Wicked Wisdom

Creative Team

Dr. Gerald Gurss, Artistic Director
Matthew Hudson, Production Manager
Timothy De Prey, Principal Accompanist
Chad Garrels, OutLoud! Director
Mallory Morache, Stage Manager
Jonathan Mor, Choreographer
SLShowTech, Projections
Cassie Lang, ASL Interpreter (Matinee)

Program

Act 1

“Defying Gravity” from Wicked
Stephen Schwartz, arr. Kate Agioritis
Instrumental processional featuring Lux String Quartet

“Dancing Through Life” from Wicked
Stephen Schwartz, arr. Snyder
Dancers: Alvin Firman, Daniel Star, Eddy Schmidt, Jonathan Mor, Josh Elmore, Ollie Raway, Peter Kistler, RV Feliciano

“God Help the Outcasts” from The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Music by Alan Menken & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, arr. Huffines

“Corner of the Sky” from Pippin
Stephen Schwartz, arr. Volpe
Stephen Herzog (matinee) & Zach Schmit (evening), soloists

“The Plagues” from The Prince of Egypt
Stephen Schwartz, arr. Scott
Mark Billy, Moses
Zach Miller (matinee) & RJ Holt (evening), Pharaoh

Testimony
Stephen Schwartz, commissioned by the It Gets Better Project
Featuring Borealis
Warning: Contains descriptions of suicidal thoughts.
Resources available at itgetsbetter.org

“Beautiful City” from Godspell
Stephen Schwartz, arr. Weirick
Video production by Andrew Walker Media
Access an audio description of the video

“Simple Joys” from Pippin
Stephen Schwartz, arr. Kistler
OutLoud!, Steve Munnelly & Peter Kistler, soloists

“Defying Gravity” from Wicked
Stephen Schwartz, arr. Knechtges

15 minute intermission

Act 2

Walk Hand in Hand with Me
Johnny Cowell
(Please join in singing as the singers enter the stage)

Lyrics:

Walk hand in hand with me
Through all eternity
Have faith, believe in me
Give me your hand
Love is a symphony
Of perfect harmony
When lovers such as we
Walk hand in hand
Be not afraid
For I am with you all the while
So lift your head up high
And look up to the sky
Walk hand in hand with me
That is our destiny
No greater love can be
Walk hand in hand
Walk hand in hand with me
That is our destiny
No greater love have we
Lift your head high
Look to the sky
Have faith believe
Walk with me

Song of Wisdom from Old Turtle
Music by Joseph M. Martin
Based on the book Old Turtle by Douglas Wood

Featuring:
Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus (Dr. Gerald Gurss, Artistic Director)
See Change Treble Choir (Amy Johnson, Artistic Director)
Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan (matinee) & Jason Hackett (evening), Narrators
In the Heart of the Beast Puppet Theatre

Orchestra:
Brian Handeland, Flute
Brendon Bushman, Oboe
For Campbell, Bassoon
Natalie Fideler, Percussion
Cosette Isakson, Percussion
Nick Love, Synthesizer
Lindsey Bordner, Violin
Stephanie Skor, Violin
Kelsey Farr, Viola
Rosa Thompson-Veiera, Cello

Puppeteers:
Lizz Windnagel, Chelly Beaver, Kyle Johnson, Spencer Arevalo, Angel Gagliano, Joni Griffith, Steve Ackerman

Puppets were created by Sandy Spieler, Gustavo Boada, Steve Ackerman, Chelly Beaver, Erica Warren, and the many hands of the HOBT artist community!

Resilience
Abbie Betinis
(Please join in singing)

Lyrics:

All sing two times:
Resilience
We are strong
Shoulder to shoulder
Keep moving on
Resilience
Make a new plan
Stand up again
Say yes we can
(repeat until end)

Optional third time to the end:
Oh! Oh!
We are strong
Hold on!
I wanna make it and I know we will
Yes it’s hard to keep goin’ but it’s worse to stand still

Ending:
Resilience

Projection descriptions

Act 1

“God Help the Outcasts”: Crowds throng at the feet of Lady Liberty with her torch held aloft. The city lays across the harbor, bathed in pinks and golds as the sun sets in the west.

“Corner of the Sky”: The sun sits in the center, just touching the horizon, surrounded by clouds. Beams of sunlight shine throughout, the faint gold of early sunset bathing the scene.

“Plagues”: Two storm clouds stand opposed, lightning flashing. The clouds above Moses are white, the sky beneath them tinged and deep blue. The clouds above Pharaoh are a roiling dark gray, bordering on black, with a yellow sky below.

“Beautiful City”: Dedicated to the memory of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and to all in our city whose lives have been lost to violence and injustice. May we continue the work of building a more just and beautiful city. The Minneapolis skyline at night, looking over the Mississippi river. The waters ripple, lights reflecting. The home of Renee Good is surrounded with memorial offerings. Lit candles shimmer. A painting of Renee Good in blue and red reads in large text: Be Good. Stuffed animals and flowers surround a picture of a mosaic butterfly, with the text: Love and Protect. Candles line the sidewalk, illuminating religious icons and pictures of Renee good. On Nicollet Ave, at the site of Alex Pretti's murder, memorial offerings line the street. A sign reads: Alex Pretti was a very good man. Flowers and artwork surround a picture of his face. A cardboard sign reads: He did not look away. Stethoscopes hang from a street sign. A sign reads: Rest in Power Alex. Any righteous person would have done the same. The sun sets behind the city skyline. Cars drive down the highway, with the Basilica of Saint Mary in the background. A bridge stretches across the highway, with a statue of a spoon and cherry in the Walker Museum Statue Garden. Birds hop in the grass. A couple with their dog walks beside the statue. The setting sun lights up canoes on Bde Maka Ska. Atop the Minnesota State Capitol, a gold statue shows a man standing on a chariot pulled by two horses. The state flag blows in the breeze. A bench features a metal statue of Lucy from Peanuts reading. On another bench, a woman sits and looks into the distance. The Blue Line rolls through downtown Minneapolis. A mural reads: The times, they are a changin'. A mural of street music. The progress pride flag. People cross the street downtown. A person unlocks a bike. Cyclists and pedestrians cross the Hennepin Ave bridge. The 3rd Avenue bridge crosses the river in front of the Stone Arch Bridge and the old mill. At night, George Floyd Square. A metal statue of a raised fist stands in the middle. Signs read: Our neighborhood blocks ICE. Protect our people. Black lives matter. A mural of George Floyd. Behind his head, a black halo reads "Say Our Names" with the names of victims of racial violence. On a brick, spraypainted text: Change is coming. At the top level of the Guthrie theater, a man looks over the river. The glass creates a yellow tint. The Stone Arch bridge spans the river. A man plays guitar on the bridge. A billboard: "Neighbor is a verb here". Two men walk through the sculpture garden. One reaches out and they hold hands. Cyclists bike through the park. The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. A woman holds flowers and poses for a photo by the water. Families walk in the park. The sun sets over the river.

Act 2

Shadows move across the wall behind the chorus as they sing about each element of the story.