
Festival Theatre is happy to announce that rehearsals are well underway for the holiday production of “Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates,” featuring an ambitious group of area youth on stage with the cast of six adults. This show, last produced here in 2006, opens Saturday, November 29th and runs through December 28th.
This holiday story about the tenacity of children is set in Holland in the early 19th century. A poor-but-industrious and honorable young man named Hans Brinker yearns to participate in December’s great ice-skating race on the Canal. He and his younger sister, Gretel, have little chance of winning on their handmade wooden skates, but with a little hope and hard work, Hans aims to purchase a set of steel skates that will aid him in chasing down the illustrious prize. But Hans' and Gretel's father has fallen very ill, and Hans must first find a way to have his father seen and helped by the famous surgeon, Dr. Boekman.
"Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates," is a story of love, ambition, community and chasing one's dreams while fighting to do what is honorable and noble. A perfect show for the holiday season, this show will warm hearts of all ages, and remind audiences of the most precious gift of all, the love of family and friends.
Professional Guest Artist Jerry Kurek has the lead role of Hans Brinker, under the direction of Ed Moersfelder. Joining Kurek in the cast are Kathryn Cesarz as Annie, Deanna Davis as Dame Brinker, Bob Fedderly as Raff Brinker, Sherry Pearce as Dame Van Gleck, and Paul Steffens as Dr. Boekman.
Twenty-two area youth are in the show, divided into two casts to accommodate the large number of performances. The youth, ranging in age from eight to fifteen, consists of Zoe Allen of Frederic, Ella Anderson, Kelsey Cooper, Sidrah Edwards, Megan Hankel, Lucy Herman, Abby Ruona and Claire Scharfenberg of St. Croix Falls, Nicholas Borne of New Richmond, Anneka Cress of Centuria, Britta Dueholm and Josh Stirrat of Luck, Jade Fehlen and Allie Nelson of Osceola, Brita Gallagher, Liam Gallagher and Elliana Naegelen of Dresser, Katie Herrick of Cushing, Andrew Lewis and Christopher Lewis of Grantsburg, and Catelyn Rice and Stephen Rice of Milltown.
Those attending opening night on Saturday, November 29th can plan to stay for the Afterglow Party, sponsored by Village Pizzeria and featuring music by the Frederic High School Bell Choir, directed by Pat Anderson. This is a great opportunity to have a glass of wine and mingle with the cast, director and designers after the show.
Single tickets for “Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates” are $26 for adults, and $13.50 for our expanded youth category of ages 5 to 25. Click HERE to purchase online. School matinees are also available. Ticket packages are sold as Flex Passes, and offer significant savings on six or ten seat bundles. Flex Passes can be used all at once by a group of family or friends, or over an entire season as a season pass. 2014 Flex Passes are still available and 2015 Flex Passes are now on sale.