On old-style musical will come to the Albert Lea High School stage starting on Thursday with the production of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.”

A cast and crew of more than 50 students will present the musical of Milly, a young bride who marries Adam, played by junior Travis Nemec, the oldest of seven brothers living in the Oregon woods in the 1850s.

Milly, played by junior Heather Wirkus, plans to civilize and marry off her six rowdy brothers-in-law to ensure the success of her own marriage when this backfires, and the brothers, in their enthusiasm, kidnap six women from a neighboring town to be their brides.

Director Diane Heaney said the school hasn’t done an old-style show for a long time. It is based on the Academy Award-winning musical film from the 1950s with the same name starring Howard Keel and Jane Powell.

Heaney is being assisted by co-director and 2008 ALHS graduate Ross Pirsig. Pirsig, who is now an English language teacher at the school, was active in the theater when he was in high school and was in several plays, including “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “South Pacific,” along with others at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center. He will be a part of “Dylan Kaercher’s Lights, Camera, Christmas” in December at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center with actor and director Dylan Kaercher.

Heaney said “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” includes choreography from choreographer Joey Miller from the Twin Cities for a few scenes.

The students started practicing in September and have worked their way up to where they are adding more and more into their practices each day.

Heaney said the large cast and crew has allowed many to be involved and get a taste of theater.

“Everybody gets along so well,” Pirsig said. “Everybody’s respectful and supportive.”

Heaney and Pirsig credited geography teacher Erin Losinski for heading up much of the work on the sets, along with Kaercher.

Student Brayden Boettcher, one of the suitors in the musical, encouraged people to attend.

“Musicals are one of the best things this high school has,” Boettcher said.

He said the cast has been working hard to prepare themselves.

The students will present a matinee on Wednesday for seniors and fifth-graders from the district, with the presentations for the general public beginning on Thursday.

 

Cast list

The Brothers

Adam: Travis Nemec

Gideon: Josh Englin

Benjamin: Logan Petersen

Caleb: Ryan Nelson

Daniel: Sam Ehrhardt

Ephraim: Jack Buendorf

Frank: Schafer Overgaard

 

The Brides

Milly: Heather Wirkus

Alice: Tianna Abrego

Dorcas: Jessica Weiland

Ruth: Kendra Manges

Liza: Justine Nelson

Martha: Camryn Keyeski

Sarah: Cali Mowers

 

The Town Suitors

Jeb: Aaron Zogg

Nathan: Noah Iverson

Luke: Brayden Boettcher

Matt: Alec Wendelboe

Joel: William Kreun

Zeke: Jens Lange

 

Mr. Hoallum: Sam Ellis

Mrs. Hoallum: Natalie Weiland

Mr. Sander: Kyle Nelson

Mrs. Sander: Emily Wangen

Preacher: Simon Knettig

 

Townspeople: Cain Quickstad, Alexis Tasker, Waytt Reed, Flora Marko Amponsah, Matt Edwards, Maddie Willey, Dane Duenes, Natalie Day, Ashlee Webbee, Audrey Laite, Bethany Tennis, Liana Schallock, Maddie Schei

 

Stage Manager: Raelin Bizjak

Tech Crew: Carson McGivern, Charley Fleek, Nathan Reichl, Sawyer Nelson, Jake Ware, Logan Alfson, Jazmyn Sellner

 

Pit Orchestra: Grace Chalmers, Gigi Otten, Rachel Wangen, Terri Wolfe, Morgan Philips, Darin Guildner, Kylie Brown, Kyle Neidermeier, Sam Ware, Michal Hanson, Vern Frydenlund, Abby Sencio, Kayla Overland, Diane Heaney