DigElogROCORI

GNTC presents: THE MUSIC MAN

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Friends of the Library Variety Show * Hannah Molitor

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In this act Hannah Molitor sings the country song "Cowboy Sweetheart". The song includes an excellent opportunity for Hannah to showcase her yodeling skills. This is a great song sung by a delightful young lady.

This is the 9th act of the "Friends Of The Library Talent Show" stay in tune for even more to come.

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SEE PREVIOUS TALENT SHOW ACTS:

ROCORI High School Play - The Glass Menagerie

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On November 8,9, & 10, the ROCORI High School Drama Department proudly presented Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie at the Glanville-Smith Auditorium. This story features an interview with the director of the play, Tom Siekkinen as well as each cast-member. Siekkinen had kind words for the community and the cast-members all had kind words for their director. Those involved with the play are especially grateful for all members of the community that support the ROCORI Drama Department.

Crazy For You

   
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A community theater in Cold Spring, Minnesota was formed in September of 1991 when interested people came together to dedicate the Rocori High School Auditorium to long time arts supporter and Cold Spring resident Glanville Smith. The variety show performance sold out all 500 seats and the proceeds were given to the new board of directors to form a community theatre.  Work began on our first production and the Great Northern Theatre Company was officially incorporated in 1992. Since then, Great Northern Theatre Company has proudly produced many quality plays. This year they put on the comedy musical Crazy For You. This story features footage from play practice as well as an interview with the director and cast members.
   

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This story has been sponsored by Tom Graham, your Cold Spring State Farm agent.  If you are trying to save money on combined auto and home insurance, be sure to check with Tom on what State Farm® has available.  Remember, take care of your family's tomorrow by making plans today.  "Like a good neighbor, State Farm® is there." Conveniently located in downtown Cold Spring, give Tom a call at 320-685-3672.

See Other Tom Graham State Farm Insurance Sponsored Stories

Charley's Aunt presented by GNTC

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THE PLOT: 

Charley Wyckham (played by Alex Schmitz) and Jack Chesney (Ethan Wittrock) are undergraduates in the late 1800’s at Oxford University.  They need a chaperone so they can entertain their girlfriends Amy Spettigue (Melanie Thelen) and Kitty Verdun (Alexis Keppers). Charley receives word that his Aunt, whom he has never met or spoken to in his life, is coming to visit him. The boys grab this opportunity and send a telegram to Amy & Kitty saying that they are invited for lunch to meet Charley's Aunt, Donna Lucia d’Alvadorez, who is a rich and widowed aunt from Brazil ("where the nuts come from").  Their butler, Brassert (Bob Thelen), has everything set up and all is ready until Charley's Aunt sends a telegram to say that she has been detained on business and not to expect her for a few days. The boys start to panic and persuade their friend, Lord Fancourt Babberly - "Babbs" (Grant Thelen), to masquerade as Charley's Aunt.

As Charley and Jack intend to declare their love to their sweethearts at some convenient point during the lunch appointment, they want Charley's Aunt out of the way, so they invite Jack's unsuspecting father, Frank Chesney (Gary Brinkman), to lunch, but those two do not pair up as planned.   Of course, the real Charley's Aunt, Donna Lucia (Mary Middendorf) arrives unexpectedly with her adopted 'niece' Miss Ela Delahay (Kateri Salk).  They play along with the game and reveal some of their own history and past romances.  When Stephen Spettigue (Amy’s uncle & Kitty’s guardian played by Ron Woods) arrives, he is introduced to the fake Charley’s Aunt and instantly falls in love.  The truth is eventually told, everyone saves face, and all works out properly in the end.

THE CAST
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Jack - Ethan Wittrock is a Junior at SCSU studying English and has been in a number of GNTC shows.

Charley - Alex Schmitz is a Junior at Rocori High School and has been in the chorus of several GNTC musicals.

Brasset - Bob Thelen provides a number of financial services thru his firm Wealthcare in Cold Spring and has appeared in a variety of roles including GNTC's first play and first musical. 

Lord Fancort Babberly  "Babbs" - Grant Thelen works at Archway Marketing in the cities and has appeared on stage and in the pit with GNTC.

Mr. Francis Chesney - Gary Brinkman owns Brinky's Liquor in Richmond and was seen in last year's Nunsense production as Howard "Tevye" Liszt.

Amy - Melanie Thelen is studying Economics at St. Ben's and is new to GNTC.

Kitty - Alexis Keppers has been in several GNTC shows and is making her directorial debut with Charley's Aunt. 

Spettigue - Ron Woods is recently retired and has appeared in every GNTC production to date. 

Donna Lucia - Mary Middendorf is the Office Manager for Kraemer Trucking & Excavating and has appeared in many GNTC shows including Sister Hubert in our two Nunsense productions and as Reno Sweeny in Anything Goes.   

Ela - Kateri Salk is a junior at Rocori High School and has been in several GNTC musicals.

Directed by:  Alexis Keppers

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This story is sponsored by Tom Graham, your "Land Of ROCORI" State Farm Insurance agent.  If you are looking for great rates on combined auto and home insurance, be sure to check with Tom on what State Farm has available.  Remember, whether you're looking for insurance or financial services... "like a good neighbor, State Farm is there."  Conveniently located in downtown Cold Spring, give Tom a call at 320-685-3672.

 

Romeo & Juliet @ ROCORI HS

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Romeo and Juliet was written by Shakespeare at a relatively early juncture in his literary career, most probably in 1594 or 1595.  Recently his works were performed in the "Land Of ROCORI" by our own high school theatre.

In this story we hear from Romeo played by Scott Rieffer, Juliet played by Courtney Kroska, Father Capulet played by Dan O'Connor and the nurse played by Katie Johnson.  Each describes their acting careers at ROCORI and provides insight into the challenge of doing Shakespeare.

The Director Tom Siekkinen knew that this would be the time for considering Romeo & Juliet earlier this year after successfully presenting "Once Upon A Mattress".  He felt that there was the right mix of talents with this group of students that could meet the challenge of presenting Shakespeare.

"Once Upon A Mattress"

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On November 17, 18 & 19th of 2005, the ROCORI High School presented the play "Once Upon A Mattress" in Glanville Smith Auditorium.  In this story, director Tom Siekkinen, choral director Dee Holsinger and music director Tony Hutar talk about the fantastic job all of the ROCORI young people did in this comic musical.

Click either the photo or "QUICKTIME" to see video story.  This is a large file that can take more than 5 minutes to load even with broad band, high speed access.

This story was sponsored by Affordable Computing Solutions (ACS), your Land Of ROCORI Authorized Clearwire dealer. 

Contact Ty today at 320.685.3222 or stop by their office at 22nd and 3rd Ave.  Suite #4.  They are located in the lower level of the Chain of Lakes Mortgage building in Cold Spring.  The entry door is around the back.  Look for the Affordable Computing Solutions sign above the door.  Please call ahead of time for an appointment.

Anything Goes Review

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The director and cast talk about the play "Anything Goes", a production that ran from August 4th-12th, 2005 at the Glanville Smith Auditorium at the ROCORI High School in Cold Spring, MN.  The 55 member cast performed 6 nights to a packed house of attentive theatre goers.  Hear the inside story as to what it takes to put on a show of this magnitude.

See WRITTEN REVIEW & PHOTOS (click here)

Listen to the song, "FRIENDSHIP", sung by Mary Middendor, Alex Willard and Dan Roeder.

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"Anything Goes!" production by Great Northern Theatre

"Anything Goes", a production that ran from August 4th-12th, 2005 at the Glanville Smith Auditorium at the ROCORI High School in Cold Spring, MN. 

It was the last night of the six performance show.  The play "Anything Goes", presented by the Great Northern Theatre Company, had been a big success and DigElogROCORI was there to interview the Director.

Chad Middendorf, a long time Great Northern Theatre Company performer, had his first time in the director's chair with "Anything Goes".  "The greatest thing that happened is the cast members who came to try out for the show.  We had so many talented and skilled people who auditioned.  When I saw the 75 talented individuals gathered for a total of 55 parts in the play, I knew we were going to have a great show."

Although the talent was the key element for Middendorf to put together a great performing cast, it also created the most difficult part trying to choose between the many gifted candidates. "The hardest part was also the talent that showed up and having to make the tough choices of who would be best in each of the performing roles.  The good and the not so good in my maiden voyage as a director was tackling the difficult  challenge of reducing the group of 75 talented persons down to the final cast of 55." said Middendorf.

"The great thing is when you see the wonderful product everyone is producing on the stage.  Once we were able to harness all this talent, it all came together to successfully produce a very challenging  "Anything Goes" musical.  Not only does the cast do a fantastic job, but all of the support people, those folks you don't see who are behind the scenes, have done such a terrific job keeping everything running smoothly." commented Director Middendorf.

Anything Goes Written Review & Photos

It was the last night of the six performance show.  The play "Anything Goes", presented by the Great Northern Theatre Company, had been a big success and DigElogROCORI was there to interview the Director.

Chad Middendorf, a long time Great Northern Theatre Company performer, had his first time in the director's chair with "Anything Goes".  "The greatest thing that happened is the cast members who came to try out for the show.  We had so many talented and skilled people who auditioned.  When I saw the 75 talented individuals gathered for a total of 55 parts in the play, I knew we were going to have a great show."

Although the talent was the key element for Middendorf to put together a great performing cast, it also created the most difficult part trying to choose between the many gifted candidates. "The hardest part was also the talent that showed up and having to make the tough choices of who would be best in each of the performing roles.  The good and the not so good in my maiden voyage as a director was tackling the difficult  challenge of reducing the group of 75 talented persons down to the final cast of 55." said Middendorf.

"The great thing is when you see the wonderful product everyone is producing on the stage.  Once we were able to harness all this talent, it all came together to successfully produce a very challenging  "Anything Goes" musical.  Not only does the cast do a fantastic job, but all of the support people, those folks you don't see who are behind the scenes, have done such a terrific job keeping everything running smoothly." commented Director Middendorf.