Packer Fans from Outer Space
Packer
Fans from Outer Space
Plays July 15 thru July 24
Sponsored by WRJN/ WEZY Radio & Midwest Airlines
Opening July 15 and running two weekends through July 24 is Packer
Fans from Outer Space, a hilarious homegrown Wisconsin musical by Frederick
Heide and Lee Becker. This show opens the RTG's 68th season with a unique blend
of laughter, bouncy music, goofy regional comedy, sports analogies and aliens.
The story, set in 1953, centers on Harvey Keister, an apple farmer
who loves the Packers and is married to Marge, a Polish woman originally from
Chicago, who is a Bears fan. This era gives us the setting of Vince Lombardi
football fanaticism, the Cold War, and some recent sightings of unidentified
flying objects over Wisconsin - all of which come into the plot.
Harvey has just painted his outhouse green and gold to honor his
beloved team, only to find that the privy door is a portal to an alien spaceship
called Nitschke. These aliens have modeled their civilization on a televised
broadcast of a Packer game, so the two aliens, 24 and 39, wear Packer uniforms
and obey their leader, the Coach.
The "Space Packers" are in a desperate war with the "Space Bears," and they ask Harvey (the Big Kiester) to help them. They feel he must be imbued with special powers since painting the outhouse in green and gold opened the portal to space. Gags and comedy abound, including certain tools that
Harvey obtains: a helmet, armor and a weapon (that you need to
see to believe).
The Kiester's daughter Peggy is tracking UFOs and has an interest in outer space,
so as she gets caught up in the plot, we have a romantic interest with two really
"star-crossed" lovers. Since Marge is a Bears fan, she is much feared
by the aliens.
Sketching out the plot does not do justice to Packer Fans from
Outer Space, which is rich with humor in its songs, sight gags and dialogue.
Songs include "Welcome to Wisconsin," "Gotta Hate the Bears,"
"Winning is the Only Thing," "The Things Men Do," "Big
Kiester," and "Nuts in Every Tree."
Lee Becker, one of the co-authors of Packer Fans . . ., says that
he's a huge Packer fan and was raised on Star Wars, so this subject matter was
right up his alley. Fellow author "Doc" Heide also penned the popular
musical comedy Guys on Ice, which had two successful runs in Milwaukee.
PFFOS premiered at The American Folklore Theatre in Door County,
where it stages summer shows in Wisconsin's Peninsula State Park. More than
30,000 people saw the musical there, and it also played to sellout houses in
Green Bay.
Local reviewers raved about Packer Fans from Outer Space, writing:
"This musical is bizarre, cosmic and hilarious. As fun as
it sounds!"
Packer Fans from Outer Space opens July 15 and runs two weekends
through July 24. Call the box office at 633-4218 to order tickets or for further
information. You won't want to miss this hilarious, fun-filled and family-friendly
entertainment, billed as the "only football science fiction musical comedy
ever written."
From the Director - Doug Instenes
People who know me are aware that I am a very big Packer fan,
and I take my sports very seriously. Well, Packer Fans from Outer Space shows
us that sports are a perfect backdrop for comedy in the broadest sense. The
authors help us to laugh at ourselves as fans while having a good time.
It's a thrill to premier this show in Racine as the kickoff to
our 68th season at the RTG. It's good, clean fun, and I have it on the best
authority that even those people who don't like football (if there are any)
will heartily enjoy this show. The authors say, "If you are a Packer fan,
this is the show for you. If you aren't, don't worry. People love the show even
if they're from a state without a professional football team - like Minnesota."
An outlandish story, silly lines, funny songs, space aliens and
people with Wisconsin accents (don'tcha know, up dere in Green Bay) are some
of the elements that make this musical a hoot. The cast and crew can hardly
keep straight faces through rehearsals.
Two of my graduate acting professors pointed out many similarities
between theatre and sports. Our cast goes into training (rehearsals), learning
the lines and songs and the timing. They learn not to be individual players,
but to practice teamwork under the direction of their coach. They're learning
each of the plays/scenes so they'll be ready on "game day" (performances
July 15-24) to perform in front of cheering crowds (that's you).
We hope that a successful run of Packer Fans from Outer Space will kickoff a terrific season. We want to make sure you are in the seats as part of the audience. Lucky for you, season tickets are easier to get for the RTG season than they are at Lambeau Field. Be sure you're with us for the whole winning season!
Packer Fans from Outer Space
Book and Lyrics by Frederick Heide and Lee Becker
Music by Frederick Heide
Additional Music by James Kaplan
Cast
Harvey Kiester ............. John Strack
Marge Kiester .............. Laura-Nicole Musolf
Peggy Kiester ............... Pamela Niespodziani
24 ................................ David Zimmerman
39 ................................ Andy Hanson
Coach .......................... Tim Alders
Space Bears ................ Brad Bliss & Douglas Kramer
Spheroid (Voice) ......... Curt Vollman
Crew
Director ........…….…… Doug Instenes
Music Director ............... Eric Carlson
Choreographer ............... Mary Pat Forston
Tech. Director ................ Kurt Oian
Stage Manager ............... Eric Guttenberg
Asst. St. Mgr. ................ Ron Shotliff, Jr.
Costume Design ............ Kim Instenes
Wardrobe ..................... Jan Strack
Makeup ........................ Nicki Monaghan
Props ............................ Karen Reisenauer
Light Design .................. Brian Schalk
Light Technician ............ Michelle Miller
Sound Technician .......... Eric Goodwin & Fran Maccanelli
World Premier Production Presented by
American Folklore Theatre
June, 2002