prior lake players :: the importance of being earnest · kim took the plunge back into theater two...

PRIOR LAKE PLAYERS :: The Importance of Being Earnest


Directors’ Notes

“The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde was first produced in 1895 in London. This farcical comedy touches on the triviality with which life can (and sometimes, perhaps, should) be treated. Wilde’s play points out the ridiculousness of taking life too seriously, writing at a time when Victorian social norms really did encourage earnestness and gravity of character.

The journey of directing this show took a bit of a turn early on when an unexpected diagnosis and surgery sidelined and humbled me as I needed more help than usual to bring everything together. A huge THANK YOU to my assistant director Patrick who stepped up and kept the process going seamlessly. Also a big shout out to the PLP Board and the Earnest cast and crew for all your help, understanding and patience. You all truly embody the spirit of community theatre; together we’ve created a fun show and it’s been an honor to work with every one of you.

We hope you enjoy our production of “The Importance of Being Earnest” and take to heart a quote attributed to Wilde - “Life is too important to be taken seriously.”

Sheri Brunner and Patrick Kloeckner-Walters

The 1895 London production

Act I: Algernon Moncrieff’s flat in Half Moon Street, W.Act II: The Garden at the Manor House, Woolton.Act III: Drawing-Room at the Manor House, Woolton.

SYNOPSIS OF SCENES


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calling all members past & present!

Cast of CharactersJohn Worthing, J.P. ................................................................................... Mike Seifert

Algernon Moncrieff .............................................................................. Charlie Bauer

Rev. Canon Chasuble, D.D. ...............................................................Duane Johnson

Merriman, Butler ....................................................................................... John Yonker

Lane, Manservant ..........................................................................Ryan Wiskerchen

Lady Bracknell ...........................................................................................Kim Greene

Hon. Gwendolyn Fairfax .............................................................Bretanne Ostberg

Cecily Cardew .......................................................................Catherine Fredrickson

Miss Prism, Governess ........................................................................... Fran Bohlke


Cast Biography

Charlie Bauer Charlie describes himself as “a human male with over 30 years of experience.” Charlie would like to thank his biggest fans: Clyde, Arya, Finn, Little, Sissy, Riggs, Sonia, his beautiful wife Jordan, and, most importantly, his rock and the prince of his heart: Broccoli Robert Bauer.

Duane Johnson Duane’s experience with the Prior Lake Players has had him filling the roles of a French Carnival worker, a singing School Board member, officiant for Daisy and Abner, beadle of a poor house, and ruling over the orphans with an iron flask….(or iron fist). He’s been a board member, an assistant director, and a director. He has coordinated a floating crap game, created life from freshly dug up corpses and hired the FBI to find the real parents of an 11 year old girl (twice). On this stage he’s appeared with all three of his children and the oldest of his grandchildren (…so far). He is very, very excited to be a part of this very talented cast and crew (even the lighting guy-inside joke). For excitement, he lives with Janna, his wife of 40 years, in Savage, MN.

John Yonker After a long hiatus from performing, John returned in 2014 as Mr. Bumble in River Valley Theatre Company’s performance of Oliver! and has since performed with RVTC, Prior Lake Players and Expressions Theater. This is John’s second performance with Prior Lake Players, and he is thrilled to be back. When he’s not enjoying himself in the theatre, he is an extremely boring lawyer.

Mike Seifert Like the bear that gorges itself on honeyed grubs before hibernating for the winter, Mike overindulged on the performing arts and spent nearly a decade away from the stage recuperating. Now he is thrilled to make his debut with the Prior Lake Players as John Worthing in The Importance of Being Earnest. When off the stage, Mike can often be found helping his parents on the family farm, restoring his old house, or playing the guitar. He lives in Jordan with his amazingly patient wife and adorable daughter. Thanks mom!


Kim Greene Kim is delighted to perform with the Prior Lake Players. Kim took the plunge back into theater two years ago after a long hiatus. She appeared at Theatre In The Round as Hammond in the Fringe production Thor: Jurassica Park, as Evelyn Briggs in Chameleon Theatre Circle’s production of independence and as Bev/Kathy in Clybourne Park at Century College. She has also appeared in sixteen independent films including feature films Dragonfly and Edge of Insanity. Occasionally, Kim works with local police, role playing de-escalation techniques. Kim thanks her husband Cliff for his enthusiastic and loving support.

Bretanne Ostberg Bretanne is happy to be back after her first PLP experience, playing Veta in last year’s Harvey ! She gained experience from her college and high school theatre days, playing roles from a Shakespearean Witch Queen, to a precocious little girl, to a corpse. Now she works as a graphic designer in Golden Valley and lives in Prior Lake.

Catherine Fredrickson After a long hiatus from full-scale productions Catherine is so excited to be back on stage. From singing to theatre to dance , Catherine has loved performing since she was young all the way through college and beyond. The Importance of Being Earnest is her second PLP production. She works in HR in Plymouth and lives in Savage with her husband and 18 month old son.

Fran Bohlke Fran is a retired public school teacher who’s been active in community theatre for over 30 years. She has worked with Grassroots Community Theater in Worthington, Green Earth Players in Luverne, Curtain Call Theater in New Prague, River Valley Theater in Shakopee, and with the Eden Prairie Players. Fran loves working with small ensembles and loves to make people laugh. One of her favorite roles was Ethel Thayer in On Golden Pond. The youngest of eleven, she is delighted that no matter how old she gets she’ll always be the baby.

Ryan Wiskerchen Ryan Wiskerchen is thrilled to be a part of his first show with the Prior Lake Players. Maybe you’ll recognize him from Fringe Festival shows like A Mid-Summer Night’s Gotham and The Donner Party Kidz!, and a Des Moines production of Our Town with the Repertory Theater of Iowa, or maybe you won’t. That’s okay too.


Recognition & ThanksGina FernTwin Oaks Custodial StaffCity of Prior LakeJim BaldwinPrior Lake AmericanDavid TumaPrior Lake High School Theatre Dept.Flowers NaturallyProp It Up NowOn Solid GroundHoly Cross Lutheran Church Mike WartmanRhonda OlynykJim Helgerson and Lori BoyntonPaul and Pauline Drake

We would like to recognize all of our wonderful volunteers who make the show a reality and who have engaged to make this great production come to life!

Moving Up? Down? or Out?

Sounds like the beginning of a one-act play. Contact Tess Andrews and Jessica Lamker

to set a stage for the rest of your life.

TessAndrews | 612-961-3974 [email protected]

JessicaLamker | 952-380-7091 [email protected]


Production Crew

NICK SOTIS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Directors .................................. Sheri Brunner and Patrick Kloeckner-Walters

Stage Managers .................................. Bob Cunningham, Carrie Cunningham

Set Design ..................................................................................... Steve Hermansen

Set Construction ..........................................Steve Hermansen, Lisa Atkinson, Jennifer Baker, Fran Bohlke, Carrie Cunningham, Bob Cunningham, Nick Downs, Richard Duffin, Michele Erwin, Laura Hermansen, Duane Johnson, Patrick Kloeckner-Walters, Derek Kloeckner-Walters, John Lucas, Bretanne Ostberg, Mike Seifert, Michael Sweeney, Mike Wartman, Jodene Wartman, John Yonker

Technical Director ....................................................................................John Lucas

Lighting Board Operator ....................................................................Josh Clausen

Costumes ...................................................................Lisa Johnson, Linda Linehan

Hair .................................................................................................................Ann Sasse

Props ......................................................... Patrick and Derek Kloeckner-Walters

Photographer & Videographer ................................ Juris Ozols, Rick Dunning

Publicity & Events .....................................Jennifer Baker, Melissa Cummings, Bob Cunningham, Kay Dunning, Stephanie Meacham, Meghan Pedersen

Lobby ............. Joyce Arneson, Karen Dekker, Justin Dekker, Kay Dunning, Michele Erwin, Kellie Klein, Stephanie Meacham, Michael Sweeney

The Prior Lake Players sponsor the annual Nick Sotis Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is worth up to $1,000 and is awarded to a high school senior who demonstrates a strong theatrical background.Deadline to apply is April 2019.


President ........................................................................................................Michael Sweeney

Vice President ..................................................................................... Stephanie Meacham

Treasurer ............................................................................................................Dan Stephans II

Secretary ..................................................................................................................... Kellie Klein

Publicity Director .............................................................................................. Jennifer Baker

Strategic Planning ...................................................................................Meghan Pedersen

Membership Director .............................................................. Derek Kloeckner-Walters

Operations Director ...................................................................................Bob Cunningham

Technology Director ............................................................................................... John Lucas

At-Large .................................................................................................................. Sheri Brunner

At-Large ........................................................................................................................Todd Loose

Prior Lake Players Board of Directors


PLP MEMBERSLifetime Members Cindy GerdesDave GerdesElaine GrendahlJerry GrendahlAnnie HowleyPatti Sotis

Director Members Jennifer BohlenSheri BrunnerMelissa CummingsJohn LucasStephanie MeachamWilliam MuchowDan StephansKaren Welch

Stage Manager MembersLisa AtkinsonBob CunninghamCarrie CunninghamJustin DekkerKaren DekkerKay DunningKim Wylde

Actor’s Guild MembersDon ArnesonJoyce ArnesonJennifer BakerMolly BlaeserKarl BrownDan Fouberg

Kirsten GerhardtPatrick GlynnTim GogolinLisa JohnsonRobert JohnsonKellie KleinDerek Kloeckner-WaltersPatrick Kloeckner-WaltersGail LandorBecca LeachFrancie MaddenKathi MannionCheri MeidingerMeghan PedersenMike ReardonTrish SchabertJerry SchrankJeffrey SpeaksJanelle SwansonSher Unruh-FriesenJohn Yonker

Voting Members Michele ErwinDoug HollowayLinda LinehanJuris OzolsThomas RennerJonathan RodriguezMichael SweeneyJodene WartmanMike WartmanPat WieseRon WieseRyan Wiskerchen

Membership dues support our theatrical productions, the annual Nick Sotis Memorial Scholarship, and our promotion of local, charitable organizations. Learn how you can upgrade your show ticket to a membership in the lobby during intermission.

Support the local arts by becoming a member of the Prior Lake Players Community Theatre (PLP) today!

prior lake players :: the importance of being earnest · kim took the plunge back into theater two...

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