ENTERTAINMENT

Titletown sets stage for latest Let Me Be Frank show

Daniel Higgins
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Titletown Brewing Co. opened its taproom at 304. N. Broadway last week but already will be serving up something new: the latest original show from Let Me Be Frank Productions, "Rahr's Beer and Titletown USA."

Frank Hermans and his theater crew will be setting up shop on a 16 by 24-foot stage for performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday right in the taproom. The audience gets to be part of the show as the plot revolves around getting the citizens of Green Bay to pass a referendum that allows Rahr's beer to be served on Chicago Northwestern trains that stop at the depot.

Hermans said he was approached by the owners from Titletown Brewing to write a show that would delve into the history of local beer and the corner of Green Bay now occupied by the local brewer.

After some research at the Brown County Library and with photos in hand from the Neville Public Museuem, Hermans wrapped up the script in August.

The main character in the musical comedy, Frank, works for Rahr's beer — one of many local brewers that used to dot the landscape of Northeastern Wisconsin — and needs to convince the citizens of Green Bay to pass a referendum that would allow Rahr's beer to be served on Chicgo Northwestern trains before the Milwaukee brewers dominate the beer landscape.

Audience members get in on the act as those Green Bay citizens deciding by ultimately to vote 'yay' or 'nay' on the referendum.

Because the show is stage is located in the very spot that also the historical setting, Hermans takes the audience back to the 1950s, there are plenty of tongue-in-cheek foreshadowing with lines such as: "Someday I'm going to turn this (Larsen Canning Co.) into a brewery and put Titletown on the smokestack." There's also a point when the folks at Rahr's debate naming a beer after a famous Packers player.

In all there are 13 musical numbers featuring popular songs from the era. Hermans said songs from that era work in their favor because they aren't as heavy on the bass which makes it easier to meet the unique accustical challenges of playing a room that's mostly brick, concrete and steel.

Seating is limited to 120 people each night. Tickets are $25 and available at ticketstaronline.com or (920) 494-3401.

Daniel Higgins, dphiggin@pressgazettemeida.com, facebook.com/pgdanhiggins