SISTERS OF SWING: The Story of the Andrews Sisters

Presented by Maplewood Area Historical Society
$10 - $30
Audio-described performance on Saturday, July 20 at 7 p.m. Laura Wiebers, describer
Large-print programs available

2170 County Road D East
Maplewood, MN 55109
United States

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120 minutes
Run Dates -

Showtimes:

Start Date
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Comedy, Musical

The Maplewood Area Historical Society is on a mission to make its historic barn a professional summertime theatre venue. In July they embark on their third annual summer show, and this time it’s SISTERS OF SWING: The Story of the Andrews Sisters, written by Minnesota playwrights Beth Gilleland and Bob Beverage. The story follows Minnesota-born sisters LaVerne, Maxene and Patty Andrews as they began their recording career in the ‘30s, rose to stardom entertaining American GIs in WWII, and walked a winding path to success which gained them more top 10 hits than the Beatles. The show includes over 20 crowd-pleasing hit songs such as “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree.” Joy Donley, the show’s director, is also part-time operations director for the Society. She is excited about creating space to interact with Minnesota history through theatre. “History is sometimes a hard-sell,” she says, “but theatre gives history breath and skin,” she says.

Added features at this event include:

  • Swing dances (including an instructor) after the Saturday night performances
  • An exhibition of Andrews Sisters memorabilia and World War II artifacts
  • USO “Stage Door Canteen”-inspired concessions
  • Audio-described performance on July 20th
  • Pre-show scavenger hunt and lawn games
  • Ticket discounts for young adults, ages 13-24

The cast features Haley Haupt (Patty), Sarah DeYong (Maxene), Claire Repp (LaVerne), Greg Eiden (Various roles including Bing Crosby), and Michael Pearce Donley (Vic Shoen). The band features Christopher Erickson (string bass), Adam Gauger (drums) and is led by Michael Pearce Donley (piano). The creative team includes Joy Donley (director), Michael Pearce Donley (musical director), Meg Zauner (choreographer), Diane Beal (costume design), Nathan Farley (set and props design) and Sarah D. Pierucki (lighting design and stage manager). Grace Dunavan is the stage hand and will be appearing as “Rosie the Riveter.” The show is written by Beth Gilleland and Bob Beverage, based on an idea by Ron Peluso, with musical arrangements and continuity by Raymond Berg.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

    Cast & Crew