Baumeister Sodas and Diamonds and Gold present Let Me Be Frank Productions’ all-new comedy musical, “Booyah, Finger Road” this February. The first show of the 2019 season brings you back to the 1960s and the hottest church picnic in the area, The Holy Martyrs, or as we know it, the Finger Road Picnic.
“Booyah, Finger Road” opens Friday, February 1 with a benefit show for The Green Bay Historical Society; $10 of every ticket goes to this deserving organization in our community. “Booyah, Finger Road” then runs Thursday-Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. February 1- 23. Matinee performances will take place on Thursday, February 21 and Saturday, February 23 at 1 p.m. at the Meyer Theatre. Tickets are available at meyertheatre.org or by calling Ticketstar at 920-494-3401. An out-of-town performance will be Wednesday, February 13 at The Capitol Civic Centre in Manitowoc at 7:30 p.m. Head to cccshows.org or call 920-683-1937 for tickets and more information.
How did “booyah” come to be? The story goes that it happened by accident from a misspelled word in the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Lester Rentmeester was looking for a little publicity for his church picnic (Holy Martyrs) and contacted the newspaper. Belgium-born Lester had a French accent and began talking about bouillon, but the reporter thought he said booyah, and voila! Booyah was born.
And that’s the only fact in this show!
As a young man, the Finger Road picnic was the event of the summer with all the fixings of a great party — beer, bands and babes. From the best bands to the best cake walk, the best raffles, and yes, girls from all the area high schools, anyone and everyone was there! Our story revolves around the secret recipe for booyah, handed down to Mr. Crab and his brother, Father Crab. Competing church picnics start to wonder why the Finger Road picnic is so popular. Well, it’s the booyah, duh! Secret spies try to steal the secret recipe kept in a glass bottle always close to Mr. Crab. Mr. Bowler Hatguy from Winchester Cathedral tries to trick the staff of the picnic to divulge the secret. Is the success of the picnic due to the booyah? The bands? The parishioners? Well, come and find out and laugh along the way. Great music from the 1960s in this show!
Cast: Frank Hermans (Father Frank), Talor Sohr (picnic attendee), Pat Hibbard (band leader), Amy Riemer (beer girl), Tom Verbrick (Mr. Crab), Lisa Borley (beer girl), Blake Hermans (picnic attendee), Michael O’Malley (Mr. Bowler Hatguy).
Band: Dennis Panneck (guitars), Pat Hibbard (bass), Tony Pilz (keyboards), Adam Cain (drums).
Song selection:
The Last Time – The Rolling Stones
Hey Baby (They’re Playing Our Song) – The Buckinghams
Winchester Cathedral the new vaudeville band
Pied Piper – Crispian St. Peters
Use Me – Bill Withers
(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding
59th Street Bridge Song (Feeling Groovy) – Simon & Garfunkel
Friday On My Mind – The Easybeats
Laugh Laugh – The Beau Brummels
Don’t Worry Baby – The Beach Boys
Lazy Day – Spanky & Our Gang
Come A Little Bit Closer – Jay & The Americans
Wait A Million Years – The Grass Roots
You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice – The Lovin’ Spoonful
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman – Aretha Franklin
Think – Aretha Franklin
Mas Que Nada – Sergio Mendez & Brazil 66
You Don’t Own Me – Lesley Gore
I’m Ready for Love – Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
Anyone Who Had a Heart – Dionne Warwick
