The cast members of Church Basement Ladies pose for a photo in the kitchen. Left to right are Kim Webster, Grace Mayo, Meagan Ricard, Kenndra Ricard and Kurt Steinke.

The Blue Earth Town & Country Players are more than pleased to announce that their 2024 Summer Musical, “Church Basement Ladies, a Heavenly Comedy,” will finally make it to the stage of the Performing Arts Center at Blue Earth Area High School this weekend, Sept. 13-15.

While the show has been in production since rehearsals were conducted last May, the show dates had to be rescheduled due to Covid among the cast and the director’s hospital stay in June. But as the saying goes, “The show must go on!” and it will do exactly that on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. Doors will open 30 minutes prior to curtain, when tickets will be sold; patron tickets may be picked up at this time. All seats are general admission and are only $15 per person.

The four strong women in the cast are Vivian Snustad (Kenndra Ricard), a widow and matriarch of the kitchen; Mavis Gilmerson (Kim Webster), a farmer’s wife and mechanic; Karin Engelson (Meagan Ricard), a wife and mother; and, Karin’s daughter, Signe (Grace Mayo), a college student. The show also features Pastor Gunderson (Kurt Steinke), the shepherd of the flock at the Easton Cornucopia Lutheran Church of the Prairie, as well as several members of the congregation who come and go after delivering more bars for a funeral dinner.

The church basement ladies stave off potential disasters, have fun, share and debate recipes, instruct the young, and keep the pastor on due course. During the course of the play we see the four women handle a Lutefisk Dinner, a funeral, an Easter Fundraiser, and, of course, a wedding. This musical comedy based on recipes, food, and change in the church is funny, heart-warming, and down to earth. It will bring back memories of many people you know from churches everywhere.

The production is directed by Nancy Steinke, who, while recovered from her hospital stay, must still marshal her reserves of stamina and energy to keep up with the ladies and their zany antics. Providing musical direction and accompaniment is the multi-talented John Engesser, who has been kept quite busy putting the cast through their musical paces.

“Church Basement Ladies, a Heavenly Comedy,” was inspired by the books of Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson, including the best seller ‘Growing Up Lutheran.’ The play is written by Jim Stowell and Jessica Zuehlke with music and lyrics by Drew Jansen. The show is produced in arrangement with Troupe America, Inc., and is sure to be enjoyed by anyone who has ever spent time in a church basement or at least knows where the basement is.