By Fredrik Brattberg
Translated by Chad Eric Bergman
This production honors Dr. Kim Nilsson, a former professor at UW-Madison in Scandinavian Studies, who left a bequest to Broom Street Theater upon his passing last year.
Program information
Fredrik Brattberg (playwright) is a Norwegian playwright with a background in classical composition, applying music theory and techniques in his playwrighting. His plays center on the absurd and dark nature of life, until tragedy is transformed into farce. The Returns won Brattberg The Ibsen Award in 2012.
Chad Eric Bergman (Translator/Scenic Designer) is thrilled to be part of Broom Street Theater’s production of The Returns. Bergman co-founded Akvavit Theatre in Chicago and is Professor of Theatre at North Park University. He earned his PhD in Theatre History and Criticism from the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign having spent a year in Finland on a Fulbright researching the political implications of bilingual theatre. He has collaborated in the theatre as a designer, director, playwright, scholar, and translator. He lives in Chicago with his wife, Celia, and two children, Karina (from Nepal) and Anderson (from China). www.bergman.space
Breahan Eve Pautsch (Director) is excited to make her Broom Street directing debut with The Returns. Breahan is a director, writer, and actor originally from Wisconsin and living in the Madison area. Breahan is a company member with Rotate Theatre in Madison. She was based in Chicago for many years, where was lucky to work with a wide variety of theatres and was a company member with Akvavit Theatre, which produced contemporary Nordic Theatre in translation. During her time with Akvavit she served in several roles including Literary Manager and eventually co-Artistic Director.
Courtney Fine (Stage Manager) is excited to be stage managing their first production with Broom Street Theater. Though new to stage management, they bring a strong technical background, having worked on lights crew for ten shows in high school. After a long hiatus from theater, they’re thrilled to be back with The Returns and can’t wait for you to see the show! Offstage, Courtney lives in Madison and is always looking for new ways to get involved in the community and stay creatively engaged.
Brian Belz (Assistant Stage Manger) Brian is completely enjoying this experience among some familiar faces and for more joy still all the new faces too! Brian’s most recent work in Broom Street Theatre was earlier this year for They All Stay With You. Other recent fun includes performing for Pile of Cats Theatre’s monthly summer events and directing Witness for the Prosecution a staged reading for Know Better Productions. He is a member of Mental Health Warrior Film Festival’s planning committee www.facebook.com/MHWFF
Maria Dahman (The Mother) performs, writes and directs around Madison, and is happy to be serving as the artistic director of Broom Street Theater. Before moving to Madison, she focused on new works and experimental theater in Zürich Switzerland, Chicago, and with the Bloomington Playwrights Project. She has such gratitude for this impressive cast and crew, her supportive family, and for you, the audience. maria@bstonline.org. (she/her)
Nick Kaprelian (The Father) is happy to be back at Broom Street, where he was last seen in PROM. Other acting credits include Small Mouth Sounds (MTG), Becky’s New Car (Mercury Players), Bad in Bed (MTG), Guilty Pleasures Monologue festival (Forward Theater) and The Importance of Being Earnest (Strollers). He would like to thank the hardworking cast and crew for making this such a fun experience! And thank you for coming to the show!
Chase Drea Fritz (Gustav) is ecstatic to make his acting debut at Broom Street Theater with the production of The Returns. Chase has been an actor throughout a lot of his life so far and was born and raised here in Madison, WI. Chase worked with CTM (Children’s Theater Madison) before covid, then in 2021 started working with YSP (Young Shakespeare Players). He has also been involved with theater at West High School. Some works you might have seen him in are The Importance of Being Earnest playing the role of Algernon at West High, or Ferovious in Androcles and The Lion at YSP.
Richard Paro (Sound design) is often found writing and directing with Rotate Theatre Company where he is a long-time ensemble member. Richard enjoys using highly collaborative techniques throughout the artistic process and has worked with numerous companies in the midwest, many of them in Chicago where he was based for 15 years. In addition, his feature-length and short films have screened at festivals around the world. (he/him)
Cast
The Mother: Maria Dahman
The Father: Nick Kaprelian
Gustav: Chase Drea Fritz
Production Staff
Director: Breahan Eve Pautsch
Stage Manager: Courtney Fine
Assistant Stage Manager: Brian Belz
Set Designer: Chad Eric Bergman
Lighting Designer: Melissa Minkoff
Sound Designer: Richard Paro
Costume Designers: Breahan Eve Pautsch and Kyle Olson
Props Design: Kyle Olson
Board Operator: Courtney Fine
Set Construction: Wil Koeb
Poster Design: Breahan Eve Pautsch
BST Board Liaison: Anthony Cary
Thank Yous
Sara Israelsson and Colombine Teaterförlag, Christa Dahman Zaborkse, Taylor Kokinos, Chrissy Thuli, and Liz Mael