Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve made several cast announcements for the first handful of shows of our upcoming 2017-2018 season. In case you’ve missed the big email announcement or Facebook postings (there’s a lot happening out there, we know!), we are proud to once again share the cast announcements for 1984, Rumors by Neil Simon, A Christmas Carol, and the ABBA-rific Mamma Mia!
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CAST LIST
Joe Birdseye
Seth Hannasch
KT Magnolia*
Jonathan Manchester*
Justin Peck*
Kitara Peterson*
Cheryl Skafte*
Kyliah Thompson
Based on the iconic novel by George Orwell, 1984 brings us the story of Winston Smith, a cog in the giant machine state of Oceania. Physically and mentally under the omnipresent eye of Big Brother, Winston has been caught struggling for scraps of love and freedom in a world awash with distrust and violence. With the brutal “help” of four Party Members, Winston is forced to confess his Thoughtcrimes before an unseen inquisitor, and the audience — which acts as a silent witness to his torture.
Performing in The Underground Theatre: October 5-14, 2017
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CAST LIST
Ken Gorman: Jason Scorich*
Chris Gorman: Julie Venhuizen
Lenny Ganz: Jody Kujawa*
Claire Ganz: Vicki Fingalson
Ernie Cusak: Mike Pederson*
Cookie Cusak: Sara Marie Sorenson*
Glenn Cooper: Greg Anderson
Cassie Cooper: Louisa Scorich*
Officer Pudney: Ashley Whitcomb
Officer Welch: Mark Venhuizen
Charley and Myra Brock are celebrating their 10th anniversary and have invited all their good friends. Chris and Ken Gorman are the first to arrive. They show up only to find that Myra is missing and Charley has “accidentally” shot himself. Charley is unconscious and so unable to tell them what happened. Charley is the Deputy Mayor of New York City and, hoping to avoid a scandal, Ken and Chris go about covering up what they assume to be the truth of the situation.
In the end, all the guests are complicit in a cover-up that no one even really understands, but the fantastical events of the evening are hilarious and give a rich basis for great characters doing what Neil Simon does best – making the mundane…insane.
Performing on the Depot Theatre stage: September 21-October 1, 2017
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Ebeneezer Scrooge: Michael Kraklio*
Bob Cratchit: Adam Sippola*
Marley/Old Joe: Mike Pederson*
Ghost of Christmas Present: Gabe Mayfield
Ghost of Christmas Past & Future: Louisa Scorich*
Mrs. Cratchit: Rebecca Farmer
Peter Cratchit: Logan Johnsrud
Belinda Cratchit: Katie Higgins
Tiny Tim: Cadence Gruber
Children: Madeline Watt & Esme Johnsrud
Mr. Fezziwig: Kirby Wood
Mrs. Fezziwig: Carol Zakula
Fan / Martha: Fi Robbins
Fred / Undertaker: Jody Kujawa*
Young Scrooge: Matias Valero*
Child Scrooge: Oskar Lindaman
Belle: Kitara Peterson*
Dick: David Greenberg
Dick’s Girlfriend: KT Magnolia*
Ignorance and Want: Logan Kemtar & Presley Johnsrud
Charity Woman: Mimi Effinger
Topper: Matt Johnsrud
An adaptation of the beloved book by Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a mean-spirited, miserly old man who is visited by four ghosts, Christmas Past, Christmas Present, Christmas Future, and Jacob Marley, his former business partner. Marley is condemned to wander the earth weighted down with heavy chains for his greedy and self-serving ways. He warns Ebenezer Scrooge that he will share his fate if he does not change his life.
Performing on the Depot Theatre stage: November 30-December 17, 2017
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CAST LIST
Donna: Jen Burleigh Bentz**
Tanya: Vicki Fingalson
Rosie: Tanya Moore
Sam: Shad Olsen**
Harry: Jason Scorich*
Bill: Justin Peck*
Sophie: Courtney Groves
Lisa: Amber Burns*
Ali: Jessie Albritton
Sky: Derek Bromme
Pepper: Jesse Davis*
Eddie: Bryan Burns
Ladies Ensemble:
Angela Shields*, Erin Blazevic*, Nicole Elysian*, Kelly Killorin, Catherine Dukelow, and Sara Marie Sorenson*
Gentlemen Ensemble:
Kyle McMillan*, Colby Schwartzwalter, Tyler Goebel, Matias Valero*, Jeffrey Nelson, and Drew Autio*
Sophie, a young woman about to be married discovers that any one of three men could be her father. Without telling her mother, Donna, she invites all three to the wedding on a colorful Greek island. With help from her bridesmaids, Sophie tries to figure out which man is her father, hoping to fulfill her dream of having her father walk her down the aisle.
When Donna sees the three men from her past, she seeks the comfort of her best friends (and former bandmates). Meanwhile, the three men guess the reason why they were invited and each of them believes he is indeed Sophie’s father. Misunderstandings lead to complications and it seems like the groom may be getting cold feet. The wedding is in jeopardy and so are the relationships of all involved.
As the plot weaves together a wealth of ABBA songs, the characters are woven together in surprising ways, culminating in a wedding, but whose?!
The premier performance at the NorShor Theatre, Mamma Mia! takes stage February 1-18, 2018.
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*Member of the Playhouse Resident Company
** Member of Actor’s Equity Association