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The Al Opland Singers rehearse a song from their upcoming show titled “Summertime Here We Come.” Photo by Kyle Kuphal
The Al Opland Singers will present “Summertime Here We Come” Thursday, May 1 through Sunday, May 4 at the Pipestone Performing Arts Center (PPAC).
Producers Rodger Olivier and Danielle Evers said they selected the summertime theme last fall and then selected songs that fit that theme. The show includes about 20 songs, many of which most people will be familiar with, including “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” “Footloose,” “Living on a Prayer,” “Come Sail Away,” “I’m a Believer,” and “Sweet Caroline,” which will include some audience participation.
“Rodger and I are on the same page,” Evers said. “On the spring show, we really think upbeat songs, really fun energy-filled, so that was the basis of the idea.”
Solos during the show include “A Summer Pace,” sung by Bronwyn Jones, and “Summer Breeze,” sung by John Sullivan. There will also be other solos within songs, as well as small group, full group and instrumental pieces.
There are 26 people involved in this year’s show, including singers and instrumentalists who play drums, keyboard, piano, bass guitar, guitar, banjo and mandolin. Members of the group range in age from teens to 70s and come from several communities around the area including Pipestone, Slayton, Tyler, Edgerton and Holland.
The group started rehearsing in January, first one night a week and then two nights a week to prepare the show. Olivier said the performers start with learning their music and then add the choreography. Evers developed the choreography with help from Rachelle Backer, Olivier, Amberlie Haak and Sullivan.
The Al Opland Singers’ spring show is typically the week after Easter, but this year’s performances will be a bit later due in part to the fact that the group’s director, Samantha Davis, is the speech coach at Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) and the weekend of April 26 is when the state speech tournament is being held. That Saturday is also when PAS is holding its prom.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 1, 2 and 3, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 4. Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for students and can be purchased by visiting the PPAC website at www.pipestoneperformingartscenter.com, by calling the Box Office at 507-825-2020 or 877-722-2787 Tuesday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., or at the PPAC prior to performances.
Miguel Carrera sings bass with the Al Opland Singers. Photo by Kyle Kuphal
Ingrid Wielenberg sings alto with the Al Opland Singers. Photo by Kyle Kuphal
Emily Blaeser sings soprano with the Al Opland Singers. Photo by Kyle Kuphal
Don Buhl sings tenor with the Al Opland Singers. Photo by Kyle Kuphal