'The Pilgrimage' tackles soldiers' plight in song

An original military musical by local playwright JeAnna Wisher premiers tonight. “The Pilgrimage” is a three-act show containing a dozen original tunes varying in genre from rock to rap to military march to ballad. 

Wisher set out to write a story, using the medium of musical theater, that would awaken audiences to the plight of young men and women returning from service in the military. The story begins with five typical young enlistees and follows them through boot camp and into their first battle.

After the battle, the main character, Jack, finds himself in a military hospital, suffering from traumatic brain injury. He and the other injured soldiers cope with the scars left by the war with courage, integrity and a sense of humor, exemplifying those who choose service to their country over personal safety.

The play also depicts the physical and emotional suffering Jack and his friends undergo in their attempts to regain their normal lives upon returning home from a war zone. In spite of heart-rending tragedy in his life, Jack maintains optimism that a better world is possible for us all.

A musical would not be complete without comic relief, and the characters of ladies man Shorty and three women in combat will tickle the funny bone by turning boot camp into booty camp.  

The cast of 18 includes of veteran actors and actresses along with a couple of newcomers to the stage. Wisher said she was enthusiastic about producing the show in Kalispell because she thought there was a plethora of young talent in the Flathead Valley.

Wisher acted in a few local productions, including “Grease,” “Pygmalion” and “Evita” at Flathead Valley Community College, and she has judged drama competitions at Glacier High. Her experience working alongside the drama students gave her confidence she would be able to find the cast members needed to fill the challenging acting and singing roles in “The Pilgrimage.”

“I couldn’t be happier with the way the cast came together. We are blessed with the best and the brightest,” Wisher said.

She said she also is blessed by the people who are helping behind the scenes to bring the show to life.

“I am also grateful to have compiled an artistic team with both experience and imagination,” Wisher said. “It makes me humble to have so many others share this vision.”

Linnea Springer, whom Wisher met during their performances together in “Grease” and “Evita,” is the show’s musical director and will accompany on the keyboard along with Robert Sherrick on drums.  Natalie Jackson, who designed the set for Whitefish Theatre Company’s production of “Seussical” last December, has created another simple and effective design for “The Pilgrimage.”

Lindsay Rosenberry, Jesi Brubaker and Erica Hines are serving as the choreographers; Jim Mohn heads up set construction; and Mike Gunter is the show’s publicity photographer. 

“It is so rewarding to watch the cast bring the story to life. Kalispell will be the testing ground for the script,” Wisher said. “We have extremely discriminating audiences in this valley who are used to high-quality theater.”

The premier production of “The Pilgrimage” will run tonight, Sunday and Monday and May 3-5. All shows start at 7 p.m. at Glacier High School.

Tickets are $10 at the door with half-price tickets available tonight. All profits from this production will be donated to the Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry.

For further information, contact Wisher at jwcarpediem13@gmail.com or 260-2513.