Brainerd, Minnesota Weekly Interest and News

GLAPA Theatre Performances
Updated September 3, 2009
Laura Hasse

Greater Lakes Area Performing Arts
Did you know the Lakes Area has a group dedicated to enriching the local culture through their support of the performing arts? The Greater Lakes Area Performing Arts, or GLAPA, formed over 25 years ago with the intent to bring Arts to the Lakes Area at a reasonable price. Since its inception, GLAPA has established a reputation of providing well-received, quality performances. (Recent Performances | Upcoming Performances)

GLAPA sets performances for each season, helping to find the talent, boost season ticket sales, and raise funds to underwrite programs. The GLAPA board is comprised of community-based, volunteer members. Performances are held at the Pequot Lakes High School Theater, to which GLAPA contributes support for upkeep and improvements.

Working closely with the Pequot Lakes Community Theater, GLAPA offers theater performances as part of its entertainment repertoire. PLCT productions now comprise three (3) of the performances offered each year, typically offering a summer show, a fall musical, and a winter, non-musical performance. The summer production typically coincides with the Pequot Lakes Bean Hole Days event. Each theatrical production is scheduled for six (6) presentations.

In addition to the PLCT productions, four (4) other performances are offered annually. Talents may include musical groups, comedy acts, vocalists, dancers, and magicians. Recent acts have included Willow Brae and the George Maurer Group. Each of these concert performances is held for only one night.

Getting Involved
GLAPA welcomes everyone, regardless of the level of experience, to become involved with their organization. A number of ways exist for you to support their goal:

• Attend a Performance; ask a friend to join you.
• Make a donation, monetary or in-kind welcome.
• Purchase a season pass.
• Help with event promotion.
• Use your performing arts talents and become part of the show!

Contact the Community Education Office at 218-568-9200 to find out more about how you may get involved with GLAPA.

Season Ticket Passes
Season tickets include passes to six (6) exciting performance events! (The summer performance is not included.) For more information regarding Season Ticket availability, contact Pequot Lakes Community Theatre at 218-568.9200.

Upcoming GLAPA Performances
Mark you calendar for the following upcoming GLAPA Performances:

Polyester, The Musical A new '70s Musical! Scripted staged reading by local actors. Playwrite: Phil Olson.	September 13, 2009 3:00 pm
Todd Green International multi-instrumentalist	October 24, 2009 7:30 pm
Curtains Musical Comedy Whodunnit presented through special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide.	November 13-15, 2009 November 20-22, 2009 7:30 pm
Clearwater Hot Club Gypsy Jazz Quartet	January 23, 2010 7:30 pm
Peter Pan A Pequot Lakes Community Theater Production.	7:30 pm shows on: March 6-7, 2010 March 12-14, 2010 2:00 pm shows on March 6, 7, & 13, 2010
Minneapolis Guitar Quartet A range of musical genres the will leave you inspired--from Renaissance to Latin to contemporary.	March 20, 2010 7:30 pm
Prudence Johnson and Dan Chouinard A celebration in Stories, Photos and Songs: "The Golden Age of Radio" presented by vocalist Prudence Johnson and pianist Dan Chouinard.	April 10, 2010 7:30 pm

Find out more about Season Tickets to GLAPA performances

Recent GLAPA Performances
Recent GLAPA performances include:

A Don't Hug Me County Fair Comedic production by Phil Olson	July 8-11, 2009 July 13-14, 2009
Strikepoint Duluth, Minnesota based handbell ensemble performance	April 18, 2009
Gaudete Brass Quintet Brass Ensemble	March 28, 2009
Born Yesterday Comedy by Garson Kanin A wise, witty comedy about mixing romance and politics.	February 13-15, 2009 February 20-21, 2009
Tim Gabrielson Comic Magician, Minnesota Native	January 17, 2009
Bye Bye Birdie Musical A musical performance that tells the story of a rock-and-roll singer who is about to be inducted into the army.	November 14-23, 2008
Claudia Schmidt Performance by Michigan Native Claudia Schmidt. An entertaining performance that incorporates Claudia's musical talents and love for entertaining.	October 24, 2008
Behind the Scene GLAPA technical experts provide a demonstration at how theatre magic is made.	September 13, 2008
Crappie Talk Comedy by Phil Olson A small northern Minnesota town radio show host, Lars Knutsen, is replaced by his love interest, Martha, when the KOLD radio station's new owners take over. A comedic tale of Lars's need for love, dignity and Martha.	July 8-13, 2008
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Based on the book by Laura Joffe Numeroff; adapted for the stage by Jody Davidson; and directed by Peter C. Brosious. Presented by the Children's Theatre Company from Minneapolis. When a boy shares his snack with a hungry, demanding mouse, he learns a hilarious lesson about cause-and-effect.	April 26, 2008
Glen Everhart & James Wedgwood Musical Humor, Comic Ventriloquism. Get ready to listen, laugh, sing, and shout with Glen Everhart. James Wedgwood's show is "as much fun as you can have without moving your lips!"	March 8, 2008
How the Other Half Loves A Comedy by Alan Ayckbourn. Take three couples, two households, and one indiscreet love affair; and they all add up to one hilarious farce.	February 15 - 17, 2008 February 22 - 24, 2008

How the Other Half Loves The PLCT performance of How the Other Half Loves, an Alan Ayckbourn comedy directed by Erik Steen, was the GLAPA-supported 2008 winter production. With a true Ayckbourn flair for time/space continuum, this comedy is sure to delight. Michael Sander, who played one of the 6 characters in this performance and directs one PLCT performance each season, explained that Ayckbourn plays typically hinge on unexpected circumstances and settings. How the Other Half Loves is set in two early 1970s households simultaneously—a bit of a “jigsaw puzzle” setting, according to Sander. Sander went on to explain that Ayckbourn characteristically puts his characters into ridiculous situations, and then logically follows actions in those situations. How the Other Half Loves involves three couples and an indiscreet love affair. One of the younger men is having an affair with the wife of the oldest; and when each returns home suspiciously late on night, they invent a story about having to spend some time smoothing domestic matters in the home of the third couple. As the story unfolds, the ridiculous situation entertains by traversing the lives of these couples and revealing the outlandish circumstances to the audience. How the Other Half Loves was performed February 15 – 17 and 22 – 24, 2008. Performance Details: How the Other Half Loves At the Pequot Lakes High School Theater February 15-17 & 22-24, 2008 Cast     Production Staff   Fiona Foster Wendy DeGeest   Stage Manager Meredith Bjorkquist * Teresa Phillips Meagan Kedrowski   Technical Director C.J. Anderson * Frank Foster Michael Sander   Lights Jennie Moon * Bob Phillips Bob Spear   Sound Braden Carkhuff * William Detweiler Dan Bye   Properties David Allan Pundt * Mary Detweiler Kim Thomas     Carol Pundt           Set Construction     Costume Construction   Construction Foreman Allan Olson   Pat Dullum & Betsy Schenk   Set Designer Tim Leagjeld            * Denotes Technical Theatre Certification Meet the Director Erik Steen was the Director for How the Other Half Loves. Erik lives in Brainerd, MN. He grew up in Wisconsin, which is also where he obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Although this was Erik's first time directing for a GLAPA performance, he has much experience in both acting and directing that has been obained through, among other events, involvment in various theater companies in the Twin Cities (including serving on the Board of Directors for Theatre in the Round) and various productions at Central Lakes College in Brainerd.

Check out the Brainerd.com Events Calendar for more great events in the Lakes Area.