Bucket Brigade presents Stephen Temperley’s, SOUVENIR, a delightful musical comedy about the life of Florence Foster Jenkins, directed by Jeffrey S. Miller and featuring Bucket Brigade favorites– beloved Twin Cities performers Vanessa Gamble and Michael Pearce Donley.

Playing April 29 – May 14, 2022, at Art House North, 793 Armstrong Avenue in Saint Paul.

Tickets: Single, reserved seating tickets start at $20 for opening weekend and $30 thereafter; $40 VIP tickets (with front row seating and complimentary refreshments), $25 for Seniors 65+/Students/Groups of 10+.

Dates/Times: Performances are Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30pm, April 29-30, May 6-7 and 13-14. Matinees are Saturdays, 3:00pm, May 7 & 14. Special Pay-As-You’re-Able on Monday, May 9th at 7:30pm.

The show is in two Acts, runs approximately 90 minutes, and includes a short intermission.

SOUVENIR celebrates the story of Florence Foster Jenkins– a wealthy society eccentric who suffered under the delusion that she was a great coloratura soprano when she was in fact incapable of producing two consecutive notes in tune. The hilarious and poignant play tells her story through the eyes of her accompanist, Cosme McMoon. Faced with her boundless confidence and certainty, Cosme comes to revise his attitude, not only towards her singing but to the very meaning of music, and indeed of friendship itself.

Performers Vanessa Gamble (Florence Foster Jenkins), and Michael Pearce Donley (Cosme McMoon) share a genuine affection for each other. Gamble and Donley have a rich, ridiculous history of warming up before shows by singing beloved standards intentionally off-key. Donley says, “Nobody’s better at singing horribly than Vanessa. That’s a compliment.” Their beautifully horrible music makes them a fitting pair to recreate the historically-bad, but enduringly entertaining musical performances of Florence Foster Jenkins. “She could teach us all a lesson in living life to the fullest,” says Gamble.

Covid Safety Protocol: Due to lower numbers of Covid cases in the state, milder variants and generally more encouraging Covid related news, we are making this a mask-optional event. To limit Covid risk we are reducing the audience capacity (four people to a row instead of six) which will allow for a little more distance between folks. If any audience members are experiencing any symptoms (and/or have tested positive for Covid), we ask that they please stay home. We're excited to gather and enjoy a live theater experience together and believe we can do so while exhibiting care and concern for one another and making space for individuals’ varying levels of Covid caution.