Church Basement Ladies
About
They’re back! The Church Basement Ladies are busy ironing the dishtowels and untangling the Christmas lights in anticipation of the eighth and newest show in the Church Basement Ladies series, “Hark! The Basement Ladies Sing.” The holiday show runs now through January 10, 2020, at the Black Box Theater at the Ames Center in Burnsville, and features the hilarious antics, wry observations, gentle humor and nostalgic storytelling that the Church Basement series has become famous for. The show also features over a dozen fresh holiday songs — inspired by your favorite Christmas carols – perfectly suited for banging out on the old upright piano.
The eight original musicals in the Church Basement Ladies series celebrate rural life in the 1950s through the late 70s. Each centers around the three ladies and their minister: Mavis (Greta Grosch), Vivian (Janet Paone), Karin (Dorian Chalmers), and Pastor E.L. Gunderson (Tim Drake), and the colorful stories of their rural community. Twin Cities veteran actor, Michael Lee, joins the original cast as Wally.
“The Church Basement Ladies and the holiday season go together like lutefisk and an enamel pot, dontcha know,” says Greta Grosch, co-creator of the Church Basement musicals. “This time, we’re joining the ladies in December 1960, when the congregation has gathered to record a special Christmas greeting for one of their boys serving overseas. As the ladies serve up coffee and bars, Mavis smuggles a piglet into the kitchen, old Arlo shares his unique version of the Christmas story, and the Widow Vivian Snustad gets a special surprise from her friends.”
Produced by Curt Wollan, Troupe America, Inc., “Hark! The Basement Ladies Sing” is written by Greta Grosch, with music by “Triple Espresso” co-creator Michael Pearce Donley; original lyrics by Michael Pearce Donley based on a concept by Greta Grosch; and inspired by the books of Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson.