I love spring! The flowers start to bloom and the birds begin to sing. I remember fondly picking out Easter dresses with mom as a little girl. Easter is one of my favorite holidays because it signifies the resurrection of Jesus.

 

It seems the recent warm weather has people in a much better mood. People are itching to get outside and plant flowers and spend time doing activities outdoors with their loved ones. It’s so much easier to leave the house when it isn’t below zero.

 

This past weekend, my great niece Hannah Larsén and her mom (Emily) had a mother-daughter night and attended Great Theatre’s play Shrek at the Paramount Theatre in St Cloud. Becker graduate Brandon Bodien played the lead role in the production. Brandon graduated from Becker High School in 2009.

 

I visited with Brandon earlier this week. He told me he got his start acting in church at Becker Baptist Church, performing in Christmas pageants from the age of seven. He continued to pursue acting and performed in every production offered at Becker Schools, including  three act, one act and musicals. 

 

Brandon was also active from a young age with the Great Theatre on the little stage in Clearwater, as well as Prairie Fire Theatre. Some of the plays he has participated include Robin Hood, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Aladdin (twice) and Seussical the Musical - all at the Great Theatre.

 

Brandon has attended college in Jamestown, ND, for the past four years, majoring in communications and theatre. He took this semester off, which allowed him to be a part of this production.

When I asked what Brandon enjoys the most about theater, he told me: "I enjoy making people laugh and the ability to make people happy." Brandon said he caught the acting bug at a young age and has really enjoyed meeting colorful people with each play he has acted in. Brandon explained that performing in Shrek gave him the opportunity to re-connect with many old theater friends, which he really enjoyed.

 

My mom and sisters always enjoyed plays. My twin sister and I always wanted to go out for school plays and were encouraged by English teacher Dave DeMars to do so. Milking cows, however, hindered my social life and I never got the opportunity. I did play one role in a short play in an English class my senior year of high school. My twin sister and I attended our first broadway show in Washington, D.C. when we were a part of a week-long citizenship trip through Sherburne County 4-H in 1985.

 

My sister Gloria is an English teacher and media specialist and has directed plays for almost 20 years. We have attended many plays Gloria has directed and made many road trips to Danube and Staples to see the shows she directed. 

 

We particularly enjoyed watching our three nieces Kate, Abby and Anne (Gloria’s daughters) perform in plays over the years. Even though her girls are long grown, it seems Gloria can’t shake the theater bug. While she isn’t directing anymore, she often helps with the costumes and set. In fact, Gloria was decorating Cinderella’s carriage as I write this column. She invited us to Staples High School’s production this weekend, but unfortunately we cannot attend.

 

I have always enjoyed plays, musicals in particular. Over the years, my mom and her cousins Helen and Alma, as well as my sisters and I, have attended many plays together. 

 

Out of all the shows we attended, I can only remember one that was disappointing - Tony and Tina’s Wedding in Minneapolis. It was an unexpectedly painful and raunchy parody of the Catholic Church. Thankfully, moms Catholic cousin Alma that we had invited had a wonderful sense of humor when I wanted to crawl under the table for arranging the outing! 

 

I enjoy any excuse to spend time with family and am known in my circle as the social coordinator. Some of our most memorable live performances include Fiddler on the Roof and My Fair Lady. My personal favorite is Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. 

 

We are hoping to see the final installment of Church Basement Ladies now playing. Stay tuned for my review in a future column.