‘Tales of Two Counties’ tickets now available

Published 9:17 am Friday, September 12, 2008

Tickets for performances of “Tales of Two Counties,” a musical play about the people of Freeborn and Mower counties, are now on sale at the following locations: Tone Music, Doyle’s Hallmark and Nancy VanderWaerdt’s State Farm office. Tickets will also be sold at the Albert Lea Farmers Market. In Austin, tickets are available at the Paramount box office.

Organizers have scheduled performances at Albert Lea’s Marion Ross Performing Arts Center on Oct. 16, 17, 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. Performances at the Paramount Theatre in Austin are scheduled for the following dates: Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. All tickets are $10.

Written by Joan Claire Graham and directed by Ellen Karsten, “Tales of Two Counties” includes a 21-member cast of actors and singers from both Freeborn and Mower counties whose ages span four generations. Music for the show was written by composer Tom Shelton. Musical director is Gail Thurnau.

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Graham, who is known for her “Minnesota Memories” book series, wrote children’s plays and lyrics with composer Shelton in Los Angeles at the Children’s Musical Theater Workshop for several years. Shelton, who has been an actor and musician all his life, was the recipient of the Landers National Theatre Playwriting Award for his musical adaptation of “Caddie Woodlawn.”

Karsten is a freelance professional actor and director from Minneapolis. She’s directed at a variety of professional, community, college, children’s and summer stock theaters including Cleveland Playhouse, Starting Gate, Theatre in the Round, St. Cloud State University, Central Minnesota Children’s Theatre and Theatre L’Homme Dieu.

“Tales of Two Counties” celebrates the achievement of 214 people from Mower and Freeborn counties, who overcame their initial doubt to create two books of county history, “Albert Lea Remembers” and “Austin Remembers.” Since the original books contain nearly a quarter million words and 256 stories, Graham combed through the material to find stories with similar themes, universal values and plot lines that could take the step from page to stage. Stories are interspersed with a dozen songs, most of which were written for this show, and all of which were inspired by material in the stories.

“I believe this show is unique. If there has ever been a show of this type created specifically for and by Freeborn and Mower County people, I am not aware of it,” said Graham. “Audience members will hear the words of people they know, or they will hear familiar stories. They will hear characters talk about their relatives, neighbors or familiar town characters. The music is contagious, the material is suitable for all ages, and the sentiment is real. ‘Tales of Two Counties’ gives new meaning to the term reality show.”