt plays Charlotte Hay. The cast includes Kevin Kager, Sarah Stover, Jan Healy, Saraphine Metis, Braidy Powers and Tom Christiansen.
The performance dates for Moon Over Buffalo are July 16, 18, 24, 26, 30 August 1, 7 and 9.
I Love You, You’re Perfect! Now Change! is a celebration of the mating game. It takes on the truths and myths behind that contemporary conundrum known as “the relationship.” Act I explores the journey from dating and waiting to love and marriage, while Act II reveals the agonies and triumphs of in-laws and newborns, trips in the family car and pick-up techniques of the geriatric set.
This hilarious revue pays tribute to those who have loved and lost, to those who have fallen on their face at the portal of romance, to those who have dared to ask, “Say, what are you doing Saturday night?”
The play has mature themes and may not be appropriate for all audiences. Discretion is advised.
The talented ensemble consists of Mark Abrahamson, Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux, Jackson Nickolay and Karina Roth. The fabulous musicians are Kay Costello on piano, Erika Ternes on violin and Mike Roth on bass. Both plays are directed and designed by Sue Hennessy, and musical direction by Karina Roth
The performance dates for I Love You, You’re Perfect! Now Change are July 17, 19, 23, 25, 31 August 2, 6 and 8.
Performance times are Thursday – Saturday 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. (Except for August 2 which is at 3 p.m. following Fisherman’s Picnic Parade.)
Tickets are $20 adults and $10 for students under 18. Buy a ticket to each production and save $5!
All performances are at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts, 51 West 5th Street. If needed, parking is available in the rear of the auditorium at the top of 1st Ave East.
For more information visit the Playhouse website at grandmaraisplayhouse.com, like us on Facebook or contact us at playhouse@boreal.org or (218) 387- 1284 ex. 2.
Grand Marais Playhouse Artistic Director Sue Hennessy provides this behind-the-scenes look at Grand Marais Playhouse activities.
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