Pop-up Plays Lanesboro: Roma, Norskies and Bumtown 1935

Pop-up Plays Lanesboro:  Roma, Norskies and Bumtown 1935, produced by History Alive Lanesboro, takes you into the world of 1935 in small town southeast Minnesota.  Experience a local Roma or gypsy camp (from an elder’s memories) and watch a lively revived local Norwegian play from 1935. Meet town “character” Cyclone Johnson as well as Cecil Ward – local journalist and movie projectionist! Farmers, CCC workers, and hobos portray the Great Depression. Attend the President’s Birthday Ball with full band!  These scenes are filled with a variety of live music, costumes, dance, and transportation of the era. They tell true stories from interviews and newspapers and move around our  historic town.

The cast includes 35 area actors, musicians, and singers, both professional and amateur.  Jane Peck is the playwright and artistic director.  Her scripts are researched with the assistance of the Lanesboro History Museum and the memories of many local residents. She then weaves dozens of true stories into a lively and informative script. Writer and director Peck created, toured, and taught active history shows in the Twin Cities and across Minnesota for many years before moving to Lanesboro.

The audience moves around our historic southeast Minnesota town with character guides to outdoor and indoor theatrical scenes in locations of the actual events. This is possible because Lanesboro has so many lovely historic buildings and spaces.  Performances begin at the Lanesboro Sons of Norway Lodge before moving on. Walking distance is four blocks and show is 1.5 hours. All locations will be handicapped accessible.  Scene 1 is seated indoors. All shows will move indoors in case of rain and follow CDC advice.

This is the seventh Pop-up Play produced by History Alive Lanesboro; each a unique original production of a different era of SE MN history. Past show eras include 1869, 1948,  1918, 1960. Past videos can be seen on their YouTube Channel. Individual scenes from the Pop-up Plays have toured southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities. See https://historyalivelanesboro.org

This show is partially underwritten by the family of Beatrice Teigen Burmeister who lived these stories in her beloved hometown of Lanesboro. And, partially funded by Lanesboro Area Community Foundation and our other generous donors. This activity made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeast Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Tours leave to the indoor and outdoor scenes at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on September 17, 18, 24, and 25 from Sons of Norway Lodge, 200 S. Parkway, Lanesboro. The event is free, but donations encouraged.