Rural Route Bookstore

Books about Farm Life, Small Town Life, the Midwest, and Scandinavian-Americans

Featuring the Heartwarming Humor of "Those Lutheran Ladies"

Church Basement Ladies is a musical comedy based on Martin and Nelson's writings.

It is a humorous reflection about growing up in an era before women wore pants to church and before men served in the church basement. Church Basement Ladies gives you heartfelt, hilarious insights into the lives of those who prepared and served at weddings, anniversaries, funerals and farm auctions.

Written by Jim Stowell and Jessica Zuehlke
Music and Lyrics by Drew Jansen
Directed by Curt Wollan
Church Basement Ladies is produced by Troupe America.

Church Basement Ladies opened on September 8, 2005 at the famous Plymouth Playhouse and closed on March 2, 2008. The sequel, Church Basement Ladies 2, A Second Helping, opened on March 8, 2008. For information on dates and tickets for the Playhouse, go to Plymouth Playhouse.

January 15, 2009 through TBD

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre
1380 Colonial Blvd
Ft. Meyers, Florida

Box Office: 239 278-4422
Website: http://www.broadwaypalm.com/

Church Basement Ladies opened at the Reif Center in Grand Rapids, MN in February 2005. Within months, after playing in several midwestern cities, it was based at Plymouth Playhouse in Plymouth, MN, and a traveling cast also took the show on the road during the winter of 2006--2007. Church Basement Ladies closed March 2, 2008 at Plymouth, and the sequel opened a week later. Below are some photos and reviews of the Minnesota-based production of Church Basement Ladies.

"Those Lutheran Ladies," Janet Martin and Suzann Nelson (holding coffee pot), and Director/Producer Curt Wollan at a very Lutheran Opening Night Party at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

Church Basement Ladies 2, A Second Helping opened at the Plymouth Playhouse in Minneapolis on March 8, 2008. This is a sequel to the wildly successful Church Basement Ladies which played at the Plymouth Playhouse for over two years.
For tickets, go to www.plymouthplayhouse.com.

Some viewer comments: Photo by Paul Nixdorf

The play was great! Everyone said it was even better than the first one (if that is possible).
I loved how the play was not a sequel - you couldn't say that one was better than the other becuase they were both different and both great!
When Beverly came out in her navy dress (identical to my Kelly Green one from 1969) and sang, my 4-year-old grandson whispered in his dad's ear: "Daddy, she is beautiful!"
It was marvelous! (This was written by a woman in Vintage clothing. She left Minneapolis about 1:00 am, drove to W. Central MN in the snow, and emailed this at 4:56 am before she left for work in Alexandria. SN)
Congratulations, Suzann, on another hit. I know this one will run for years!

Newspaper Reviews of Church Basement Ladies 2, A Second Helping:

'Church Basement Ladies 2' still cooks (Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 17, 2008) (Word Document of article)
Plymouth Playhouse cooks up another tasty offering (MN Sun Newspapers, Mar. 26, 2008) Word Document of article)
Church Basement Ladies still dishing out the good stuff in a second serving spiced with the same humor (Pioneer Press, March 28, 2008) Word document of article
Play gives Plymouth theater new lease on life (MN Sun Newspapers, April 4, 2008 (Word Document of article)

Order by using the 'Place an Order' form or you may order by phone (800 494-9124). For payment and shipping charges, see 'Place an Order.'

All Caragana Press products are available at wholesale prices to qualified retailers, organizations, churches, schools, and libraries. Call 800 494-9124 for details.

Scandinavian-American and Rural Humor Books