Onstage I was falling in love with Laura every night. But the more I read, the more I fell in love with her in the books as well.
Kevin Massey, “Almanzo” in “Little House on the Prairie,” the musical
This lovely quote comes from a story in the Homesteader newsletter. Kevin was interviewed along with his co-star Kara Lindsay, who played Laura to his Almanzo at the Minneapolis run of the “Little House on the Prairie” musical last fall. (You can read the entire story in the Winter 2008-2009 issue.) As the person who conducted the interview, I have lots to say but will keep it to this: these two actors get Laura and Almanzo. I was more than ready to be critical of the musical, although I secretly hoped I wouldn’t have to be. Those hopes were realized. Instead of sighing in disappointment in the renowned (and very red) Guthrie Theater, I sighed in happiness and wished I’d drained my bank account to invest in another trip to Minneapolis.
As it turns out, I don’t have to. News is starting to trickle in regarding the upcoming national tour of the musical. The play will spend a month in New Jersey at the Paper Mill Playhouse from September 10 – October 10, then officially launch at the Ordway Theater in St. Paul, Minnesota on October 13 and remain there till the 25th. From then it’s 30 cities in the US and Canada. Among those announced are Denver (December 15-27), Toronto (likely January 2010), Houston (April 28-May 9), Tempe and Sacramento. We’ll keep you up to date at Beyond Little House as new cities are added.
It’s long been known that Melissa Gilbert will stay on as Ma, but it’s also now official that Kara Lindsay will continue as Laura (yippee!) and Steve Blanchard* will continue as Pa. The word seems to still be out on Kevin Massey—that is, the official word. But word on the street is that he’s in, too.
An official website on the traveling musical was launched a few months ago so it’s worth bookmarking, but so far we’ve yet to see an update.
* Steve as Pa? Hmm. Sounds pretty good overall, but there’s just one little line I’d like to talk to him about …
I really enjoyed your article about the musical in the latest Homesteader. I am so hoping it comes to Boston so I can go see it. Great job with the website also!
Beth, you and me both!
And thanks — we’re so glad you like it.
Sandra
Which line of Pa’s? I have a guess but would really like to know for sure.
It was a very red theater.
Thank you for the link to the musical on tour. I’ve been searching and your’s is the first I’ve seen!
Thanks again!
Jolene
Lauri,
I can’t repeat it verbatim because I didn’t have the foresight to go in with a recorder (ahem), but as I recall it was during the “Sent home from school” scene. In the books Pa’s line is said after a “dreadful stillness”: “I cannot have my girls making trouble in school.” Steve’s equivalent line was yelled, and punctuated with a door-slamming exit. It was so outside of anything resembling Charles’ Ingalls character — even compensating for the kicked-up-a-notch quality of musical theater — that it was jarring.
Sandra