Packer show takes AFT to new place

By ED HUYCK

Advocate Staff Reporter

Spacemen in cheesy costumes? True love winning out over a stellar background? Call it “The Rocky Horror Folklore Show.”

“Packer Fans from Outerspace,” the long-in-development new musical, premiered to a soggy-but-satisfied crowd Friday evening at American Folklore Theatre.

Created by Fred “Doc” Heide and Lee Becker, “Packer Fans” has been in the works for six years. The years of work and development pay off in a show unlike anything else you will see at AFT – though still possessing the big heart that made the theater a success.

Set in 1953, the show follows a Juddville apple farmer, Harvey Kiester. His great love – apart from his family – is the Green Bay Packers. Even though it is a down season for the team, he has faith that his beloved team can beat the hated Bears Sunday.

To spur his team on, Harvey has painted the family outhouse green and gold – much to the horror of his long-suffering wife, Marge. Marge, you see, is from Chicago and is a life-long Bears fan.

Before he can undo his work, Harvey is whisked away by a group of Galactic packers. For millennia, they have fought against the hated Space Bears. Their war is fought on a football field – but it is not a game. The stakes are life or death for the “players,” And the Packers are losing.

Of course, the only one who can save the day is Harvey. And, of course, Marge doesn’t believe a word of this. Their daughter Peg, who dreams of the stars, also believes and soon falls for on of the Packers, number 39.

And let’s not forget Spheriod, a talking football that aids the Galactic Packers through their difficult journey.

From the opening number, “Welcome to Wisconsin,” through love songs, fight songs and just plain strange songs. While the music is still based in the folk traditions that AFT has embraced over the years, there are some fresh twists, including the use of electric guitar.

Co-creator Heide stars as Harvey, the confused Packer lover. His conflict between family and a greater purpose is etched clearly through the performance.

The real anchor for the show is Treva Tegmeier, who plays the suffering Bears fan, Marge. At times confused and concerned about her husband’s actions, Marge never loses sight of her love for him.

The Kiester family is rounded out by Amy Ludwigsen as Peg. She captures the innocent spirit need for the character.

Lifelong Packers fan Doug Mancheski was born to play Coach. Decked out like Vince Lombardi in a “Tommy Tomorrow” serial, Mancheski relishes every line; every moment he has on stage.

Assisting him are 24 and 39, played by co-creator Becker and Jon Hegge. The trio have one of the show’s best numbers, “Big Kiester” (where they recruit Harvey to their cause), while Becker and Hegge get to camp it up in “Artsy Farmer” (They are protecting Harvey disguised – poorly – as Swedish tourists.)

With such an oddball show, stage designer Jim Maronek and costume designer Kelly Fitzpatrick go, not just to town, but all the way to the big city. Maronek’s set is clever, bunny and fantastic – perfect for the show. Fitzpatrick also relishes the chance to stretch out, from the 1950s B-movie vibe of the Galactic Packers to the menacing look of the Space Bears (who wear, of course, studded blue and red armor).

Tying this all together is the team of director Jeff Herbst, music director James Kaplan (who also wrote some of the music in the show) and chorographer Pam Kriger. With so many ideas – and incarnations – over the years, it would have been easy for the show to spiral out of control, but the proceedings are reigned in enough to make it all breeze by.

“Packer Fans from outer Space” runs through Aug. 23 at the outdoor amphitheater at Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Mondays and Fridays and 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays. No park sticker is needed to attend. For information call 854-6117.

Green Bay Press-Gazette

Friday, June 28, 2002

‘Packer Fans from Outer Space’ is out of this world

BYWARREN GERDS

wgerds@greenbaypressgazette.com

FISH CREEK – American Folklore Theatre’s “Packer Fans from Outer Space” is as delightful as its title sounds.

Some of the fun:

• An outhouse that’s painted green and gold and is the doorway to a space world populated by Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears warriors. The magic phrase to be transported is, “Open Nitschke.”

• The Galactic Packers fly aboard Starship Nitschke. They dress in Day-Glo green and gold. They’re led by a gruff fellow with a fedora and eyeglasses who looks a lot like Vince Lombardi. He sings, “Winning Isn’t Everything.”

• An electronic football that talks. When it speaks, lights on it blink.

• The object of worship of the Galactic Packers is an Earthling, Harvey Kiester, a Door County farmer who is the greatest Packers fan on Earth. They call him, “The Big Kiester.” They call him, “The Big Kiester.” They plead with him to rescue the space Packers, whose war with the Bears is real. In turn, he would save the Earth Packers.

This musical is bizarre, cosmic and hilarious.

It’s another great family show from a unique theater that audiences enjoy for its original musicals about something special from Wisconsin.

The idea comes from a strange occurrence that took place May 21, 1952, near Juddville, about 10 miles south of the theater. The Door County Advocate chronicled it. One headline: “No Kidding! We Saw a Flying Saucer Wednesday!” Two articles are reprinted in the play program.

American Folklore Theatre’s amazing talent ran with this idea. The key creators are Frederick “Doc” Heide and Lee Becker. It’s their story and songs. Heide wrote the music, with music director James Kaplan adding music. Direction is by Jeffrey Herbst.

Adding terrific stuff are scenic designer James Maronek, costume designer Kelly Fitzpatrick and choreographer Pam Kriger.

The show has visual and word gags galore.

One sight gag: Two of the Galactic Packers arrive at the Kiester farm disguised as a Swedish couple whose car has broken down. After they pretend to telephone for help, the aliens go through goofy, confused maneuvers trying to hang up the phone.

Verbal gags turn a lot around “kiester” – your south end as you face north. All are in good fun, clever.

Some jokes are the kind of heady stuff American Folklore Theatre likes to slip in. When one of the Galactic Packers is told Earth is in the midst of a Cold War, he wonders: “At what temperature do you fight.”

The cast is a total joy.

Creators Heide and Becker are on hand. Heide is the “The Big Kiester” himself. Becker is one of the Galactic Packers – pads, helmet and all.

Treva Tegtmeier is Mrs. Kiester, who is a true-blue Bears fan. Amy Ludwigsen is the Kiester daughter, a sweet girl who’s science-minded.

Jon Hegge teams with Becker as a Galactic player, with their coach played by Doug Mancheski.

The Bears (in outstanding costumes) are Rob Hancock and Thor Thorsen. Kimberly Irion is the voice of the football.

As did a near-capacity house Wednesday night, audiences will love this show. It’s full imagination, spirit and humor, along with sensitive and thoughtful moments.

The songs are full of silliness (“Gold and Green”), wonder (“Life on Earth”), love (“Love”) and marital warmth (“The Things Men Do”).

“Nuts in Every Tree” is a joy for its special meanings. Heide has a whole another life dealing with psychology. Here his is dressed in a bonkers costume that includes a green-and-gold women’s corset, dancing around the stage and singing such lines as “Everybody’s just a little crackers.”

It took six years to bring “Packer Fans from Outer Space” to the stage. Now it’s an instant hit.

“Packer Fans from Outer Space”: 8 p.m. Monday and Friday, 8:30 p.m. Wednesday through Aug. 23 at Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek. $12 adults, $ 6.50 teens, $ 3.50 children ages 3-12. (920) 854-6117.