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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.