The faithful

A couple weeks ago, I wrote about "Church Basement Ladies," the hilarious new musical making its Chicago premiere Sept. 10 through 27 at The North Shore Center for Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd. in Skokie, and the chance to nominate your own favorite "church basement lady."

And the nominations for this contest (sponsored by the theater, not me) are rolling in with some great ladies from our region.

The lucky winner of the "Church Basement Lady of the Year Contest" will win a chance to meet the show's star, "M*A*S*H" actor and Evanston native William Christopher, who played Father Francis Mulcahy on the acclaimed television series. The winner also will enjoy dinner for two at Chicago's legendary fondue restaurant Geja's Café, one of my favorite grazing places.

The winner and two runners-up also will receive two free tickets to see the musical.

During the contest (through Sept. 10), people of all faiths are invited to submit a 150-word essay to nominate the special woman in their congregation who goes that extra mile to serve others. Visit cbl-chicago.com to enter.

Some readers have even e-mailed me copies of the essays they've submitted, and they've been great to read.

One of my favorites came from Patricia Maka of Merrillville, a member of St. Joan of Arc, who had an ideal lady to nominate who she says has a "radiant smile." (I won't reveal the name she's nominating to keep it a surprise.)

As for this new show, "Church Basement Ladies" mixes the silliness of "Nunsense" with the homespun humor of "Prairie Home Companion."

The show, directed by Curt Wollan, was a smash hit in Minneapolis, where it sold out for 130 straight weeks.

Wollan describes it as a celebration of church-basement kitchens everywhere and the wonderful, unsung women who work there.

Set in 1964, the show is a funny, heartfelt reflection on the four women who tirelessly prepare the food and solve problems for the congregation at a rural Minnesota church.

As for the stage roster of "Church Basement Ladies," it features the elderly matriarch of the kitchen, a young bride-to-be, a jack-of-all trades farm wife and the best cook in the church. Together, the ladies stave off potential disasters, share and debate recipes, instruct the young and keep the pastor on due course as they cope with the changing world. In the span of a year, they plan a record-breaking Christmas dinner, the funeral of a dear friend, a Hawaiian Easter Fund-raiser, and a steaming-hot July wedding feast.

The production is best described as a down-to-earth glimpse at life from the kitchen, which we all know is the heart and soul of the church.

It's a delicious recipe for toe-tapping music and fun, clean humor for audiences of every faith. In fact, even though Christopher played a Catholic priest during all of his years on "M*A*S*H," he's actually Methodist.

The show is based on the best-selling book "Growing Up Lutheran" by humorists Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson. The show features a book by Jim Stowell and Jessica Zuehlke, with music and lyrics by Drew Jansen.

It stars Christopher as Pastor E. L. Gunderson, Margaret Curry as Mrs. Elroy Engelson aka Karin, Stella Fasonello as Signe Engelson, Jean Liuzzi as Mrs. Lars Snustad aka Vivian and Karen Pappas as Mrs. Gilmer Gilmerson aka Mavis.

Tickets are $38 to $46 and are available at (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at ppotempa@nwitimes.com or 219.852.4327.

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