DEER CAMP: THE MUSICAL
Book and lyrics by Gene Jurek
Music by Doug Spartz
Produced by Actors Theatre of Minnesota
Directed by Shanan Wexler
June 23-28

Snow on the ground, a nip in the air and the flash of blaze orange through the trees mean only one thing to many Minnesotans: deer-hunting season has finally arrived. Actors Theater of Minnesota’s DEER CAMP: THE MUSICAL is a comic exploration of every comic cornball and wry situation about hunting, men, marriage and small-town life known to humankind.

In this lighter-than-air comedy, four friends make their annual pilgrimage to the woods. This year, however, there’s one little problem. If the men don’t bring home a deer, their wives might discover their deepest secret: they never actually hunt at deer camp. Why freeze your tush off sitting in a cold deer stand all day, they reason, when you can loll around in a nice warm shack, drink beer, shoot the breeze, talk about bodily functions, drink beer, sing a musical number or two, and drink beer some more?

I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE
Book and lyrics by Joe Dipietro
Music by Jimmy Roberts
Produced by Duluth Playhouse
Originally directed by Kristen Hambelton
July 7-12

The road to coupledom and all of its trials and tribulations are explored in this musical celebration of the modern-day mating game. I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE is a musical comedy about everything you have ever secretly thought about dating, romance, marriage, lovers, husbands, wives and in-laws, but were afraid to admit.

It has thrice played to sold-out houses at the Duluth Playhouse.

MOM’S THE WORD
By By Linda Carson, Jill Daum, Alison Kelly, Robin Nichol, Barbara Pollard
& Deborah Williams
Produced by Actors Theater of Minnesota
Directed by Peter Moore
July 14-19

MOM’S THE WORD is a musical cabaret-style parody about the challenges of motherhood, turning a comic eye on the things that drive us all crazy about our children and about motherhood. It humorusly looks at on the ups and downs of parenthood through song, covering such topics as dirty diapers, tantrums, sibling rivalry, finding a reliable babysitter, overscheduled extra-curricular activities, clueless spouses, and sagging body parts as well as the joy our children bring us.

MOM’S THE WORD has played at Actors Theatre of Minnesota in St. Paul and at Pioneer Place Theatre in St. Cloud.

A DON'T HUG ME COUNTY FAIR
By Phil Olson
Produced by Pioneer Place
July 21-26

A sequel to Theatre L’Homme Dieu’s 2006 hit, Don’t Hug Me, this year the Bunyan County Fair means one thing to Gunner and Clara Johnson, owners of a little bar called The Bunyan: The Miss Walleye Queen Competition. Bernice, the gorgeous waitress, sees this as her big chance to win Miss Walleye Queen, to be discovered, and more importantly, to have her face carved in butter at the Minnesota State Fair. The trouble begins when Gunner’s wife, Clara, decides she also wants to win Miss Walleye Queen. Bigger trouble arrives when Gunner’s estranged twin sister, Trigger, shows up to try to win the beauty pageant. A DON’T HUG ME COUNTY FAIR offers 16 original songs amidst a million
laughs.

A DON’T HUG ME COUNTY FAIR comes to Theatre L’Homme Dieu from its run at St. Cloud’s Pioneer Place Theater.

THE SECRET GARDEN
Book and Lyrics by Marsha Norman
Music by Lucy Simon
Produced by Minneapolis Musical Theater
Directed by Marlin L. Rothe
July 28- August 2

Based on the cherished book from 1909, this moving musical tells the story of a young girl who must move to England to live with her uncle after the death of her parents in India. Along the way she brings back to life, not only a garden, but also those who surround her. Atmospheric and haunting, THE SECRET GARDEN will transport audiences to another time and place.
This is the premier show of Minneapolis Musical Theatre’s 2009 spring season.