Kathy Rasmussen

A fun night out at the local dive bar takes an interesting turn when Debbie sweetly accepts an invitation to dance with one of the patrons while his son attempts to swoop in on Kristine.

Claudia and Constance are venturesome souls who have been sidelined too long! Claudia is recuperating from a health issue, and is weary of sitting around. Constance, a divorcee, is fresh off the heartbreak of yet another failed romance. A change of scenery is in order. Leaving it to chance-they roll the dice, (in a manner of speaking), and wind up where neither of them has been before- VEGAS! Before they travel to Vegas, an idea hatches that is sure to catapult them as high as mountain peaks. Fingers crossed that word of what happens in Vegas, (and shortly thereafter), doesn’t get out until after they have hit the big time!

Camille has sung the same nursery rhymes to all of her children. For her son, Billy, “Lavender’s Blue” was a tune that seems to have defined his life. They come to this realization by happenstance, as Billy overhears his mother singing this beloved nursery rhyme to her new grandchild, (Billy’s nephew). The lyrics evoke some distant memories for them both, taking them on a journey to the past. Camille makes some unexpected admissions about Billy’s homosexuality, and Billy learns some surprising things along the way. “Billy, Billy” is a story of hope and acceptance, told with humor and honesty.

A sticky story of friendship, parallel lives, and new love. Diane and Kathy, two teachers and single mothers, form a lifelong bond of friendship as they discover they live parallel lives. Their friendship takes them on many adventures, and “Oh, Honey”, is the true account of one of their many shared odysseys. This is a lighthearted piece which aims to bring a smile!

ANDREA and DELLA, with unwanted assistance from their mothers, prepare for a school dance. Disagreements ensue, and as ordinary teenagers do, the girls push the boundaries of parental expectations. DELORES and CAROL, however, are no ordinary parents and push right back!

Rip and Dora are Michigan outdoor enthusiasts, and strive to share this love with their children. Their children, however, are annoyed with any suggestion of activities that don’t include friends or video games. After much negotiation, haggling, concessions, and even a few arguments, Rip and Dora have managed to plan a fun family summer excursion. Haven and Mitsy have successfully invited their best friends, brothers Vaughn and Nel to accompany them on the trip down a lazy, winding river. A peaceful, beautiful, Michigan summer day with teenagers-what could go wrong? Or right?

Kate, a local resident with no political background or interest, is roped into being appointed Supervisor of a small township. The township has seen its share of political division and upheaval. It is Kate’s job to try and figure things out while learning the new role. Will she succeed? Does she have what it takes?

* Based on a true story and events, names have been changed to protect the innocent, the guilty, and the indifferent.

I love trying new things. How hard can canning be? People have done it for centuries! Apparently, and unfortunately, I am not people.

A lifelong chicken farmer has a vision for a successful chicken farm. His wife, however, is jealous of the chickens, doesn’t understand his passion for them, and is planning to get rid of them-in a useful way, of course. Farmer must find a way to keep his chickens-and his dream alive, since Mrs. has thrown down the gauntlet (literally) on how things are going to be. Farmer sets out to enlist the help of his chickens to save themselves (and the farm) from sure misfortune. Hoping to prove to Mrs. that each chicken group is necessary and useful, he tries to give each group a new purpose. Convincing chickens to cooperate is easier said than done, as Farmer soon learns.

True stories from the dating life of a widower-with only minor artistic license taken. Bill’s quest for love on the senior dating circuit takes him on a roller coaster ride spanning at least two states, and at least three “interesting” women. Come along for the ride and see if Bill’s search produces lasting love.

Due to societal constraints of the romantic era, Fanny Mendelssohn’s incredible talent was limited to private concerts, and overshadowed by her more famous brother Felix. The long frustrated Fanny died before her works were widely recognized. This is one woman’s struggle to pursue her passion despite immobilizing gender roles.

Mama Maple is a woman of many dreams and ideas (many of which are questionable, if not downright dubious). To the skepticism of her four adult children, (but with support from their spouses), Mama Maple decides to enter a contest featuring an award winning new flavor of maple syrup. She believes the prize money will help her fulfill a new homesteading dream. When this seemingly safe journey gets derailed, Mama Maple and her family face an unexpected obstacle none could have foreseen. The kids hop on board to salvage her legacy, coming full circle in the process.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is launching a public relations campaign in a desperate effort to improve its image and reputation in the wake of recent bad publicity. DNR superiors recruit one of their newest conservation officers, Forest Glen, to be the new voice of the DNR. Glen reluctantly agrees when he is invited to be the featured guest on a local radio show. Glen is not prepared for the intensity of the callers’ questions as they go off script and is forced to quickly improvise.
**This short play is a fun little poke at the DNR in Michigan-which has been receiving some tabloid type publicity lately.

Four lifelong friends and one unsuspecting DNR officer are unwittingly, (and unbeknownst to each other), swindled by the same man. The scam starts to unravel on a weekend getaway for the women, when a fortuitous twist of fate allows the cat phished, and defrauded victims to turn the tables on the hustler.

This is a Murder Mystery Comedy set in the beautiful Northern Michigan Winter Wonderland. It has an approximate run time of 1 hour and 20 minutes, with one scheduled intermission. This play requires 7-8 adult cast members: four women ages 40-65, three men ages 30-60, and one non gender specific role of any age. It involves simple modern clothing/ winter gear for costuming, and several simple set changes with interchangeable furniture. It can easily be performed as dinner theater and/or with an audience participation platform.

The characters in this play are based on real people, and all too common, unfortunate events. Their endearing personalities will appeal to those who have been misled, mistreated, or tricked in our modern world. People will relish seeing the villain receive his comeuppance.

Murder at the Cowgirl Corral brings together a group of “over the top” characters, former coworkers from the now defunct PBS show “Mid-Michigan Amateurs Music and Movement on Monday Nights”. Each brings a level of fun, self- professed skill to the table. The owner of the Corral has hired them for the filming of his/her business partner’s new line dance, and to drum up business for the struggling saloon. The dramatic characters all hold well-earned grudges against the business partner, Buster Moves, but only one has the means to carry out revenge. Never fear, the bumbling lawman/lawyer/preacher/doctor, with assistance from the audience, is on the case.

Due to societal constraints of the romantic era, Fanny Mendelssohn’s incredible talent was limited to private concerts, and overshadowed by her more famous brother Felix. The long frustrated Fanny died before her works were widely recognized. This is one woman’s struggle to pursue her passion despite immobilizing gender roles.

Maxine, a lonely single woman, is addicted to Maxwell. Everyone in her life is trying to convince her that it is a detrimental, codependent and unhealthy relationship. Maxine, exhausted from her efforts of resistance, finally acquiesces, and decides to have a heart to heart morning conversation. The struggle is real.

This is the story of four older hens, former rulers of the roost, who now find themselves relegated to a lower perch. A new group of hens is poised to take over the coop, as the older hens complain, reminisce and try to defend their position in the pecking order.