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Arts & Entertainment

After 22 Years, Eagan Community Theatre Has Left Mark on City

This weekend, the program will roll out its latest production, the musical "Cinderella."

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As they grow, some organizations become institutions in their communities—helping to shape the history and culture of the cities in which they're located.

Eagan Community Theatre is no different.

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The theater group has produced a show each summer for 22 years. Some are classics like "The Music Man". Others are lesser known, like "You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown".

And through it all, Director Denny Swanson has carefully guided the creation and direction of every show.

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"They all stand out in some ways, but the biggest blockbusters were "Peter Pan" in 2006 and "The Wizard of Oz" in 2007," said Swanson. "Both shows sold out 21 performances with waiting lists every night.

But the impact of the theatre group extends beyond the stage and audience members who attend a show, according to Swanson and community members who participate in the program.

The well-established group draws interested volunteers from across the area, including Apple Valley, St. Paul, Rosemount and Minneapolis. Those participants get a chance to hone their acting skills and participate in the arts.

The theater group can also bring families closer together, according to Maple Grove resident Allison Eckberg. Eckberg is a veteran of seven Eagan Community Theatre shows, two of which included her whole family.

"We got to spend a lot more time together, and we made friends as a family (with other families),” Eckberg said.

In its more than two decades of operation, the program has also served as a launching pad for at least —who later found success on Broadway.

Eagan High School graduate Laura Osnes landed a Tony Award nomination earlier this year for her work as the leading lady in the musical "Bonnie & Clyde". But many of Osnes' earliest experiences in theater came through her work with the Eagan Community Theatre group and her mentor, Swanson.

The theater group also has a tangible effect on the Eagan High School Theatre itself. Proceeds from profitable productions are funneled back into the auditorium maintenance and equipment, according to Swanson. Those purchases include spotlights, wireless microphones, a video project and curtain repair, Theatre Manager/Tech Director John Ratzlaff said.

On Friday, July 13, , which involves 48 local actors and has a run-time of just under two hours.

"It's very important to me to see entire families in the audience who will have a meaningful experience in live musical theatre entertainment. When I select the show … I think of the audience first,” Swanson added.

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