BEMIDJI, Minn. (Nov. 5, 2010) — Thirty-one students are participating in the Bemidji State University theatre program’s production of “Butcher of Baraboo,” a dark comedy written by Marisa Wegrzyn. “Butcher of Baraboo” will have a five-performance run beginning Friday, Nov. 5, and closing with a matinee performance on Sunday, Nov. 14 on the main stage of Bemidji State’s Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex.
Bemidji State’s production of “Butcher of Baraboo,” which will mark the play’s debut in the state of Minnesota, is directed by Patrick Carriere, assistant professor of theater and communication arts. Scenery and lighting are designed by Ellen Jones, assistant professor of theater.
“Butcher of Baraboo” is a dark comedy about a family in chaos, that family’s dirty little secrets and a sharp meat cleaver. Valerie is the town butcher in Baraboo, Wis., with a husband who has been mysteriously missing for a year. Valerie’s daughter, Midge, is a pharmacist who’s clientele extends beyond the drug store. During a particularly cold week in February, the town’s sheriff — who just happens to be Valerie’s meddling sister-in-law — will attempt to uncover this family’s secrets.
“Butcher of Baraboo” was written by Chicago-based playwright Marisa Wegrzyn; it debuted at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 2006. A 2003 graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, Wegryzn won the third annual Wasserstein Prize in 2009; the award, named for the late Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Wendy Wasserstein, is given to a female playwright under 32 who has yet to receive national attention.
Wegryzn was on campus for the play’s opening night, participating in a “Talkback” question and answer event following the performance.
Admission is $12 for adults and $6 for students, children and senior citizens. BSU students are admitted free with a valid student ID. “Butcher of Baraboo” contains sensitive material and is intended for adult audiences. Tickets are available in the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex box office, located in Bangsberg 101 on the BSU campus. The box office is open from 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. weekdays; call (218) 755-3935 for more information.
For more information, please contact Patrick Carriere, Bemidji State University Department of Humanities, at (218) 755-3901 or e-mail pcarriere@bemidjistate.edu.
“BUTCHER OF BARABOO” CAST AND CREW
BEMIDJI
56601 – Candice Billups, senior, art; charge artist.
56601 – Warren Billups, senior, design technology; student technical theatre coordinator.
56601 – Anthony Cole, senior, engineering technology; scene shop crew.
56601 – Ceara Dowell, sophomore, theatre; starring as Valerie, the town’s butcher.
56601 – Jessica Ladig, senior, psychology; starring as Gail, Valerie’s sister-in-law and the local sheriff.
56601 – Dustin Mostoller, freshman, industrial technology; scene shop crew.
56601 – Ellen Munson, junior, early childhood education; house manager.
56601 – Thomas Skime, freshman, theatre; sound; scene shop crew; office staff; run crew.
56601 – Kirsten Wade, senior, theatre; starring as Midge, Valerie’s daughter and local pharmacist.
MINNESOTA
ANOKA
55303 – Kendra Johns, freshman, accounting; run crew.
BRAINERD
56401 – Kayla Dechaine, junior, biology; scene shop crew.
DEER RIVER
56636 – Jacqueline Teegarden, junior, theatre; starring as Sevenly, Donal’s wife and mother of six
EAGAN
55122 – Benjamin Eng, junior, business administration and theatre; publicity and box office advisor; office staff.
ELK RIVER
55330 – Robert Boland, junior, music and theatre; as Donal, Gail’s brother and husband of Sevenly.
ESKO
55733 – Amanda Sorensen, senior, creative and professional writing; lighting.
GOODHUE
55027 – Kyla Kyllo, junior, design technology; costumes.
KELLIHER
56650 – Taffeny Gladney, freshman, physics; office staff.
MIDDLE RIVER
56737 – Rachel Bukowski, freshman, design technology; poster design.
MINNEAPOLIS
55430 – Matthew Hatle, freshman, marketing communication and mass communication; run crew.
NEVIS
56467 – Niel Havnes, freshman, theatre and music/liberal arts; run crew.
OAKDALE
55128 – Jesse Villarreal, senior, theatre; costume design.
PARK RAPIDS
56470 – Jon Billing, senior, art; scene shop crew.
56470 – Kate Hanisch, freshman, English and theatre; assistant scenic designer; assistant charge artist.
PELICAN RAPIDS
56572 – Nate Shulstad, senior, technology education; scene shop crew.
PERHAM
56573 – Courtney Guck, freshman, elementary education; costumes.
SHEVLIN
56676 – Kathryn Demaris, freshman, biology; costumes.
SOLWAY
56678 – Melissa Lewis, sophomore, nursing; run crew.
WACONIA
55387 – Margaret Stivers, sophomore, undecided; office staff; house manager.
TEXAS – EL PASO
79912 – Larisa Berglund, freshman, theatre; stage manager.
MALAYSIA
Festus Ojo, sophomore, computer science; office staff.
THAILAND
Santipab Tipparach, freshman, computer science; assistant stage manager.
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