Church Basement Ladies
is a musical comedy with a book by Jim Stowell and Jessica Zuehlke and music and lyrics by Drew Jansen. The story is a about ladies that work in the church basement cooking meals for the church functions. The musical is based on the humorous novel Growing Up Lutheran
by Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson.
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CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES TICKETS
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Cast
Original
- Mrs. Lars Snustad (Vivian) - Jannet Paone
- Mrs. Gilmer Gilmerson (Mavis) - Greta Grosh
- Mrs. Elroy Engleson (Karin) - Dorian Chalmers
- Signe Engleson (Her Daughter) - Ruthie Baker
- Pastor E. L. Gunderson - Tim Drake
- Church Organist - Kyle Nelson
The 2009 National Tour features
William Christopher as the Pastor.
West Coast Premire
- Mrs. Lars Snustad (Vivian) - Cheryl Morrin
- Mrs. Gilmer Gilmerson (Mavis) - Sherri L. Jones
- Mrs. Elroy Engleson (Karin) - Sheri Shepard
- Signe Engleson (Her Daughter) - Christen Dugger
- Pastor E. L. Gunderson - Howard Wilson
Plot
A celebration of the church basement kitchen and the women who work there, Church Basement Ladies, is a new musical comedy featuring four distinct characters and their relationships as they organize the food and solve the problems of a rural Minnesota church about to undergo changes in 1965. From the elderly matriarch of the kitchen to the young bride-to-be learning the proper order of things, we see them handle a record breaking Christmas dinner, the funeral of a dear friend, a Hawaiian Easter Fund Raiser, and, of course, a steaming hot July wedding. They stave off potential disasters, share and debate recipes, instruct the young, and keep the Pastor on due course while thoroughly enjoying, (and tolerating) each other as the true "steel magnolias" of the church. Funny and down to earth, audiences will recognize these ladies as they witness the church year unfold from below the house of God.
Act 1
Christmas Dinner
Willy's Funeral
Act 2
Hawaiian Easter Dinner
Wedding
Songs
;Act One
- Closer to Heaven (in the Church Basement) - Pastor and Company
- The Pale Food Polka - Karin and Ladies
- Get Down to Business - Karin and Ladies
- Song For Willy - Pastor and Ladies as Backup
- My Own Personal Island - Marvis
- Dead Spread - Ladies
- Act 1 Finale - Ladies
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;Act Two
- Act 2 Opening - Ladies
- The Cities - Vivian and Ladies
- This is Most Certainly True - Karin and Signe
- Sing a New Song - Signe and Ladies
- Mother of the Bride - Marvis and Ladies
- For Good - Vivan
- Sing a New Song (reprise) - Company
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Sequals
There is two sequals to this show. They are called -
- Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second Helping
- Away in the Basement: A Church Basement Ladies Christmas
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