Alcester Union & Hudsonite Online

Former Beresford woman produces musical
BROOKINGS - GROUP became the first locally written musical produced as part of SDSU’s Mainstage Season. Then, it was the best-selling studio show in the history of SDSU Theater. Now, another exciting step for the musical GROUP occurs as it becomes the first production to go from Brookings to the Sioux Falls Washington Pavilion, and possibly beyond.
The musical, written by Brookings residents Aaron Toronto and Heidi Grimsley, was chosen by Penn. State to be workshopped at the prestigious university last December.
SDSU had already selected it as one of the four shows to be produced this Mainstage season. Just weeks ago, GROUP performed for nine sold out performances at the Performing Arts Center at SDSU. It was a unique experience for the audience, as it was also the world premiere of the show three years in the making.
“I can honestly say that working with this show has been one of the most pleasurable and most rewarding experiences I have had in my 37-year career as a teacher and production director at SDSU,” GROUP’s SDSU director Ray Peterson said. “It was such a great experience,” Grimsley explained. “We knew the show had a long life ahead of it, and the fact we virtually sold out every show was unheard of in that setting. We immediately began trying to find a way to continue the run,” she added.
After several weeks of behind-the-scenes planning, GROUP was announced this week as one of the shows to be performed at the Washington Pavilion. While returning viewers may notice a couple of small changes to the production, it will reunite the original cast for the shows slated May 8-11.
“There were several people whom were unable to get tickets to the local production,” Toronto stated. “Now they have a second chance, as well as opening it to even more people in the Sioux Falls area.”
GROUP tells of a troubled therapy group attempting to conquer one of life's greatest anxieties, anxiety itself. Audiences journey through the minds of six panic-attack riddled clients as they struggle to overcome their psychological problems. It is described as “dramatically powerful, yet surprisingly funny.”
The creators have higher ambitions as well. “Before we even began the SDSU run, we knew from so much professional feedback, that this is a show that can go somewhere,” Toronto said. “Eventually, we will be raising funds to mount the production in the Cities or elsewhere.”
Toronto is an area mental health counselor and Grimsley is the owner of the performing arts studio Let’s Play in Brookings. She is the daughter of Jim and Franie Heeren of Beresford.
Performances are May 8-10 at 8pm and May 10-11 at 2:30pm. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Pavilion at 1-877-WASH-PAV or online at www.washingtonpavilion.org. Additional information on GROUP can be found at www.groupthemusical.com.

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