Friday is opening night
The Pennsylvania Rose in the news!
'Pennsylvania Rose' saddles up for run at Venture Theatre
By Warren Gerds
wgerds@greenbaypressgazette.com
Venture Theatre, which puts on original plays by local writers, will have a number of firsts going when it opens "The Pennsylvania Rose" Friday for a six-weekend run.
"The first is that it is a Western, a genre known more for the big screen than the stage," said director Kasey Johnson. "I love Westerns and having the chance to direct one seemed too good to pass up."
The script is by Matt Worzala, a veteran Venture Theatre writer and performer.
The story takes place in Pickett, Texas, several years after the Civil War. It follows the most famous female outlaw in Texas.
"'The Pennsylvania Rose' opens with The Rose escaping the noose with the help of her partner, Grace, and being chased down by the marshal," Johnson said. "After a stand-off, the marshal shoots The Pennsylvania Rose and watches as she stumbles over the edge of a gorge and falls to her - supposed - death in the river below."
The story picks up five years later.
This play marks the first time in Venture Theatre's three seasons that a woman is the central character. It is also Johnson's first time directing at Venture Theatre.
"I have been working with this theater as a stage manager since the production of 'Black Peter' in the first season, and I am very excited to be shifting into the role of the director," she said.
The cast is made up of Julia Bayer and Sarah Goltz alternating in the role of The Pennsylvania Rose; Kristen Abrahamson as the sidekick, Grace; Peter Blavat, Marshal Chase Hattley; Ken Goltz, Seth Pickett; Joe Abrahamson, Doc Wilson; and John Egan, Jon Bruinooge and Terry Minor, multiple roles.
Minor, who has acted in other local troupes, is making her Venture Theatre debut. Others in the cast are ComedyCity and Venture Theatre regulars.
Costuming is key in the production.
"With the help of Laurie Bruinooge, a regular ComedyCity performer, we have built many costumes by hand over the last few weeks, and they really help bring the show to life," Johnson said.
On Friday, Venture Theatre will experience another first: opening two plays in two cities on the same night. Along with opening "The Pennsylvania Rose" in De Pere, "Get Down(sized)!," which previously played at Venture Theatre, will open a long run in Chicago with its original cast.
'Pennsylvania Rose' saddles up for run at Venture Theatre
By Warren Gerds
wgerds@greenbaypressgazette.com
Venture Theatre, which puts on original plays by local writers, will have a number of firsts going when it opens "The Pennsylvania Rose" Friday for a six-weekend run.
"The first is that it is a Western, a genre known more for the big screen than the stage," said director Kasey Johnson. "I love Westerns and having the chance to direct one seemed too good to pass up."
The script is by Matt Worzala, a veteran Venture Theatre writer and performer.
The story takes place in Pickett, Texas, several years after the Civil War. It follows the most famous female outlaw in Texas.
"'The Pennsylvania Rose' opens with The Rose escaping the noose with the help of her partner, Grace, and being chased down by the marshal," Johnson said. "After a stand-off, the marshal shoots The Pennsylvania Rose and watches as she stumbles over the edge of a gorge and falls to her - supposed - death in the river below."
The story picks up five years later.
This play marks the first time in Venture Theatre's three seasons that a woman is the central character. It is also Johnson's first time directing at Venture Theatre.
"I have been working with this theater as a stage manager since the production of 'Black Peter' in the first season, and I am very excited to be shifting into the role of the director," she said.
The cast is made up of Julia Bayer and Sarah Goltz alternating in the role of The Pennsylvania Rose; Kristen Abrahamson as the sidekick, Grace; Peter Blavat, Marshal Chase Hattley; Ken Goltz, Seth Pickett; Joe Abrahamson, Doc Wilson; and John Egan, Jon Bruinooge and Terry Minor, multiple roles.
Minor, who has acted in other local troupes, is making her Venture Theatre debut. Others in the cast are ComedyCity and Venture Theatre regulars.
Costuming is key in the production.
"With the help of Laurie Bruinooge, a regular ComedyCity performer, we have built many costumes by hand over the last few weeks, and they really help bring the show to life," Johnson said.
On Friday, Venture Theatre will experience another first: opening two plays in two cities on the same night. Along with opening "The Pennsylvania Rose" in De Pere, "Get Down(sized)!," which previously played at Venture Theatre, will open a long run in Chicago with its original cast.