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Minhas to shoot short film on Blumer kidnapping
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The 1931 kidnapping of brewer Fred Blumer will be the subject of a short docudrama to be filmed on the streets of Monroe and played at the end of the Minhas Craft Brewery tours and special events. (Times file photo: Anthony Wahl)
MONROE - Fred Blumer, the maker of Blumer's Golden Glow Near Beer during the national prohibition of alcohol, was kidnapped in 1931.

His story is about to become the subject of a short docudrama, which will be filmed on the streets of Monroe in early September.

The film, about 10-15 minutes long, will be played at the end of the Minhas Craft Brewery tours and at special events.

The Monroe Theatre Guild is working feverishly with Spotlight Productions of Calgary, Canada, to supply local actors as well as the speakeasy-era costumes they will be wearing in the film.

Auditions will be held 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1 at the Monroe Theatre Guild, 910 16th Ave., Monroe.

"It was short notice," said Katie Doyle-Baumann, president of the MTG.

The film requires eight actors to play the parts of the script and extras, men and women in their 30s, to bring the streets on Monroe to life in this historical story.

"If they have their own period clothing to wear, that would be great," said Rick Maliszewski, MTG board member.

Filming is scheduled for September 8-14, Doyle-Baumann said, and will include exterior shots of the Minhas Craft Brewery, named Blumer Brewing Company in the 1900s.

Moni Minhas, the father of Minhas Craft Brewery owners Ravinder and Manjit Minhas, wrote the film's script based on his research of the kidnapping.

Fred Blumer was about 50 years old at the time of his kidnapping. The ransom was set at $150,000, but not everything went according to plan for the kidnappers. Who were these infamous kidnappers? How did Monroe get back Fred Blumer, who returned to run the brewery for another six years? And what secret did Fred reveal to his granddaughter while on his death bed?

Audition readings taken from the script are available from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday or 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Monroe Theatre Guild offices, 910 16th Ave. For more information, call 608-325-1111; email monroetheatre@tds.net; or go to www.monroetheatre.com.