Rosetown Playhouse Presents Local Playwrights’ Musical Version of ‘The Reluctant Dragon’ at RAMS Theater, Dec. 2-11

Rosetown Playhouse is showcasing a wealth of homegrown theater talent with its upcoming production of “The Reluctant Dragon,” a fairy tale set to music that will be staged Dec. 2-11 at the Roseville Area Middle School (RAMS) Theater.

In “The Reluctant Dragon,” a poetry-loving dragon is discovered outside a small village in rural England. The creature is peaceful and friendly – and in this show, also very musical – but fearful villagers hire St. George to slay the dragon. As with all Rosetown shows, the plot doesn’t flow straight from A to B, and the singing, dancing cast delivers plenty of plot twists and laughs.

Show time on Dec. 2, 3, 9, and 10 is 7:30 p.m., and the curtain opens for Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. on Dec. 4 and 11. All performances are at the RAMS Theater, 15 E. County Road B-2, Little Canada, MN 55117.

Not only are cast and crew members from the metro area – many from Roseville and other eastern suburbs – but the book was written by veteran Rosetown actor Alex Schmuck, a 2007 graduate of Roseville Area High School (RAHS), and the lyrics and music were created by fellow RAHS alum Nick Miller. Additional songs and arrangements are by Erik Sherburne.

Schmuck is a 2012 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Duluth, and has appeared in 17 Rosetown Playhouse shows, starting with the 2004 production of “Broadway Lullaby,” when he was 15. A high school English teacher, Schmuck wrote “The Reluctant Dragon” script by adapting the popular Kenneth Grahame children’s story. The playwright added several characters and creative story lines to tailor the play for the large, multi-generational Rosetown cast.

Miller, a 2007 RAHS graduate, earned a bachelor’s degree in music at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., in 2011, then went on to earn two master’s degrees in music: in Double Bass from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas (2013), and in Vocal Performance from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City (2015), where he currently lives and works. He has performed in at least 10 Rosetown shows (acting or in the pit orchestra), and “The Reluctant Dragon” is the first show for which he has composed music.

To Purchase Tickets

• Online: Starting Nov. 1, go to www.RosetownPlayhouse.org to purchase tickets.

• By Phone: Call 651-792-7414, ext. 2. Leave a voicemail and you’ll quickly receive a call back.

• At the Door: The RAMS Theater box office opens 45 minutes before show time.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (65+), $10 for students ages 6-12, and $7 for children 5 and under. Call the box office for information about special discount rates for groups of four or more.

About Rosetown Playhouse

Rosetown Playhouse is a community theater based in Roseville, Minnesota, and serving the wide world of theater lovers. Our mission is to strengthen community through inclusive, playful theater experiences. To learn more, visit www.RosetownPlayhouse.org or visit the Rosetown Playhouse Facebook page.