Play Suggestions: Laura Ingalls Wilder shows

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Laura Ingalls Wilder shows

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Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2743
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Topic: Laura Ingalls Wilder shows

Posted By: Nanette
Subject: Laura Ingalls Wilder shows
Date Posted: 10/12/07 at 1:44pm

Does anyone know of any plays about Laura Ingalls Wilder besides A Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas and Voice of the Prairie?

We've been asked to perform for a Pioneer festival next summer and are searching for additional plays about her life before we make our selection. Thanks.

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In a world of margarine, be butter!

Replies:

Posted By: bbpchick
Date Posted: 10/14/07 at 1:19am

There is Growing Up on the Prarie...but that might be the one you are talking about.

While doing a search I found that a Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant is held in Walnut Gove in MN. It looks like it is sponsored by a local museum, but it didn't say in the article what museum. In the same article an author by the name of Jim Merchant wrote a play called "Fragments of a Dream"

Heres the link to the article I found: http://minneapolis.about.com/cs/historicsites/a/wilderpageant.htm - http://minneapolis.about.com/cs/historicsites/a/wilderpageant.htm

Found the museum heres a line to the brochure, it has a number to call hopefully, they would be able to give you more information.

http://www.walnutgrove.org/WG2006.pdf - http://www.walnutgrove.org/WG2006.pdf

Hope this helps

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Kendra
http://www.murphysblackbartplayer.com - www.murphysblackbartplayers.com
You are NEVER too old to dress up!

Posted By: Thudster
Date Posted: 10/16/07 at 7:26pm

I've actually been in the Wilder Pageant from Walnut Grove for 2 years now, playing old Elias Bedal himself (the mayor). Anything I can help you with? They also do one every year in DeSmet, South Dakota, but that changes from year to year.

-Daryl

Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 10/17/07 at 8:45am

I've been in contact with organizers from the Wilder Pageant. They are taking my request to the board and I will know by the end of the month. The show looks incredible! (We would have to simplify ... no flames or such ... but it appears do-able.) How many in the cast, Thudster?

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In a world of margarine, be butter!

Posted By: Thudster
Date Posted: 10/17/07 at 11:04am

It varies, we normally have about 50 but a LOT of those are random children. For adults, you could probably get by with 12, with about 12 more roles for various kids, depending on how you split up the lines. We just try to make sure everyone gets to say/do something, but if we don't have the parts we consolidate the lines.

Posted By: Thudster
Date Posted: 10/17/07 at 11:09am

Actually, give me a day or 2 to look through my notes and I can give you a better idea of speaking roles and whatnot.

Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 10/17/07 at 2:48pm

Thanks

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In a world of margarine, be butter!

Posted By: Thudster
Date Posted: 10/17/07 at 5:33pm

All right, this is from last summer's performance (it changes depending on how many try out. For instance, the Kennedy's normally have 7 kids, but have had up to 11 or 12.)
Men: 9
Women: 12 (3 are VERY minor)
Children: 31 (7 main, 10 other speaking)

It's 2 acts, 8 scenes in act 1 and 7 in act 2 (used to be 8). Total time is around 1 1/2 hours.

Posted By: Thudster
Date Posted: 10/17/07 at 5:45pm

Synopsis:
Act 1:
Scene 1: On the banks of Plum Creek, one and one-half miles north of Walnut Grove.
Scene 2: Eleck Nelson's field, August of 1874
Scene 3: The Kennedy home a few days later
Scene 4: Late summer on Main Street in Walnut Grove and at the Union Congregational Church construction site
Scene 5: Mr. Bedal's Sunday School class
Scene 6: A normal busy day at the Oleson's Mercantile Store
Scene 7: A field near the dugout in Fall 1874
Scene 8: December 20, 1874, at the Union Congregational Church

Act 2
Scene 1: Laura's country party on Plum Creek
Scene 2: Summer at the Ingalls House
Scene 3: Town Council Meeting at the Oleson Mercantile Store
Scene 4: The Kennedy home and Oleson General Mercantile Store
Scene 5: The church social
Scene 6: Spring 1876 at the Ingalls home
Scene 7: Autumn at the Ingalls home and a farewell to Walnut Grove