BEMIDJI — Jill Thompson-Bakken got her first professional acting job last year when she was cast as Emily Hobbs in the Paul Bunyan Playhouse production of “Elf: The Musical.” Before that, she was a mainstay in her hometown Bagley Community Theater. Thompson-Bakken is back on the Playhouse stage this summer.
She plays the maid Ruth in “The Pirates of Penzance,” which opens a two-week run on Thursday, Aug. 8, at the Chief Theater. “Jill has been absolutely wonderful,” said director Philip Hoks.
“Because her character is so removed from the other characters, she gets to interact with everybody, so it’s not one who has to blend in with anyone else’s storyline. Ruth has her own storyline.” Thompson-Bakken, a science teacher at Bagley High School, said her experience in “Elf” helped her prepare for this year’s role.
“(Last year) was very eye-opening,” she said. “I’ve never seen a show come together in nine days. The type of things you have to do before you get here is kind of different from a community theater setting.
We’re essentially memorized before we get here. I knew more of what was going to be expected.” Jill grew up in Karlstad, Minn.
, and earned her education degree at Bemidji State University. She started acting about 10 years ago at the urging of fellow Bagley teacher and theater director Marilyn Hood, who also happens to be the costume designer for the Paul Bunyan Playhouse. “Marilyn gave me the opportunity to play some really big roles on a pretty small stage,” Thompson-Bakken said.
She has had roles in the Bagley Community Theater performances of “The Sound of Music,” “Swingtime Canteen,” “Mamma Mia!” and “Church Basement Ladies.” She also has appeared in plays for the Fosston Community Library and Arts Association. Thompson-Bakken expects audiences to enjoy both the music and the comedy of “Pirates.
” “The very clever play on words and dialog in songs is hilarious,” she said. “I am just so honored that Philip let me come and play along again this year. I’m really going to enjoy the audience’s reaction to the show.
” “The Pirates of Penzance” is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Gilbert and Sullivan. Its official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City in 1879, but Hoks says the Playhouse production is a more modern version. “We have an amazing cast who are just musically blending together beautifully,” he said.
“Their choreography is starting to gel and the entire show is just starting to look absolutely amazing. I think people are going to enjoy that it’s not the same thing they’ve seen before. We’re using a lot of modern touches in it.
We’re playing with the music and the choreography to make it feel new again. It is very lively and it is very funny.” “Pirates” is the last of three shows at the Playhouse this summer.
Performances are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. on Aug.
8-10 and 15-17, and at 2 p.m. on Aug.
11 and 14. Tickets are priced at $25 and may be purchased online at or at the box office..
