“You have died of dysentery.” The iconic phrase from the classic Oregon Trail video game — and beloved internet meme — comes to life on stage as Hastings College Theatre presents its second musical of the season, “The Trail to Oregon.”
Follow one adventurous family as they journey across the Great Plains, battle the North Platte River, repair their Wago9000 and try their best to avoid that dreaded fate.
Packed with humor, puppetry and audience participation, this fast-paced musical lets the crowd help shape the story. From choosing the family’s names and hairstyles to guiding them toward the Willamette Valley, audiences become part of the fun as the travelers face villains, hunger and the hilarious chaos of life on the trail.
This show is produced by Alpha Psi Omega (APO), the theatre student honorary. It contains adult language and themes and should be considered to have a PG-13 rating.
Originally produced by StarKid Productions, The Trail to Oregon features music and lyrics by Jeff Blim, book by Nick Lang, Matt Lang, Brian Holden and Jeff Blim, and was originally arranged by Clark Baxtresser and Pierce Siebers.
Shows are Thursday, November 13 through Saturday, November 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 16 at 2:00 p.m. in Scott Studio Theatre (806 N. Turner Avenue).
There is no cost to attend any of the shows, instead a free-will offering for APO is encouraged. Tickets can be reserved by emailing tickets@hastings.edu. The house will open 30 minutes before each performance, and concessions will also be available.
“The Trail To Oregon” by Jeff Blim, Nick Lang, Matt Lang and Brian Holden
- Director — Kathleen Lorenzen, instructor of theatre
- Musical director — Maggie deFreese of Holdrege, Nebraska
- Puppet master — Maxwell Blankenship of Queen Creek, Arizona
- Costume and props designer — Maddie Kamler of Shickley, Nebraska
Cast
- Father — Peyton Wallace of Bennett, Colorado
- Mother — Maxwell Blankenship of Queen Creek, Arizona
- Grandma — Morgan Ashcraft of Limon, Colorado
- Daughter — Kaley Waite of Hastings, Nebraska
- Son — Claire Jacobs of Norwood, Colorado
- McDoon — Mahalia Jones of Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Cletus — Saige Patocka of Brainard, Nebraska
- Bartender — Claire Fuqua of Woodland Park, Colorado
- Darla — Charlotte Lafler of Littleton, Colorado
- General Store Guy — Jordan Parker of Omaha, Nebraska
- General Store’s Gal — Abbygayle Peeters of Limon, Colorado
- Cornwallis — Hailey Gifford of Eagle, Colorado
- Oxen — David Udlock of Castle Rock, Colorado
Musicians
- Jason Jones of Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Caspian Weeden of Pueblo, Colorado
- Doodle Harris, Hastings College chaplain
Crew
- Lighting Designer — David Udlock of Castle Rock, Colorado
- Stage Manager — Abbygayle Peeters of Limon Colorado
- Master Carpenter — Peyton Wallace of Bennett, Colorado
- Scenic & Props Crew — Morgan Ashcraft of Limon, Colorado; and Sam Daeges of Omaha, Nebraska
Run Crew
- Brooke Brockman of Elwood, Nebraska
- Hailey Gifford of Eagle, Colorado
- Daniel Graff of Fremont, Nebraska
- Abby Hardesty of Lincoln, Nebraska
- Claire Jacobs of Norwood, Colorado
- Mahalia Jones of Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Jason Jones of Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Mindy Kamler of Schickley, Nebraska
- Charlotte Lafler of Littleton, Colorado
- Emma Mariel of Lexington, Nebraska
- Vinnie Nunnenkamp of Hastings, Nebraska
- Saige Patocka of Brainard, Nebraska
- Abbygayle Peeters of Limon, Colorado
- Ember Thoreson of Crystal Lake, Illinois
- Kaley Waite of Hastings, Nebraska
Costume Construction
- Miah Fox of Paxton, Nebraska
- Claire Fuqua of Woodland Park, Colorado
- Grace Hartman of Hastings, Nebraska
- Emma Morelli of Thornton, Colorado
- Maddie Kamler of Shickley, Nebraska
Box Office & Concessions
- Casper Campbell of Columbus, Nebraska
- Felix Harris of Bonner Springs, Kansas
- Tessa Pedersen of Columbus, Nebraska
- Halona Wooton of Friend, Nebraska
- Michaela White of Florissant, Colorado
Hastings College is a four-year residential college that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. Founded in 1882, the College is dedicated to student success and service to the community. Discover more at hastings.edu.