Over The Back Fence Community Variety Show

There's no play like it on our FUN & GAMES show with songs like "Somebody Come and Play with Me," "Follow the Leader," and "Fun, Fun, Fun." The Brokken & Davis Comedy Minute returns and The Lanesboro Innkeepers share a witty story in advance of the annual Christmas Inn Tour. Musical guest is Lanesboro's own Rutabaga Brothers, an upbeat and danceable R & B combo that puts taps in your toes and smiles on your faces. Sponsor interviews are Coffee Street Fitness and Preston, Harmony, and Rushford Foods IGA stores. A quiz show and a sing along of "See You Later Alligator" round out the show.

SPIRITS will lift you up with songs like “Spirit in the Sky,” “The Cat Came Back," "I Put a Spell on You" and “Cigarettes, Whiskey and Wild Women.” Steph & Drew share some spooky jokes, while Sandy shares a bit of "The Essex Serpent." Musical guest is Ray Sands & the Polka Dots, a MN polka legend that has played the Kennedy Center, A Prairie Home Companion and the International Polka Festival in Austria. Sponsor interviews are Green Gables Inn and Paul Hamann from the High Court Pub. A quiz show and a sing along of "Beer Barrel Polka" round out the show.

SUMMER LOVE comes to Lanesboro with songs like “Sealed with a Kiss,” “Walking on Sunshine” and “Summertime Blues.” Steph shares a story about "Camp Love," while Heidi, Phil and Aleah preview History Alive! pop-up plays. Musical guest is the CBB Jazz Combo, a group of members of the Chatfield Brass Band that have been active performers in the area since 2011. Sponsor interviews are Chelsey Claussen of The Bite and Chuck Aug of F&M Community Bank. A quiz show and a sing along of “In the Good Old Summertime” round out the show.

We going straight to the wild WILD WEST with songs like "Cattle Call," "Don't Fence Me In" and "Rawhide." Bonnie and Joel share some sage western witticisms, while Gary brings us to Cowboy Church. Musical guest is the Iowa Cowboy Orchestra, a reunited country and western band with roots at Wartburg College. Sponsor interviews are Ken Graner from Merchants Bank and Annie Hejny, artist in residence at Lanesboro Arts. A quiz show and sing along of "Home on Range" rounds out the show.

Childhood is the bee's knees with songs like “Where the Toys Are,” “Playmate” and “Mama’s Soup Surprise.” Mark, Elaine, Bill, Karen, Steve, & Susie share their favorite television memories from childhood while Glen, Bonnie, Maureen, Diana, Karen, & Eve have a new take on nursery rhymes.  Musical Guest is Ginger Bones, a folk and blues-inspired Americana singer-songwriter from the Twin Cities. Sponsor interviews are Tara Johnson from the Lanesboro Public Library and Barry Churchill from Bluff Country Computer Works. A sing along medley of children's songs rounds out the show.

  The dirty 1930s return with songs like “Puttin' On the Ritz,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Goodnight, Irene.” Harvey shares his wisdom while Diana, Bill, Bonita, Mark and Elaine stage a radio drama. Musical Guest Shen Teh, a piano-driven indie rock quartet from La Crosse, WI with a new album out, is led by vocalist and pianist Lara Olson, who moved from her home country Germany to live in the United States in 2011. Sponsor interviews are Mark Bishop of Niagara Cave and Eileen Moeller of Great River Shakespeare Festival. An animated quiz show and a sing along of "You Are My Sunshine" round out the show.  

Cut loose at the prom night show with songs like “Born Too Late,” “It's Raining on Prom Night” and “In the Still of the Night.” Musical guest Sleeping Jesus, a sunny indie rock band from Winona, MN led by soft-spoken hopeless romantic Nick Elstad. Sponsor Interviews are Jason Sethre from Visit Bluff Country Magazine, Jennie Deiterman from Eagle Bluff Skills School, and Tammy Hughes of the Whalan Stand Still Parade. A prom quiz and a sing along of  “I Could Have Danced All Night” round out the show.

"Hats & Shoes" adourn the show with songs like Songs like “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Put on Your Old Grey Bonnet” and “Little Old Lady.” Bonnie and Joel share some fashionable poetry and Ole & Lars show their sense of style. Musical guest is The Medicine Brothers, a talented roots music group from Viroqua, WI with distinctive vocals and powerful group harmonies. New York City based composer and guitarist Jacinta Clusellas, an April artist-in-residence at Lanesboro Arts, will also join the Back Fence ladies on stage for an original arrangement of “Night in the City” by Joni Mitchell. Sponsor interviews are Scott Taylor from Pedal Pushers Cafe and Andy Batstone from Batstone CPA. A fashion show and a sing along of "Easter Parade" round out the show.

"Black & White" is the theme of the 1st show of the 23rd Season, kicking off with songs like "White Cliffs of Dover," "Blackbird," and "Black Magic Woman." Ole and Lars return with new dance moves, Heidi provides some Fillmore Facts, and Steph & Pete nail some jokes. Musical guest is Chuck Lahr & the Purdy River Band, a traditional bluegrass quartet based in Iowa and Preston, MN. Sponsor interviews are Lori Bakke from Granny's Liquors and Tom Manion - Attorney at Law. A quiz show about celebrities with the last names "Black" and "White" and a sing along of "Ebony and Ivory" round out the show.

H2O makes a splash with songs like "Wade in the Water," "Cry me a River," and "Trickle Trickle." The Lanesboro Innkeepers share a hilarious skit on the 2016 Holiday Inn Tour, Don and Kay each share thoughtful water stories, Robin and Peter sing a poignant song about the Lanesboro Dam, and Adam rants (and rants) about all the activities happening in Lanesboro next January and February for the Smithsonian Water/Ways exhibition. Musical guest is The Vintage Tones of Spielzeiten Und Pausen, a cover band that performs favorites from the 50s, 60s, & 70s, as well as deep tracks by the Beatles, the Everlys, & Roy Orbison. Sponsor interviews are Sandy from Coffee Street Fitness and Tim from IGA Food Stores of Preston, Harmony, and Rushford. A sing along of "Splish Splash" rounds out the show.

CREEPY CRAWLIES get under your skin with songs like “Jeepers Creepers”, “The Glow-Worm”, and "That’ll be the Day" (by the Crickets). Stephanie busts myths about spiders, George returns with more poetic wisdom, and the gang shares "creepy things kids say." Musical guest is The Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers, a country music duo from Soliders Grove, Wisconsin that bring a light musical touch and a great sense of humor to their performances, along with their distinctive and tight dueling vocal harmonies. Sponsor interviews are Gil-B's Pizza and Sandwich Shoppe and Kara Maloney from Lanesboro Arts. A "Bug Trivia" quiz show and “The Ants Go Marching" sing along round out the show.

THE FIVE SENSES bring a sensory overload with songs like “I Heard it through the Grapevine”, “Til There was You”, and “Put on a Happy Face." Peggy Hanson preaches the gospel of Happy Talk, Stephanie takes us on a naturalist hike, and George shares more poetic wisdom. Musical guest Mike Munson, an accomplished and versatile bluesman from Winona, MN whose driving electric adaptation of the Delta blues (which interweaves bass and melody lines on the slide guitar à la John Lee Hooker) is bolstered by a more humble and unaffected vocal style. Minneapolis poet John Krumberger shares two poems from his new collection, Because Autumn. Sponsor interviews are the Chuck Aug from F&M Community Bank and Jennie LaRoche from the Eagle Bluff Skills School. A "Smell It!" quiz show and "Put on a Happy Face" sing along round out the show.

UPSIDE DOWN & INSIDE OUT shakes things up quite a bit with songs like “So Long, Farewell”, “Orange Colored Sky”, and “Good Morning.” Bonnie & Joel share some silly poems, Adam & Pete tell some colorful doctor jokes and Dan recites the Backwards Collected Works of Wm. Shakespeare. Musical guest Jake Manders is Minneapolis-based singer, songwriter, guitarist & harmonica player connected to his emotions and things less tangible. He is joined by fiddle player Gretta Hunstiger. Popular storyteller and humorist Al Batt from the Austin, MN area returns to the show to tell a facinatingly funny, yet deep story from his youth. Sponsor interviews are Mark Bishop from Niagara Cave and Lori Bakke from Granny's Liquors.

Dive into COMICBOOKS & SUPER HEROES with songs like “Mighty Mouse”, “I Need a Hero”, and “Casper the Friendly Ghost.” Bill and Karen explore the relationship of Lois Lane and Clark Kent, Bonita shares her comicbook memories, and George and his grandkids are back with some super jokes. Musical guest Moth Mountain, a folk-rock power trio based out the La Crosse, WI area showcases a sound defined by singer and songwriter Joe Dawson’s vocal prowess. Sponsor interviews are Barry Churchill of Bluff Country Computerworks and Lanesboro BP + S&A Petroleum. A particularly lively quiz game and a sing along of "Ally Oop" round out the show.

Bring yo BLING with songs like “Diamonds and Pearls”, “Rhinestone Cowboy”, and  “Silver Threads and Golden Needles.” George and his grandkids serve up some bling themed jokes and quotes, while Bonnie provides thematic thematic trivia. Musical guests Allison Alden and Ryan Lee absolutely wow the crowd with Allison's powerful and impressive singing. Lively sponsor interviews with Emily Kurash from GRSF (feat. Shakespeare trivia), Tara Johnson from Lanesboro Public Library (and "super reader" Sawyer) and Scott Taylor from Pedal Pushers Cafe. The show is wrapped up with Diane's Delectable Dessert Quiz Show and a sing along of "You are my Sunshine."

Everything is all YELLOW this month with songs like "Yellow Submarine," "Chiquita Banana," "Mellow Yellow," and "Yellow Brick Road." Jane Peck orates the familiar William Wordsworth poem "Daffodils" while Joel and Bonnie provide a humorous & detailed history of dandelions. Musical guest RavensFire, a trio from Spring Valley, MN that recently returned from their third tour of Ireland, shares their intense passion for traditional Irish music. Sponsor interviews include Ken Graner of Merchants Bank, John Smith from Cedar Valley Resort, and Eric Bridge head chef at Riverside on the Root Restaurant. The show concludes with an audience sing along of "You are my Sunshine."

The 1970s boogie back this month with songs like "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree", "Stayin' Alive", and "At Seventeen." Pete Keith as the "Trusty Tax Man" makes a surprise guest appearance while Rick Nance touts "Pat Paulsen for President". Musical guest The Rutabaga Brothers share their love of classic electric blues, while the Dubious Cowgirls provides pre-show music (added to the end of the recording). Sponsor interviews with Derek Berg Financial Services of Rushford and Walter Bradley of Thrivent Financial. Audience participation continues with a Lanesboro version of "Let's Make a Deal."

As this month's motif, The Letter M moves the show in a myriad of directions with songs like "Marry the Man Today", "Maybelline", and "May You Always." Miss Myrna makes a guest appearance to muse on Monarchs, while Sandy Webb reflects on the Mayflies. Musical guest Amanda Grace shares her massive talent and story as a MN Mom on Music Mission, while Helen Johnson provides pre-show music (added to the end of the recording). Sponsor interviews with Jason Sethre of "Boots & Badges" and Tom Manion - Attorney at Law. Audience participation continues with the "Starts with M" quiz and the show concludes is a maniacal rendition of Monster Mash.

Our "College Night" show features a skit about roommates, a song about what to do with a degree in English, a medley of school songs, jokes, a college cheer, “I Wish I Could Go Back to College” sung by Bebe & Pete Keith and Randy Wilson, and more. ALSO: The audience participation quiz to win Diane’s Delectable Desserts returns, sponsor interviews with Preston Foods IGA and Pedal Pushers Café, and music by blues band the Rutabaga Brothers.

A ‘Murder Mystery’ theme keeps audience members guessing during the October 2015 show. In a murder mystery skit that is woven throughout the whole show, the ‘Suspects’ will sing the songs, including “Delta Dawn”, “Travelin’ Man”, “Leroy Brown”, “Mack the Knife”, “Maybe I know”, and more. Host Damon Prestemon will keep the show rolling, along with Curt Peterson on the keyboard. Also featured will be Diane’s Delectable Desserts; musical guest Steven Schmidt of Rochester; jokes and a poem; and visits with representatives from sponsors F&M Community Bank, Bluff Country Computer Works, and Thrivent Financial. The audience joins Bebe Keith and cast members in the show finale of “You Can’t Get a Man with a Gun”.