Anoka-Ramsey Community College’s winter musical, “Hormel Girls,” at the Coon Rapids Campus Performing Arts Center played to sold-out audiences for each of its five performances in February.

Part of the unprecedented draw was that this marked only the second time the musical has been seen on stage. The playwright Laurie Flanigan worked with students for several months to continue developing the musical, originally commissioned and performed at the History Theatre in St. Paul last year.

Another element is likely the history of dynamic and fruitful collaborations between the college’s Theatre and Music Departments which, prior to “Hormel Girls” produced such favorites as “Dames at Sea,” “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown the Musical,” and “Man of LaMancha” just to name a few. Both departments recently instituted associate of Fine Arts degrees resulting in significant growth and making the college an exciting place for students of the performing arts.

“The popularity of this production speaks not only to the quality of the script, but to the professionalism and talent of the students and staff in the Theatre and Music departments at the college,” says college Theatre faculty and the play’s director, Scott Ford. “Audiences recognized and appreciated our efforts. We obviously received great word of mouth buzz after the opening weekend because the tickets were flying out the door!”

“Hormel Girls,” is unique to Minnesota and is based on the story of the Hormel Girls Caravan, the all-girl sales organization formed by J.C. Hormel in Austin, Minnesota after WWII to pitch Hormel products and charm the nation with their musical talents. The light-hearted musical follows the adventures of the women across America and through the hearts of a healing country as they evolve from a G.I. Jill Drum and Bugle Corps to the glamorous stars of a nationally syndicated radio show,“Music with the Hormel Girls.”

For more information on one-of-a-kind, public events at Anoka-Ramsey Community College Cambridge Campus and Coon Rapids Campus, please visit www.AnokaRamsey.edu/news.

Anoka-Ramsey Community College students, including (from left) Teresa Caron, Laura Otremba, Holli Richgels, Lauren Haven, Emily Moulds, Nikki Roberts, in the college’s winter musical, “Hormel Girls,” performed to sold-out audiences for each of the play’s performances in February. Photo Credit: Peter Lerohl