State Fair tells the story of the Frake family of Brunswick. Iowa and their
adventures at the 1946 Iowa State Fair. Father Abel Frake is showing his prize
boar, Big Boy, and he’s confident that the hog will win the Grand Sweepstakes.
His wife, Melissa, is working on her pickles and mincemeat, hoping for a blue
ribbon this year. Son Wayne is anxious to get even with the Hoopla Barker at the
ring toss booth, who made fun of him last year, and Wayne has practiced his toss
in the hopes of showing the barker up. Daughter Margy is facing a big decision
whether to marry her long time beau Harry, and, while everyone expects her to
marry him, she’s not too sure. At the fair, these four Frake family members meet
many new folks, find romance and successes and trials, and have a great time at
the fair.
The cast includes Turner Jennings as Abel, Ashley Pence as Melissa, Dylan
O’Brien as Wayne, and Bailey Jennings as Margy. Also in the cast are Justin
Greene as Gus, the farm hand; Julian Brown as Dave Miller; Tessa Keyes as
Eleanor, Wayne’s girlfriend; Chris Garcia as Harry, Joe Garcia as the Hoopla
Barker; Maggie Molloy as Emily Arden, a travelling singer with her back up
group, the Fairtones, played by Megan Smith, Alexis Keys, Chloe Rattee, and
Kira Wood; Megan Wikens as Vivian; Caleb Molloy as Pat Gilbert, a hardened
newpaper reported who meets Margy at the fair; Mike Dukette as Charlie, Pat’s
photographer; Tucker Wolfe as Hank Munson, a hog owner and companion to
Wes LeMay who plays Lem and Chase Gaudette who plays Clay, and who make
up the “hog callers”; A.J. Robidas as the Chief of Police and Elaine Manteau as
Violet, his daughter; Colton Gaudette as Judge Heppenstahl and Lexi O’Brien
and Casey Wolfe as the other mincemeat judges; Ashley Connor as Mrs. Edwin
Metcalf, and Gillian Robidas and Megan Wilkens as her friends Mrs. Mosely and
Miss Boxhorn; and April and Molly Keyes as the judges’ assistants. Chorus
members include Miranda Deeds, Courtney Butler, Kendra Luba, Katie O’Brien,
Spencer Griffen, Cora LeMay, Halah Abdelwahid, Kyle Stockman, Rebekalyn
Griggs, Sarah May Schultz, Cecily Schultz, Abigail Cote, Jolene Wood, and
Joseph Molloy.
Director Maye Hart first brought State Fair to the Scenic stage in 2003, and she’s
recreating the set and special effects for this kid’s presentation. The Kid’s
Theater Workshop is a program by kids for kids and is focused on attracting kids
to the stage and performing. This promises to be a great show for audiences of
all ages