Musical cast and crew ready

By TRACY KIEL
Mille Lacs County Times
Posted 6/26/03

The cast and crew of the ³For Love of Country² musical have had only five weeks to put together the up-coming shows. They perfected solos, polished instrumentation, practiced narration, learned line-dances, coordinated vehicles, and much more.

³For Love of Country² will be performed in downtown Milaca at 7 p.m. on June 27 and 28. It will also be performed at the same time in Princeton on July 1 and 2. Audience members are asked to bring blankets or chairs and a free-will donation, which will benefit Interfaith Caregivers.

Interfaith Caregivers is a faith based organization that provides volunteer services to individuals and families living in difficult circumstances, said Teresa Nelson, executive director of the organization. The money raised from donations will primarily be used to coordinate the 180 volunteers who work for the agency. The musical is paired with the Alfred Olson Company and Olsons SuperValu 100th anniversary. The idea originated from Roger Gerdin, a board member for Interfaith Caregivers and director of the show.

The Milaca Area Performing Arts Council had recently put on a production in the spring, and no production was scheduled for this summer. Gerdin knew of the Olsonsı anniversary celebration and had mentioned to them the idea of combining the event with a musical that would benefit Interfaith Caregivers. They could have picked anyone, Nelson said, referring to the Olsons. They chose us, and we sincerely appreciate that.

The Electric Norseman Music Company became the Princeton sponsor, supplying amplifiers and other sound equipment. Other sponsors include Bob 106, Jeff and Linda Hammer, the First National Bank of Milaca, and the Princeton Auto Center. The show had to raise $5,000 in actual money and in-kind, Gerdin said.

The production is a combination of vehicles, narration, and music. A variety of vehicles will be featured throughout the show and will range from classic convertibles to trucks to tractors. Narrators will tell the stories of four couples or families. These stories include both humorous and serious content and are primarily concerned with the relationships of the characters. Country music plays an instrumental part in the production by assisting the narrators in telling the stories.

If I know the song, you'll know the song, Gerdin said. The show consists of 30 country western songs covering classic to contemporary styles. Some of the songs include ³Crazy,² ³Stand by Your Man,² ³King of the Road,² ³Desperado,² ³When will I Be Loved,² ³Achy Breaky Heart,² ³She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy², and ³Forever Amen.² The production will end with a patriotic medley.

The most challenging part of the show was coordinating everybody's busy schedules, Gerdin said. There was a large number of schedules to coordinate with all of the members of the cast and crew.

The show features eight soloists. They include Becky Grahn, Rick Stueland, Mary Jarvis, Heather Jones, Norris Johnson, Tom Stodola, Vicki Thompson, and David Sanborn. Many of these people are professionals who have made money from performing, Gerdin said. The Bistodeau family will also be playing blue-grass music during the Princeton shows.

The production also includes a five- to seven-piece orchestra led by Joni Norrgard and 12-14 line dancers led by Tara Philaya. There is also a tech crew of eight people who are in charge of lining up vehicles for entrances and exits. The cast and crew members are primarily from the Milaca area with a few from Princeton or Zimmerman.

Itıs a show that has incredible talent that could play in Minneapolis and be very professional there, Gerdin said. Milaca and Princeton should be really proud.