Where: American Legion Post 185, Grantsburg, WI
Dates: Friday, May 24 and Saturday, May 25, 2019 (Memorial Weekend)
Time: 7:00 PM
Cost: Free to veterans, $10.00 for others, tickets available at the door

We invite you to an extra special Memorial weekend of performances of this hilarious and touching play with Grantsburg’s own Rod Kleiss playing Gustave.

Heros, an adaptation by Tom Stoppard of the WWI play Le Vent Des Peupliers by Gérald Sibleyras, is a hilarious but touching tale of three WWI veterans in an old soldier’s home struggling to stop fighting a war that ended decades ago. Trapped by their war related ailments as well as the institution’s walls, their lives are rejuvenated when they hatch a daring plan to escape their confines and the murderous clutches of their keeper, Sister Mary Madeleine. Have they one more mission in them?

The Cast

Veteran Pat O’Brien (Henri) returned to Minneapolis twelve years ago after 22 years in L.A. where he appeared in dozens of films, including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Pleasantville, Stuart Little, and Catch Me If You Can. He guest starred in dozens of TV shows and had recurring roles on Night Court, Married with Children, Sabrina, and, (if you are around 40years of age) was Mr. Dewey on Saved By The Bell. His stage credits include regional theaters from New York to SanDiego. In the Twin Cities area, you may have seen Pat at the Guthrie, Mixed Blood, Old Log, Chanhassen Dinner Theater, Yellow Tree, and Park Square.

Larry Ripp (Phillippe) is an actor/playwright/producer/director in the Twin Cities who has been a part of the local theater community for over 36 years. A former Wisconsin radio announcer, Larry moved to the Twin Cities in 1979 and got his first acting role with Park Square Theater 3 days after his arrival. Larry can also be seen at various festivals and events throughout the summer months as the Renaissance Character “Sir Sydney Soapington,” The Baron of Bubble! The character he created grows in popularity with every passing huge bubble he makes. Like him on Facebook!

Rod Kleiss (Gustave) arrived in the Twin Cities soon after Larry, and got his first role at Park Square Theater as well. Intending to pursue an acting career, fate destined him instead to start his own engineering company, which landed him in Grantsburg where he has retired. For the past 30 years Rod has taken every opportunity to act. He’s been fortunate enough to take the stage at Park Square, Chimera, Theater in the Round, Gremlin, and Mixed Blood in the Twin Cities, and Festival Theater in St Croix Falls. Some memorable roles include Mathew in Anne of Green Gables, Chief Beatty in Fahrenheit, and Salieri in Amadeus.