The Kimball Community Playhouse (KCP) will soon begin it’s third summer season of theater. For the past two years, the KCP’s performance attendance has exceeded Kimball’s population. In February of 2000, seven very dedicated people in Kimball were brought together by fate and by one of the school district’s counselors, Erin McPherson – who is also an accomplished actor. McPherson secured the assistance of Laurie Johnson, whose new consulting service, Initiatives for the Arts, was doing just what McPherson needed – helping fledgling arts groups through the early years of development. The first six months of the Kimball Community Playhouse were spent creating the founding documents – Articles of Incorporation, ByLaws, the Mission and the 501(c)(3) application. The group then prepared to audition the inaugural production. Ninety-four residents auditioned for the production of Annie in May of 2001. The first grants were written by Kris O’Brien, director of Kimball Community Education and the founding secretary of the KCP. Funds were secured from the Central Minnesota Community Foundation in St. Cloud, the Initiative Foundation in Little Falls and the Central Minnesota Arts Board in Elk River. The financial support of these three groups, along with the financial support of local Kimball businesses and individuals provided funds to produce the first show. Using district-owned portable staging, the elementary gym was transformed into a stage; lights were hung from the ceiling and microphones were rented. Johnson directed the first show and also served as music director and pianist. All production documents created during the production process – from audition notices to the strike duty roster – were kept in a binder which was used as a reference for the following year when Johnson’s involvement was minimal. In 2002, the previous year’s assistant director and local choreographer, Cathy Olsen, took the reins as director of Bye, Bye Birdie (BBB). Her energy and magnetic personality drew in many new adult and youth performers – some from the neighboring communities of Eden Valley, South Haven and Watkins. The junior high track coach, Jeff Babbit, played Conrad, and Pastor David Milz played Mr. McAffee. The men’s quartet, Talk to Me, is often cut from BBB, but four magnificent men’s voices were found in Kimball residents Dave Kendrick (an excavator), Ned Root (a Home Depot employee), Jerry Gillman (chair of the Kimball school board and a city bus driver) and Duane Finger (an electrician). These four men beautifully put together this challenging and unique song. Several of the adults in the cast are also members of the KCP Board of Directors. Tom Schreiner, who played Albert Peterson in BBB, is a production supervisor at New Flyer, a bus manufacturing plant in St. Cloud. Schreiner feels that obstacles and challenges occur during the formation of any group. But, says Schreiner, “If the core group of people know what they want and have the inspiration, the possibilities are endless.” Both youth and adults reap the benefits of community theater. Kids learn about theater, have something to do in the summer, develop new friendships, overcome fears and develop confidence. Perhaps most importantly, participants gain a sense of ownership of their creation. Instead of driving a half-hour or more into St. Cloud for rehearsals, Kimball residents can, in some cases, walk across the street to their own school which houses their very own theater company. How cool is that! Two young actors in BBB – Joelle Wysoski and Amanda Kuseske – both love being in the productions. Wysoski and her sister, Sarah, who played the lead role of Kim McAffee, practiced their dance steps together at home and helped each other with line memorization. Kuseske likes meeting new people and thinks that being in a production “gives regular people confidence that they can actually do something.” The creation of the KCP has had a ripple effect effect in the town and the school district. The founders of KCP not only wanted to create a theater but wanted to “create a foundation for the presence of the performing arts” in the community. The high school now includes dramatic productions for the first time in years, the choir has doubled in size in just two years, Community Education has offered classes in theater as part of its line-up, and the school has participated in the state one-act competition for the first time. The KCP applied for a grant and received arts funding. Erin McPherson, Lori Rippentrop, Kris O’Brien, Mark Priester, Karla Lindemann, George Vigoren and Paulette Hauge were vital to the early success of the KCP. Since its formation two years ago, the Board of Directors has added the services of Sue Simacek, Betty Nystrom and Tom Schreiner. All of the Kimball Community Playhouse participants are influential in keeping the community focsed on theater and the arts. For more information on how you can get involved in the KCP, contact Kris O’Brien at (320) 398-3781, or see the ad in this weeks’ issue of the Tri-County News. Auditions for this summer’s production will take place Wednesday-Thursday, May 28-29 at 7 p.m. sharp.
