The popular musical I Do! I Do! will open Summerset Theatre’s 46^th season on June 11. This touching story, set to a tuneful, charming score, follows one couple as they navigate the perils of married life together. From their wedding day vows to their 50th anniversary, the story of Michael and Agnes has been called “amusing, astonishingly touching and truly endearing.” The book and lyrics are by Tom Jones and music is by Harvey Schmidt, the composer/lyricist team behind The Fantasticks.  I Do! I Do! is based on the play The Fourposter by Jan De Hartog.

David Dahlquist directs I Do! I Do!. Jan Matson is the musical director. Joyce Matthies is choreographer. The set designer is Lucas Johnson.  The lighting and sound designer is Kristine Iverson. The costumes are by Carley Carranza. Melissa Johnson is the stage manager.

“I have wanted to direct I Do! I Do! for a number of years,” says the show’s director, David Dahlquist. “I think it is a very good musical that is overlooked and has never been done by the college or Summerset. It tells the story of a marriage from the wedding until the couple moves out of their house 50 years later, covering the years from 1898 to 1948. It goes through the events of most marriages – the wedding, children, growing older, and moving out of a too big house. It does this theatrically with wonderful music, love, laughter, arguments, and nostalgia. It is universal and has something to say to everyone.”

“I Do! I Do! played for over 22 years at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, so that’s a testament to the popularity of this show with Minnesota audiences,” says Summerset Theatre Executive Director Lindsey Duoos Williams. “The music is wonderful and the show is both funny and sentimental; I think it’s the perfect way to kick off our summer season.”

I Do! I Do! stars John Deyo as He/Michael and Kaye Perry as She/Agnes. Audiences may remember John and Kaye from their numerous Summerset Theatre appearances in many memorable roles.

Director David Dahlquist says, “I picked Kaye and John because they are excellent singers and actors. They work well together and are experienced in acting and marriage. They have been friends for many years and have done many shows together as stage husband and wife. (They are not married to each other as many believe. John's wife is Lisa and Kaye's husband is Scott.) They did some TV commercials together, and many people still remember them from those and still think they actually are husband and wife. I enjoy working with them. We seem to click as director and actors.”

I Do! I Do! will open on June 11 at 7:30 pm. Other performances are June 12, 13, 14, and 15 at 7:30 pm. All performances are held at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre on the Austin campus of Riverland Community College.

Individual tickets to I Do! I Do! are $15 for adults and $10 for children age 16 and under. Tickets are currently on sale at the Summerset Theatre Box Office, located in room E107 in the East Building of the Riverland Community College Austin campus. Box office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and one hour before performances. The box office can be contacted at 507-433-0595 or by emailing boxoffice@riverland.edu. Starting this season, tickets are also available for purchase online at www.summersetaustin.org and the Summerset Theatre box office is able to accept all major credit cards.

I Do! I Do! is appropriate for all ages. Summerset Theatre strives to provide quality productions that are entertaining and challenging to both the audience and the artists. Because we reach such a diverse audience, some audience members may find some subject matter, language, or situations objectionable. If you have concerns about a specific production, we encourage you to become familiar with the material before attending the performance.

Now in its 46^th season, Summerset Theatre presents three large-scale productions each summer on the campus of Riverland Community College in Austin, Minnesota. Our productions include classic and contemporary musicals, comedies, and dramas. Summerset Theatre’s 2013 season is: I Do! I Do!, book and lyrics by Tom Jones, music by Harvey Schmidt, playing June 11-15; Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling, playing July 9-13; and Monty Python’s Spamalot, book and lyrics by Eric Idle, music by John Du Prez and Eric Idle, playing August 1-10. All performances are held at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre, Riverland Community College, Austin Campus, East Building.