Monthly Archives: August 2010

Bemidji High School Theater Students, hold onto your hats!

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If the current play at the Long Lake Theater is any indication of the quality of production of the new English/Drama teacher coming to BHS this fall, the students are in for a wild ride. “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” by Long, Singer and Winfield and directed by Tracy Nicole Klefsas is so well done that even a non-Shakespeare viewer will enjoy it. I can say that confidently because when we went to see it on Saturday night, the audience was still laughing on the way out.

Local actors Andy Browers, Eric Benson and Bob Boland give it their all in this zany comedy. It’s a bit out there and fast paced, after all they do all the plays in 90 minutes as well as introductions and some explanations of Shakespeare’s writing styles. The audience participation part was exceptionally well planned and accomplished for everyone joined in which shows a trust between actor and audience. Each actor connected with the audience with facial expressions, adlibbing with selected people, joking with a youngster in the first row and just plain having fun with the script and each other. Backstage, Liz MacGregor, another student from BSU, kept the actors supplied with props, costumes as well as stage managing the show.

Special thanks were given in the program to Jeremiah Liend and Kirk Karstens for coaching the fight scenes—the audience appreciated the skill of the actors in fencing with wows and applause. The show is wonderful, it all comes together so nicely. The final performances are this week— don’t miss it!  We had dinner at the Y Steak House just before reaching Park Rapids and from there it is only a 15 minute drive to the theater. There is also the Hilltop Inn just up the block from the theater. .

There will be a 3 p.m. matinee Aug 25 and 26. Evening performances start at 7:30 p.m., Aug.26-28 at Long Lake Theater. Tickets are $14 for adults, $7 for children 4-12 and group rate (15 or more) is $12.50. Go south on U.S. Highway 71 four miles past Park Rapids, turn left onto state Highway 87 and travel four miles east to Hubbard, turn right onto Hubbard County Road 6 and the theater is located about four blocks south on the left. Reservations recommended, call 218-732-0099 or www.longlaketheater.com.

BSH students who are interested in theater should definitely make the effort to see this play; not only for the content but also as a good chance to see comic timing done very well.  Thanks Andy, Eric and Bob for an enjoyable performance that we’re still laughing about and talking up to anyone who will listen.

Calendar Listings September 2010-May 2011

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Any arts organization that wishes to have their event included on this column,  please send the information to prall@bemidjipioneer.com

September 2010

Sept. 6, 7, 6- 9 p.m., Auditions at BSU, fall production, “The Burcher of Bariboo.”

Sept. 16-18, “Side by Side By Sondheim, Saarens Productions, ” Wild Rose Theater.

Sept. 17—Oompah for the Arts, the major fundraiser for Bemidji Area Arts Endowment at the Town and Country Club.

Sept. 24–7 p.m. Desserts by Design, a fundraiser for the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra sponsored by the Orchestra Guild.

Sept 26 –7:30 p.m., Bemidji Concert Series, Tien-Hsin (Cindy) Wu, violin, and Jiayi Shi piano, Thompson Recital Hall. Tix: $20 regular, $5 all students. Luekens North and BSU Music Department and at door if available.

Sept. 25–Billy Collins, former Poet Laurete of the U.S.: 10 a.m., 90 min.discussion, Paul Bunyan Playhouse, open to the public.  11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Collins to sign his books at Book World.  7:30 p.m., Bemidji High School, “An Evening with Billy Collins.” tickets at Headwaters School, Leuken’s North and KAXE; $20 adults, $10 students. Post lecture reception,  at Headwaters School, tix stub admission.

October 2010

Oct 10, BSO, “Testament of Spirit,” 3 p.m., BHS. $20 adults, $15 senior/student, free students ISD#31.

Oct. 22-24– Bemidji-First City of the Arts Studio Cruise

Oct. 30, VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, 7:30 p.m., Thompson Recital Hall. Tix: $20 regular, $5 all students. Luekens North and BSU Music Department and at door if available.

November 2010

Nov. 5,6,12-14,  BSU, “The Butcher of Bariboo,” Bangsberg Complex for Fine and Performing Arts, main stage.

Nov. 14, BSO, “Testament of Heaven,” 3 p.m., BHS. $20 adults, $15 senior/student, free students ISD#31.

Nov. 18-20, “Hamlet,” Saarens Productions,  Wild Rose Theater.

December 2010

Dec. 7,  BSO Geoffrey Woodley Memorial Messiah/Holiday Concert, 7:30 p.m., BHS., $5

Dec. 18, 19, First City of Dance Christmas Show, Wild Rose Theater.

January 2011

Jan. 30, 31 Auditions,  6-9:30 p.m., BSU Spring production auditions, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

February 2011

Feb. 15, BSO Valentine’s Concert, 7:30 p.m., BHS, tickets $5.

7:30 p.m.

March 2011

March 6, BSO. “Testament of Renewal,” 3 p.m., BHS. $20 adults, $15 senior/student, free students ISD#31.

March 10-12, “Mere Image” by Saarens Productions, Wild Rose Theater.

March 19, Sister Song, Wild Rose Theater.

April 2011

April 8,9,15,16,17, BSU spring production, “A Midsumer Night’s Dream,” Bangsberg Complex for Fine and Performing Arts, main stage.

April 15, Jeff Coffin, the BSU Jazz I and BHS Jazz band, 7:30 p.m. Bemidji High School.  Tix: $20 regular, $5 all students. Luekens North and BSU Music Department and at door if available.

April 29, 30, May 1, “I Never Saw Another Butterfly,” Saarens Productions, Wild Rose Theater.

May 2011

May 1, BSO, 3:00 p.m. “Testament of Defiance,” in collaboration with Bemidji State University Choir and Bemidji Chorale.

June 2011

June 8-18, “She Loves Me,” musical, Paul Bunyan Playhouse.

June 22-July 2, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” PBP

July 2011

July 6-16, “Forever Plaid”  PBP

July 20-30, “21A” PBP

August 2011

Aug. 3-13, “The Full Monty”  PBP

Tags: artsnews bemidji, Bemidji Concert Series, BSU theater productions, calendar, fundraisers, Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra, Paul Bunyan Playhouse summer season, summer stock, theater, Bemidji Symphony Orchestra, Saarens Productions,

The new theater company in town moves into the Wild Rose.

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 After that whirlwind event last week, the Bemidji Book Festival, I’ll try to get back on course as soon as possible. It was exciting for me to attend a lecture, drive down to the Pioneer, write a story in 30 minutes, meet the deadline and hope that someone edits or at least reads the entry before publication. The stories themselves were based on the assumption that the reader was familiar with the author, credentials and past publications. All that information was given in a feature article and the weekly arts column, not to mention the attractive handouts all over town. Therefore, most of the stories dealt with the author as a person, why and how they write without allowing a critique of the work to enter the story?at least, that is what I tried to accomplish. A word of thanks to Dennis, the publisher, for having the faith in me to complete this project; Molly for going along with it; Eric and Jerry for all the prompts and how-to’s and Bethany for showing me how to download my pictures to the desktop. Can’t forget Brad for letting my editorial work slide till the last minute. It looks like I am going to have a permanent desk/computer slot again which will make working at the office much easier? I won’t need to wait for a computer to open up anymore! I hope that answers all the questions that have been directed my way.

 After a great beginning last March with a dinner theater at the Hampton Inn, Saarens Productions, signed on the dotted line with the Masonic Temple, and has taken over management of the Wild Rose Theater. They promise to be open to the public for viewing in the art gallery on a consistent basis, have more shows through the year and will still house the First City of Dance, “Nutcracker,” “Sister Song”and other yearly favorites.

      That said, housekeeping notes so to speak, the first production is going to be “Side by Side By Sondheim,” a musical revue that will include many of the actors we have enjoyed here in Bemidji this past year. As soon as more information is available, it will be printed.

Welcome Aboard, Saarens Productions, it will be good to have a year-round theater presence in the town! Just by looking at the tentative schedule they sent to me, it going to be an exciting first year.

“Everything’s Coming up Roses “for Karen-Weise Thompson and cast at the Paul Buyan Playhouse.

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Gypsy, the musical by Jules Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Arthur Laurents opens Wednesday, Aug. 4 at the Paul Buynan Playhouse. Ah, the lyrics!  Songs that relly tell the story and performed so well by the cast and musical duo, Abe Hunter and Andrew Clemenson.

Don’t let the simple stage set turn you off—it’s simple on purpose so that it doesn’t compete with the action on stage now at the playhouse. Action from the first step on stage and Mama Roses’ admonition to the girls to be ready and her bullying of the theater owner to let them perform their vaudeville act. Zach Curtis has done it again in assembling the right cast for the right show.

Weise-Thompson has risen to the role with her brassy, loud, mother-tiger, obsessive controlling and feisty stage mother interpretation of Mama Rose. She is the perfect foil for all other actors. Her younger daughters are played by Shyanne Kaml as Baby June and Jamie Lusby as Baby Louise and they are good—very good! During the Dainty Jane and her Farmboys segment, the transition to older June and Louise is accomplished seamlessly—so watch out for it. Hint, they’ll be waving American flags.

It is at that point that Katherine Tieben becomes June and Kristen Husby Louise on the edge of adolescence but then again, they really don’t know how old they are. The birthday party for Louise with Chinese food and a cake with 9 candles (the same number as last year and the years before) is interrupted by the landlord. Mama shuffles him around to prove that there are not as many people in the place as he thinks. Then, Herbie interrupts the party with Mr. Goldstone of the Orpheum circuit. Mama and the troupe sing an upbeat “Have an Eggroll Mr. Goldstone.” It is a fast-paced song and dance routine that is a pleasure to watch—the choreography is spot-on. The choreographer is Shannon Roberg and she is a third generation dance instructor from Minnetonka. Her choreography and what she has accomplished with the cast is remarkable. Tulsa (Daniel Lundin) taps and sings his way so well through “All I Need Now is the Girl” because of her soft-shoe instruction.

There are so many exciting moments to the show. Paul Reyburn’s longsuffering agent/lover/father Herbie has just the right personna for the overbearing Mama Rose. He books the troupe, pays the bills and protects the girls all the while hoping that he and Mama can get married someday soon. Character actor Craig Johnson is amazing as he transforms from Uncle Jocko, the clown, to grandpa to the girls and all the other characters including a female secretary.

It is nice, in this show, to hear Katherine Tieben vocalize. As well as playing the older June, she is also a kind hearted stripper who along with the bugle blowing Mazepppa (Catherine Battocletti) and balletic Tessie Turo (Bonnie Allen) tells Louise, “You Gotta Get a Gimmick.” Louise (Kristen Husby) assumes the burden of Mama’s dream for stardom for the girls.

The chorus Jarius Abts, Sarah Bull, Joshua Hinck, Jaime Kleiman and Daniel Lundin give their all as the show is double and triple cast just like one would see in Broadway productions. They are able to sustain their energy throughout the show very nicely.

In the end, we learn that it is really Mama’s life, lived vicariously through her girls, that we have seen. Louise tells her mother that she could have been something, mother retorts with, “I was born too early and started too late.”  The self-examination by Mama Rose at the end of the show brings the audience to a place of empathy rather than scorn for this, mostly un-needed and nosy mother who just can’t give it up. This is Karen Weise-Thompson’s show and don’t you forget it!!!

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The Bemidji Book Festival begins this Monday, August 9 at 2 p.m. in the Wild Rose Theater (501 Bemidji Ave.) with Brian Duren. He will be speaking about his first published novel, “Whiteout,” set in the north woods of Minnesota about a family that has lost its internal compass and is trying to reclaim the right path. The book won the Independent Publisher Association’s Gold Medal for Midwestern Fiction among numerous other awards.

Also on Monday at 7 p.m. in the Bemidji Public Library, (509 America Ave.) Will Weaver. who writes fiction for adults and young adults, will talk about his work. Weaver a retired English professor from BSU has published many books and short stories. As a New York Times Book Review stated, “(his writing) views America’s heartland with a candid but charitable eye.”

Tuesday, Aug. 10, local artist Jane Freeman will speak at 2 p.m. at Sparkling Waters Restaurant, 824 Paul Bunyan Drive. Jane is a lifetime member of the “Transparent Watercolor Society of America” and the author of books and feature articles on watercolor. She is an avid gardener and is known for her flowers and still life paintings.

Also on Tuesday, Winona LaDuke will be speaking at the Indian Resource Center on the campus of BSU on Birchmont Drive. Winona will speak at 7 p.m. about issues for which she is nationally and internationally known: sustainable development, renewable energy and food systems. A two-time vice presidential candidate on the Green Party ticket, she is presently on the Advisory Board for the Trust for Public Lands Native Lands Program.

Wednesday, Aug. 11, Carol Ann Hauser, a poet, essayist and natural history writer will speak at 2 p.m. at Diamond Point Park.

Also on Wednesday at 7 p.m., Sean Hill will speak at the Bemidji Community Arts Center, 426 Bemidji Ave. A poet and writer, his first book, “Blood Ties & Brown Liquor” was published in 2008 and his newest anthology, “Black Nature: Four Centuries of African American Nature Poetry” is forthcoming.


The rest of the scheduled events will be published on this blog within the next few days. The event goes to the end of the week, Saturday, Aug. 14 and will include a Area Author Fair from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Bemidji Lakefront by the statues of Paul and Babe.