St. Olaf Theatre Department presents "Violet"

This fall, the St. Olaf Theatre Department presented Violet, with music by Jeanine Tesori and libretto by Brian Cawley. Violet is a young girl who has a terrible scar that runs across her face, which she received when her father lost control of his axe. The musical tells the story of her pilgrimage from Spruce Pine, North Carolina to Tulsa, Oklahoma to be healed by a television preacher. The musical is based on a short story entitled The Ugliest Pilgrim by Doris Betts. It was directed by Professor Karen Wilson, and I served as the music director and pianist. The show ran in St. Olaf's Haugen Theater, a small black box, from October 6-11.

St. Olaf Theatre Department presents "Assassins"

Last spring, the St. Olaf Theatre Department presented Stephen Sondheim's Assassins, a revue-style portray of men and women who attempted (successfully or otherwise) to assassinate Presidents of the United States. The production was presented April 9-18 in Kelsey Theatre and was directed by Artist in Residence in Theatre Gary Gisselman, with music direction by Eric Sayre '10. I served as one of two rehearsal pianists and synthesizer players in the pit.

St. Olaf Theatre Department presents "Brother Wolf"

For their annual interim production, the St. Olaf Theatre Department presented Brother Wolf, an Appalachian re-telling of the Beowulf story, written by Preston Lane with original music by Laurelyn Dossett. The production was directed by Professor Karen Wilson, with musical direction by Chris Ganza. I served as the assistant musical director and pianist. The production ran February 12-20, 2009 in Kelsey Theater.

New Thalian Players present "The Wizard of Oz"

The New Thalian Players produced and presented The Wizard of Oz as this year's installment of "Theater In The Park". The New Thalian Players is a theater company based in Manchester, New Hampshire, and they have been providing high quality community theatre to the area since their inception in 1983. To learn more, visit their website by clicking here.

Performances of The Wizard of Oz were July 18, 19, 25, 26 at the Veterans Memorial Park

(Henry Lewers played piano in the pit for the show.)

High Mowing School presents "Bye Bye Birdie"

This year's Spring Play at High Mowing School was Bye Bye Birdie. The show, directed by Dale Coye, was performed to full houses April 24-26 at the Pine Hill Waldorf School.

Click here to see pictures from the show.