COLERAINE and HIBBING — Mesabi Musical Theatre is preparing encore performances of its successful winter musical and will soon hold auditions for a main summer production. “Always…Patsy Cline,” based on the country singer’s friendship with a fan, will be performed June 7 and 9 at Greenway High School in Coleraine. Individuals with and without musical theatre experience are encouraged to audition for “Ruthless! The Musical” at Lincoln Elementary School in Hibbing May 21—23.
Mesabi Musical Theatre most recently presented “Always…Patsy Cline” at Merritt Auditorium in Mountain Iron in February. The story is based on Cline’s real-life friendship with Texas housewife Louise Seger before the singer died in a 1963 plane crash at age 30. Seger relives how she and Cline became friends and pen pals, a story that includes dozens of classic country and western hits. Patsy Cline was the first woman inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and influenced artists such as Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire, Linda Ronstadt, Cyndi Lauper, and Kasey Musgraves.
Megan Reynolds and Amy Koivisto, both from Hibbing, play Patsy Cline and Louise Seger, respectively. The Bodacious Bobcats, Patsy’s band in the musical, features Shannon Gunderson on keyboard, Mike Randolph on pedal steel guitar, Steve Phillips on lead guitar, Aaron Kelson on bass, Clancy Ward and Kailyn Spencer on fiddle, and Tom Frichek on drums.
“Minutes after the last performance of the locally acclaimed ‘Always…Patsy Cline,’ Megan, Amy, and the band started talking about doing the show again,” said producer Tucker Nelson. “Their enthusiasm, plus incredible audience reviews, made scheduling more performances an easy choice. All aspects of the production will be the same, but we are using the beautiful Greenway High School auditorium to accommodate more audience members.”
One local patron wrote, “You chose your cast very, very well, and I thought it was staged beautifully. Thank you for a very enjoyable Sunday afternoon!” Another noted, “My friends and I truly enjoyed the performance this afternoon. Such talent right here on the Range! It was great to see the auditorium packed.”
Mesabi Musical Theatre’s “Always…Patsy Cline” will be performed Friday, June 7 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 9 at 2 p.m. Greenway High School is located at 308 Roosevelt St. in Coleraine. Tickets are $19 for adults and $14 students, senior citizens, and military personnel. Processing fees apply for online purchases, and ticket prices are higher at the door. Reserve seats at https://our.show/mmtpatsy.
The title was created and originally directed by Ted Swindley. Musical clearances are secured and used by permission. The musical is licensed by the family and estate of Patsy Cline.
Additionally, auditions are approaching for “Ruthless! The Musical,” a satirical comedy about a talented little girl who isn’t as innocent as she appears. According to publisher Concord Theatricals, “8-year-old Tina Denmark knows she was born to play Pippi Longstocking, and she will do anything to win the part in her school musical. ‘Anything’ includes murdering the leading lady!” Tina’s antics also change the lives of her doting mother and dramatic talent agent.
This aggressively outrageous musical was inspired by and satirizes the musicals “Gypsy” and “Mame” and the films “The Bad Seed” and “All About Eve.” The show garnered rave reviews during its long Off-Broadway run. Broadway veteran Laura Bell Bundy played Tina during the show’s first performances, and her understudies were Natalie Portman and Britney Spears.
Auditions are scheduled for May 21—23 (Tuesday through Thursday) at Lincoln Elementary School, 1114 E. 23rd St. in Hibbing. Singing and acting auditions begin in the school auditorium at 6 p.m. both nights. Those wishing to audition may attend either Tuesday or Wednesday night and should expect to be present for about an hour and a half. Callbacks are reserved for Thursday. A list of scheduling conflicts is requested for May 24—July 28.
In addition to Tina, characters include Sylvia St. Croix, a non-nonsense manager who guides the careers of talented children; Eve, an actress’s assistant with a few screws loose; and Miss Thorn, the serious director of a third-grade musical. For more information about the musical and a full list of characters, visit https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/2149/ruthless. Despite the age of the youngest characters, those auditioning should be at least 16 years old. There will also be opportunities to help with set construction, hair and makeup, and ushering.
The production team includes Susan Nelson, director; Emily Hixon, vocal director; Mary Creighton, costumer; Dustin Davidson, lighting and sound designer; and Kasie and Demetri Johnson, choreographers.
“Ruthless!” will be presented at Hibbing High School auditorium July 25, 26, and 28. Tickets will go on sale in June.
About MMT
Mesabi Musical Theatre started in 2002 to provide Iron Range high school students opportunities to participate in musical theatre, but shows now include performers of all ages. The community-focus group became a 501©(3) organization in 2014 and continues its mission of “bringing the best of Broadway to the Iron Range.” MMT has presented 14 musicals (including “The Sound of Music,” “Chicago,” and “Matilda”) and three showtunes revues. Learn more at www.mesabimusicaltheatre.com.
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