A musical exploration of the stories of the world that bind us together. Why don't we live forever? Wouldn't that be nifty? Why can't we be like the moon instead of like a bunch of bananas? Come find out.
Our original, eclectic exploration of what it means to be a part of the universal story is part of the fantabulous Minnesota Fringe Festival. Wow, that sounds deep! Or maybe we just want to figure out why we're all so bananas. In any case, come see us sing, talk and walk...sometimes all at once.
Where: UMN Rarig Center Arena Theater
When: Saturday, August 1st at 8:30pm
Sunday, August 2nd at 5:30pm
Tuesday, August 4th at 7pm
Wednesday, August 5th at 5:30pm
Saturday, August 8th at 10pm
Why: Because we love you!
Who
Although officially the Lyrics and Book are by Michael Sheeks and the Music is by Sonja Thompson, the words and music have benefited from the many contributions of our amazing ensemble.
Choreography: Zoe Kuester
Stage Manager: Amy Harris
Costumes/Props/Producer: Jo Holcomb
Cast: Annette Cummings, Charlotte Deutsch, Denise Eng, Johnny Ordoyne, Linsey Grindahl, Mary Laymon, Mary Newby-Elder, Rachel VanScoy, Scott Rehovsky, Shannon Houska, Sophie Deutsch, Steve Amey, Tom Krueger
The cast
Michael Sheeks
Role: Director/Playwright
Michael spends his days as the Staff Development Coordinator for Roseville Area Schools, where he looks for the theatre in educational practice, mostly with new teachers. After 3:30 he is the director of the Roseville High School Drama Program. Favorite directing credits include Chicago, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the high school, Into the Woods and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead with New Playmouth Players, and Finian’s Rainbow with Rosetown Playhouse. Michael is a former board member of Theatre in the Round and the Chapter Director of the MN Thespian Society for 2009-10.
Sonja Thompson
Role: Music Director/Composer
Sonja Thompson is Assistant Professor of Music at Augsburg College, and also maintains an active performance schedule locally and nationally.This is her third production with the New Plymouth Players (Into the Woods, Godspell, Voyages) and she is especially excited to have had the opportunity to work with Michael and the cast on developing a new piece of Music-Theater. In addition to her other work, Sonja is Assistant Music Director at Plymouth Congregational Church.
Amy Harris
Role: Stage Manager
Amy is new to our group. She is a student at Augsburg and we're excited to have her and Zoe on board for this production. We'll get a real bio for her soon.
Jo Holcomb
Role: Costumes and Lots of Other Stuff
Jo is a Librarian/Literary Specialist for The Guthrie and the Director of Children's Programs for Plymouth Congregational Church. She has been an inspiration and producer for New Plymouth Players and likes to leave herself out of the bios. :)
Zoe Kuester
Role: Choreographer
Zoe is new to our group and we don't have a bio yet. :)
Stephen Amey
Role: Ensemble
Stephen does stuff. He stands up in front of people and pretends he's somebody else and jabbers and sings. And that's been OK so far, but now the problem is that those people he's standing up in front of are getting younger and younger, (except for Annette) and he's getting older and older.
Annette Cummings
Role: Woman
Not much could have prepared me for this wild, wonderful JOURNEY. I am so lucky to be on the receiving end of the brilliant team of Sheeks and Thompson. They are two great bananas! See you next show!
Denise Eng-Bue
Role: Ensemble
Denise first dabbled in musical theater just a few years ago when a friend twisted her arm to join the cast of the Frank Theater’s 2005 production of Women of Troy. The next year she joined the New Plymouth Players as Jack’s mother in Into the Woods. Since then she has played Claire Holmes in the NPP production of The Secret Garden, and was in last year’s production of Godspell. With Voyages, Denise holds the record for an actress being cast to die onstage!
Sophie Deutsch
Role: Ensemble
Sophie has appeared in various theatrical productions. She has appeared in Into the Woods, Oliver Twist, Beauty and the Beast, South Pacific, The Enchantment, Camp Nuit d’eté, and Godspell. She enjoys playing cello and piano and singing. Most recently she attends Sandburg Middle School and will soon go to Robbinsdale Middle School.
Charlotte Deutsch
Role: Ensemble
Charlotte Deutsch is excited to be playing Maui and the Winchinchala in her fifth show with The New Plymouth Players. It's been a quick race to the finish! She loves riding her bike, swimming, playing her many instruments, watching movies with her friends, and munching on vegetables. Some of her other, less notable hobbies include singing, pretending she can dance, and acting. This summer she'll be seen in the City Stock show with Latte Da at the Illusion Theatre. Come check it out!
Linsey Grindahl
Role: Ensemble
This is Linsey’s second show with New Plymouth Players (she was in Godspell in 2008). Linsey works as the secretary to the Principal and as an assistant director in the after school theatre program at Roseville Area Middle School. She got her start on the stage at RAMS when she was in 7th grade and hasn’t wanted to leave since. She enjoys working both on the stage as an actor as well as behind the scenes in many different roles.
Tommy Krueger
Role: Man
Tommy K. works at Target, but still finds time to go to school at Metro State, work with the after school theater program at Roseville Middle School, and be in shows like this! He loves the Winter carnival, light rail, and he just turned 21. You know it all now!
Mary Laymon
Role: Ensemble
Mary is thrilled to be performing yet another witch! This time she comes from Russia! Some of her favorite witches in the past have been “The Witch” in Into the Woods, with NPP; Strega Amelia with the Children’s Theatre Company, The Sea Witch at University of Minnesota Opera and before that “The Christmas Witch” in High School.
Mary Newby-Elder
Role: Ensemble
I’d like to thank the New Plymouth Players for giving me my first theatrical opportunities in The Secret Garden, Godspell, and now Voyages. Special thanks to the MacPhail Advance Performance Lab " I “coo-ldn’t” have done all this without you!
John Roo Ordoyne
Role: Ensemble
I am a member of Plymouth Church and I’ve been in a ton of other plays that you (and I) don’t remember. I’m not an actor; I just act like I am.
Scott Rehovsky
Role: Zanahary
Scott sang with the Minnesota Opera from 1986 to 2002. He now pretty much just sells real estate and sings in his car.
Rachel Van Skoy
Role: Ensemble
This is Rachel’s 4th production with the New Plymouth Players. You may have seen her as Cinderella in Into the Woods or Rose in The Secret Garden. She has also played Chava in Fiddler on the Roof, and sings with the Plymouth Adult Choir. Currently, she is a full coach and instructor with the Aquatics program at the YWCA of Minneapolis.
Martin Sheeks
Role: Percussion
Martin has played in the pit for all of the New Plymouth Player musicals. He will be a senior at Cooper High School this fall and is a partner in Novabuild Solutions (which you can find on the web if you have any computer needs!)
Merilee Klemp
Role: Oboe
Merilee Klemp, oboist, is a well-known recitalist, chamber musician and teacher. Her notable accomplishments include an impressive list of featured recordings including "Falls Flyer" music for oboe and guitar on the 10,000 Lakes label of the Schubert Club of St. Paul. Ms. Klemp is an Associate Professor of Music at Augsburg College and is married to composer Randall Davidson. She and Randall have one son, Benjamin Franklin Davidson and live in Minneapolis with their lovely Beagle, Shiloh.
Randall Davidson
Role: Cello
Randall Davidson is a free-lance cellist living and working in the Twin Cities. This production marks his debut at the Minnesota Fringe Festival.
New Plymouth Players
Voyages
Sat., Aug. 1 @ 8:30 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 2 @ 5:30 p.m.
Tue., Aug. 4 @ 7:00 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 5 @ 5:30 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 8 @ 10:00 p.m.
Venue U of M Rarig Center Arena
For ages 8+
Created by Michael Sheeks/Sonja Thompson
genres Musical theater, Comedy
subjects Multicultural, Religious
features Original script/choreography, Original music, First-time Minnesota Fringe Festival producer
Overall rating
User reviews
BIG show!
by Karen K. Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Voyages takes a little 1 hour segment of the Fringe Festival and makes it as big as it possibly can. From the big "meaning of life" topic of the show to the big range of ages cast, to the big part music played. The company did an excellent job of utilizing the "in the round" type stage and really helped the audience feel included, no matter what direction they were facing. The vocal power was sometimes "larger than life" with memorable performance by the ensemble and the young lead, Tom Krueger (wonderful voice!). Sometimes it is easy to get lost in the plot, but this quilt of folk takes woven in a silly, entertaining way will be a good choice for one of the final Fringe shows you see as the festival winds down.
Sorry, I remain unconverted.
by re gurgitate Follow this reviewer
Rating 2 kitties
I feel mislead. The description of the show and even the program, scrupulously avoid the mention of the word religion in the show. Then to be dragged through numerous creationist stories drove me to walk out for the first time in my fringe history. Of the half show I caught, acting was sub par, and musicians were of high quality.
nice job!
by vickijoan keck Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
wonderful costumes and some fine performances, plus having live musical accompianment make this a worthwhile show. I love the variety of ages in this. the songs are sweet and memorable, but I had the hardest time with the flimsy plot line, which did not quite work. Overall I would recommend it.
Very sweet show!
by Ben Krywosz Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
A charming show of communal storytelling with archetypal overtones -- musically very accessible, with a wide range of dramatic styles from a cast of varying experience and age -- real heart and a sense of optimistic humanity -- very nice to hear cello and clarinet in addition to the usual keyboard -- nicely done!
To be... or not to be
by Jane Gottfried Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Which is more "a-peeling" - to be a moon and live in serene solitude forever, or to be a banana and live in a bunch; mortal, and sometimes bruised and messy?
This wonderful musical is hosted by Man and Woman, who are trying to figure out whether it is better to live eternally or know love and and eventually perish. In their quest to find the answer, they encounter various characters from folktales told around the world.
One can attend simply to hear to folktales and have fun, or to ponder the deeper meanings of life.
The acting was excellent, especially Man and Woman (Tom Krueger is expressive and animated), and the music was fun. Wonderful direction - good use of space on the arena stage.
Outstanding
by Richard Shields Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
The instrumental music was outstanding. The story was cute, not overly preachy given the potential. The efforts at a multicultural approach were sincere but fell short. Parents and a young audience should find this show fun, safe and welcoming.
Voyages
by Stefanie Konobeck Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Nice show! I appreciated the spiritual seeking. I especially like the orange tree and Maui performances.
A Fun Musical
by Speechy McSpeecherson Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Great little musical that takes a group of actors and showcases both vocal talents and acting abilities. While there were standouts there were also no weak links in the fence.
While some of the songs are hit and miss, others will stick with you a couple days later. So if you've got the time, check it out.
Moons or Bananas?
by Christopher Kidder Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Great energy, good commitment to the show, wonderful orchestra, and an hour of fun.
For more in-depth thoughts read my column at: Fringe By Numbers
Folk Tales
by Kristi Anderson Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
A good, very mildly irreverent, community theater presentation of folk stories, with Jesus presiding. (OK, so his name was Zorthan or something, but, heck, he was wearing a white robe and holding a shepherd's staff... Nothing against the big J, but we would have preferred, well, how about the Great Banana?) Good singers, although only a couple are memorable. Loved Maui.
Really enjoyed it!
by Emily Michalik Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Everyone in the cast is talented and the songs were enjoyable. I especially liked Orange Tree. Tom Krueger is the best!!
Ridiculous stories
by Cyndi Bohun Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
My husband liked it. I didn't. I thought it was silly. Loved the young girl who sang and the live "orchestra". Talent but no substance, sorry.
great music
by maryfaith fox Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
fresh,fun - a musical score that had me humming along. Wonderful live music that never overwhelmed the voices. Cast mixed seasoned performers with talented young ones, told a story, taught a lesson without being preachy. Good use of the circular space. No, I don't know anyone in the cast. This is what I go to Fringe for.
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