University Letter

UND's faculty and staff newsletter

To Sept. 30: ‘The Charitable Sisterhood of the 2nd Trinity Victory Church’ opens 70th season at Fire Hall Theatre

It was 1947 when the Greater Grand Forks Community Theatre (GGFCT) was officially formed.  Many of those founders were University of North Dakota faculty and students. They produced shows anywhere they could get a space:  on the UND campus, at Central High School, even tents down by the river.  In 1982, the GGFCT was able to purchase the Fire Hall, the first fire station in GF, and saved it from demolition in the process.

Now in its 70th season, the GGFCT will produce six shows (two performed entirely by children) and host theatre workshops for youth, ages 3-19.

The season opens with Bo Wilson’s The Charitable Sisterhood of the 2nd Trinity Victory Church, Sept. 14-30. Shows are Thursday – Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. This southern-fried comedy will deliver laughs, perhaps provoke a few tears, and in the end audiences will  cheer for the charitable sisters.

The play, which is in the same vein as Fried Green Tomatoes and Thelma and Louise, is set in the basement of a church in which the women are sorting through clothes for victims of flooding in Guatemala.

As a special treat, audience members will be invited to rummage through the contents on stage.  All items for sale (no props!) will sell for $1, and all proceeds from the rummage sale will be donated to the Community Violence Intervention Center in Grand Forks.

The Charitable Sisterhood is co-produced with Northern Roots Boutique and the Eagle’s Crest Grill.  Patrons will have the opportunity to purchase a raffle ticket to win one of five $200 shopping sprees at Northern Roots Boutique, and dinner at the Eagle’s Crest Grill.  Proceeds will go to off-set the costs of the production.

The play is directed by Kathleen Coudle-King, assisted by Bonnie Schoenmeir, stage-managed by Jana Reese, who is also serving as dramaturg, and performed by Amy Driscoll, Leslie Lekatz, Ruth Pederson, Michelle Senger, and Mare Thompson.  Set is by Tom McGurran, and lighting and sound design are by Chuck Baskerville. Costumes, hair, make-up are by Nicole Quam.

Tickets are $16 and $13 for seniors, students, military, and Canadians with I.D.  Please call 701-777-4090 to reserve and avoid the online service charge.

Season tickets are a great way to save from September through May when the GGFCT produces Fiddler on the Roof at the Masonic Lodge.  Season tickets can be purchased by downloading application at www.ggfct.com .