The Cast

(In order of appearance)

Edith . . . . . . . . . . . .Karin Denison

Ruth . . . . . . . . . . .Kayla Wobbema

Charles . . . . . . . . . . . Marty Wallin

Dr. Bradman . . . .  . . .Brad Thielsen

Mrs. Bradman . . . . . . . . Deb Heller

Madame Arcati . . . . Christine Schut

Elvira . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Katie Ness

From the Director. . .

Blithe Spirit became one of my favorite show while participating in a college production of it. Noel Coward's use of the improbable makes this show an enjoyable plot of unexpected twists and turns. I think you will enjoy the show and can perhaps sympathize with Charles.

After directing many junior and senior high productions, it has been a refreshing change to work with the community-at-large in putting this together. This has been a large task from the start, but our ability to laugh at ourselves and with each other until our stomachs hurt has made this an experience I never want to forget!

Thank you, Karin, for putting your faith and confidence in me as we stepped forward to put our hats into the ring. I am constantly amazed at your organizational skills with the often hectic life you lead. To the cast I owe a debt of gratitude...you have made the trip worthwhile! To my husband, thank you for embracing my passion for this obsession I have for theater. Your Support has been ELEMENTAL in our success!

Please come join us for a show, on or off stage! It will be a wonderful time!

Monk's Secondhand, Tom and Tish Abrahamson at Pipestone Interiors, Progress Inc., and all of its individuals who contributed the hundreds of props and furniture pieces; the ushers of the Pipestone Performing Arts Center; the Histroic Calumet Inn for ticket handling; Dee Runge, JaNeil Peschon and Leah Roelfsema-Hummel for on-site ticket details; Dennis Hansen and Jim Hintermeister; Mylan Ray - KLOH/KISD Radio and the Pipestone County Star for publicity; Jason Raether of the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Playhouse for lighting assistance; Tom Hansen; and Pipestone/Jasper High School Theater Dept.

A sneak preview...the 1997-98 season:

Comedy - I Hate Hamlet Oct. 23-25 &Oct. 30-Nov. 2, 1997

Musical drama - Quilters Feb. 13-15 & 19-22, 1998

• watch for upcoming information on our second annual Valentines Gala Feb. 14, as well as a special quilt show and related activities Feb. 20-21

Drama - All My Sons June 12-14 & 18-21, 1998

Our Cast

Karin Denison - (Edith) enjoyed previous affiliation with two Calumet Players productions, on-stage as the hedge-clipper wielding Harriet in The Fantastics (1996), and in "the pit" as the musical co-director/pianist for the 1997 melodrama Ten Nights in a Barroom. The challenging role of Edith is her first non-musical on-stage appearance since playing a bit role in Cando (ND) High School melodrama...so she hopes fellow members will understand and forgive the numerous times in rehearsal that she forgot most of her "many" lines or missed a door bell- answering entrance. A resident of Pipestone for nearly two years, Karin in her spare time works as a reporter /photographer for the Pipestone County Star.

Kayla Wobbema - (Ruth) is new to town and new to the performing stage. She moved from Sioux Falls last October and currently works at Cellular One in Pipestone. While not furiously memorizing her hundreds of lines for Blithe Spirit, she had enjoyed getting to know the character of "Madame Arcati, because she is so loud, outgoing and flamboyant."

Marty Wallin - (Charles) returns for his fourth visit to the stage with the Calumet Players, having progressively aged through The Diary of Ann Frank (1995) as a 16-year-old Peter, Bus Stop (1996) as twenty-ish Bo Decker, Ten Nights In a Barroom (1997), and now in Blithe Spirit as a forty-something novelist.  He is owner of the Pipestone Subway sandwich shop, and family includes wife Marie and four children.  As for his favorite Blithe Spirit Character, he points to the outlandish Madame Arcati, because "she is filled with spirit...no pun intended."

Christine Schut - (Madam Arcati) feels slightly typecast in this eccentric role, because "she is probably me when I'm 50!" She, like her alter ego, believes strongly in "guides, angels or ghosts - whatever you want to call them...we have lots to learn from people who have gone before us." Blithe Spirit is her third Calumet Player's production this season; earlier roles include Cassie in  Purple Hearts (1996) and Mrs Slade in Ten Nights in a Barrom (1997). Pipestone residents for two year, Chris and husband Shannon and their four children will soon be moving to Grants, N.M. ...and Chris wants to thank the Calumet Players and everyone associate with the past three shows, "I've learned something from each of you and will miss you all terribly," she says, "Thanks to the audiences who have made this so much fun, and to Becky and Karin for making me sing and for letting me fly with Madame Arcati. And I'd like to thank the Academy...oops, that just slipped out!"

Brad Thielsen - (Dr. George Bradman) works for the city of Pipestone, where he lives with wife Becky and children Tyler and Anissa.  The Calumet Player's Bus Stop (1996) was his first on-stage experience, in which he truly learned to "walk like a sheriff." While he can't say he believes in ghosts because he hasn't ever had any experience of the sort happen to him, Brad will always remember "Marty being Frazier and running with scissors."

Deb Heller - (Mrs. Violet Bradman) moved to the area in October 1996, in which time she has taken the stage both with the Opland Singers and the Calumet Players as Goldie Hills in  Ten Nights in a Barroom (1997). Previous performing arts experience came through dance lessons in high school and college, church choirs, and the Evergreen (Colo.) Chorale.  An unemployed accountant, Deb lives in Pipestone with Husband Dave and son Ethan (family also includes grown son Adam).  She enjoys the character of Ruth in Blithe Spirit, because "She is so long-suffering, trying to be a good and understanding wife while feeling quite put upon," and cites her favorite memory as "the night hysteria broke out after Becky told us we were doing all our gestures with our heads while keeping our arms stiffly at our sides."

Katie Ness  - (Elvira)  is a Calumet Players veteran as well, having appeared as Ann in The Diary of Anne Frank (1995) and Elma in  Bus Stop (1996).  The daughter of Chuck and Laurie Ness of Pipestone, she just finished her junior year at Pipestone-Jasper High School with plans for the after "to attend college....somewhere." During Blithe Spirit rehearsals, Katie certainly enjoyed her erstwhile living husband Charles (aka Marty) calling her five times consecutively by the name of his second wife - "Ruth," which was second only to Mrs. Bradman and her constant "How Extraordinaries!"

Becky Thielsen - (Director) A junior and senior high English instructor, Becky resides in Pipestone - her home of four years - with husband Brad and children Tyler and Anissa.  Although Blithe Spirit is her first directing experience outside of the school setting, she is a veteran of the theater, having headed 16 plays in her career, including one-acts, plays and musicals.  Previously with the Calumet Players she appeared on stage as Tansy in The Nerd (1995), as well as off-stage as musical co-director and pianist for Ten Nights in a Barroom (1997).  She mentions "Bo and the Sheriff" as her favorite character ("oops, wrong show..."), but has "too many favorite memories to pick just one. It has been such a terrific experience working with this cast...implicitly a most peculiar time."

This production is made possible by a grant from the Southwest Minnesota Arts and Humanities Council (SMAHC), with funds appropriated by the state legislature. It is produced with special arrangement from Samuel French Inc, New York.