Theater
Participate on stage, backstage or behind the scenes; develop leadership skills; learn marketing and administrative abilities; or discover a creative outlet through theatrical design. There is no limit to the possibilities available to you in Ridgewater. Ridgewater Theater produces a fall and spring production on the Willmar campus.
Theater performances – Willmar campus
Fall 2023
Ridgewater Theatre to Present Comedy 鈥淒early Departed鈥 Nov. 16-18
WILLMAR and HUTCHINSON, MN 鈥 鈥淒early Departed鈥 will hit the stage of the 黑料网 Theatre come November 16-18 at Ridgewater鈥檚 Wilmar campus. Showtimes are at 7:00 p.m. with tickets available at the college bookstores or at the theatre box office.
Written by David Dean Bottrell and Jessie Jones, 鈥淒early Departed鈥 is a Southern-fried comedy of rural chaos and casket humor set in the backwoods of the Bible Belt where the Turpin family experiences life and death in messy and hilarious ways.
Despite efforts to collect themselves for a family funeral, other distractions such as drinking, bills, children, and neighbors overshadow the solemn occasion. A community of eccentric misfits helps to pull them together in their time of need.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always fun to work with students and community members on a new show, and this has been no exception,鈥 said Ridgewater Director Matt Hegdahl. 鈥淭he cast has been putting in countless hours in and out of rehearsal learning lines, honing their Southern drawls, and helping with the construction of the set.鈥
This play contains some mature language and content and may not be suitable for all ages.
Leading roles and cast members include:
Raynelle, the mother, played by聽Averi Linn of Spicer
Ray-Bud, the oldest son 鈥 Christopher DeLong, New London
Lucille, Ray-Bud鈥檚 wife 鈥 Acacia Banken, Willmar
Junior, the youngest son 鈥 Gavin Johnson, New London
Suzanne, Junior鈥檚 wife 鈥 Hayden Saulsbury, Willmar
Delightful/Nadine, the youngest and only daughter 鈥 Kylee Dickmann, Sauk Centre
Other cast members include:
Bud Turpin/ Norval 鈥 Javin Lucas, Raymond
Marguerite/ Veda 鈥 Lily DeVries, Hutchinson
Royce 鈥 Joel Bothun, Willmar
Rev B.H. Hooker 鈥 Nathan Saulsbury, Kensington
Clyde 鈥 Tallie Prekker, Clara City
Juanita 鈥 Tannisha Runia, Willmar
Performances will run Thursday, November 16 through Saturday, November 18 in the Willmar campus Fine Arts Building Campus map link. The box office opens at 6:00 p.m., doors to the theatre open at 6:30 p.m., and shows start at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 and available at the Ridgewater Bookstores in Hutchinson and Willmar and at the door on show nights. Admission is free for students and staff.
You can find upcoming performances here.
Past Performances
Spring 2023:聽 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis 鈥 dir. Matt Hegdahl
Fall 2022: Radium Girls by D.W. Gregory 鈥 dir. Matt Hegdahl
Spring 2022: Aristophanes鈥 The Birds 鈥 dir. Matt Hegdahl
Fall 2021: Almost Maine聽鈥 dir. Matt Hegdahl
Spring 2020: Radium Girls聽鈥 dir. Matt Hegdahl (Cancelled due to COVID)
Fall 2019: It’s in the Book! 鈥 dir. Matt Hegdahl
Spring 2019: All My Sons聽鈥 dir. Matt Hegdahl
Fall 2018: She Kills Monsters聽鈥 dir. Matt Hegdahl
Spring 2018: Fuddy Meers聽鈥 dir. Matt Hegdahl
Fall 2017: Marian, or The True Tale of Robin Hood 鈥 dir. Matt Hegdahl
Spring 2017: King Ed聽鈥 dir. Matt Hegdahl
Fall 2016: Clown Bar聽鈥 dir. Matt Hegdahl
Spring 2016: Middletown 鈥 dir. Matt Hegdahl
Fall 2015: Hearts Like Fists 鈥 dir. Matt Hegdahl
Spring 2015: Picasso at the Lapin Agile 鈥 dir. Matt Hegdahl
Fall 2014: Harvey 鈥 dir. Matt Hegdahl
Spring 2014: Urinetown 鈥 dir. Chad Tallon
Fall 2013: Lend Me A Tenor 鈥 dir. Chad Tallon
Spring 2013: Godspell 鈥 dir. Chad Tallon
Fall 2012: Eurydice 鈥撀 dir. Chad Tallon
Spring 2012: Box Of Crayons 鈥 dir. Drew Hampton
Fall 2011: Proof 鈥 dir. Drew Hampton
Spring 2011: All My Sons 鈥 dir. Colin Wasmund
Fall 2010: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee 鈥 dir. Colin Wasmund
Spring 2010: Beyond Therapy 鈥 dir. Colin Wasmund
Fall 2009: Last Of The Red Hot Lovers 鈥 dir. Tom Wiborg
