About the Production

Peer Gynt was an outdoor spectacle that was performed in park areas in 3 greater, MN communities. This magical Norwegian fairytale written by Henrik Ibsen, was first performed in 1876 and is one of the most widely performed Norwegian plays.  It tells the life story of Peer Gynt as he encounters real and imaginary worlds in his life’s journey.  In this production, each community, through workshops, helped shape the fantastical stories in the play. Sod House Theater incorporated the community ideas and creations and reconceived the story and turned it into a 90-minute magical comedy for the whole family to enjoy. Peer Gynt was performed in large parks in each location. 

Locations Performed:

Blue Earth: at Steinberg Nature Park

Lake Benton: The Heritage Center

Crookston:  The University of Minnesota, Crookston

Why this Subject Matter is Important:

Henrik Ibsen’s character Peer inhabits fantasy worlds and is delusional about what’s really going on around him. The play resonates with our modern obsession with our phones that hold video games and social media. We became interested in how this modern immersion into online worlds - through video games and social networking relationships, for example – reflect a similar out-of-touch attitude we see now. How might these delusions rob people, particularly young people, of the chance to develop a sense of their own identity and purpose? Sod House provided an opportunity for communities to interact, on a deep level, with the challenging play themes in Peer Gynt. As a result, the play spurred greater understanding of human nature and inspired living in the moment and being present with one another.

Cast, Musicians, and Crew

Sarah Agnew, Jason Ballweber, Duane Blake, Marissa Condon, Mike Ellingsen, Darcey Engen, Kaitlin Fleet, Samantha Fleet, Liz Halliday-Tyler, George Jorgensen, Elise Lange, Channa McCurdy, Jess Robinson, Eurkariah Tabaka, Noah Tiegs, Leah Tuszynski, Mark Wilmes, Boo Segersin, Luverne Seifert, Dario Tangelson, Sue Ellingsen, Emily Hynes, Mckenzie Greimann, Shelly Greimann, Rachel Kiennitz, Jolene Krusow, Carolyn Oanes, Hannah Oppendal, Barb Pearson, Kaitlyn Rosamond, Kurt Steinke, Kim Schaffer, Deanna Shaikowski, Finn Blomquist Eggerling, Callie Boucher, Sue Meyer, Lynne Mullins, Alice Conwell, Megan Scott, George French, Rob Conwell, Elysa Christenson, Evan Christenson, Katelyn Christenson, Georgie French, Linnea French, Alissa Hernandez, Damian Hodgeson, Cindy Reynolds, Jyha Reynolds, Nico Reynolds, Liz Thompson, Gaye Wick.