The Children's Theatre Company
of The Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts
1972-73 Season
Raggedy Ann and Andy
Two African Tales: Kalulu and His Money Farm & Rumplestiltskin
Luigi Pirandello's Bellavita & Sicilian Limes
The Steadfast Tin Soldier
Johnny Appleseed
The Netting of the Troupial
The Cookie Jar (regional tour)
A Suitcase (Film)
Rutabaga Follies (local tour)
Summer School: Babes in Arms
PLEASE BE ADVISED that co-founder and artistic director John Clark Donahue, as well as a number of staff and/or school faculty members of the theatre (actor/instructor Jason McLean, for one) have been convicted and/or charged with criminal and/or civil crimes of sexual abuse of minors. In winter of 2019, in civil court, the Children's Theatre Company was also found guilty of negligence in these matters which occurred during the time period of the 1970s and 1980s (and probably earlier). Consequently, please be aware that the images and links within this blog include the contributions and participation of certain minors who were victims/survivors/witnesses of sexual and emotional abuse and residual trauma, as well as certain adult perpetrators, enablers, and/or former victims.
Raggedy Ann and Andy
by Gar Hildenbrand
Music Composed and Orchestrated by Hiram Titus
Lyrics by John Clark Donahue
Directed by John Clark Donahue
Scenic Design by Donahue
Costume Design by Gene Davis Buck
Lighting Design by Karlis Ozols
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| Wendy Lehr & Steven Rydberg |
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| Foreground: Steven Rydberg as Raggedy Andy, Mary Ann Raymond and Karen Helfand as Penny Dolls Standing L to R: Wendy Lehr as Raggedy Ann, Debbie Tice as French Doll, Ginny Swanson as Russian Doll, John Martin as Scottish Doll, Barbe Larson and Thomas Olson as Dutch Dolls |
Two African Tales:
Kalulu and His Money Farm & Rumplestiltskin
by Timothy Mason
Original Music Composed and Orchestrated by Roberta Carlson
Directed by John Jenkins and Myron Johnson
Choreography by Myron Johnson and Uchawi Dancers
Scenic Design by Donald Yunker
Costume Design by Patricia O'Leary
Lighting Design by Karlis Ozols
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| Garry Lewis as Rumplestiltskin |
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| Garry Lewis, Nance Campbell |
Luigi Pirandello's
Bellavita & Sicilian Limes
Directed by John Clark Donahue
Music Composed and Orchestrated by Steven M. Rydberg
Scenic Design by John Clark Donahue
Costume Design by Gene Davis Buck
Lighting Design by Karlis Ozols
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| Wendy Lehr, Bain Boehlke |
The Steadfast Tin Soldier
Adapted for the Stage by Richard Shaw
Music Composed and Orchestrated by Roberta Carlson
Lyrics by Richard Shaw
Directed by Gene Davis Buck
Scenic and Costume Designs by Gene Davis Buck
Lighting Design by Karlis Ozols
MIA Theater Closing Party: New Year's Eve, 1972
The Company, now a separate entity of The Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts (the governing body of The Minneapolis Institute of Arts and The Minneapolis College of Art and Design), must bid adieu to its home within the museum as the MIA closes its doors for extensive architectural renovation and expansion. Part of this new complex will include new wings for the museum, a new building for the College, and a state-of-the-art theater facility for CTC designed by Japan's master architect Kenzo Tange. Scheduled to open in autumn of 1974, the Theatre and School will be in residence elsewhere and/or touring for the next 20 months.
A final reunion and farewell to the beloved "old theatre" was held, with current and former Company members, trustees, students and guests, reminiscing and sharing highlights from the previous seasons.
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| Children's Theatre Company founder and artistic director John Clark Donahue. |
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| Bain Boehlke |
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| Kim Livingston |
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| Cyn Byrne, Myron Johnson |
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| Richard Russell Ramos, Bain Boehlke (Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme) |
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| Bain Boehlke, Wendy Lehr, Neil Danahy, John Clark Donahue |
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| Myron Johnson, Bain Boehlke, Wendy Lehr, John Clark Donahue |
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| Guy Paul, Patrick McNellis (Kidnapped in London) |
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| John Jenkins, Wendy Lehr ("Ol' Dan Tucker" olio from Rip Van Winkle) |
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| Mary Ann Raymond, Liz Keagy, Matthew Brassil (Madeline and the Gypsies) |
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| Sara Schimke, Gerald Drake |
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| Bill Dovali, Myron Johnson, Sara Schimke (Hang On to Your Head) |
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| Cynthia Guzy (The Steadfast Tin Soldier) |
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| Bill Dovali, Bain Boehlke |
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| Matthew Brassil, Paul Smith (Robin Hood: A Story of the Forest) |
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| Chris Mulkey, Cyn Byrne (A Wall) |
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| Mary Ann Raymond, Suzie Peterson, Debbie Tice, Steven Rydberg, Wendy Lehr, Thomas Olson, Barbe Larson (Raggedy Ann and Andy) |
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| Fran Siftar |
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| Roberta Carlson |
Performing in residence at
The Crawford Livingston Theater, St. Paul, MN
Johnny Appleseed
by Gar Hildenbrand
Directed by Gene Davis Buck
Scenic Design by Buck and Don Yunker
The Netting of the Troupial
Written and Directed by John Clark Donahue
Music Composed and Orchestrated by Roberta Carlson
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| In rehearsal at St. Stephen's school. |
A SUITCASE (Film)
Written and Directed by John Clark Donahue
based upon his play and opera libretto "Postcard from Morocco"
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| Ilona Lazar, Gene Davis Buck |
Rutabaga Follies (local tour)
CTC Summer School (at Minneapolis Vo-Tech High):
Rodgers & Hart's
Babes in Arms
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| Nance Campbell |
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| Gerald Drake, Garry Q. Lewis |
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| Bain Boehlke, Gerald Drake, Steven Rydberg, Julie Williams, Mary K. Winchell |
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| Drawing by Steven Rydberg. |
Design Project with CTC Technical School Students
Instructor: Jack Barkla
Marionettes and Scenery for Mozart's "The Magic Flute"
Minneapolis Star Education Article:
Players Magazine
Minnesotan Magazine
