Who are the "Church Basement Ladies" and what's the show about?

A celebration of the church basement kitchen and the women who work there, Church Basement Ladies is a new musical comedy featuring four distinct characters and their relationships as they organize the food and solve the problems of a rural Minnesota church about to undergo changes in 1964. From the elderly matriarch of the kitchen to the young bride-to-be learning the proper order of things, we see them handle a record breaking Christmas dinner, the funeral of a dear friend, a Hawaiian Easter Fund Raiser, and, of course, a steaming hot July wedding. They stave off potential disasters, share and debate recipes, instruct the young, and keep the Pastor on due course while thoroughly enjoying, (and tolerating) each other as the true "steel magnolias" of the church. Funny and down to earth, audiences will recognize these ladies as they witness the church year unfold from below the house of God. This is most certainly true!

Church Basement Ladies uses the renowned Scandinavian Lutheran humor writings of "The Lutheran Ladies," Janet Martin and Suzann Nelson, authors of a host of humorous books the most famous being Growing Up Lutheran. The script is by Jessica Zuehlke and Jim Stowell with music and lyrics by composer Drew Jansen, who gave us the music for the popular long-running hit musical, How To Talk Minnesotan, The Musical.

The Cast...

Janet Paone as Mrs. Lars Snustad (Vivian)
Greta Grosch as Mrs. Gilmer Gilmerson (Mavis)
Dorian Chalmers as Mrs. Elroy Engelson (Karin)
Tara Borman as Miss Signe Engelson
William Christopher as Pastor E. L. Gunderson
Kyle Nelson as the Church Organist

The Music...

Click on these links to hear clips (MP3 files) from the show.

Closer To Heaven (In The Church Basement)
This Is Most Certainly True
For Good

The Rest...

"Church Basement Ladies" is presented by Curt Wollan and Art Fegan. A Troupe America, Inc. Production

"...most certainly funny."
(Fargo Forum)

"...dishing up laughs and
poignancy in equal measure."
(Stacia Rice, MN Monthly)

Click Here To Get Downloadable
Promo Posters and Flyers