Over the next couple weeks we’ll be announcing the staff members for our
2009-2010 productions.  Lots of returning faces and many new!

For Wonka we welcome David DiBlieck as a NEW Choreographer to GREAT Theatre!
David DeBlieck received his B.A. in Theatre Arts from Augsburg College and
his M.F.A. in Dance from the University of Hawaii. David is Artistic
Director of Wicked Sister Dance Theatre whose work has been presented at
Pioneer Place and at various public spaces in St Cloud. David has also
created choreography for Red Eye Theater in Minneapolis, IONA Contemporary
Dance Theatre in Hawaii, Wicked Cricket Dance Theatre in Austin, TX, and for
several productions at Augsburg College where he teaches in the theatre
program. He choreographed St Cloud State’s production of Figaro’s Marriage
in 2007, and received a certificate of merit from the American College
Theatre Festival for his aerial choreography in SCSU’s 2008 production of
The Bacchae. David was recently awarded an Artist Initiative Grant from the
MN State Arts Board and is a proud recipient of the Central MN Arts Board’s
2007 Individual Artist Award. He is delighted to be creating dance for the
first time with GREAT.

Wonka will be directed by myself (Dennis Whipple, GREAT Artistic Director)
making this the 61st production I have directed for GREAT Theatre!  Some of
my favorite productions I’ve directed are Seussical The Musical, Pippi
Longstocking, and Joseph (which I will direct again, later this season.)
More recently I’ve choreographed Wizard of Oz and Alice In Wonderland, both
really fun shows.  I am excited to work on this Wonka because it is a very
technical show with great heart.   

For Musical Direction we welcome back Bobbi Foote who most recently did the
musical direction for A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum.  She
has also worked on Seusscial the Musical (twice,) The Wizard of Oz, Honk!, Peter
Pan, Joseph, Beauty and the Beast and way back in 2004 Forever Plaid at our
old GREAT Playhouse 144 seat theater.  

Working hard as Stage Manager we have Michelle Carlson who stage managed her
first show for us, HSM2 last season after serving as Assistant Stage Manager
for many years.  A little know fact, Michelle and I went to High School
Together and were BOTH big theatre nerds.

For Set Design we are honored to welcome back Kacie Hultgren (all the way
from New York City where she now lives and works.on BROADWAY and around the
country.)  Kacie was one of the founding youth members of GREAT Theatre back
in 1998.  She has directed, musical directed, choreographed, designed,
built, answered phones, cleaned bathrooms and much more for GREAT back in
the day.  She last designed Joseph and Beauty and the Beast for us.  

Costumes will be designed by our very own Brigid Borka (this is her first
show designing for me as director so I’m really excited,) John Loreth will
once again be Technical Director, Stephen Moore will design the lights (he
did HSM2 and Aladdin last season,) Bonnie Bologna will design, find and
build the props, and we’ve never done a show at the Paramount without Jerry
Ford on Sound.  Of course, we will need crew members (lights, sounds, sets)
so email if you’re interested in working on Wonka!