Updates

For years, I have affectionately and respectfully referred to HAR as "our little circus". Watching the show from my designated corner each night, I realized that what we have created, in reality, is indeed a three-ring circus. Over 200 volunteers join forces each night to make this show happen, and at any given time, you will see bartenders and waitstaff, and sales teams hustling, technicians making light and sound magic, actors rushing to get into place for their next skit...all three rings swirling with activity. As a simple spectator, I am awed by the precision of this colorful chaos.

For an inside peek at circus life, check out Jeff Dawson's Flickr site: http://www.lesterlibrary.org/

Click on Two Rivers Events and Living on the right side. Jeff is the Director of the Two Rivers Library. He is a quiet supporter of HAR, posting impressive show pictures on the library website. Susanne Weiss of the Herald Times also deserves a hug for going the extra mile for us. HTR staff writers are short on time, and frequently gather information via phone calls and emails. Suzanne checked out our rehearsal schedule and found a date that both she and a photographer were free. After their regular working hours, they came to rehearsal and spent their own time talking with some of our newest performers. WCUB radio offered HAR airtime, and our two spokespeople hit show highlights, and gave shout-outs to even more of our new players. All of this media, coupled with word of mouth, and some social networking, have brought us enthusiastic and generous audiences.

Ellen Peronto and Jerry Krause bravely stepped up to sell our "Best Seat in the House," a festive toilet seat decorated by our resident Van Gogh, Kevin Hansen. Lisa Novachek provided the high bidders with a lovely setee upon which to watch the show. So, who pays big bucks for a toilet seat? Let me tell you....

Piggly Wiggly

Festival Foods

Cawley Company

Triangle Distributing

Scott's Vending

Schaus Roofing

...and you'll never guess how much the seat has proved to be worth, so I'll tell you. Just last night (Thursday) the seat sold for $3000. Oh, but that's not the whole truth. A second bidder agreed to match that amount, if we could produce a second seat....which we did. $6000 for toilet seats, people. Awesome.

Other highlights......

... Manitowoc Lutheran High girls' basketball team collected $800.00 for heart.

...did we guess so many people would be dancing in the isles...fist pumping, waving thriller hands, swimming, and picking cherries?

.... most creative, wacky, talented, thoughtful, and ego-free cast and crew ever

We have two night to go. This is live theatre, friends. Anything can happen. You Don't want to miss it!

We'll be watching for you!

Inter-cast hostility, and a few buring questions

It seems the gauntlet of challenge has been thrown. If you attend HAR (and if you don't, you should!) you know that the show consists of a series of disconnected skits, each with a different director and cast. Occasionally, one person will direct more than one sketch, and there is some cast sharing...but...

In casual conversation last week one director, Brad, mentioned to another director, Bev, that his skit was sure to be the best in the show. Of course, Bev could not leave well enough alone. She had to go and share that info with her cast. A great cacophonous wailing arose from the rehearsal hall, with shouts of "Bring it on, Brad", and "Oh yea. No way!", and other equally threatening, and intelligent epithets.

"We should send him a picture," someone suggested, 'to show Brad and his cast exactly what they are up against."

So, that's what you're seeing up there, the cast of "Emil Goes Gaga" nasty and ready for battle.

*****If you don't see the show this year, you will never get the answers to these burning questions:

• How did Abe Lincoln hook up with Dorothy Gale, and why is Bazooka Joe baking cakes in Two Rivers?



• What happened to Terri's impeccable sense of style, and why is Biff moonlighting as a bounty hunter?



• How many women can one man propose to in a single day?



• What's a flash mob and why is everyone in the audience on their feet dancing?



• Katy Perry? Really?



• Betty Grunzinski...thong or granny gruns?

Now we've got you thinking, don't we? Tickets are still available at the Pig in Manitowoc, and at Inman's Jewelers in Two Rivers.

We'll know if you don't come. We have our ways!