Last week, I had the opportunity to tour the
Children's Theatre Company in South Minneapolis, where they were busy getting everything ready for the world premiere of the new original musical
The Abominables. Developed and produced in association with the NYC-based theater company
The Civilians,
The Abominables tells the story of a youth hockey team. In other words, it's a very Minnesotan musical! The creators (including playwright/director Steve Cosson and composer/lyricist Michael Friedman) researched and workshopped the piece right here in Minnesota, so it's sure to feel familiar to many audience members.
This is perhaps heretical of me to say as a born and raised Minnesotan, but I don't care for hockey (especially when a game at the Xcel causes traffic and parking issues that get in the way of my St. Paul theater plans). But what I do love, more than just about anything else in the world, is new original musicals. CTC has a fantastic record of developing new work, and are in fact committed to it, typically producing at least two new works (developed especially for young people) each season. From what I saw and heard about
The Abominables, it's going to be fantastic! The stage of the theater has been turned into a hockey rink, and much of the youth cast is on roller blades for much of the show. This show not only features Joe Chvala's always exciting choreography, but it's on skates! Combine that with an always heartwarming tale of the hometown underdogs, plus a little
Yeti magic, and it sounds like a recipe for a great show.
Previews for
The Abominables begin on September 12, with the official opening on September 15 and performances continuing through October 15. Scroll down to watch a rehearsal video and see a bunch of photos from the costume, props, and scenic shops. Then
click here to order your tickets and receive an exclusive deal for $10 off the ticket price!
THE REHEARSAL ROOM:
THE STAGE:
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| the hockey rink |
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| beautiful "wood" made of plastic & styrofoam |
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THE SCENE SHOP:
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| making a brick fireplace |
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| making an igloo |
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THE PROP SHOP:
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| Props Director Sue Brockman with a magic wand |
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| the trophy! |
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THE COSTUME SHOP:
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| Costume Director Deb Shippee with the Yeti |
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| the Yeti Princess |
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