Lumberjacks In Love

By Fred Alley and James Kaplan

Directed by Andrew Sharp

This musical about guys being guys is set in the Haywire Lumber Camp in northern Wisconsin, located more than 200 miles from the nearest woman. It tells the story of Minnesota Slim, Muskrat, Dirty Bob, Moonlight, and The Kid, a girl posing as a boy. Happy in their man-world, they scratch where it itches, spit on the floor, avoid baths, and look forward to dinnertime.

Until one night in Hurley. Two of them get a little drunk and accidentally send for a mail-order bride. When the Kid hears of this, she decides to try to beat the arrivng bride to the punch. The results shake up their world. When the bride, Rosemary, shows up, she turns out to be doing research for a book and plans her own masquerade. Everything gets resolved in the end, but not before hilarity ensues.

The late Fred Alley and James Kaplan collaborated on the story for “Lumberjacks in Love”. Alley wrote the book and lyrics and the music is by Kaplan. Alley and Kaplan were co-founders of the American Folklore Theatre in Door County, Wisconsin, where the play premiered in 1994. “Lumberjacks in Love” is one of the earliest and most successful of the Alley/Kaplan collaborations, which also include the ice-fishing musical “Guys on Ice.” Bluegrass and folk influenced music for this lighthearted production make for memorable songs—some touching and others that are just plain fun.

Produced by UW-Richland Theater at the Coppertop Theatre, Wallace Student Center, 1200 Highway 14 West, Richland Center, Wisconsin

Performances: March 28 - April 4, 2009

Performance Times: Saturday, March 28 at 7:30, Sunday, March 29 at 1:30; Thursday, April 2 at 7:30, Friday April 3 at 7:30, Saturday April 4 at 7:30

Tickets, which will be sold at the door prior to each performance, are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.

Call 608-647-6186 x200 for reservations or more information.