One of the most moving theatrical offerings of the Twin Cities scene comes to Brainerd on Dec. 3 and 4 when Theater Latte Da's production of "All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914" plays in the Chalberg Theatre on the Brainerd campus of Central Lakes College. Presented by the Central Lakes Community Performing Arts Center's Cultural Arts Series, the show will perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 and 2 p.m. Dec. 4.
"This is the crown jewel of our season," said series producer Patrick Spradlin. "This show has played in Minneapolis at Christmastime since 2007. It's one of the finest holiday productions you'll ever see."
"All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914" relives an astounding moment in history when Allied and German soldiers laid down their arms to celebrate Christmas together, sharing food and drink, playing soccer, singing carols and burying each other's dead. In some places along the Western Front the truce lasted a single night and in others it endured until New Year's Day. This dramatic re-telling weaves together firsthand accounts by 30 World War I soldiers and music including patriotic tunes, trench songs and Christmas carols. This moving ode to peace was created by Theater Latt Da's acclaimed artistic director Peter Rothstein with musical arrangements by Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach, produced in collaboration with Hennepin Theatre Trust.
The production has garnered much acclaim. The Minneapolis Star Tribune said it "feeds our need for heroes, gives space to our dreams for human nobility, allows us to approach the enigma of Christmas and puzzle over the miracle that has stopped enemies from killing each other for one day."
"It's not only an outstanding piece of musical theater, but a brilliantly executed production that
ADVERTISEMENT
understands that its power comes from its simplicity," wrote the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
"All Is Calm" premiered by Cantus and Theater Latté Da at Joan of Arc Catholic Church and Westminster Presbyterian in 2007. The production moved to the Pantages Theatre with co-producer Hennepin Theatre Trust the following year.
It has toured to nearly 50 cities, including The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the Metropolitan Museum of New York and Cal Performances in Berkeley, California. Peter Rothstein is the creator of "All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914" and "Steerage Song," created in collaboration with Dan Chouinard and which toured to Brainerd last fall.
Peter has been named one of Minnesota's Artists of the Year by the Star Tribune, Theater Artist of the Year by Lavender and Best Director by City Pages. He has been awarded five Ivey
Awards for excellence and has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Theatre Communications Group, the Minnesota State Arts Board and the McKnight Foundation.
Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach are the arrangers for the production. From 2000 to 2009, Lichte's programming and artistic direction was heard in over 60 concerts a year in such venues as Kennedy Center, Library of Congress, Merkin Hall, to name a few. He has collaborated with artists such as Bobby McFerrin, the Boston Pops, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, James Sewell Ballet and poet Robert Bly.
Reviewed as "gorgeous" by the Washington Post, the music of Timothy C. Takach is rapidly gaining momentum in the concert world. Takach has written over 60 commissions for various organizations including the St. Olaf Choir, Cantus, Pavia Winds, the Bowling Green State University Men's Chorus, The Singers: Minnesota Choral Artists and the Cherry Creek High School Meistersingers.
Tickets for "All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914" are available online at www.clcmn.edu/arts or the CLC Theatre box office at 218-855-8199.
ADVERTISEMENT
The production is sponsored by Mills Fleet Farm, Disabled American Veterans, the VFW and the VFW Auxiliary.
