Created by Frederick Heide & Lee Becker
New Music by Frederick Heide
Arrangements by David Peterson & Frederick Heide
The hilarious and heart-warming story of Bob and Dottie Dumkee.
Colorful Door County characters tell hilarious stories and sing uplifting songs, all while seeking help from a local saint to find romance, win a pie contest, and lift the curse on the family farm. With the wit and warmth of A Prairie Home Companion, the show brims with nonstop laughs, rich harmonies, and instrumental fireworks from an award-winning multi-instrumentalist. Will you find a funnier, more heartwarming show this fall? When pigs fly!
A heart-warming celebration of traditional American humor and harmony, featuring Northern Sky veterans Doc Heide and Lee Becker (Belgians in Heaven, Packer Fans from Outer Space), Amy Chaffee (co-star on Desperate Housewives, Judging Amy, The Young and the Restless, AMC’s Interview with the Vampire, etc.) and the instrumental fireworks of Door County legend Eric Lewis!
“Four stars out of four! Just plain down-home fun. Beautiful harmonies and nifty instrumentalizing. Brimming with local character and color. Clever, light, tender, comical, knowing, and earthy!” – Warren Gerds, Critic-at-Large
“Amy Chaffee is wonderful—a perfect match in song and acting for anything she’s called on. Her radiance gives the show a special dimension.” – Warren Gerds, Critic-at-Large
Showing: September 15 – October 21, 2023
Monday through Friday at 7:00pm*
Saturday at 2:00pm & 7:00pm
*Packer-friendly shows 9/28 & 10/9 at 2:00pm
At the Gould Theater
Sponsored by: Wisconsin Public Radio | Season Sponsors: Door County Medical Center, The Cordon Family Foundation, Tony & Judy Licata
DOC FRED HEIDE
Playwright & Composer
This summer Doc celebrates 50 years on the Peninsula State Park stage. He first appeared here in 1973 in Northern Sky’s predecessor troupe, The Heritage Ensemble. For the next half-century, he returned in summers from Pennsylvania and California to sing under the stars in his home state of Wisconsin. Doc has authored or co-authored almost two dozen musicals including Guys & Does, When Pigs Fly!, Packer Fans from Outer Space, Belgians in Heaven, and several with Second City founding director Paul Sills. Doc has released three CD’s and a songbook (2022’s Tangled in Wonder) and published in lots of dense professional journals with imposing titles. His award-winning research on relaxation-induced anxiety has been heavily cited for 40 years and even generated a colloquial term (“stresslaxation”). Retiring from full-time teaching in 2020, Doc is Professor Emeritus at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University and teaches improv (with Lee Becker) at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He now premieres his newest songs for Bailey, his darling 2-year-old granddaughter.
LEE BECKER
Playwright
Since 1994, Lee has appeared in 15 world premieres and over 50 productions for this remarkable company. Favorite roles include Mildred the Chicken, Dirty Bob, DNR Doug, Ernie the Moocher, and Duane Puddles. In addition to Guys & Does and When Pigs Fly!, Lee and Doc collaborated on Packer Fans from Outer Space, Ya! Ya! You Betcha!, Sunsets & S’mores, Northwoods Nightcap, Belgians In Heaven and its nearly completed prequel, Hell’s Belgians. Lee was a founding member of Door Shakespeare, improvised with ComedySportz in Wisconsin and NYC, and performed with Milwaukee’s First Stage Children’s Theater, where he co-wrote the musical, Anatole: Mouse Magnifique. Lee is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association, Dramatists Guild of America, Inc, and his family, with his amazing wife, Sara, and their phenomenal 10 year old, Wilbur.
CAST OF CHARACTERS 2023
Bob Dumkee: Doc Heide
Dottie Dumkee & Saint Diligencia: Amy Chaffee*
Wilbur Schlump: Lee Becker*
Humphrey Dumkee: Eric Lewis
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
When Pigs Fly! 2023 Creative Team
Director: Jeff Herbst
Stage Manager: Shawn Galligan*
Asst. Stage Manager: Heather Sopel
Costume Designer: Shima Orans
Lighting & Sound Designer: David Alley
Scenic & Props Designer: Lisa Schlenker**
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
**Member of United Scenic Artists Local 829