‘Little House’ is Guthrie’s big hit
By Cindy VotrubaAll it takes is to hear the words "Little House on the Prairie" and most people will think of Walnut Grove and Laura Ingalls Wilder.
People in Walnut Grove said the title of the upcoming musical, "Little House on the Prairie," at the Guthrie Theater resonates with fans, gives the community a little recognition and will bring more visitors to the community.
The "Little House on the Prairie" musical opens for previews at the Guthrie on July 26. The show officially opens Aug. 15 and runs through Oct. 5. Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls Wilder in the "Little House" television series, will portray Caroline Ingalls in the musical.
Reports said that box office records for the Guthrie were broken with first-day sales receipts of 5,461 tickets sold. During the first three days, 8,408 tickets were sold.
"The books are still very popular, and when they hear that name (Little House), they think of the books as well, and it brings to mind the TV series," said Amy Ankrum, director of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum.
Ankrum said the museum already has been contacted by people who are attending the musical in the Twin Cities.
"I know we have one bus group who has plans to stop (in Walnut Grove) before they head to the Guthrie," Ankrum said.
"Anytime you hear the words 'Little House on the Prairie,' you get a little bit of a bump in that (visitation)," said Stan Gordon of Walnut Grove, who owns the land where the Ingalls dugout site is located. "The better off southwest Minnesota does."
Ankrum said the Guthrie show is great advertising because when people hear "Little House," they think Walnut Grove.
It's good free advertising, said museum board president Mary Jo Hendrickson.
"The people I have spoken with think it's a good thing for the community," Hendrickson said. "How often do you have a musical set in your own community?"
The Guthrie even purchased two bonnets from the museum's gift shop, Hendrickson said.
Gordon said Walnut Grove is mentioned in the show's media package.
A group of museum board members, Wilder Pageant committee members and community members are taking a bus to the Sept. 6 matinee performance.
Hendrickson and Ankrum said those going to the show from Walnut Grove will also get a backstage tour and could possibly meet Gilbert.
"That took a little work on the part of the (community education) coordinator we have," Hendrickson said. Dixie Severson is the community services coordinator.
Severson said Guthrie officials also will give the people from Walnut Grove some sort of recognition.
"That's what they're planning," Ankrum said.
"Seeing it as a musical is kind of different, I don't think I've ever heard Melissa (Gilbert) sing before," Ankrum said.
"I'll be on the bus that day, I gotta go," Hendrickson said. "It's a special event. It's important."
Severson said she's not sure when she is going to the show, but she would like the chance.
"I would love to see it and take pictures," Severson said.
"It looks to me like they made every effort to make it a first-class production," Gordon said.
Gordon and his wife Hazelle were able to get a sneak peak of the upcoming "Little House on the Prairie" musical at the Guthrie Theater in March.
The couple was introduced to the show's director, the author and the composer, Gordon said. They also got to hear a few songs from the show.
"We were just tickled we were in the position to do it," Gordon said.
"I was really impressed with the songs, and was thinking this could get legs and get popular."
