Download cblx 2012 tour progr.. - Church Basement Ladies

COVER COPY:
Troupe America Inc., Curt Wollan, Executive Producer and
(VENUE LOGO)
Present
AWAY IN THE BASEMENT:
A CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES CHRISTMAS
Written by
GRETA GROSCH
Music and lyrics by
DREW JANSEN
Inspired by the books of Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson including the bestseller,
“Growing Up Lutheran”
Page #2 INSIDE FRONT COVER:
Troupe America Inc. and (local venue) Present:
A Christmas celebration of the church basement and the women who work there!
(include the CBL logo-optional)
CAST (in order of appearance)
KEVIN GRASTORF ……………….. .Pastor
AUTUMN O’RYAN.......................... .Mrs. Lars Snustad (Vivian)
NIKKI SAVITT.................................
Mrs. Gilmer Gilmerson (Mavis)
CARRIE SALOUTOS……...... .......
Mrs. Elroy Engelson (Karin)
TARA BORMAN (11/8/12-11/12/12)
LISA BARK(11/13/12-12/23/12)...............Miss Beverly Engelson
(Understudies: for Karin & Mavis – DORIAN CHALMERS; for Vivian – ROBBIE
MANCINA; for Beverly – TARA BORMAN; for Pastor – TIMOTHY DRAKE)
Understudies never substitute without prior announcement
Set Design
SCOTT R. HERBST
Sound Design
MARK BRODIN
Costume Design
KATRINA BENEDICT
Light Design
KEVIN KNODL
Musical Staging & Choreography
WENDY SHORT-HAYS
Music Direction
DREW JANSEN
Directed by
CURT WOLLAN
Special thanks: Al Todnem for carving the Nativity pieces. Pastor Gary Olson and
Lakeview Lutheran church, ARCA Minnesota, Zion Lutheran church, Grand Rapids,
Minnesota, Joanne Deter who said “Curt, you should call those Lutheran Ladies,”
Thrivent Volunteer Services, Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson for their
inspiration and many stories of Church Pageants. Children’s Christmas crafts by the
students from the Theatre Department of Visitation School.
The operating of cameras or recording devices is strictly prohibited by copyright law.
Please turn off anything that will make noise including cellular phones.
TROUPE AMERICA, INC. PRODUCTION STAFF
Company Manager
Stage Manager
Technical Director/ Tour Production Manager
Master Electrician
Sound Engineer
Tour Transportation
Trucking
LEXIE WOLLAN SWENSON
PATTI LAIRD
MICHAEL R. MIKULA
DANA KLEIMAN
ANTONIO AGUIRRE
MAYO TOURS
STAGE CALL
General Manager
Production Manager
Publicist
Payroll Services
JOHN TSAFOYANNIS
SCOTT R. HERBST
LINDA TWISS
WELLS FARGO BUSINESS
PAYROLL
BROCKMAN-MARCHAN &
COMPANY LTD.
FAEGRE, BAKER & DANIELS
Accounting
Legal
ACT I
Morning of December 19, 1959
(The day of the annual
Sunday School Christmas
Program)
Away in the Basement
Company
The Unforgettable Christmas
Program of 1958
Vivian and Company
(Everybody is a Kid Again )
At Christmastime
Karin with Beverly, Mavis and Vivian
Just Not Mary Material
Mavis with Beverly, Karin and Vivian
Always One More Thing
Beverly with Karin, Mavis and Vivian
ACT II
Later that same morning
Away in the Basement (reprise)
Karin, Mavis, Vivian and Pastor
Piñata
Karin and Company
Whatsoever You Doo-wop
Vivian with Karin and Mavis
Reindeer Rendezvous
Pastor and Company
I Think You’d Like Her
Pastor
Jeg Er Så Glad
Company
Finale - Company
WHO IS WHO IN THE CAST:
LISA BARK (Beverly- 11/13/12 – 12/23/12) is no stranger to the basement after
performing in all three versions of Church Basement Ladies on the 2010 & 2011
National tours, at the Plymouth Playhouse, Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, and most
recently Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre. She has performed on several tours ranging from
theatres in Dubai to Italy to New York City’s Madison Square Garden and on
NBC’s Today Show with Sesame Street Live. Recent regional credits include the
Guthrie Theater, Disney World, Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof at the Show Palace, and
Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz at Beef and Boards.
TARA BORMAN (Beverly- 11/8/12 – 11/12/12) After finishing up as Beverly in the
premiere of "A Mighty Fortress is our Basement" at the Plymouth Playhouse, Tara is
excited to go on the road! She originated the role of Beverly in "Away in the Basement"
at the Plymouth Playhouse where she also workshopped/originated the same role in
"CBL 2: A Second Helping". She got her start working for Troupe America taking over
the role of Signe in the original "Church Basement Ladies" at the Plymouth Playhouse
back in 2005. Tara has also worked for several regional theatres in Minneapolis
including Bloomington Civic Theatre, Minneapolis Musical Theatre and The Guthrie
Theatre. Coming up Tara will be playing Lauren in Yellow Tree Theatre's production of
"Circle Mirror Transformation".
KEVIN GRASTORF(Pastor) is excited to be returning to Church Basement Ladies. He
has worked all over the country from Alaska to Florida and many other places in
between. Favorite roles include; the Padre in Man of La Mancha, the Union Captain in
Civil War, Nicely Nicely in Guys And Dolls, Richard Nixon in Frost/ Nixon and Gerard
Carrier in Yestin/Kopit's Phantom. He earned his BFA in Musical Theatre from Syracuse
University. Other passions are National Parks, photography and songwriting. He has
recently finished his 3rd summer working in Yellowstone. He would also like to give
thanks to his wife, Autumn, for her love and support.
AUTUMN O’RYAN (Vivian) is thrilled to be back in the "basement" with her fellow castmates...especially with her husband Kevin, who is playing the "Pastor". This is her third
National Tour of Church Basement Ladies. Recently, Autumn played the role of "Dinah"
in DIXIE SWIM CLUB, at Circa 21 Dinner Theatre. Other favorite roles include: “Mrs.
Potts”, Beauty And The Beast, “Aunt Eller”, Oklahoma!, “Mrs. Paroo”, Music Man,
“Carlotta”, Phantom, “Jeanette” in The Full Monty. And she originated the role of “Liddy”
in the Regional Premiere of Whodunit…The Musical. She will be touring in
MENOPAUSE, THE MUSICAL, starting in March of 2013. Autumn has a B.F.A. in
Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan. She's celebrating her 23nd
professional year onstage. Thanks to Curt and Troupe America for this amazing
opportunity and for keeping a husband and wife together on-the-road.
CARRIE SALOUTOS (Karin) returns to this wonderful Tour via Las Vegas where she
regularly appears in Marriage Can Be Murder and has appeared in productions of
Nunsense (Las Vegas Hilton), Ba-Da-Bing, The Soprano’s Last Supper, and Reflections
of the Rat Pack. She also performed the role of Karin in Church Basement Ladies 2: A
Second Helping in Fort Meyers, FL. Other recent credits include appearing in Hats! The
Musical at Harrah’s in New Orleans, the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and the
Plaza Theatre in Orlando. Carrie has performed on several World Cruise Lines and at
Universal Studios in Osaka, Japan. National Tour credits include Away in the
Basement: A Church Basement Ladies Christmas (2011), The Wizard of Oz (US and
Korean Tours), Beauty & The Beast, and Singin’ In the Rain. Carrie has co-starred with
Steve Gatlin in several production shows in Myrtle Beach, SC. Favorite theatre roles
include Carrie Innes in the World Premiere of Ed Dixon’s Whodunit…The Musical and
Sheree in The Dixie Swim Club at Circa ’21, Sister Robert Anne in Nunsense, and Sue
Ellen in Honky-Tonk Angels (Ted Swindley, Playwright/Director).
NIKKI SAVITT (Mavis )--Is beyond delighted to be back in the basement, back on the
bus, and back with the boots for her third holiday season. When not wearing an apron
and a tool belt, Nikki's other favorite credits include Barefoot In the Park (Mother),
Harvey (Veta), White Christmas (Martha), South Pacific (Bloody Mary), Music Man
(Eulalie), and Rumors (Cookie). She has also been featured on National Tours of
Miracle on 34th Street and A Christmas Carol. This spring Nikki gets the honor or
reprising Mavis for a new adventure when CBL 4 premieres at Circa 21 Dinner Theatre.
Please visit www.nikkisavitt.com for more information. "For my miraculous mother, and
in memory of Renee, Grammy Jeanne, and my dad, Artie."
WHO ARE THE ORIGINAL LUTHERAN LADIES:
JANET LETNES MARTIN (Co-author of Growing Up Lutheran)
Janet Letnes Martin grew up in Hillsboro, ND where the words “Norwegian and
Lutheran” were synonymous. It was no surprise she graduated from Augsburg College,
in Minneapolis, MN and married Neil Martin, a 100 percent Scandinavian-Lutheran man
from Newfolden, MN. Janet started writing books in 1983. She wrote three books, coauthored three books with Allen Todnem, and one with her sister, Ilene Lorenz, before
she teamed up to write and perform with a college friend, Suzann Nelson. Janet and
Suzann have written nine books relating to their Norwegian-Lutheran rural background.
Their book Growing Up Lutheran, What Does This Mean? won the Minnesota Book
Award for Humor, and is the inspiration for all three Church Basement Ladies musical
comedies. Janet and Suzann have performed as a comedy duo “Those Lutheran
Ladies” from the state of Washington to Washington, DC as well as in the Medora
Musical. Recently Janet switched gears and teamed up with author/artist, David W.
Cook II to write a fabulous new humorous book Lemonade for the Lawnboy: The
Executives’ Wives’ Cookbook Committee. Her most recent project is the just released,
hilarious “Fun with Fitness DVD - Jiggle Your Jell-O” with Suzann Nelson, David Cook
and Greta Grosch. Janet lives in Hastings, MN and feels blessed that her family is all
involved in their Scandinavian Lutheran heritage. She is co-owner of Scandinavian
Marketplace and the online store scandinavianmarket.com with her daughter and sonin-law, Jennifer and Steve Green. Her daughter Sarah is a national representative for
the Norwegian Fjord Flatware Company. She is thrilled her daughter, Katrina Benedict
is the costumer of this musical, and that Trina’s husband, Andy knows how to make egg
coffee. Her granddaughters Sophia, Ariana and Myana Green and Nora Benedict are
the love of her life. She dedicates her contribution to this play to her late husband, Neil,
whom she misses dearly.
SUZANN NELSON (Co-author of Growing Up Lutheran)
As half of the knowledgeable, funny, 100 percent Norwegian-Lutheran duo, “Those
Lutheran Ladies,” Suzann Nelson could just list her name under Janet Martin’s bio and
type “ditto.” Names and a few places might differ, but their histories are similar and often
identical — from the month and year they were baptized and confirmed Lutheran to the
day in 1968 when they graduated from the same Norwegian-Lutheran college. One of
Suzann’s daughters said that Janet and Suzann share a brain — something they
considered a compliment until they realized she probably meant each had only half a
brain. They haven’t had time to consider the real meaning yet because they are too
busy writing and publishing books about rural life in the fifties, developing new book and
product ideas, speaking and performing. Lately they have been working with theatre
folks who, Suzann says, “are kinda different from the farm families I grew up with.”
Nelson began life as a Johnson on a “Noah’s Ark” farm — two cows, two pigs, two
chickens and two brothers —close to where the Kensington Runestone was found. After
graduating from high school in Evansville, MN, Suzann boarded a train for the nearest
Sin City, Minneapolis. She graduated with a Scandinavian Studies major from Augsburg
College where she also met her 100 percent Norwegian-Lutheran husband, Ron, and
someone named Janet Letnes — both decent, wholesome folks who had grown up in
North Dakota eating cream on bread. After further study at the universities of MN and
Oslo, Suzann directed Concordia College’s Language Village, Skogfjorden, and in offseasons had three-piece suit jobs where she dabbled in government, public policy work,
and putting on pantyhose. Eventually, Suzann and Ron moved to Grand Rapids, MN
where they raised their two 100 percent Norwegian-Lutheran daughters, Senja and Siri.
Now a mother-in- law, widow, and owner of an online bookstore
ruralroutebookstore.com, Suzann spends her days and nights pondering ways to pay off
her mortgage, looking for misplaced things, being fascinated by creative ideas her four
grandchildren develop, and ironing used wrapping paper.
WHO’S WHO IN PRODUCTION :
GRETA GROSCH (Playwright)
Since 1989, Greta has worked as a freelance writer and performer across the
country and has a wealth of experience in both commercial and business
theatre. An original cast member of Church Basement Ladies, Greta originated
the role of Mavis back in 2005 and continues to perform on stage as a member of
the Actor’s Union. As a scriptwriter, Greta wrote the scripts for A Second Helping
(Church Basement Ladies 2); Away in the Basement (A Church Basement
Ladies Christmas) and A Mighty Fortress is Our Basement. She also writes the
annual “Medora Musical”; has scripted numerous award shows and cabarets;
and her company, Girl With Guitar, provides educational and entertaining
programming, ranging from training seminars to company parties, for
organizations across the country. For more information visit gretagrosch.com. In
addition, Greta is a voice over and commercial artist, works as an advocate for
High School musical theatre, and is a founding member of the “the “Looney
Lutherans” (thelooneylutherans.com). Greta wishes to thank Curt Wollan, Janet
Martin, Suzann Nelson and all the original cast for their support and inspiration,
and dedicates this show to her sister, who married a real live bachelor farmer
and lives on a Christmas tree farm in Norway. Seriously.
DREW JANSEN (Composer, Lyricist)A native of Little Rock now residing in
Minneapolis, Jansen is in the midst of a multi-faceted career as a performer, writer and
composer. In addition to creating the scores for Troupe America’s mega-hits Church
Basement Ladies and How To Talk Minnesotan The Musical and the History Theatre’s
Capital Crimes: The Saint Paul Gangster Musical and A Servants’ Christmas, he is also
one of the busier voice-over actors in the Twin Cities. His baritone has prodded Twin
Citizens to purchase anything from furniture to theater tickets to windows. If you’ve ever
activated a credit card over the phone, he probably talked you through the process.
Minnesotans will also remember him as the emcee in those quirky Minnesota Millionaire
Raffle television commercials from late 2007, or as long-running Patio Town
commercial. Also on the small screen, Jansen enjoyed a two season run as Ernie, the
unctuous announcer and musical commentator on Comedy Central’s cult classic, Let’s
Bowl. Drew was a contributing writer for television’s Mystery Science Theater 3000 and
has created text for numerous greeting cards, t-shirts, coffee mugs and syndicated
comic strips. An accomplished pianist, he has had the honor of accompanying such
legends as Celeste Holm and Carmel Quinn, and recently manned the keyboards in Las
Vegas for Whose Line Is It Anyway? stalwarts Greg Proops and Chip Esten. Currently,
Jansen is touring the country with entertainers Jody Briskey and Jimmy Martin in
ThreeStyle, an original cabaret show. Drew is a proud graduate of Saint John’s
University in Collegeville, Minnesota (Class of 1983) and continued his education at the
University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
CURT WOLLAN (Producer/Director) is the President and Executive ProducerDirector for Troupe America, Inc. He has directed many National Tours including Steel
Magnolias, Driving Miss Daisy, The 1940’s Radio Hour, Big River, Hank Williams – Lost
Highway, and Stephen King’s Ghost Stories. He has also co-produced three National
Tours of Forbidden Broadway, directed M*A*S*H’s Jamie Farr and William Christopher
in the National Tour of The Odd Couple, the National Tour of Moon Over Buffalo
starring Gavin MacLeod, the National Tour of The Sunshine Boys starring Dick Van
Patten and Frank Gorshin and Same Time, Next Year starring Mackenzie Phillips and
Adrian Zmed. At Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, he directed Cottonpatch Gospel
starring “WKRP in Cincinnati’s” Gary Sandy. In the last five years, Curt has directed ten
National Tours of Church Basement Ladies, two starring M*A*S*H’s William Christopher
as the Pastor, and has directed another fifteen productions across the country with
Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second Helping running in Kansas City starring Barry
Williams of TV’s “The Brady Bunch” as the Pastor. Curt has been based at the
Plymouth Playhouse since 1979, and has directed most of its productions, notably the
musical comedies Church Basement Ladies, Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second
Helping, How To Talk Minnesotan The Musical, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now
Change and Diamond Studs which won the Twin Cities “Kudos” Award for Best
Direction, Best Choreography and Best Musical. Each summer Curt produces and
directs The Medora Musical in the beautiful North Dakota Badlands and each Holiday
Season, he directs for Dollywood in Tennessee. Curt dedicates this show to the
memory of his mother, Lorraine, who’s church kitchen legacy serves as an inspiration
for his work on this production. curtwollan.com
WENDY SHORT HAYS (Choreographer) has been connected with Troupe America for
over twenty-five years. She created the choreography for the original production of
Church Basement Ladies as well as subsequent tours and productions. She is thrilled
to have “another helping” with this brilliant creative team. In that time she has
choreographed such favorites as A Day in Hollywood, A Night in the Ukraine,
Nunsense, Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?, Pump Boys and
Dinettes, 1940’s Radio Hour and Diamond Studs for which she earned the Twin Cities
Drama Critic Award for Best Choreography. She was on the writing team for The Lovely
Liebowitz Sisters and her original choreography of Pump Boys and Dinettes has been
produced over 24 times locally, on national tour, and for an extended run at the Ryman
Auditorium in Nashville. She is the Artistic Director of VISTA Productions which was
chosen from over 400 applicants to represent Minnesota at the Fringe Festival in
Edinburgh, Scotland. Her work has also been seen on the stage of The Medora
Musical, Hey City Stage, Great American History Theatre and numerous national tours.
Some of her directing credits include West Side Story, Wings, Children of Eden, Lost In
Yonkers, Into The Woods, A Christmas Carol and Beehive.
SCOTT R. HERBST (Production Manager, Set Designer)
Scott has been working professionally in the Twins Cities and surrounding areas since
graduating from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in
Theatre. His work is predominately in the Musical Theatre genre of the industry as a
Lighting Designer and Stage Manager for many shows. His work with Troupe America
has taken him around the country on many national tours and he has had the pleasure
of working with actors like Jamie Farr and William Christopher of M*A*S*H fame, and
Gavin MacLeod of the Mary Tyler Moore Show and the Love Boat. In addition, Scott
has served as part of a team of Production Managers for Zoom 7 handling various
venues for the Mary Kay Career Conference. As well as his work at the Plymouth
Playhouse, Scott enjoys gardening and remodeling his house in Edina, Minnesota with
his lovely wife Mary and their two college age children.
KEVIN KNODL (Lighting Designer) Kevin is excited to be back helping out at the
Plymouth Playhouse and working with the Church Basement Ladies. Kevin currently
works as the Production Manager for Fine Arts Programming at the College of St.
Benedict and St. John’s University in Collegeville. During his previous time with Troupe
America and the Plymouth Playhouse, he worked as Technical Director for such shows
as The Fantasticks, Christmas Carol, I Love You, You’re Perfect Now Change and
Pump Boys and Dinettes.
KATRINA BENEDICT (Costume Designer) is thrilled to be a part of Church Basement
Ladies 2: A Second Helping and Away in the Basement based on the writings of
Suzann Nelson and her mother Janet Letnes Martin. She works as a freelance costume
designer and draper at various theaters in the Twin Cities area. Her most recent
designs include Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second Helping, A Mighty Fortress Is
Our Basement, Kirby! for the History Theater, Sherlock’s Last Case for Minnesota
Centennial Showboat and various productions at Normandale Community College.
MARK BRODIN (Sound Designer) Mark designs and mixes sound for live theater,
churches, recording artists and corporate events. With 15 years experience, you may
have heard his work at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres in Minneapolis, The Medora
Musical or on TV and radio. Mark won an Emmy for his documentary Delafield.
TROUPE AMERICA, INC. (Producer) has been touring theatrical productions from
coast to coast and in Canada since 1987 under Executive Director/Producer Curt
Wollan. Past Troupe America tours include six seasons of Mr. Pickwick's Christmas,
two seasons of Dylan Thomas' A Childs' Christmas In Wales, five tours of Pump Boys
and Dinettes, two tours of Stephen King's Ghost Stories, three tours of the stage version
of the Emmy Award-winning TV series "Schoolhouse Rock, Live!," a co-production of
The Gifts of the Magi with the Lamb's Theater Company of New York and tours of On
Golden Pond, Driving Miss Daisy, Steel Magnolias and Forbidden Broadway with Big
League Theatricals of New York. Troupe America also operates the popular Plymouth
Playhouse in the Twin Cities area, having produced a four-year run of Nunsense, a fouryear run of Pump Boys and Dinettes, and critically acclaimed productions of Diamond
Studs, A Day In Hollywood A Night In The Ukraine, Little Shop of Horrors, The Lovely
Liebowitz Sisters, A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline, An Evening with Groucho starring
Frank Ferrante, and an eight-year run of a new musical based on Howard Mohr's bestselling book How To Talk Minnesotan titled How To Talk Minnesotan The Musical, the
off-Broadway success I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, and the new musicals
based on the best-selling book Growing Up Lutheran titled Church Basement Ladies
and its sequel Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second Helping!. In 1997, Troupe
America produced a highly acclaimed national tour of The Odd Couple starring
M*A*S*H's Jamie Farr and William Christopher and in 1998-99, the national tour of
Moon Over Buffalo starring Gavin MacLeod. In 1999/2000, Troupe America produced
Hank Williams, Lost Highway starring Jason Petty, and in 2001/2002 produced and
toured the national tours of The Sunshine Boys starring Dick Van Patten and Frank
Gorshin and Same time, Next Year starring Mackenzie Phillips and Adrian Zmed.
Troupe America produced the third incarnation of Church Basement Ladies entitled
Away in the Basement: A Church Basement Ladies Christmas at the Plymouth
Playhouse in Minneapolis this past holiday season, and premiered the fourth incarnation
of Church Basement Ladies entitled A Mighty Fortress Is Our Basement this past
summer. www.troupeamerica.com.