Posted: 7/12/05
Musical coming to Spring Grove Thursday-Sunday
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
ìItís definitely a riot.î
And thatís a good thing when it comes to the play Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
The musical will be presented this Thursday-Sunday at Ye Olde Gray Barn 1/4-mile east of Spring Grove on Highway 44 at 8:30 Thursday through Sunday evenings.
Colin Marnach, who plays one of the seven brothers, said on July 8 that things were going well for the musical.
ìSeven people end up getting married in the end. Itís definitely a riot,î Marnach said.
He described the play as a romantic comedy that adults will enjoy and kids will think is cute too. ìThe singers are very exceptional. Weíre very fortunate to have the musicians that we do,î said Marnach, whose beautiful voice was a fixture at Caledonia High School concerts until his graduation in 2004.
A lot of the cast members have worked together before, Marnach added. ìWe have a riot together. So we donít have to work on the whole bonding experience every year.î
The sets and scenery have an interesting twist too. Literally. They revolve around a post in the center of the barn. The post usually poses a challenge to plays in the old building. But not this year. Turn the set 90 degrees and the audience sees a new scene. ìItís one of the nicest ideas Iíve ever seen there,î Marnach said.
About the play
The play is based on the successful 1954 MGM film of the same name. Millie is a young bride living in the 1850s Oregon wilderness who plans to civilize and marry off her six rowdy brothers-in-law to ensure the success of her own marriage. The scheme backfires when the brothers, in their enthusiasm, kidnap six women from a neighboring town to be their brides.
The seven brides are Milly (Anna Booman), Alice (Liz Booman), Dorcas (Molly Crickman), Ruth (Marie Larson), Liza (Christa Booman), Martha (Angie Griffin), and Sarah (Staci Amdahl).
The seven brothers are Adam (David Storlie), Gideon (Colin Marnach), Benjamin (Mark Schroeder), Caleb (Jacob Grippen), Daniel (Zech Anderson), Ephraim (Kyle Tollefson), and Frank (Kevin Anderson).
The suitors are Jeb/Lumberjack 1 (Ben Fink), Carl/Lumberjack 2 (Noah Gerdes), Luke/Lumberjack 3 (Chris Fried), Matt (Aaron Anderson), Joel (Isaac Zaffke), and Zeke (Nick Thorson).
Rounding out the cast are the townsfolk. They include Preacher (Steve Kemp), Mr. Bixby (Brad White), Mrs. Bixby (Sarah Holland), Dorcasís sister (Addy Cross), Townsgirl (Mary Gerdes), Mrs. Perkins (Janet Reuteler), and Mr. Perkins (Jonathan Gerdes).
Laurel Stinson of Madison, WI, is directing the musical. She is the production manager at the Wisconsin Union Theatre in Madison and has taken a couple months off to live in the area and direct Seven Brides For Seven Brothers.
A familiar name and face to the Ye Olde Opera House stage, David Storlie, is this yearís producer.
Dinner on the Green will begin each evening at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling (507) 498-JULY (5859).
Editorís note: Thanks to the Spring Grove Herald for contributing to this article.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com