UPCOMING
BRAINERD COMMUNITY THEATRE
PRODUCTIONS
It's Murder Dontcha Know?
It’s Murder, Dontcha Know?
Written for the stage by Mary Aalgard
Adapted from the novel by Jeanne Cooney
Brainerd Community Theatre presents a staged reading of a new play by local playwright and theatre teacher Mary Aalgard!
After a hard life on a farm in northwestern Minnesota’s Red River Valley, Doris Connor buries her philanderer husband and moves to the small Scandinavian community of Hallock, located on the edge of nowhere. Her plans for a quiet retirement are put on hold when the local pharmacy is robbed, the suspect is murdered and the sheriff believes Doris’s two adult children are complicit in the crimes. Can Doris find the killer among the folks in Hallock? And if she does, will the sheriff, an old flame but a new headache, believe her?
Featuring a cast of new and returning Brainerd Community Theatre performers, including:
Charlie Johnson,
CJ Nichols,
Joanna Collins,
Julie Jo Larson,
Kevin Klawitter,
Kyara Topp, Maarja Melander,
Sam Collins,
Sharon Hartley,
Susan Mathison-Young
One night only at the Dryden Theatre!
September 29 at 7:00pm
FREE EVENT - LIMITED SEATING
NO TICKET REQUIRED -
FIRST COME FIRST SERVED
Doors open at 6:30pm
OCTOBER & NOVEMBER 2023
Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson
The true story of 19th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt explores a woman’s place in society during a time of immense scientific discoveries, when women’s ideas were dismissed until men claimed credit for them. Social progress, like scientific progress, can be hard to see when one is trapped among earthly complications; Henrietta Leavitt and her female peers believe in both, and their dedication changed the way we understand both the heavens and Earth
NOVEMBER 2023
The Wonderettes are back! This seasonal celebration finds the girls entertaining at the annual Harper’s Hardware Holiday Party. When Santa turns up missing, the girls use their talent and creative ingenuity to save the holiday party! Featuring great ’60s versions of holiday classics such as “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Run, Rudolph, Run,” and “Winter Wonderland,” the result is, of course, marvelous! This energetic and glittering holiday package is guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages.
DECEMBER 2023
THE STORY: Moriarty is dead, to begin with. And Sherlock Holmes is a haunted man. But, when a grown up Tiny Tim asks Holmes to investigate the death of Ebenezer Scrooge, the Great Detective must use his gifts to solve a Dickens of a Christmas mystery! Six actors take on the beloved characters of Arthur Conan Doyle and Charles Dickens in this heartwarming and highly theatrical holiday treat for all ages!
A CLCPAC co-production with
Actors Repertory Theatre
Kinky Boots
Music and Lyrics by Cyndi Lauper
Book by Harvey Fierstein
A Brainerd Community Theatre production
SUMMER 2023
Kinky Boots runs July 25 through August 3, 2
About laKinky Boots is the big-hearted musical extravaganza that won six Tonys including Best Musical, the Grammy for Best Musical Theatre album and London’s Olivier Award for Best Musical. Kinky Boots features a joyous, Tony-winning score by pop icon Cyndi Lauper, and a hilarious, uplifting book by four-time Tony winner, Harvey Fierstein. Billy Porter won a Best Actor Tony Award for his portrayal of Lola.
Charlie Price has reluctantly inherited his father's shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father's legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola, a fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair find that they have more in common than they realized... and discover that when you change your mind, you can change your whole world.
KINKY BOOTS
is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI
https://www.mtishows.com/
Kinky Boots
The Cast
Olivia Armstrong . Ensemble
Jacob Beckmann. Angel
Jaxon Bunnis. Young Simon
Travis Chaput . Charlie
Richard Dreissig . Homeless man
Liz Davies. Georgia
Lynn Ellison . Ensemble
M. Hollis Ford . Simon Sr./Lola’s Father
Joey Haasken . Ensemble
Jacob Hanson. Lola
Ben Harris . Ensemble
Sharon Hartley . Trish
Lydia Jendro . Ensemble
Émali Jiménez . Ensemble
Kevin Klawitter . Ensemble
Devin Knopf. Angel
Zachary McIlravy . Angel
Lucas Moen . Ensemble
Caden Mrazak. Don
Connor
James Nichols. Harry
Abby Pratt. Lauren
Kristen Pratt . Ensemble
Mackenzie Pratt . Ensemble
Mackenzie Renford-Papillon. Nicola
Anton Rotelle . Ensemble
William Schmitz. Young Charlie
Brody Schultz. Angel
Abi Swenson. Pat
Watson. Mr. Price
Brainerd Community Theatre
Scenes from 9 to 5
January 2023
Photography by Sheila Boldt, Pine Haven Photography
Brainerd Community Theatre
A Christmas Carol
December 2022
Photography by Maren Martin
Brainerd Community Theatre
Brighton Beach Memoirs
Fall 2022
Photography by Maren Martin
Rehearsal scenes from Sister Act Summer 2022:
Photography by Rachel Martin
Clarence Darrow rehearsal images Spring 2022:
Photography by John Erickson, Art Matters Gallery and Studio
Patrick Spradlin as Clarence Darrow
Elf - The Musical, Cast Rehearsal Fall 2022:
Photography by John Erickson, Art Matters Studio and Gallery
Cast images from Wait Until Dark...
photography by John Erickson, Art Matters Studio and Gallery
Maren (Goff) Martin as Susan
Kevin Yeager as Roat
Nick Kory as Mike
Brainerd Community Theatre's productions of 'Amadeus', 'Elf - The Musical' and 'Wait Until Dark' are recipients of grant funding provided by: Five Wings Arts Council
Brainerd Community Theatre Company
2021-2022 Season
The BCT company hails from towns throughout the area. “We have members from Brainerd and Baxter, of course, but we also have several from Little Falls, Crosby, Pillager, Staples, Crosslake, Jenkins, Pine River, Nisswa, Fort Ripley, Breezy Point, Merrifield, Buffalo, and Minneapolis,” said Patrick Spradlin, BCT Director.
BCT’s season opens on October 21 with the suspense thriller ‘Wait Until Dark.’ The cast for the production includes Lily Cameron, Dave Endicott, Macy Judd, Nick Kory, Maren Martin, Brian Rhett, and Kevin Yeager. Spradlin will direct.
‘Elf: The Musical’ will premiere on December 9, directed by Travis Chaput. The cast includes Phyl Bell, Jesse Brutscher, Ryan Deblock, Jake Denning, Lindsey Derry, Mya Frank, Peyton Freeman, Jaydon Friedel, Lydia Jendro, Cy Johnson, Jana Johnson, Macy Judd, Rachael Kline, Maren Martin, Rachel Martin, Katie Nelsen, Regina Nelsen, Marc Oliphant, Maureen Paulus, Melissa Peterson, Abby Pratt, Emily Pratt, Mackenzie Pratt, Brian Rhett, Martha Rustad, Elli Salo, Rhonda Schmidt, Anika Seitzer, Attly Speer, Krystin Wiseley, and Lauren Yeager.
‘Amadeus,’ a drama based on the last 10 years of Mozart’s life, will open on February 10 under the direction of Spradlin with a cast of Isaak Anderson, Phyl Bell, Deb Binda, Gary Binda, Alan Bock, Brianna Engels, Sharon Hartley, Larissa Hynes, Bri Keran, Kevin Klawitter, Nick Kory, Lisa LeBlanc, Maren Martin, Matt Munoz, Shelly Munoz, C.J. Nichols, Marc Oliphant, Mike Paulus, Nicole Rothleutner, Erik Sanbeck, Patti Scott, and Kevin Yeager.
The history-based drama ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ will conclude the season when it opens on April 21. Directed by Beth Selinger, the cast is comprised of Isaak Anderson, Alan Bock, Jesse Brutscher, Dave Endicott, Mya Frank, Jaydon Friedel, Macy Judd, Jenny Kiffmeyer, Nick Kory, Marc Oliphant, Mike Paulus, Rhonda Schmidt, Rebecca Timmins, and Kevin Yeager.
The creative team for the company consists of Heidi Eckwall (lighting design), Tim Leagjeld and George Marsolek (scenic design), Dawn Krautbauer, Heather Pearson, and Ruthie Gmeinder (costume design), Curtis Jendro (sound and video design), Gina Singer (specialty props), Amy Borash (choreographer), and Koreann Martin (vocal direction). Lorri Jager is company manager.
Photograph and BCT photography by John Erickson, Art Matters Studio and Gallery
About the Community Theatre
The Brainerd Community Theatre, part of the Central Lakes Community Performing Arts Center, serves as a cultural hub for the Brainerd Lakes area, and enjoys a 50-year tradition of providing year-round theatre entertainment. Students and community members alike are welcome to be a part of the productions, both onstage and backstage. Productions are staged year-round, with a robust summer theatre program serving the resort population of the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s just for CLC students, right?
Not at all! As a community theatre we involve the entire community. Auditions are open to everyone. And we’d love to have you backstage, if being onstage is not your thing. Our shows are always a mix of community members, students, former students, and people of all ages.
You have to have a lot of acting experience to get a role, right?
Not at all! We love having first-time actors in our productions, along with seasoned performers. You have to start somewhere, so why not start with one of our productions.
It takes a lot of time, doesn’t it?
The short answer is: maybe. That depends on how much time you have to give. Rehearsals for our productions typically last anywhere from 4 to 5 weeks, with another two weekends of performances. We try to work with your schedule as much as we possibly can so that you can participate. The crews who run our shows are generally committed to three weeks of time. We respect your time. We understand you’re making a sacrifice of time to be with us. We think you’ll find it’s well worth it.
How do those actors memorize all those lines?
The one question most actors are asked. The answer, of course, is one sentence at a time.
I don’t want to act. What else have you got?
We are always glad to hear this question! For every actor on stage there are at least three people working behind the scenes to build scenery, paint it, hang it, find props, help with costuming, focus the lighting, run the controls, manage the stage, usher the audience….it takes an army! We’d love to have you enlist! You may rise to the rank of general!
Who do I contact if I want to join up, or just have more questions than these?
To be added to our audition announcement email list, or to ask about opportunities to usher; work backstage or help promote our work, contact our box office at [email protected] or at 218-855-8199.
Brainerd Community Theatre past productions...
'The Odd Couple' by Neil Simon
'Talking With' by Jane Martin
'Scotland Road' by Jeffrey Hatcher
Past productions continued...
2020-21 Season:
Talking With
Scotland Road
The Marveolous Wonderettes
Sh-Boom! LIfe Could Be A Dream
2019-20 Season:
A Long Trip - BCT's first live streamed play
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
All My Sons
Mamma Mia!
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
2018-19 Season:
The Sunshine Boys
A Few Good Men
Boeing, Boeing
Bill W. and Dr. Bob
The Elephant Man
Church Basement Ladies
2017-18 Season
Play On!
The Woman in Black
Mr. Burns-A Post Electric Play
Five Women Wearing the Same Dress
Young Frankenstein-The Mel Brooks Musical
Neil Simon's "Rumors"
2016-17 Season:
Nunsense
Clarence Darrow
Flowers for Algernon
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Hansel and Gretel
2015-16 Season:
Steel Magnolias
Bill W. and Dr. Bob
The Seafarer
Relatively Speaking
Monty Python’s Spamalot
2014-15 Season:
The Foreigner
The Mousetrap
The Servant of Two Masters
Blithe Spirit
The (Almost) Totally True Story of Hansel & Gretel
2013-14 Season:
The Rimers of Eldritch
I Hate Hamlet
Jack the Ripper, Monster of Whitechapel
The Weir
Dearly Departed
2012-13 Season:
The Glass Menagerie
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Season’s Greetings
The Diary of Anne Frank
Brighton Beach Memoirs