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Sarah Huffington, right, played by Lexi Guenther, leads her pirate crew in a song. Also pictured are Charlotte Sutter and Becca Ahnemann. Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

Roger Goodman, played by Chayce Lutteke, transforms from a gentleman to the ruthless pirate "Captain Blood." Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

Long John Sliver, played by Teagan Lutteke, sings about being a pirate in Alden-Conger drama's musical, "A Pirate's Life for Me." Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

Captain Bluebeard, played by Owen Gooden, celebrates his retirment on Treasure Island while members of his crew, played by Laiken Farris, Andrew Petersen and Collin Lee, want to go back to being pirates. Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

Alden-Conger School drama will perform musical, "A Pirate's Life for Me" Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

The Alden-Conger School drama department on Friday opened their spring musical, “A Pirate’s Life for Me” and will hold two more performances at 7 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Alden-Conger School gymnasium.

According to the school vocal coach and the play’s director, Ada Theusch, when aristocrat Roger Goodman learns the woman he plans to marry thinks he is boring and longs instead for a life of adventure as a pirate, he decides to change himself to be more like the man she is hoping for. Goodman gathers a less-than-conventional pirate crew led by the experienced and ruthless Long John Sliver. Changing his name to “Captain Blood,” Goodman and the others set sail for Treasure Island to look for Sliver’s buried treasure, meeting many other colorful characters along the way.

“This is actually my 31st show I’ve directed at Alden-Conger,” Theusch said. “We’ve done everything from ‘Annie’ to ‘Strange Boarders’ to ‘The Sound of Music.’”

The school’s band director and speech coach, Ben Jahnke, is the assistant director for the show. Theusch said she is thrilled to have him be a part of the project because he brings great ideas and a fresh set of eyes and ears to rehearsals.

Tryouts were held all the way back in December, and students have been rehearsing the show since January, she said.

The cast of “A Pirate’s Life for Me” features 24 actors, which Theusch said fit well with the number, ages and skill levels of the students in this year’s show. Students from grades 6 through 12 have been able to participate.

“My favorite part of any show is seeing students become more confident in their skills portraying their character as we get closer to performance time,” Theusch said. “I also enjoy seeing the older students mentor the younger ones. They take care of themselves and then pitch in for the good of the group.”

Theusch added she hopes the play’s audience enjoys the boisterous sea shanties the students perform, and they fall in love with the story of people who long for adventure and excitement in their lives.

Tickets to “A Pirate’s Life for Me” are $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

Cast and Crew
Director: Ada Theusch
Assistant director: Ben Jahnke

Actors
Roger Goodman: Chayce Lutteke
George: Luke Gooden
Sarah Huffington: Lexi Guenther
Kate: Charlotte Sutter
Belinda: Becca Ahnemann
Lord Hector Huffington: Cody Christenson
Lady Emma Huffington: Danni Betts
Long John Sliver: Teagan Lutteke
Claude: Aidan Schmidt
Maude: Bella Guenther
Parrot: Jayci Sheetz
Sneak: Dylan Peterson
Snaggle: Bryce Green
Snoot: Zendraya Talamantes
Laverne and Shirley: both played by Haddie Colby
Lucy and Ethel: both played by Emily Helland
Captain Belvedere: Carter Lee
Bluebeard: Owen Gooden
Smudge: Emma Benson
Dandy: Aubrie Jacobs
Kiki: Laiken Farris
Miki: Andrew Peterson
Creaky: Collin Lee

Crew
Tech Crew: Dakota Betts, James Helland, Abbi Renaux
Makeup: Allie Wilder, Adrianne Wilder, Madison Lindbergh, Gia Marks, Jade Huper
Stage Crew: Dakota Green, Erica Hensche, Emma Herfindahl, Kaiden Jenson, Gretah Johnson, Brooklyn Stelter

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