Church Basement Ladies is a musical comedy, book by Jim Stowell and Jessica Zuehlke, and music and lyrics by Drew Jansen. The story is about the ladies that work in the church basement cooking meals for church functions. The musical is inspired by the humorous book Growing Up Lutheran, by Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson. Published in 1997, Growing Up Lutheran is a humorous "scrapbook of memories" of what it was like to grow up Lutheran in the Midwest in the 1950s. In addition to their bestseller, Martin and Nelson have written numerous other works, and have performed together as "Those Lutheran Ladies" around the country. Their lives and writings have inspired seven additional Church Basement Ladies musicals.
A celebration of the church basement kitchen and the women who work there, Church Basement Ladies is a musical comedy featuring four distinct characters and their relationships as they organize the food and solve the problems of a rural Minnesota church about to undergo changes in 1965. From the elderly matriarch of the kitchen to the young bride-to-be learning the proper order of things, we see them handle a record-breaking Christmas dinner, the funeral of a dear friend, a Hawaiian Easter fundraiser, and a steaming hot July wedding. They stave off potential disasters, share and debate recipes, instruct the young, and keep the Pastor on course while thoroughly enjoying, each other as the true "steel magnolias" of the church. Funny and down to earth, audiences will recognize these ladies as they witness the church year unfold from below the house of God.
The Church Basement Ladies in "Hark! The Basement Ladies Sing" Opened at the Ames Center on November 1, 2019
The first six musicals in the series opened at the Plymouth Playhouse in Plymouth, Minnesota and the two most recent ones opened at the Ames Center in Burnsville, Minnesota. All eight shows have been produced by Troupe America Inc.. In addition to touring nationally, the musicals have been licensed in all contiguous 48 states and Canada. More than three million audience members have attended the musical and its sequels. On November 18th, 2016, the company celebrated its 3000th performance at the Plymouth Playhouse.
Original Sequel Cast
Mrs. Lars Snustad - Janet Paone
Mrs. Gilmer Gilmerson - Greta Grosch
Mrs. Elroy Engleson - Dorian Chalmers
Pastor E. L. Gunderson - Tim Drake
Beverly Signe Engleson was originated by Tara Borman in sequels 2 through 5, and by Bethany McCade in sequel 7.
Mrs. Lars Snustad was originated by Roberta Mancina in Away in the Basement.
Other original cast members include Peter Colburn in sequel 6 and Michael Lee in sequel 8.
