Friday, April 29th, 7:30pm
Saturday, April 30th, 7:30pm
Friday, May 6th, 7:30pm
Saturday, May 7th, 3pm Matinee
Saturday, May 7th, 7:30pm
Monday, May 9th, Pay-As-You’re Able
Friday, May 13th, 7:30pm
Saturday, May 14th, 3pm
Saturday, May 14th, 7:30pm

 

at Art House North in Saint Paul, 793 Armstrong Ave.

 

Tickets: Single, reserved seating tickets start at $20 for opening weekend and $30 thereafter; $40 VIP tickets (with front row seating and complimentary refreshments), $25 for Seniors 65+/Students/Groups of 10+

Covid Safety Protocol: Due to lower numbers of Covid cases in the state, milder variants and generally more encouraging Covid related news, we are making this a mask-optional event. To limit Covid risk we are reducing the audience capacity (four people to a row instead of six) which will allow for a little more distance between folks. If any audience members are experiencing any symptoms (and/or have tested positive for Covid), we ask that they please stay home. We’re excited to gather and enjoy a live theater experience together and believe we can do so while exhibiting care and concern for one another and making space for individuals’ varying levels of Covid caution.

SOUVENIR celebrates the story of Florence Foster Jenkins– a wealthy society eccentric who suffered under the delusion that she was a great coloratura soprano when she was in fact incapable of producing two consecutive notes in tune. The hilarious and poignant play tells her story through the eyes of her accompanist, Cosme McMoon. Faced with her boundless confidence and certainty, Cosme comes to revise his attitude, not only towards her singing but to the very meaning of music, and indeed of friendship itself.

 

Performers Vanessa Gamble (Florence Foster Jenkins), and Michael Pearce Donley (Cosme McMoon) share a genuine affection for each other. Gamble and Donley have a rich, ridiculous history of warming up before shows by singing beloved standards intentionally off-key. Donley says, “Nobody’s better at singing horribly than Vanessa. That’s a compliment.” Their beautifully horrible music makes them a fitting pair to recreate the historically-bad, but enduringly entertaining musical performances of Florence Foster Jenkins. “She could teach us all a lesson in living life to the fullest,” says Gamble.

 

Bucket Brigade co-founders Jeremiah and Vanessa Gamble were delighted when long-time friend and colleague, director Jeff Miller, brought up the idea of doing Souvenir. Jeremiah says, “The moment had a fresh-out-of-college ‘let’s put on a show for the joy of it’ feeling. The joy of making theater, sharing it, working with artists we delight in. We believe joy, connection and empathy are worth leaning into right now.” That, in itself, is a worthy souvenir.