The iconic American musical “Singin’ in the Rain” will be brought to life over the next two weekends by students from the Performing Institute of Minnesota (PiM) Arts High School at the historic Old Log Theatre in Excelsior.
Performances of the Eden Prairie school’s winter musical will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, and Saturday, March 1, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 2. Next weekend, shows will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, Friday, March 7, and Saturday, March 8. All performances are open to the public, and general admission tickets are available via Gobo’s website.
The Old Log Theatre was the oldest professional theater in Minnesota until it closed in March 2024, but Rob Thompson, director of “Singin’ in the Rain” and the school’s director of communications and development, said, “PiM has been fortunate to use the space and help to keep the history of the Old Log being a place for young artists to learn and grow.”
Adapted by Broadway legends Betty Comden and Adolph Green from their award-winning screenplay for the famed Hollywood musical, the show features favorite song-and-dance numbers, including the show-stopping title number – complete with an onstage rainstorm.
“This is a classic musical comedy set against the start of talking pictures,” Thompson said. “We have loved paying homage to the movie’s iconic moments, as well as adding some of our own flair.”
Describing the plot, Thompson said “Singin’ in the Rain” has all the makings of a Tinseltown tabloid headline, including a starlet, a leading man, and a love affair that could change lives and make or break careers. In silent movies, Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are a hot item, but behind the scenes, things aren’t always as they appear on the big screen. Meanwhile, Lina’s squeaky voice might end her career in “talking pictures” without the help of the talented Kathy Selden to do the talking and singing for her.
The stage production stars PiM Arts High School students Eli Zimmerman as Lockwood, the role created by Gene Kelly, and Jacob Marckel as Cosmo Brown. Zimmerman, a senior musical theater major, said, ”I was terrified when I found out I was cast as Lockwood. It is a giant role and requires so much from the actor playing it.”
Karis Sloss, the show’s choreographer, added, ”This is a deceptively difficult show. It seems easier as there are a smaller number of ‘big ensemble’ dancers, but the two male leads are tapping from the start of the show until the finale.”
However, Zimmerman said that as rehearsals began, his nerves were soon calmed. “The artistic team was so supportive and created a place where we all could take risks, step outside our comfort zones, and find the heart of these characters, not just try to ‘recreate” what the movie did,” he said. “I am having a blast.”
For more information about “Singin’ in the Rain” or PiM Arts High School, call 952-224-1345. PiM Arts High School is a tuition-free public charter school for grades 9-12 in Eden Prairie.
The Old Log Theatre is located at 5185 Meadville St., Excelsior.
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