OCTOBER 3, 2012 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 9
Festival’s featured artist - Gabriel Murphy ST. CROIX FALLS – “Playing with Fire” has opened at Festival Theatre and it provides a reimagining of Mary Shelley’s legendary novel “Frankenstein.” The cast is small, with just six actors telling the story of Victor Frankenstein and his creation. Gabriel Murphy plays the old creature, leading on an aging Dr. Frankenstein for centuries until they finally meet in the frozen Arctic to confront each other. Murphy grew up in the “booming metropolis” of Baldwin City, Kan. Smiling as he recounted his upbringing, Murphy’s first time onstage was in a community theater production of “Oliver” when he played an orphan boy. Although he started at a young age, his passion for acting grew over the years and he eventually followed it to Webster University Conservatory of Theatre Arts in St. Louis, Mo. There he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts and upon graduation, launched his acting career. He has been working steadily since then all over the nation. This past year Murphy spent the majority of his time in Minneapolis. He performed in “Richard II” with Classical Actors Ensemble, “Tommy” at Pioneer Place on 5th, “Fezziwig’s Feast” with Actors Theatre of Minnesota, and Walking
Shadow Theatre Company’s 2012 Ivey Awardwinning production of “Compleat Female Stage Beauty.” He spent the summer in Helena, Mont., performing in “Ragtime” and “HairGabriel Murphy spray” at the Grandstreet Theatre and teaching at Grandstreet’s summer theater school. Now finding himself in the St. Croix River Valley, Murphy said, “I am most excited about living and working in such a beautiful setting. St. Croix Falls is absolutely gorgeous!” He has performed in a variety of role and shows, but a few of this favorites over the years includes Jud Fry in “Oklahoma” at Webster Conservatory, Father in “Ragtime” at Grandstreet Theatre, and Gloucester in “King Lear” with the Great River Shakespeare Festival Apprentice Project. Each role offers Murphy a new chance to dig into a fresh perspective, and
unique personal history. “I love all the research that goes into creating a role and inhabiting the world of the play,” Gabriel said. “Watching Murphy take a role from rehearsal to performance is amazing,” said Jaclyn Johnson, Festival Theatre’s associate artistic director and Murphy ‘s castmate. “His control of voice and body is to be commended, and his use and understanding of language is wonderful. In his work with Joan Brooks, our director, he took a misunderstood monster and made him a multidimensional human, full of regret, remorse, love and fear,” said Johnson. “At auditions, his vocal strength and character skills were apparent from the start,” said Festival Executive Director Danette Olsen. “In this production he calls upon all his skills to bring this disheartened creation to life. I’m not sure I’ve ever before seen such a tall actor move with such incredible perfection. Gabriel knows exactly how to make every inch of his body tell the story of Dr. Frankstein’s creature.” Though he is currently the only performer in his family, his parents both dabbled in acting in their younger years. “My mom and dad went to high school together and were cast as Emily and George in the senior class production of ‘Our Town,’” explained Murphy. In case
readers are not familiar, the end of the second act of ‘Our Town’ culminates in the wedding of George and Emily. “I have always found this very romantic,” said Murphy. “In my parents’ production, at the end of the wedding my dad was supposed to lead my mother down a flight of stairs and through the center aisle of the audience. One night, however, my dad misjudged the placement of the stairs and accidentally sent my mother tumbling off the front of the stage, wedding bouquet and all, landing flat on her face. I should mention that after the ‘Our Town’ incident they didn’t get married for nearly 10 years,” he said with amusement. When he is not busy performing, researching or rehearsing for a role in a theater, he enjoys reading, drinking coffee and watching reality television shows. He currently does not have a day job but imagines that should he need one, he would be an exceptional animal trainer and/or Latin teacher. You can catch Murphy and his on stage talent at Festival Theatre in “Playing with Fire,” now through Sunday, Oct. 28. Call the box office at 715-483-3387 for show times and dates or visit Festival Theatre online at festivaltheatre.org for more information.
Frederic 1950 class reunion The Frederic Class of 1950 held their class reunion Wednesday, Sept. 19, at the Pour House in Siren. Those attending are shown back row (L to R): Lois (Formell) Dye, Joan (Jorgensen) Anderson, Bill Berg, Lyle Johnson, Mark Dahlberg, Jim Glockzin, David Anderson and Rayola (Anderson) Edling. Front row: Elaine (Carlson) Lemieux, Claudia (Denn) Wagner, Betty (O’Donnell) Jensen, Jean (Jorgensen) Flanigan, Georgia (Auld) Heggeness, Geraldine (Grotjohn) Wright, Helen (Fisher) Weinzierl and Liz (Colvin) Johnson. The group meets yearly at the Pour House in Siren on the third Wednesday in September. – Photo submitted
Treasure Alley selected as the Falls Chamber Business of the Month ST. CROIX FALLS – The Falls Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Treasure Alley of St. Croix Falls has been selected as the October Business of the Month. Treasure Alley was established in October of 2007 by three partners: Heidi Glynn, JoAnne Dehn and Karen Vitalis. Their vision of an occasional sale retail store is now entering its sixth year of busi-
ness in downtown St. Croix Falls. Treasure Alley is open one week each month, Wednesday through Sunday, offering an eclectic mix of items from 25 different vendors. Whimsical, vintage, and unusual finds are the norm, including jewelry, trendy items for the home, architectural items and antique or modern “junque.” The owners bring in new treasures daily, and have a policy that no item can stay in
Award-winning ventriloquist performing at Luck Library LUCK – On Saturday, Oct. 13, at 4 p.m., Luck Library is honored to host awardwinning ventriloquist Nate Plummer. This student at UW-Eau Claire began performing at a very young age. Plummer also found his love of ventriloquism at a young age. At the age of 15, he entered an international video contest sponsored by Axtell Expressions of Ventura, Calif., and took first place in his age division. He received the opportunity to perform in Las Vegas at the Luxor Hotel and Casino as an opening act to world-famous ventriloquist Ronn Lucas. In June 2012, Plummer started touring with the Missoula Children’s Theatre as a tour actor/ director. He has acted and sung in numerous UW-Eau Claire musical and stage productions, as well as been a part of the Chippewa Falls Music Association and the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild. Plummer is also a set and costume designer, a lighting technician, magician, juggler, comedian and musician. Plummer has been described as “Laugh out loud and pee your pants funny.” This
Treasure Alley has been selected as the Business of the Month by the Falls Chamber. – Photo submitted the store longer than two months. This ensures a regular turnover of stock, providing the shopper with a new experience each time. Treasure Alley is open this week, Wednesday through Sunday, Oct. 3 - 7. Their hours are Wednesday 3-7 p.m., Thursday through Saturday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. The store is located at 107 Washington St. in St. Croix Falls. Visit them online at their Face-
Nate Plummer, award-winning ventriloquist, will be performing at the Luck Library on Saturday, Oct. 13, at 4 p.m. – Photo submitted free family show is sure to be a crowd pleaser for all ages. – submitted
book page, under Treasure Alley Occasional Shop, or call 715-483-9937. Falls Chamber of Commerce is happy to note that Treasure Alley has been a chamber member since opening. Any business interested in becoming a member can call the chamber office at 715-483-3580. Visit the Web site for more information, FallsChamber.org. - submitted
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