For the Gazette

ROSHOLT — The Rosholt High School Drama Department will present the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical State Fair on Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5 at 7:00 PM and Sunday, May 6 at 2:00 PM in the high school auditorium.

The musical is an honest story of an American heartland tradition, the State Fair.  Set in Iowa, it follows the hopes and dreams of the Frake family as they travel to the Iowa State Fair, where mother Melissa dreams of taking top prize for her pickles and mincemeat, and father Abel hopes to have the grand champion hog.  The Frakes have two children.  Daughter Margy has a hometown boyfriend who wants to marry her and settle down on a nice, modern farm.

Margy, however, is on the verge of discovering what she doesn’t want and is also on the verge of doing something about it.  Son Wayne, who is actually more naive than his younger sister, thinks he has life all figured out – complete with a girlfriend back home, but is about to learn that life can be more complicated than expected.  The show features such well-known songs as It Might As Well Be Spring, It’s A Grand Night for Singing, and of course, Our State Fair, and offers a heartwarming evening of homespun Americana for one and all.

The production includes a cast of 45 students in grades 6 through 12.  The cast includes:  Rachel Beckland, Jordin Rekowski, Elizabeth Dobbe, Noah Santini, Lilli Walder, Alex Frasch, Dylan Gruna, Samantha Smiley, Carlin Walski, Tony Gagas, Logan Lopez, Cassidy Frasch, Steve DeNovi, Ryan Glodowski, Nick Dobbe, Joelle Delikowski, Samantha Simonis, Rachel Kurszewski, Johanna Rutta, Natasha Ockwig, Lizzi Gizzi, Eli Trzinski, Seth Delikowski, Lexi Gruna, Erin Malek, Brooke Walder, Carissa Delikowski, Gabby Kehring, Laurie Lewandowski, Brooklyn Karch, Brandon Wagner, Nathan Ockwig, Morgan Simonis, Kaho Nakajima, Amelie Katzensteiner, Cora Kertzman, Anna Trzinski, Olivia Groshek, Ariel Lewandowski, Cassandra Monrreal, Laci Kumenius, Amber Stanislawski, Emma Haines, Sarah Trzinski and Lily Wierzba.  Backstage crew will include Nick Dobbe and Cora Kertzman (stage managers), Ellee Scharenbroch, Adi Glodowski and cast members.  Alex Basinski, Abby Betker, Clayton Filtz, Mason Lehman, Evan Simonis and Nick Wanta will serve as the technical crew.  The musical is directed by Kathryn Kawleski, with Cheryl Kawleski serving as assistant director.  Technical director is Pat Hogan.

Tickets will be available at the door beginning one hour prior to performances.  Cost of admission is $9.00 for adults and $7 for seniors and K-12 students. Rosholt High School is located at 346 W. Randolph St.