The Christmas Schooner

The Christmas Schooner cast features: Kari Fabian as Alma Stossel; Don Held as Gustav Stossel; David Colton as Peter Stossel; Kyle Schwanke as Steve; Patrick Schirmer as Rudy, Dennis Fermenich as Oskar; Wendy Schuh as Mary Claire, Lorraine Selinski/Renee Wachuta as Ethel; Laurelle Lubotsky as Martha; Maddison McKinch as Rose; Amanda Van de Kamp as Matilda; JaLynn Schuh as Anna; Delaney Scudella as Emma; Hannah Anhalt as Kate; Emily Schwartz as Elena; Emily Schuh as Katrina; Emma McKinch as Isabell; Miriam Fabian as Joy; Amanda Triebensee as Bethaney; Carly Triebensee as Clara; Liam Fintak as Patrick; Kailei Wachuta as Lily; and Tehya Wachuta as Violet.

Katie O’Regan is the director and musical director of “The Christmas Schooner” and making her debut at the Plymouth Arts Center. Musical accompaniment for the show will be provided by Mitch McFadden on piano; Thomas Pibal, rehearsal accompanist; Jessica Treppish,flute; Amanda VandeKamp, clarinet; and Maddison McKinch on harp. The creative team includes: Katie O’Regan, set design; Patrick Schirmer and Don Held, set construction; Bill Johnston, sound and lighting technician and Karen Held, Props Mistress. Donald Held coordinated the float for this year’s Plymouth Christmas parade and most of the cast marched in the parade.

The Christmas Schooner is a holiday treasure that all ages will enjoy. Based on historic events, this heart-warming original musical created by Chicago theater veterans Author John Reeger and Lyricist Julie Shannon, tells the story of a brave Michigan shipping captain who sails the treacherous winter waters of Lake Michigan to bring the Tannenbaum, (the Christmas Tree) to thousands of German immigrants in Chicago. The musical follows Peter and Alma Stossel, two 19th Century pioneers, who are full of energy and dreams and Peter’s young son Karl, and his father, Gus, from the old country. The Christmas Schooner is full of glorious music, charming dances, and the lively spirit of the sailing crew of The Molly Doone. The story is a timely and stirring reminder of the value of family, the importance of tradition, and our obligation to celebrate the living while honoring our ancestors.

Katie O’Regan has directed over fifty staged productions including an off Broadway production of Tennessee Williams at the Producers Club in New York City, “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and the “The Tempest” in Milwaukee; she created and directed the acclaimed musical, “The Singer, The Painter, the Dancer and the Muse” in Miami, and several original productions of her own making… “CARITAS!” at the Weill Center in Sheboygan and a musical theater camp called “True Mythology,” at the UW-Sheboygan. She is currently attaining her doctoral degree at the University of Wisconsin in Education with a minor in the Arts. She also is the director of Sacred Noise Society productions: www.sacrednoisesociety.org. Along with being a director, she is a classically trained singer and actress having been in numerous professional productions across the country. O’Regan and the staff at the Plymouth Arts Center look forward to bringing to life the magical story of “The Christmas Schooner.”