By Sara Strong
The Palace Theatre is hosting a flashback of the last 25 years of Luverne community theater. With that comes some familiar players and songs from past productions.
The variety show (7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9) celebrates the Green Earth Players and the Palace Theatre. The anniversary show will raise money for the Palace as it acknowledges community theater’s contributions to local entertainment.
"It’s been a great opportunity for people who love live theater — to act or to take part in all phases of production," Ben Vander Kooi, program emcee, said.
Besides being an advocate for keeping the Palace open, Vander Kooi is president of the Council for Arts and Humanities in Rock County, which envelops organizations like GEP.
Having community theater return to the Palace keeps the historical theater true to its original intent, Vander Kooi said.
LaDonna Van Aartsen is directing the variety show and said a play from each year will be acknowledged — in song, statements or a short scene. Only original cast members will perform.
She said, "It’s fun to see everyone remember the old plays during rehearsals."
One actor who’s having fun remembering his time on stage is Dr. George McDonald. He hasn’t made acting a big hobby, but his lead role in "The Odd Couple" as Oscar made an impression.
"I can remember everything about the play. It should be a lot of fun to do it again, if I can remember my lines," McDonald said.
"The Odd Couple" was staged 22 years ago.
Tammy Makram, director of the Council for Arts and Humanities in Rock County said, "It’s very appropriate for [the Green Earth Players] to be raising money for the Palace, because they’re back in the Palace now."
She also said the show has a bigger impact on the community than just this one event. "If people want to be able to enjoy entertainment at the Palace, they need to come and support events like this."
Break a leg
The Green Earth Players’ premier production was "Ten Nights in a Barroom," directed by Tom Brakke in June 1978. The musical melodrama was performed at the Luverne High School Little Theatre.
Brakke, now living in Deephaven, is coming to Luverne for the anniversary show.
The June 7, 1978, Star Herald listed cast members. They were Bruce Kurtz, Melissa Weinman, Mary Peterson, Jeff Crull, Gerrit Van Aartsen, Ardella Johnson, Harlan Van Wyhe, Gary Swenson, Virginia Von Holt, Gregg Ormseth, Wade Shores, Jeannee Emery, Sally McFadden, Mark Harrison, Kariann Dahlen, Randy Wulf, Wendy Johnson, Lisa Gradert, Margaret Olsen, LeAnn Reu, Fred Manfred Jr., and Kris Achterhoff.
Other production staff included Donna Schmidt, musical director; Kevin Van Westen; Keith Van Westen, producer; Jim Hatch, associate producer; Dave Shapley, technical director; Mar Weinman, sets; Dean Mogck and Brenda Mann, stage managers; Mary Keitel, choreography; Julie McFadden, makeup, and Carole Achterhof and Audrey Walgrave, costumes.
To attend
The Carnegie Box Office will sell advance tickets for the
7 p.m. Feb. 8 and 2 p.m. Feb. 9 performances, but there is no reserve seating.
Carnegie hours are
11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. The Carnegie’s phone number is 283-8294
and it is located at
205 N. Freeman, Luverne.
Tickets will also be sold before performances at the Palace Theatre.
Green Earth Players season tickets aren’t being honored, because the anniversary show is a fund-raiser, not a standard production.