Written by Greta Grosch
Music and Dennis Curley
Additional Lyrics by Greta Grosch
Additional contributions by Graydon Royce
RISE UP, O MEN opened at the Plymouth Playhouse in Plymouth, MN on August 15, 2016, and was produced by Troupe America Inc., Curt Wollan, Executive Producer. The production was directed by Curt Wollan; choreography by Wendy Short Hays; musical direction by Dennis Curley; set design by Jared Grohs; lighting by Alan Hanson; costume design by Katrina Benedict; sound design by Tyler O’Brien; and the production stage manager was Daniel J. Herman.
ORIGINAL CAST
Tim Drake as Pastor E. L. Gunderson/Arlo
Peter Colburn as Carl/Roger
Jeff March as Elroy Engleson/Arlene
Janet Paone as Mrs. Lars (Vivian) Snustad
Greta Grosch as Mrs. Gilmer (Mavis) Gilmerson
Dorian Chalmers as Mrs. Elroy (Karin) Engelson
SYNOPSIS: CBL 6: RISE UP ON MEN:
1964: It is the Diamond Jubilee of the township and the men are making some repairs in the church kitchen. Beverly has graduated from HS and is off at camp; we meet Roger the furnace salesman; Arlo, an old war vet, and Elroy, the local John Deere dealer. Karin suffers from empty nest syndrome and loses her mother’s ring; Mavis is in menopause; Pastor questions his purpose.
ACT 1
Scene 1: Late May/early June 1964: Cleaning the Church
ACT 2:
Scene 1: July 4, 1964: The Diamond Jubilee
Scene 2: July 5, 1964: The next morning.
CBL 6 SONG LIST
The Working Hands of God
Karin’s Lament
Disaster!
The Pitch
Rise Up, O Man
The Diamond Jubilee
A Happy Wife Makes for a Happy Life
Rolling in the Aisles
Elroy’s Country Quest
And Now These Three
Rise Up, O Man (reprise)