We’re BAAACCCCKKKKK…..

Saarens Productions invites you to add dinner theatre to your diet by attending the adult comedy about the trials and tribulations of good ol’ folks in trailer trash Texas entitled,

“Sordid Lives,” by celebrated author, Del Shores.  The production will be presented at the Hungry Bear Banquet & Conference Center (2300 24^th St. NW) on Thursday, Friday & Saturday, February 21-23.

Social time begins at 6:00pm with Dinner at 6:30pm and the Performance at 7:30pm.  Tickets are $32.50 per person and reservations must be made one week in advance in order to accommodate limited seating.  A 10% discount is available for parties of 8 or more.

The menu includes a Backyard Barbeque featuring Ribs, Hamburgers, and Brats, and meatless Cheese Manicotti.

Reservations may be made by calling 556-1777.  Payment must be made in advance by credit card or by mailing a check to Saarens Productions, 508 Woodland Ave. SW, Bemidji, MN 56601.

The All-Star Cast includes:  Mitch Blessing, Kevin Cease, Chuck Deeter, Sarah Einerson, Julie Kaiser, Kathryn Lavelle, Andor Lofthus, Bridget Looper, Julie Quanrud, Steve Saari, Vicki Stenerson, Joel Ward, and Cheryl Winnett.

The cast is under the direction of DeeJay Arens with the aid of Assistant/Lighting/Sound Director, Betty Arens.  Emily Quanrud serves as Stage Manager.

Have you ever wondered how the other half lives and loves?  Wonder no more.  Join us for an evening of fine dining and a hilarious peek into the lives of the inhabitants of Winters, Texas and their “Sordid Lives!”

Hope to see you at the show!!!!!

Slip Away – Official Movie Poster

We are currently in the last stages of post-production and we are getting excited to share  this movie with all of you. Thank you to everyone for their support and encouragement! Check back for further details!

Fathom Film Festival Awards

Announcing the winners at the Fathom Film Festival!

Critics’ Choice Award: “Inside Looking Out” by Harlan Hegna (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3753925/)

Audience Choice Award: “Bunnies” by Spencer Olson (http://spencerolson.tumblr.com/)

Congratulations to the winners and thank you to the filmmakers who submitted their material and to the audience members who attended the Indie Film showings! We look forward to next year!

Production Photos ~ Slip Away (Re-Shoot)

For those of you following the progress of our movie; you may or may not know that we had a terrible technical mishap a couple months ago. All the editing that had been done was lost. Luckily, we still film on tape so we had the originals. However, the first tape of our first shoot of this movie mysteriously vanished. We no other options left, the cast and crew graciously agreed to get back together and re-shoot the original pages of the script. Turns out it was a lucky thing. We are all happier with how this shoot went compared to the first. SO! We are back on a roll with the movie. Going to get back to edits and re will record the original music Steve Saari wrote for the movie. Wish us luck!

Here are some photos from this weekend’s shoot!

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Season Productions Rescheuled

Some of you have noticed that there is no press or ads for our Dinner Show – “Monky Business”.  We’ve even had a couple calls from devoted patrons wondering how and where to get tickets since it is supposed to be this coming weekend. We regret to say that we at Saarens Productions have postponed our last two shows of the season until further notice. We are in the midst of restructuring and devising a new strategy for our theatrical presentations. Attendance has been low the last couple of shows and we are trying to figure out why. Without the support of people coming to our shows, it makes it difficult for us to go on financially.

Thank you to all of you who have checked in with us about up-coming events.  We appreciate your support!

We’ll be in touch with more information in the next few weeks.

Sincerely,

All of us at Saarens Productions

Preview: Slip Away – A Film from Saarens Productions

This is a 5 minute preview of our latest movie that is currently in editing!  It’s still in it’s ‘rough cut” form, but you get the idea.  The cast and crew were amazing.  Hope you enjoy!

Last Production Photos – “Slip Away”

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More Gift Ideas from the Fleur de Lis Gallery

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Gift Ideas from the Fleur de Lis Gallery!

Check out the Fleur de Lis Gallery for your holiday shopping!  Open Wednesday – Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.  and when the sign is out front of the building.  Can’t make it during those times?  Call us at 556-1777 and schedule a private viewing!

Thanks for supporting the arts in Bemidji!  Your purchases help keep the arts alive!

Here is a photo tour of gift ideas available now:

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Nationally Renowned author, Coyne Steven Sanders at the Fleur de Lis Gallery!

Saarens Productions announces we will be hosting a very special guest at the December 2, 2011

First Friday event:  Nationally renowned author and biographer, Coyne Steven Sanders.  He will be signing the book he co-authored with Tom Gilbert, DESILU:  The Story of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.  Mr. Sanders will be at the gallery from 5:00pm to 8:00pm and there will be a Q & A from 6:00pm to 7:00pm.

Coyne Steven Sanders is the author of the critically acclaimed Rainbow’s End: The Judy Garland Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show: Anatomy of a Classic. In addition to writing for Variety, he has covered television for The Hollywood Reporter and Emmy magazine. Mr. Sanders lives in Chicago and we are privileged to have him visit Bemidji as part of a book tour that has taken him all over the country.

DESILU brings into focus how the overwhelming pressures of fame, backstage battles, oversized egos, and Desi’s philandering and drinking led to the destruction of their star-crossed, tempestuous union – but never their love for each other.

This special edition includes a new foreword by Pulitzer Prize-winning TV critic Tom Shales, a new preface from the authors, and even more black and white photos of the most beloved couple in TV history.

 “Excellent.”— Entertainment Weekly

 “A page-turner of the first order … Desilu is good, gritty, fair but strong

and bottom line — a gripper. ”— Hollywood Reporter

“Well researched and toughly sympathetic.”— The Boston Globe

 

DON’T MISS THIS EXTRAORDINARY CHANCE

TO MEET THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED AUTHOR

WHO HAS PERSONALLY INTERVIEWED HUNDREDS

OF HOLLYWOOD’S BEST AND BRIGHTEST

IN ORDER TO DISCOVER THE FASCINATING STORIES

ABOUT LEGENDARY PERFORMERS INCLUDING:

LUCILLE BALL,DESI ARNAZ,

JUDY GARLAND

& DICK VAN DYKE

 

Contact:               Steve Saari or DeeJay Arens

218-556-1777

Email:                    ssaari@paulbunyan.net or arens@paulbunyan.net