MONROE - The history of Monroe remains a mystery to many people, no matter how long they've lived in the city.
But Nov. 13-16, Monroe Theatre Guild will offer people a chance to uncover the hidden riches buried in the city in a fun and entertaining way.
"Monroe Gold Files" is a new musical being written by Stephen and Katee Eliasson, especially for the Monroe sesquicentennial celebration.
The play's mysterious storyline is being well-guarded, and the cast will be sworn to secrecy before the first read-through at rehearsals in early October. But theater-goers will follow the characters' humorous search for gold, hidden somewhere in the city many years ago, to claim it before it is stolen.
"Typically it takes three to five months to research and write a play," Stephen Eliasson said. "(But) it takes a long time to do 150 years of history."
The Eliassons have background experience in theater - Stephen from New York and Katee from Chicago. They have written several plays for Stevens Point, the proceeds from which have gone to benefit various community organizations.
For that reason, the Monroe Cultural Coalition asked Stephen Eliasson, senior copywriter at the Swiss Colony, to write a play to celebrate Monroe's sesquicentennial. Talk of the play began in December.
Eliasson is trying to get a wide range of community members involved.
He is expecting a cast of up to 60 people, students of all grade levels. Monroe Theatre Guild members will be filling many of the roles, but still, extras are needed. Some parts are non-speaking; others are singing or dancing. Auditions start mid-September.
"I begged Mayor (Ron) Marsh. I said, 'If you say you'll be in it, other people will get involved,'" he said.
The cast of celebrities now include not only Marsh, but also business and bank presidents and vice-presidents, master cheesemakers, doctors, nurses, teachers and managers.
Monroe High School Principal Mark Burandt gave the Eliassons a slot at the Performing Arts Center. Nadine and Troy Whiteman will direct the production.
The Monroe Theatre Guild will own the musical after the Eliassons are finished writing it, but they wanted it to be useful for years to come after the sesquicentennial production. The musical, filled with wholesome, good-natured local humor, will be an opportunity to do something fun for years to come, Eliasson said.
But Nov. 13-16, Monroe Theatre Guild will offer people a chance to uncover the hidden riches buried in the city in a fun and entertaining way.
"Monroe Gold Files" is a new musical being written by Stephen and Katee Eliasson, especially for the Monroe sesquicentennial celebration.
The play's mysterious storyline is being well-guarded, and the cast will be sworn to secrecy before the first read-through at rehearsals in early October. But theater-goers will follow the characters' humorous search for gold, hidden somewhere in the city many years ago, to claim it before it is stolen.
"Typically it takes three to five months to research and write a play," Stephen Eliasson said. "(But) it takes a long time to do 150 years of history."
The Eliassons have background experience in theater - Stephen from New York and Katee from Chicago. They have written several plays for Stevens Point, the proceeds from which have gone to benefit various community organizations.
For that reason, the Monroe Cultural Coalition asked Stephen Eliasson, senior copywriter at the Swiss Colony, to write a play to celebrate Monroe's sesquicentennial. Talk of the play began in December.
Eliasson is trying to get a wide range of community members involved.
He is expecting a cast of up to 60 people, students of all grade levels. Monroe Theatre Guild members will be filling many of the roles, but still, extras are needed. Some parts are non-speaking; others are singing or dancing. Auditions start mid-September.
"I begged Mayor (Ron) Marsh. I said, 'If you say you'll be in it, other people will get involved,'" he said.
The cast of celebrities now include not only Marsh, but also business and bank presidents and vice-presidents, master cheesemakers, doctors, nurses, teachers and managers.
Monroe High School Principal Mark Burandt gave the Eliassons a slot at the Performing Arts Center. Nadine and Troy Whiteman will direct the production.
The Monroe Theatre Guild will own the musical after the Eliassons are finished writing it, but they wanted it to be useful for years to come after the sesquicentennial production. The musical, filled with wholesome, good-natured local humor, will be an opportunity to do something fun for years to come, Eliasson said.