The Trail to Oregon

Stage Ten Seventeen is set to hit the wagon as they finalize their production of The Trail to Oregon, opening Feb. 12.

The Trail to Oregon is a musical comedy following a family on the Oregon Trail, however the show stands out for its audience driven plot.

Each performance differs as each audience decides the family’s fate.

Chris Borgardt, who both directs and stars as the family father Jeff Blim, commented on what inspired the decision to take up the show.

“Our theatre has a great group of resident actors who are StarKid fans. They’ve seen all the movies, listened to the soundtracks and followed that group all the way from Chicago,” Borgardt said.

After performing StarKid’s musical Firebringer, Stage Ten Seventeen is preparing this show with an early practice audience so the actors can familiarize themselves with the inevitable improvisation of acting alongside the audience.

“There’s typically a lot of audience interaction. This one is based on the Oregon trail, so the audience gets to decide who dies of dysentery, who dies at the end of the show, improv moments and feedback,” he said.

Borgardt noted the importance of the audience, mentioning how they impacted the show’s lighting and set design.

“We’re doing a pretty barebones run, partially by design of the show,” he said. “The audience is the main focus, but it’s more like an interactive audience experience than a typical play. There’s a bar next door to grab drinks, it’ll end up feeling more like a two-hour comedy night.”

Borgardt especially highlighted the quality caliber of performers that are part of the show, being able to perform entire shows in under 20 practices.

“About half the performers are in another show right now that opens this week,” he said. “For them to be able to learn their material and songs, and then do a preview on the 31st... I’m grateful to be part of this group.”

Stage Ten Seventeen is a professional community theatre that shares off-Broadway quality out of a small, unexpected venue.

Coming in September, Stage Ten Seventeen will put on the first off-Broadway production of Come From Away, a musical that follows the airline survivors of 9/11 who landed in Gander, Newfoundland.

The Trail to Oregon has a roughly two-hour and twenty-minute run time, featuring an intermission where audiences will be able to vote on characters’ fate.

The show will run for two weekends, from Feb. 12 - 22, with both Sundays featuring a 2 p.m. matinee.

See The Trail of Oregon at 1017 Waube Lane. Get your tickets early online at stagetenseventeen.ludus.com/index.php.