Community musical features all-star cast

Rising Sun Gallery and Art Studio and the Fallon Community Theatre presents “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” Friday and Saturday and Nov. 20-22 at the Churchill County High School.

Tickets are $10 for adults 13 and older and $8 for children under 12.

Tickets can be purchased and Jeff’s/Digitex and at Rising Sun Gallery or at the door until sold out.

This all-star cast of local thespians includes Ryan Sorensen as Adam Pontipee and his brothers Benjamin (Tim Shurtliff), Caleb (Joseph Sorensen), Daniel (Parker Benecke), Ephriam (Pierson Jarvis), Frank (Thomas Robertson) and Gideon (Jefrey Horne).

The seven brides are Milly (Shannon Anderson), Dorcus (Tiffany Anderson), Ruth (Chelsea Gatlin), Liza (Brynee Christie), Martha (Madellyn Christie), Sarah (Allison James) and Alice (Elena Sorensen).

Other roles include Mr. Hoallum (Cody Deegan), Mrs. Hoallum (Amber Housell), Mr. Sander (Brandon Sorensen), Mrs. Sander (Jennifer Christie) and the preacher (Paul Loop).

The production team includes Cherilee Sorensen, director, producer, costume and set design; Ryan Sorensen, music director; Suzette Benecke, choreography; Jennifer Christie, choreography and costume mistriss; Hillary Gatlin, production assistant; Laurianne Lattin, stage manager; Christy Wiese, props mistress; Dand avid Doll, Glen Perazzo and Cody Deegan, set design, construction and artistry.

“Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” is set in the 1850s Oregon frontier where women were scarce. Adam Pontipee (Ryan Sorensen) goes to town looking for a wife and finds one Milly Bradon (Shannon Anderson). Returning to the farm, Milly meets Adam’s six rough and tumble brothers and immediately sets about teaching them some etiquette.

“Eti-what?”

After meeting other young women at a town social, they return home in a lovesick melancholy. Adam convinces the brothers that the best way to handle the situation is to kidnap the girls and a preacher, bring them back to the farm and marry them. Unfortunately, they forget the preacher, and since they can neither return to retrieve one nor return the girls due to an avalanche, they end up spending the winter in the barn “with the rest of the livestock.”

When spring arrives the girls (who had shared a mutual affection for the boys since the social) decide they would rather stay and marry the brothers than return to “those dreary towns boys.”

With highly entertaining antics and breath-taking dancing, you won’t want to miss “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.”

Auditions for the play occurred in June and workshops were held during the summer to get the core cast in shape as we wanted to do a lot of fun things in our dances.

“We gave them exercises to get in shape, worked on ballet technique, developed skills in gymnastics, and worked many lifts and tricks with the couples,” said Cherilee Sorensen, the play’s director.

“In September we officially started rehearsals and added the townspeople in. We’ve been rehearsing for over 10 weeks, and everyone has worked so hard to make this a great show.”

She said the production has a huge cast of 65 members that includes 19 adults, 30 teenagers and 16 children.