Sierra Rep goes back to the ‘Basement’

It’s back to the Basement for Sierra Repertory Theatre.

The third installment of the musical comedy franchise “Church Basement Ladies” comes to the Fallon House Theatre in Columbia. “Church Basement Ladies: A Mighty Fortress Is Our Basement” opens Friday, Oct. 14, and will run through Nov. 27.

The show again follows a group of Lutheran ladies from small-town Minnesota. Like the original and its sequel, which the foothills theater company produced in 2014, the story is based on the best-selling book “Growing Up Lutheran” by Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson.

“A Mighty Fortress Is Our Basement” is set in 1960, before the other two musicals, which take place in the mid- and late ’60s, respectively. While it follows the same characters, the show will feature an almost all-new cast. But directing the show will be “Church Basement Ladies” original cast member and company veteran Becky Saunders.

This is Saunders’ second time helming a Sierra Rep show this season. In May, she directed the comedy “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.”

The cast includes Regina Harbour as Vivian, Elizabeth McMonagle as Signe, Catherine Gordon as Karin and Debi Woodall as Mavis. The show’s one returning cast member will be Christopher Vettel as the pastor.

Saunders said the appeal of the “Church Basement Ladies” is built right into its name.

“It’s such a woman’s show. It is so much fun for women, and especially people who are older now and grew up with those women in the ’60s. It’s very nostalgic in that sense,” Saunders said. “The ’60s were a time of turmoil; feminism was on the rise – sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll were starting to come in. And these women represent all the other aspects – the conservative and religious side, but not heavy-handed.”

Saunders said all the characters the audience has grown to love will be back, if a little younger. The lighthearted comedy also continues. But Saunders said what ties them all together is a simple message.

“They always write a really good through line that’s a message. The through line on this one is keeping it humble: Humility, tolerance and love make us better human beings,” she said. “It’s about being the best people we can be.”

This story was originally published October 11, 2016 at 3:54 PM with the headline "Sierra Rep goes back to the ‘Basement’."