The "Monroe Gold Files" runs Nov. 13-16 at the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center as part of Monroe's Sesquicentennial celebration. Performances start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children through 12 grade and senior citizens, and are available at the door or at Kidz Korner on the Square. Reservations can be made by calling 325-3537.
MONROE - "This is the city."
Frankie, the gumshoe, played by Chris Weis, opens the "Monroe Gold Files" Sesquicentennial play with familiar words to a history-mystery musical set in present-day Monroe, Wisconsin.
The "Monroe Gold Files" is truly a work of the city, in search of a case of gold.
The play was a "skeleton script" story according to local playwrights Stephen and Katee Eliasson, until directors Nadine and Troy Whiteman, sat down with them to add a few details.
"They filled in what we didn't know," Stephen Eliasson said. The Eliassons have lived in Monroe for only a year and a half.
"I added a few bad jokes," Troy said.
At the end of the first dress rehearsal Monday, the Eliassons were up front by the stage edge, thanking the actors themselves for inserting their own little idiosyncrasies.
"That was awesome," Katee told them. "This town, this city should be so proud."
"You've added so many details we never even imagined," Stephen said.
Troy Whiteman said the idea was brought to the Monroe Theatre Guild, who thought it was a good idea. The problem for production the theatre guild ran into was the lack of actors, many of whom are preparing for the Christmas play.
"Many of the actors have never been on the stage before," Stephen said.
Amee called them "a cast of a hundred, with the hearts of a thousand."
Indeed, over 100 Monroe residents make up the cast and crew, some playing themselves in the show.
And the idiosyncrasies add to the humor of the characterizations.
Mayor Marsh talks about creating a Gold Committee and adds, "Do I have to do everything around here?"
Edelweiss Creamery's Bruce Workman plays himself "the highest ranked cheesemaker in the county," as Marsh tells the evil character, Sunny Sonoma of Los Angeles, who's come to steal the gold.
Kids in 4-H sing "It's the Cheese," a piece choreographed by Nadine Whiteman.
There's the women's club and garden club and the vying Curds and Whey teenage gangs all looking for gold.
The cheesemakers are featured in their own choreographed piece.
Even the five cent parking meters and 3 a.m. train whistles get prominently noted in the play. And Sunny Sonoma complains of the corn, cows and cold.
The eldest characters in the play, Nick Gommler, played by Craig Tuttle, and Old Timer, played by John Baumann, are humorous in their own way. Tuttle reminds us of a Tim Conway, and Baumann, of a Danny Kaye, when they used to play old men.
But mingling in all the humor, the audience gets a sense of Monroe's pride in their cheeses, the buildings and famous people, past and present.
Adding to the historic authenticity of the story and setting the stage is the back drop screen of places and people in Monroe.
Filling in the musical background is a 19 piece high school wind ensemble, directed by Tom Schilt. Schilt said he got together with Stephen Eliasson in early summer to find the appropriate tunes, to which Eliasson wrote the lyrics.
The students signed up for the opportunity to do the live show.
"I thought it'd be fun," flutist Maggie Shuda said. "My little sister is in the pit too."
Stephanie Hoover also plays the flute, while her mother and younger brother have acting parts.
"It's a family thing," the Monroe native said.
Frankie, the gumshoe, played by Chris Weis, opens the "Monroe Gold Files" Sesquicentennial play with familiar words to a history-mystery musical set in present-day Monroe, Wisconsin.
The "Monroe Gold Files" is truly a work of the city, in search of a case of gold.
The play was a "skeleton script" story according to local playwrights Stephen and Katee Eliasson, until directors Nadine and Troy Whiteman, sat down with them to add a few details.
"They filled in what we didn't know," Stephen Eliasson said. The Eliassons have lived in Monroe for only a year and a half.
"I added a few bad jokes," Troy said.
At the end of the first dress rehearsal Monday, the Eliassons were up front by the stage edge, thanking the actors themselves for inserting their own little idiosyncrasies.
"That was awesome," Katee told them. "This town, this city should be so proud."
"You've added so many details we never even imagined," Stephen said.
Troy Whiteman said the idea was brought to the Monroe Theatre Guild, who thought it was a good idea. The problem for production the theatre guild ran into was the lack of actors, many of whom are preparing for the Christmas play.
"Many of the actors have never been on the stage before," Stephen said.
Amee called them "a cast of a hundred, with the hearts of a thousand."
Indeed, over 100 Monroe residents make up the cast and crew, some playing themselves in the show.
And the idiosyncrasies add to the humor of the characterizations.
Mayor Marsh talks about creating a Gold Committee and adds, "Do I have to do everything around here?"
Edelweiss Creamery's Bruce Workman plays himself "the highest ranked cheesemaker in the county," as Marsh tells the evil character, Sunny Sonoma of Los Angeles, who's come to steal the gold.
Kids in 4-H sing "It's the Cheese," a piece choreographed by Nadine Whiteman.
There's the women's club and garden club and the vying Curds and Whey teenage gangs all looking for gold.
The cheesemakers are featured in their own choreographed piece.
Even the five cent parking meters and 3 a.m. train whistles get prominently noted in the play. And Sunny Sonoma complains of the corn, cows and cold.
The eldest characters in the play, Nick Gommler, played by Craig Tuttle, and Old Timer, played by John Baumann, are humorous in their own way. Tuttle reminds us of a Tim Conway, and Baumann, of a Danny Kaye, when they used to play old men.
But mingling in all the humor, the audience gets a sense of Monroe's pride in their cheeses, the buildings and famous people, past and present.
Adding to the historic authenticity of the story and setting the stage is the back drop screen of places and people in Monroe.
Filling in the musical background is a 19 piece high school wind ensemble, directed by Tom Schilt. Schilt said he got together with Stephen Eliasson in early summer to find the appropriate tunes, to which Eliasson wrote the lyrics.
The students signed up for the opportunity to do the live show.
"I thought it'd be fun," flutist Maggie Shuda said. "My little sister is in the pit too."
Stephanie Hoover also plays the flute, while her mother and younger brother have acting parts.
"It's a family thing," the Monroe native said.