‘Francie Does Broadway’ starts at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Backus Auditorium
From popular show tunes to some original songs, “Broadway on the Border” will make its way back to International Falls with a new face in the spotlight.
Francie Nemec-Green will take the stage as the leading role in the production “Francie Does Broadway” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Backus Auditorium.
And the show will go on with a little help from her friends, said Nemec-Green, noting that many of her friends and acquaintances are involved in Francie Does Broadway.
Nemec-Green has performed on local stages since her time in Borderland, but she said this role takes her to a new level.
“I’ve been a part of a few local shows here and there, but never something start to finish as the main performer.”
Aside from Nemec-Green, the cast will include Casey Maruk, Braedyn Aker, Renee Martin-Brown, Tom Jones, Scott Roberts, Doug Skrief, Jim Yount, Margarete Kostiuk, Kathy Thureen, Jane Christianson, John Faith and the ladies of Tuesday Musicale. The band will include Myron Hawrylak, Scott Askey and Robert Leland Jacobsen.
“There is so much local talent in this area, and I’m proud to have so many of them be a part of this show,” she said.
Francie Does Broadway is especially important to Nemec-Green because it provides some relief from a tough year. Just a few weeks ago, she experienced an unexpected death in the family and her husband, Barney Green, spent some time in the hospital this summer. She said that having to focus her attention on the show has been a gift.
“I love to sing and it keeps my spirits up,” she said.
The show will feature some well known tunes such as “Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better,” “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” “Hey Big Spender,” and few others.
Nemec-Green is hopeful that the two-hour show will have something for everyone. And, she said, the timing — just before people head out to the hunting shacks — is perfect.
“This will definitely be a show I hope everyone attends. If a couple of numbers don’t bring down the house, I will be stunned,” she said.
The curtain will rise at 7:30 p.m. Thursday with a soup supper being served prior to the concert from 4-7 p.m. Tickets are available in advance at City Drug and the Backus office. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for students or $25 for a family. Tickets will also be available at the door at $12 for adults, $6 for students and $30 for a family.
If you go:
What: Francie Does Broadway “with a little help from my friends”
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday (soup supper from 4-7 p.m.)
Where: Backus Community Center Auditorium
