SKYWORDS
Northern Sky Theater News
Family, Identity, and Room to Grow
MOLLY RHODE Artistic Director
These are the themes at the heart of each show in our season line-up this year. All four are laugh-out-loud comedies!
I’ve written many an article for SkyWords over the years, but this is my first time reporting in from my new post as artistic director. On the one hand, stepping into this larger leadership role feels like the most natural thing in the world; and on the other hand, filling the shoes of Jeff Herbst is a tall order, and every few days I’m properly terrified. But Jeff was the most gracious, supportive boss for my ten years as his associate, and he gave me space to grow into this role; and you, my extended Northern Sky family, have shared your faith in me, which makes embracing this new identity more comfy
WHO AM I?
Something in the Water
by Matt Zembrowski
This summer’s world premiere is a festival of mistaken identity. As each character dons a disguise, confusion runs rampant, but self-discovery abounds. This madcap farce is set at the Grand Waukesha Springs Resort, harkening back to a very real piece of Wisconsin history, when the healing
each day. As it happens, these are the themes at the heart of each show in our season lineup this year: family, identity, and room for growth. Each show has characters examining how they fit into their family unit, whether family by blood or chosen family. And in each story, embracing room to grow and change is the key to finding the happy ending. We’ll be presenting three summer shows in Peninsula State Park and one fall show in the Gould Theater; and for the first time in our history, we are offering season subscriptions! All four shows are laugh-out-loud comedies leaving you with pep in your step and joy in your heart.
waters of Waukesha were sent around the world. Truly! The resort staff and guests lose complete control as a murder mystery unfolds (but no one really dies!). This new show is another surefire winner from the author of Dad’s Season Tickets Matt grew up on Northern Sky shows. He gets us, he gets you, and he’s written another joy-maker.
Something in the Water will feature frequent company members Jamie Mercado,
Kelly Doherty, Alex Campea, and Chase Stoeger, and we’ll welcome back Rachael Zientek . Rachael was an
intern in 2015 and appeared in Matt’s first show for us, Doctor! Doctor! She’s had a thriving career in Milwaukee and we’re lucky to have her
Something in the Water
back. Speaking of lucky, we’ve attracted the best talent possible to round out the cast; our own Artistic Director Emeritus Jeff Herbst will play Norman Bidwell, the resort manager, a role Matt has penned specially for him.
Lisa Schlenker, Karen Brown Larimore, and Jason Fassl will return to design this show’s beautiful aesthetics of scenery, costumes, and lighting, respectively. In fact, this trio will design all three park shows. The scenic design will be built by Stewart Dawson and painted by Carri Dahl, and Jack Purves will sound design. Ryan Cappleman will music direct and be at the keyboard, with show arrangements by Alissa Rhode. I’ll be directing this world premiere, and I cannot wait to share it with you. Inside scoop: there will be many fake mustaches! GASP!
WHERE AM I?
Dairy Heirs
by Joel Kopischke, Eva Nimmer, and Alissa Rhode
Elsie Fredericks, a passionate farmer, wants to continue in her family’s long tradition. But when her father passes away unexpectedly, estranged older brother Gabe returns to Wisconsin from Los Angeles with his own ideas about what to do with the family business. As the siblings wrestle with the fate of the farm, so do their partners, neighbors, two wannabe identical twin farmhands, and one extraordinary cow. Dairy Heirs untangles the question of what family tradition means to people with different dreams, and its song “There’s No Place that I’d Rather Be” could very well be Northern Sky’s theme song.
WHAT ARE WE EVEN DOING?
No Bones About It
by Paul Libman and Dave Hudson
Feuding families and bitter rivalry are at the center of this Northern Sky spin on the story of Romeo and Juliet. In this case, ‘char’-crossed lovers, Ronny and Julie, find themselves at the Verona National Ribfest, where their
The Dairy Heirs remount will have three of the original cast returning: myself, Alex Campea , and Chase Stoeger Jamie Mercado will play Elsie, Kelly Doherty will play Rita, and we’re thrilled to get Ryan Cappleman out from behind the piano to play Elsie’s brother Gabe. It’ll be a blast mixing some new folks into this barnyard pun-tastic comedy. Kelly Doherty and I will co-direct, and Alissa Rhode will music direct. And Lola will once again be brought to life by Nic Trapani’s sound design. Mooo!!!!
families’ BBQ restaurants are competing for the top prize. It’s up to the next generation to break the cycle (with the help of an 80’s flashback!).
No Bones About It will be celebrating 10 years and is a total hoot from our most
prolific writing team. In this year’s remount, Alex Campea and Kelly Doherty will reprise their roles as food bloggers, Doug Mancheski will reprise the role of Adam Capp, Chase
No Bones About It
Stoeger will take on the role of Larry Friar, and we’ll have a few more newcomers to round out the cast. We’re thrilled to welcome back Bill Theisen to direct. Alissa Rhode will music direct, and Dennis Keith Johnson and Bill Knipfer will be back on bass and drums to round out the pit.
The mighty Park Tech Trio of Jack Purves , Alejandra Favila, and Alexis Gunderson will be returning as audio supervisor, master electrician, and tech swing, respectively. Jason Orlenko and Jordon Wallin-Swanson will again share the wardrobe supervisor position. And this year we can boast our strongest stage management team ever assembled! Shawn Galligan will lead the way, with Jimmy Balistreri, Anna Brooks , and Erin Kopit all returning to the park.
IS IT TIME FOR A CHANGE?
The
Bachelors by Fred Alley and Jimmy Kaplan
Indoors at the Gould we’ll celebrate The Bachelors’ 25th anniversary this fall! This show is Fred and Jimmy’s follow-up collaboration after Guys On Ice. This take on two guys co-habitating celebrates the realm of bachelorhood through the lens of Stew and John, hapless bumblers in search of love in Madison, Wisconsin. They inhabit a cave-like apartment basking in a blissful state of extended adolescence. Until…one night they innocently order out for pizza, never expecting the delivery girl is the reincarnation of a woman they both wronged in a previous lifetime. Room for
growth? Oh yeah, and lots of it!
The Bachelors cast will be Rachael Zientek , Chase Stoeger, and Joe Picchetti. Joe played the role of Slim in the Milwaukee Rep production of Lumberjacks this winter and already feels like part of the Northern
...continued And that’s the line-up! It’s going to be a whizbang crackerjack season. You’ll identify with these characters, you’ll see your families in these stories, and we’ll celebrate growth and change together. Come for the jokes, stay for the joy! We can’t wait to have you with us.
Sky family. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the Gould. The remount will feature Jim Maronek’s whimsical set design, Dave Alley’s sound design, new costume designs by Jordon Wallin-Swanson, and lighting design by Jimmy Balistreri. Support from Brian Weinkauf as our Gould
master electrician, and Jack Purves at the sound board will round out the tech team at the creative campus for fall. Ryan Cappleman will music direct, and Jeff Herbst (Emeritus extraordinaire!) will direct.
Listen. No one can direct a Fred Alley show like Jeff. No one. I am simply over the moon that Jeff is so heartily involved in the season. But we will also celebrate him and his tenure in proper fashion! So save the date and join us at the park on July 26 for Jeff’s Playlist! A concert celebrating 32 years of artistic leadership.
The Answer to the Big Question
JEFFREY HERBST
From the Desk of the Emeritus Artistic Director (if he had a desk)
“So how are you enjoying retirement?” is the question I’m hearing a lot now.
It’s interesting to note the tenor of the questioner: some ask as though I might be suffering withdrawal or not adjusting well or some other version of “he’s probably headed for the end, now.” I suppose, after 32 years at the helm, it’s not off-point to wonder what the transition has been like. I’m now two and a half months into my new tenure track of emeritus, whatever that really means. I’ll be on stage this summer and directing in the fall, so all of that feels extremely familiar. Interestingly, this will be the first year in 35 years that I won’t be directing a show for the summer season. My choice, mind you, but still a bit of a seismic shift for me.
I definitely miss some stuff, for sure. My colleagues and everyone on the board at Northern Sky are terrific people, every one of whom I love working with. So that’s a big
miss. But, again, I’ll be back shortly, and in the meantime I keep an ear to things from afar (Texas, to be exact).
By the way, you dear readers of this newsletter that I’ve written dozens of articles for, thanks for making my tenure at Northern Sky such a fantastic life experience for me. I mean, honestly, how could I have had it any better? I look forward to seeing you all this summer and fall, to give a hug, to cheer on the team, and to make Northern Sky shine as bright as ever.
My partner, Charles, who has the retirement thing down now, always answers the big question with, “I was born to it.” I think I might have been, too. Nonetheless, it’s awfully nice to still have my connection with my emeritus status (even without a desk). Okay, back to not work, for me.
Jeff’s Playlist Concert
A concert celebrating 32 years of artistic leadership. Saturday, July 26 • Save the Date!
Join Northern Sky Artists as they perform Jeff’s favorite songs live. In between songs, Jeff Herbst and friends will share favorite memories of his 32 years as actor, director, and artistic director. This celebration is not to be missed! Say “Thank You” to Jeff by joining us for this momentous evening.
Something in the Water
MATT ZEMBROWSKI
Composer,
Lyricist, Playwright
I think about what sort of show I’d like to see right now. And I keep writing. Sometimes I even make myself laugh at what I write. I sure hope it makes you laugh. I think we all need it.
Anyone who says that comedy is easy is lying. Or not actually funny. I don’t know if I’m particularly funny, but people seem to enjoy laughing at the things I write, so I’ll take that as a good sign. But whether you find it funny or not, I can tell you that writing it is anything but easy, especially in times of turmoil.
The first show I ever wrote was a silly one act play called Apartment of Frankenstein, which was about Frankenstein’s monster living in modern day New York and planning to launch his campaign for the US Senate. It was written shortly after 9/11 when nothing seemed particularly funny. I thought of abandoning it on more than one occasion, but everyone kept telling me: “People need to laugh; we need comedy right now.” So I wrote it, and we performed it, and people thought it was funny, even though I had my doubts.
The seed that would eventually become Something in the Water was
planted while I was using the bathroom at a diner in Waukesha. (Stick with me, I promise that’s the weirdest part of this story.) Hanging on the wall was a rusticlooking print entitled The Waukesha Springs Era. I had no idea what this meant, but I thought I’d better look into it. After some research, I found out that at one time Waukesha was in fact a world-renowned vacation destination thanks to the discovery of several uncommonly pure natural springs by a man named Richard Dunbar, who claimed they possessed healing power. From the late 1860s through the early 1900s, two dozen fully operational spa resorts had sprung up, and the “miracle water” from Waukesha was being bottled and shipped all over the world. I was especially intrigued by how quickly this all happened, and how it had been basically lost to history. I decided to focus my story on the last of these grand old resorts and the lengths to which those who cared about
it would go to keep it open.
As with most artistic endeavors, this show went through a number of iterations before settling into the version you are going to see this summer. Originally, the show was going to be called Waukesha Springs Eternal, and at one time involved the underground railroad. Following several extensive rewrites and a few table readings, everything seemed to be falling into place. Then the world shut down. When it became clear that it was going to remain shut down for quite some time, I began to wonder if the world would ever want to see a show like this when and if we re-emerged. I set Something in the Water aside and wrote Whatever Happened to Karl Janko?, a musical about a young man who vanished without a trace. A lot of people apparently thought it was pretty funny. Maybe the world needed to laugh after all, despite what we all had just been through.
At the risk of opening a
door that I’m pretty sure no one really wants to open, I’ve found it rather difficult to think about an old-fashioned screwball musical comedy when what’s going on in our world is decidedly not funny. And yet here we are, a few short weeks away from premiering a show that I have seriously thought about abandoning more times than
And so I set my phone aside, I try not to worry about what might happen tomorrow, and I think about what sort of show I’d like to see right now. And I keep writing. Sometimes I even make myself laugh at what I write. I sure hope it makes you laugh. I think we all need it. Something in the Water Spring 2025
I could pretend to count. But I keep thinking about my daughters, Kathryn and Charlotte, and how the world my wife and I present to them on a daily basis is one that is filled with love and laughter. And in those precious moments when we’re all being silly together, what’s going on “out there” seems somehow less bleak.
Dairy Heirs Returns
JOEL KOPISCHKE Playwright & Lyricist
We’re ecstatic for Dairy Heirs to return once again to the Park. There’s no place that I’d rather be.
Northern Sky Theater has always been almost home for me. In the 1980s I turned down a summer job with Heritage Ensemble. Soon after, friends I knew from Milwaukee (Jeff Herbst, Suzanne Graff, James Valcq) were performing with AFT. Later, I got to know Doc and Fred and many others as I watched over 20 original musicals come to life on the Northern Sky stage. And in 2001, I was humbled and honored to perform in the concert performance of The Spitfire Grill
That summer I experienced something that had never happened before: an idea for a show came to me. I imagined a family farm where the father has passed away, leaving a brother and sister to sort things out; I also imagined them gathered on a porch with friends singing songs and telling jokes. I shared this idea with Jeff and he encouraged me to write it. I had never written a show
before and I didn’t get very far before stuffing it in a drawer. Then in 2009, while workshopping Life on the Mississippi, I dug out my story, entitled Dairy Heirs, and two happy surprises followed: I still liked it, and Alissa Rhode said yes to writing music for it.
The next year, Alissa and I premiered a couple songs from Dairy Heirs in a cabaret show, and in 2011 we held our first readthrough in Door County. But I quickly found myself stuck, and Dairy Heirs went back in a drawer for a handful of years. In 2015, Doug Jarecki helped me move the show forward again, and later that fall, we held a concert reading of the show at Door Community Auditorium. We received feedback, did more rewrites, and...l got stuck again.
In June 2016, Molly Rhode told me that Eva Nimmer, an actor from our 2015 reading, liked Dairy Heirs a lot and always had great
ideas when developing new shows, although Eva had no experience as a playwright. For some reason we all thought that having two novice playwrights work on this musical was better than just one. Less than a week later we gathered to read Eva’s first re-write.
I hated it.
But no one else seemed interested in charging her with treason, so I kept my mouth shut. Over the next 6 months Eva brought more character development and dramatic arc to my goofy story and dumb jokes and Dairy Heirs really started to take shape. Eva’s treason turned to treasure and I learned to appreciate not just her knowledge of cheese, but her different viewpoint as well.
Throughout 2017, with Molly’s guidance, our Dairy Heirs team met weekly for several hours at a time, discussing rewrites and brainstorming, and we continued finetuning before, during, and after a week-long workshop and a staged reading in fall 2017. Then in the summer of 2018, finally, 17 YEARS after that initial idea, Dairy Heirs premiered at Northern Sky. And, to our delight, the show also performed in 2019. Now, we’re ecstatic to return once again to the Park.
I’m so grateful to everyone who encouraged us, read countless scripts, or helped with readings and workshops. Jeff was always steadfast in his support, and Molly was the champion and catalyst that we needed. Alissa has provided a musical world beyond my hopes and dreams, writing over two dozen songs, nine of which ended up being cut along the way. And Eva has been the savior and teammate I needed to help these characters come fully alive and tell their stories. And last, but certainly not least, the most important collaborators: you, the audience. Thanks for coming (or for coming back!).
This summer you’ll get to meet siblings Gabe and Elsie, who bring different
perspectives home as they determine the fate of their family’s farm. You’ll meet their kindhearted neighbor Linda, quirky farmhand twins TJ and JT, and one extraordinary cow. Our story will, I hope, reflect my favorite experiences with Northern Sky and the wonderful people that call it home—sitting around a campfire singing songs, making jokes, spinning tales, and sharing our lives’ highs and lows with one another. I also hope you’ll recognize a few Fred Alley inspirations in the show—characters dealing with mortality, some corny jokes (old and new), and a tenderhearted story beneath the goofy fun.
I hope our story resonates with everyone— young and old, rural and city folk (like me), and even the lactose-intolerant. Dairy Heirs is about the heroes of America’s Dairyland, especially women farmers. It’s also about how important it is to keep music in our hearts, share a laugh, and find what family and home mean to us.
I first performed onstage over 50 years ago and throughout my entire life, theatre has felt like home. And I’m so proud that Dairy Heirs and I can both call Northern Sky our home. I’m beyond tickled and honored to share Dairy Heirs with you all (again) and I can’t wait to join you sitting under the Northern Sky this summer. There’s no place that I’d rather be.
That’s how I feel every day working at Northern Sky Theater. Except, instead of a five-dollar bill, it’s a whole career. And instead of pie, it’s... well, okay, I’d still take the pie. But you get the idea. There’s a lyric from a song in Dairy Heirs that goes, “There’s no place that I’d rather be. There’s no one as lucky as me.” That lyric loops in my head today as I take a moment to marvel at my ridiculous good fortune. Northern Sky has always been about people—the people who create, who perform, who support, who show up year after year with bug spray and blankets. And among those people, I have been especially lucky to share this journey—this existence, really—with the one and only Jeffrey Herbst, our Artistic Director Emeritus. And now, luckier still, I get to embark on a new adventure with Molly Rhode as our Artistic Director. Let’s start with Jeff. For more than 30 years, Jeff poured his heart, soul,
There’s No One As Lucky As Me
HOLLY FELDMAN Managing Director
You know that feeling when you find a crumpled five-dollar bill in your winter coat pocket? Or when you get the last slice of pie at the potluck, and it’s the kind you like?
and probably a significant amount of his body weight in sweat into this company. (Though I can’t say I’ve ever seen that man sweat. I’m just assuming.) He took Northern Sky from an earnest upstart in the woods to a beacon of original theater, all while making people laugh, cry, and occasionally wonder “How tall do you think he is?” His vision, leadership, and uncanny ability to stump anyone in a presidential trivia contest have left an indelible mark on this company and on all of us. (Also, if you saw And If Elected last year, you’ll know that Jeff revealed that he is the exact same height as Honest Abe.)
I first knew Jeff from the vantage point of sitting on a bench in the park, way back in 1980-something, and I can say with certainty that Northern Sky wouldn’t be what it is today without him. Also, on a personal note, neither would I. He saw something in me that I didn’t quite see in myself— namely, that I could lead this
organization with my heart on my sleeve and without totally falling on my face. And for that, I am forever grateful. (The not falling-onmy-face part is still a work in progress.)
While Jeff is stepping into his well-earned Emeritus role (which I believe entitles him to unlimited popcorn and an official bench in the park all to himself), he’s not going far. In fact, you can catch him on stage this summer in Something in the Water. And if you really want to make him blush, come celebrate him at our big shindig on Saturday, July 26th at the amphitheater. There will be music. There will be laughter. There will be special guests. There may even be a cow. (Okay, probably not an actual cow. But Lola will be there in spirit.)
And now—drumroll, please— on behalf of the board and our staff – we welcome to the stage, Molly Rhode! Of course, Molly is no stranger to Northern Sky or the stage. She has
There’s
performed, directed, written, composed, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she lent a hand to move a set piece or two in the rain. She knows this company inside and out, and—more importantly— she loves its people: Our artists, our audiences, our volunteers, our supporters— she’s one of us. Our oh-sowise and forward-thinking board of directors named her as associate artistic director way back in 2014. And now, she’s at the helm. Which means the “Holly and Molly” era has officially begun. (Try saying that three times fast.) I cannot wait to see what we create together. Of course, none of this
happens without the amazing dedication of our aforementioned wise board of directors lead by our chair, Heidi Ling, whose passion and brilliance will lead us into this new era! This year, we say a heartfelt thank you (and please come back and visit!) to Mike McCoy and Mark Breseman, who have given so much to Northern Sky. Their steadfast leadership, and decades-long commitment have helped guide this company through some of our most significant moments of growth and change. We thank them both for their service and for their unwavering belief in what we do.
So, as I look ahead, one thing is clear: I am, without a doubt, the luckiest person in the world. I get to work with the best people. I get to celebrate those who’ve built something incredible. And I get to dream about what’s next.
Much gratitude to Jeff. Welcome, Molly. And thank you, Mike and Mark. You make everything we do that much sweeter. Speaking of sweet, who’s up for a celebratory pie?
Northern Sky’s One Act of Kindness Society, launched in 2021, celebrates those who have chosen to create a lasting legacy by including Northern Sky in their will, trust, or estate plan. The phrase “one act of kindness” comes from the lyrics of a song in the musical, Boxcar. The song insists that one act of kindness often ripples out into many others by reminding us “there is good in the world.”
Members of Northern Sky’s One Act of Kindness Society
Ann Abbott
E.H. Barker
Pam Blanchard
Claire CaJacob & Deb DuMont
Susan & Jim Caldwell
Susan Crawford & Jeffrey Rosemann
Cynthia & Larry Crock
Robert C. & Lois K. Dittus
Lisa & David Fink
Barbara Gould
Jim & Barb Hansen
Chuck Harmon
Bob & Lisa Heider
Doc Heide & Jody Jessup
Rita & Frank Jury
John & Mary Lou Kroll
Cal & Trish Pierson
Jim Stangle
Cynthia Stiehl
Greg & Wendy Vichick
Merrilee &
John Waldron
James Wilson
Pete & Leslie Yaeger
To notify us of your plans, or to learn more about what including Northern Sky in your estate plans might look like, please contact Holly Feldman at holly@northernskytheater.com or 920-633-3228.
Tragedy vs Comedy
Two Sides of a Coin
DAVE HUDSON Playwright
Romeo and Juliet, set in the world of competitive barbecue. Two Smokehouses, both alike in dignity. How soon will you hop aboard the comedy train that is No Bones About It?
Here’s a fun theatre history story: You may have seen the play or movie Arsenic and Old Lace. It was a staple of summer stock and community theatres for many, many years and is still performed fairly regularly.
The story goes that the show was written as a true drama - a thriller - but when the show was in previews, the actors realized that if they played the lines for laughs, the audience was really responding. The producers talked to the playwright, and with very few adjustments in the script, the play became a comedy. A black comedy, but a comedy nonetheless.
Hearing that story always stuck with me. It is very true that tragedy and comedy are two sides of the same coin.
When Paul Libman and I hatched the idea of setting Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet in the world of competitive barbecue, we knew from the very beginning that it was going to be a comedy. After all, Laurents, Bernstein, and Sondheim have already done a pretty good job of adapting this same story into a musical that remained tragic.
So - we leaned into comedy. After all, the basic premise lends itself to comedy: two feuding families, a dislike that goes back so far nobody can even explain where it started. And of course, romance. All of the ingredients for a romantic comedy are in the original story. We just had to take it in that direction.
Elevator Pitch
I will say this about the show: We’ve never had a musical that had such a good elevator pitch. To explain the concept if you haven’t heard of it: an elevator pitch is the idea that if you get on an elevator with a potential investor, or producer, or backer - can you explain the idea on the ride up in the elevator before the doors open and they get off. All we have to do is say, “ Romeo and Juliet, set in the world of competitive barbecue. Two Smokehouses, both alike in dignity.” Once people hear that, they are already laughing and are interested in seeing the show.
Adapting the Bard
Our very first show at Northern Sky Theater (AFT back then) was Muskie Love, which was based on Much Ado About Nothing. Whenever I adapt an existing piece, the biggest decisions to make are which elements of the original will be used.
Will there be a tragedy?
There was one interesting thing about the original production at Northern Sky Theater. Audiences always loved it, but when you watch a show and observe the people watching, you see a few different responses. We always saw that the people were with the show from the very beginning, but they were more quiet in the first half hour or so. Then, right after “Light Through Yonder Window,” about midway through the performance, we would always feel this shift and people would really start laughing and you could tell they were truly along for the ride and were ready to laugh.
The Bachelors: Jimmy & Fred
JAMES KAPLAN Composer
Here’s my theory: One line. In the very opening number, the prologue, we had Larry Friar sing the line ‘But could there be a tragedy’. I think that created a bit of confusion. The audience knew that this play was based on Romeo and Juliet and for the first half of the play, they couldn’t be positive which direction the story was going.
Small spoiler alert. This time around, we’ve changed that line to be, ‘but this time it’s a comedy’. I’ll be fascinated with this summer’s production to see if that shifts the momentum of the audience and how soon they hop aboard the comedy train that is No Bones About It
Inspired by our experiences in Berkeley, we decided to explore the world of two more grown men confined in a small space. (Like Marvin and Lloyd were in Guys on Ice.)
I grew up in New Jersey, and for years I dreamed of moving to California. In 1990, I was offered a rentcontrolled studio apartment in Berkeley. My buddy Hughie and I drove across the country in my red Honda Civic. A few months later, I met up with Fred Alley, when both of us worked at Uncle Ralph’s, a familyowned, Berkeley version of a consumer electronics store. It was just a few blocks
from my apartment, and the store has a great counterculture atmosphere. Fred would spend the winters in Berkeley, accumulating funds to support his artistic endeavors at what was then a very small theater company in Fish Creek.
Fred and I became friends, listened to each other’s demo tapes, and by the summer of 1992, we had collaborated on our first show, Fishing for the Moon.
In the winter of 1993, Fred came to Berkeley to spend some time working on our next show, Northern Lights. Fred was always looking to keep housing costs to a minimum, and I invited him to stay at my place. I had a queen-size futon and another bed that folded up into the closet. With these two beds in their sleeping positions, there wasn’t room for much more than a desk and a piano. Perfect for a
couple of bachelors!
A few years later, and with the assistance of Doc Heide, we wrote a show called Guys on Ice, which proved to be very popular. We talked about a bunch of ideas for a follow up, and inspired by our experiences in Berkeley, we decided to explore the world of two more grown men confined in a small space. (Like Marvin and Lloyd were in Guys on Ice.)
We spent the better part of a year talking about all the strange and funny things that go on when men live together. We talked about getting the dishes done, how to make coffee when there are no more filters left, and the mysterious science experiments you would find in the refrigerator. (I would like to be clear that I have never used a sock – dirty or clean – as a coffee filter.) We talked about annoying calls from telemarketers, our efforts to eat three meals
a day for under five dollars (possible in Berkeley 1993) and the way that things would change when one of us had a girlfriend. The time came when we had to actually write the show, and we did that in Door County, in about sixty days.
Berkeley 1993 became Madison 2001, after a prologue in Victorian England, which allowed us to visit the world of Gilbert & Sullivan. A wonderful production of H.M.S. Pinafore, at Skylight Musical Theater left me looking for the opportunity to pay homage to G&S. The songs in The Bachelors cover a broad range of styles, from nursery rhymes to Rodgers & Hart to GetzGilberto.
We have been blessed to have many wonderful actors in the show in various configurations over the years, including original cast members Kelly Anne Clark, Doug Mancheski and Michael
Herold. Director Jeffrey Herbst brought the show to wonderful life and, with Pam Kriger, created dances to match our silly songs, including our first Dream Ballet. We are delighted to give the show new life with Joe Picchetti and Chase Stoeger who were delightful as buddies and roommates in Lumberjacks in Love at Milwaukee Rep’s Stackner Cabaret last year. They will be joined by the very talented Rachael Zientek, who you’ve probably seen in Doctor! Doctor! in 2015 as an intern.
Theater companies from Oregon to Ohio to Oceano, California have produced The Bachelors. I’m very excited to get to see the show on the stage of the Gould Theater for the very first time. Come see The Bachelors!
Nurturing Original Voices and Artists
LACHRISA GRANDBERRY NOVA Program Director
There’s a lot that makes Northern Sky one of a kind—but our favorite? We exclusively produce brand-new musicals for all ages, under the stars, deep in the woods. It’s a tradition unlike any other, and in 2023, we took it a step further by launching NOVA (Nurturing Original Voices and Artists)—our next-generation new works development and incubation initiative.
In just three years, NOVA has provided over 122 writers with a creative playground—a space to dream big, take risks, and bring fresh stories to life. These aren’t just musicals in the making; they’re bold, original works that serve both our Northern Sky community and the greater theatrical landscape. Some of the success of the program includes writers who have taken the next steps in their careers and have been
featured in Northern Sky’s annual reading series, where new works are showcased each season. NOVA isn’t just about developing scripts—it’s about fostering the next wave of storytellers, giving them the tools, confidence, and encouragement to step into their power.
Beyond the page, our NOVA Program Director also plays a key role as co-chair of our IDEAS Task Force, helping shape Northern Sky into a place where every artist feels seen, heard, and valued. Whether it’s artist to artist, artistic support, or community-building, this leadership ensures that NOVA is not only a program but a movement—one that amplifies voices, nurtures creativity, and champions bold new work.
While NOVA has primarily focused on writers, its impact extends far beyond the script. It’s about elevating Northern Sky as a home for innovation, where everyone’s voice matters. As we look ahead, we can’t wait to see how NOVA continues to evolve—because with every new season, we recommit to the magic of fresh stories, daring ideas, and unforgettable theater under the stars.
WANT TO SHARE IN THE APPLAUSE? BECOME A VOLUNTEER!
Do you love theatre? Do you enjoy sharing that experience with others? If your answers are “yes!” then we have the perfect opportunity for you! Northern Sky relies on, and is always looking for, fans ready to step up and lend a hand! No experience is necessary – just a willingness to help and a desire to be part of something original in Door County. Please call the office at (920) 854-6117 or e-mail volunteer@northernskytheater.com
This year marks the 35th anniversary of my first album of original songs, Lessons I Learned from the Moon. When I reach the end of my days, I’ll surely still regard that project as among my favorite in this lifetime. And it would never have happened without this theater and the close friend I made through it, our remarkable co-founder Fred Alley.
I met Fred in 1982, when he joined Northern Sky’s predecessor troupe The Heritage Ensemble. I’d already been in the Ensemble almost a decade and would soon begin writing shows for it. Fred and I bonded over our shared love of folk music, movies, songwriting, and a theatrical intuition that ranged between dorkiness and spiritual uplift. He and I began performing together outside of the Ensemble, playing bar gigs, coffeehouses, and even a sheep’s birthday
Zen of Thieves
DOC HEIDE
Co-founder of Northern Sky, Playwright, Artistic Advisor
party. And because he had a voice as powerful as a river in springtime, I wrote anthemic songs for him as the capper moments for several Ensemble shows. Indeed, I largely developed my songwriting style to do so. Those songs included such showstoppers as Land of the Free (from Sacred Fire of Liberty ), Leviathan (from Ten Thousand Fathoms Down), and The Mountains Call My Name (from our John Muir show with that title).
As much fun as this was, I was shocked when Fred proposed moving from Madison to California to record an album of my songs. I loved the idea but certainly wouldn’t have thought of doing so on my own and didn’t think I had enough material to even try.
In contrast, Fred was always pole-vaulting into the future, often without bothering to put a landing pad in place first. He suggested joining me in the ramshackle shared house I was living in near the UCBerkeley campus. And he felt confident there’d be enough material by the time we started recording.
In the spring of 1990, he moved to Berkeley. We
recorded the album at Hans Christian’s San Francisco studio, with Fred and I sharing lead vocals. Hans played cello and bass. And Hans invited two friends: Paul McCandless (famed for his improvisational performances on oboe and English horn with the Paul Winter Consort) and Windham Hill pianist Ira Stein.
The result was an album that induced a sustained ethereal mood. It was named one of the year’s 10 best albums by Sound Choice magazine and led to an invitation to perform at the Kerrville Folk Festival.
Fred passed away in 2001 at the age of 38, a few weeks after winning the Richard Rodgers Award for co-authoring the year’s best musical with James Valcq ( The Spitfire Grill ). The album stands as a tribute to his brilliant production style as well as preserving several of his finest performances.
In the decades since Lessons, I’ve written dozens of songs. Some were cowritten for Northern Sky shows (e.g., Belgians in Heaven). But most are standalone efforts exploring personal themes.
I laid down an album of rock-oriented songs 20 years ago (Peaceful Kingdom). But now I want to return to the evocative style of Lessons to preserve some of my favorite softer songs. These include some written for Fred to sing (e.g., Moonlight and Marshmallows) and one written about him (PureHeart Guitar ). Several explore spiritual themes ( All Shall Be Well, Adele). Because lead vocals will be shared with Northern Sky friends (e.g., Steve Koehler, Karen Mal, Amy Chaffee), I’m planning to release the album under the name of my band, Zen of Thieves Eric Lewis will perform and produce; Hans (who now has a Grammy nomination
under his belt) will record it and add cello magic.
Since streaming platforms only pay portions of a penny per stream, recording projects these days are virtually guaranteed to lose thousands of dollars. And Social Security doesn’t pay enough to swing it. So, we warmly invite anyone interested in supporting this project to go to kickstarterdocheide.com .
In an ideal world, our dear friend Fred would still be here to add his golden voice to the album. But hopefully he’ll be smiling down on this group of his friends trying to craft a project worthy of his great work on Lessons I Learned from the Moon.
SPONSOR SUPPORT ENSURES THE FUTURE OF NORTHERN SKY WHILE KEEPING OUR TICKET PRICES AFFORDABLE.
Season Sponsors
Tony & Judy Licata
Show Sponsors
Door County Medical Center
Jason Feldman Landscapes Main Street Market
Nicolet Bank
On Deck Clothing Company
Parkwood Lodge
White Gull Inn
Wilson’s Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor
Wulf Brothers
2025 Summer Season Subscriptions
Guarantee your spot for a season filled with music, laughter, and storytelling with a Northern Sky Summer Season Subscription.
Enjoy three shows for the price of two, priority seating, and flexible scheduling. You can plan the perfect theater experience around your summer adventures. Purchase a subscription for a limited time now through April 30th via the Northern Sky website or by calling the box office.
Out of the Woods
Wondering what Northern Sky company members were up to in the off-season?
In no particular order, here’s what some of us have reported:
JIMMY KAPLAN tells us he “had a blast playing piano for Lumberjacks in Love at Milwaukee Rep’s Stackner Cabaret. The perfect cast and crew, and lots of opportunities to see old friends.” That cast was directed by JEFF HERBST and included RYAN CAPPLEMAN , CHASE STOEGER , MOLLY RHODE , EVA NIMMER , and DOC HEIDE . Other than Lumberjacks, RYAN CAPPLEMAN has been very active with Forte Theatre (helping plan and perform in their Speakeasy Gala and directing The Secret Garden, starring SILVIA STOEGER as Colin Craven). He’s also been teaching for UWParkside, Dance Masters of Wisconsin, and Pink Umbrella Theater. Meanwhile, MOLLY RHODE directed Every Brilliant Thing at Milwaukee Chamber Theater starring JAMES CARRINGTON and directed Sister Act at the Skylight with music director ALISSA RHODE and choreographer ALEXIS J. ROSTON (the Sunflowered team back together!) CHASE STOEGER appeared in Finding Nemo at First Stage with ZACH WOODS and RACHAEL ZIENTEK . SILVIA also appeared as Rudolph in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at First Stage with JAMIE MERCADO, JAMES CARRINGTON, and ZACH WOODS . Molly continues to work on the leadership team for World Premiere Wisconsin which will have its second festival year in 2026. CLAY ZAMBO has been “keeping busy curating a revue for a local theater company called Broadway DNA: Decoding the Showtune which will be far less academic than it might sound, playing keyboards in lots of school musicals, and delightedly awaiting the arrival of ROBIN SHARE for some in-person work
on The Thing With Feathers as we prepare for this summer’s workshop at Northern Sky. (Pack warm clothes, Robin!) At University of Hartford, I am teaching a theater-songwriting class this term, and it’s going terrifically--the next generation of Northern Sky composers and lyricists could be among them!”
DAVE HUDSON took on a new position as Manager of Audience Development at Dominican University Performing Arts Center in River Forest, IL. On the playwriting side of things, he wrote a new children’s musical, Bounce! with DENVER CASADO. Lastly, Naked Radio (co-authored with PAUL LIBMAN ) will have its third Canadian production this summer. DAN KLARER reports that he “directed Guys On Ice this January at the Great American Melodrama in Oceano, CA. Rooty-toot-toot!”
AMY CHAFFEE is still a Professor of Voice and Acting at Tulane University. She dialectcoached two movies that came out last year: Deadpool and Wolverine and Fly Me to the Moon, and in February 2025, directed the USA premier of Northern Sky veteran playwright and performer LAURIE FLANIGAN-HEGGE’S play, Prick, at Tulane. Laurie and husband JON HEGGE travelled to NOLA to see the show, which also had a movement/puppet workshop at the Door Kinetic Arts Festival with Jeff Mills’ Proboscis Theatre Company in September directed by Amy. Laurie is hard at work on a musical adaptation of the Minnesota Book Award-winning novel Evidence of V with singer-songwriter Jonatha Brooke, and an upcoming public reading of Irvin Coulee, a new play commissioned by Prime Productions (readings April 28/29 at Park Square in St. Paul). Meanwhile, JON
HEGGE had a busy year, understudying the history plays at the Guthrie (Richard II, Henrys IV & V ) followed by long runs of Jersey Boys and White Christmas at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. (Catch him as Max in Cabaret at the Guthrie this summer and in White Christmas at CDT when the holidays come back around.) MATT ZEMBROWSKI has been busily preparing for the Northern Sky premiere of Something in the Water, all the while assuming the director position at his alma mater, Dominican High School, in Whitefish Bay, where they presented The Old Man and the Old Moon in the fall, and Godspell in February. TIM MCNURLEN tells us that “once again I was blessed and fortunate to do a week of Guys On Ice at the Barrymore with everyone’s favorite guys DOUG MANCHESKI and STEVE KOEHLER . I also did a mini tour in Fond du Lac and Oconomowoc in February and March. My dream is to have someone create an AI Avatar of me after I die or go senile so that I can continue to be Ernie da Moocher forever!” CRAIG KONOWALSKI has been performing around Sturgeon Bay (e.g., Fifth and Jefferson Coffeehouse). ALEX CAMPEA has been spending time focusing on completing a certification in Medical Billing and coding. He appeared with DOUG CLEMONS in a workshop production of a new musical called Courage House in Milwaukee as part of First Stage’s Amplify Fall Festival. RICHARD CASTLE’S song “Bigfoot” (from Reality Trip) was recently performed in concert at 54 Below in NYC, and his play Hollywood Forever will be featured in Little Fish Theatre’s “Pick of the Vine” festival this spring. He’s also writing a new musical with composer RON BARNETT for Northern Sky. BILL THEISEN is very much enjoying his tenure on the Board of Directors of Northern Sky Theater. He continues his online teaching/coaching schedule and is thrilled
to be returning to the park this summer to direct No Bones About It JIM MARONEK tells us: “I save everything because you never know…. This has paid off as I rummage among my set designs for Guys On Ice, revived in Canada, and The Bachelors, soon to appear again at Northern Sky. See? Cluttermania pays.” SHAWN GALLIGAN spent most of his winter in Madison. Over the holidays he was back with Madison Ballet doing their production of The Nutcracker. Then he returned to Forward Theater and did two shows with them (Summer, 1976 and A Case for the Existence of God ). In March he went to his favorite gaming convention, Adepticon, in its first year in Milwaukee after needing to move locations. COLIN WELFORD has “been in Ephraim, splitting my time between running my rental business, building an award-winning garden in North Ephraim, and continuing to produce and perform popular free concerts monthly as part of my nonprofit, colinandfriendsconcerts.org . On the weekends I pop up at various churches to play the organ for services, and am available to play for weddings, funerals and Bris ceremonies.” DOC HEIDE has been creating a new website with LEE BECKER to make their shows available to other theaters. Doc is also preparing to record a new album of ethereal original songs with his band, Zen of Thieves. The album will feature lead vocals by Doc and other Northern Sky friends (e.g., KAREN MAL , STEVE KOEHLER ) and will be produced by ERIC LEWIS . Eric has been touring with Jason Petty and working on several recording projects as a session player and producer including Mallory Everett’s “Time to Learn” which has been nominated by the Arkansas Country Music Awards as Album of the Year. Eric has also been planning a trip to Ireland with his wife Sheila to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary.
SHOWS
NORTHERN SKY THEATER
Door County, Wisconsin Door County, Wisconsin
2025 SUMMER SCHEDULE
JUNE
World Premiere
Begins Wednesday, June 11, at 7:30 pm Shows on Mondays at 6 pm, Wednesdays at 7:30 pm & Thursdays at 8:30 pm at the outdoor amphitheater
JULY
SITW - 6:00 NB - 8:30
Begins Thursday, June 12, at 6 pm Shows on Thursdays at 6 pm, Tuesdays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm at the outdoor amphitheater
30 29 28
AUGUST
Begins Monday, June 16, at 8:30 pm Shows on Mondays at 8:30 pm & Fridays at 7:30 pm at the outdoor
OUTDOOR PARK AMPHITHEATER
Adults: $29-$37 • Students: $19-$27
DH - 6:00 SITW - 8:30
DH - 6:00 SITW - 8:30
DH - 6:00 SITW - 8:30
DH - 6:00 SITW - 8:30
DH - 6:00 SITW - 8:30
DH - 6:00 SITW - 8:30
Children (Ages 3-12): $14-$22 • Children Under 3: Free on lap
Park Amphitheater: 10169 Shore Rd, Fish Creek, WI 54212
Ticket office hours are 1 - 8 pm, Monday through Friday and Saturday 4 - 8 pm during the season.
Ticket Office & Gould Theater: 9058 County Rd A, Fish Creek, WI 54212 www.NorthernSkyTheater.com | 920.854.6117
2025 FALL SHOW IN THE GOULD THEATER
August 29 - October 25
Monday - Saturday performances
From Fred Alley and James Kaplan, the creators of Guys On Ice and Lumberjacks in Love: it’s bachelor heaven for Stew and John, until a pizza delivery girl appears with a shaker of spice!
Donation Levels
❑
$25,000 & up - Belgian Angel
❑
$10,000 to $24,999 - Victory Farmer
❑ $5,000 to $9,999 - Spitfire Griller
❑ $2,500 to $4,999 - Windjammer
❑ $1,000 to $2,499 - Ice Fisher
❑ $500 to $999 - Happy Lumberjack
❑ $300 to $499 - Music Lover
❑ $125 to $299 - Galactic Packer
❑ $75 to $124 - Bone Dancer
❑ $25 to $74 - Cheesehead
Designated Funds
Northern Sky General Operating Fund
❑ Please accept my gift of $ for the General Operating Fund.
Fred
Alley
New Musical Fund
❑ Please accept my gift of $ for the Fred Alley New Musical Fund.
Northern Sky Endowment Fund
❑ Please accept my gift of $ for the Endowment Fund.
We are a 501(c)(3) organization. Tax ID 39-1666391. Your donation is tax deductible as allowed by law.
❑ My employer will match my gift Employer Name: Paperwork: ❑ is enclosed ❑ will be sent
❑ My check number _______________________ payable to Northern Sky Theater is enclosed.
❑ Please charge $ _______________________ to my ❑ MasterCard ❑ Visa (Please provide info below)
ACCOUNT NUMBER EXP DATE CVV
Please clip & mail to: Northern Sky Theater - 9058 County Rd A, Fish Creek,WI 54212 Thank You!
Your gift of $25 or more from 4/1/2025 through 3/31/2026 will be recognized in our 2026 playbill. With
Northern Sky shows are supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Northern Sky Theater, Inc. 9058 County Road A Fish Creek, WI 54212
2025 SEASON
See page 15 inside!
Our Mission
The mission of Northern Sky Theater is to create, develop, and present professional musical and dramatic productions which will further the knowledge and appreciation of the culture and heritage of the United States.
Northern Sky Theater is dedicated to maintaining standards of artistic excellence; celebrating and illuminating the human condition; reaching a large audience of all ages, including families; and fostering a humanistic work environment with adequate and appropriate emotional, financial and creative support for all those associated with us.