BEMIDJI — The Calendar Girls are taking the title literally.
The Bemidji Community Theater’s production of “Calendar Girls,” which opens on Friday, May 30, will include actual calendars featuring photos of the actors.
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The calendar idea started simply as a way to present cast members with a gift.
“We wanted to have professional pictures taken anyway, because they’re a nice touch,” said director Evie Halvorson. “Then we decided we needed calendars as a prop, so we’ll make our own calendar from the photos.”
But when cast members suggested their friends and relatives would like to have the calendar, the idea grew.
“Before we knew it, we would need to have 35 or 40 just for the people who wanted to have them,” Halvorson said. “So we decided to get 100 printed and hopefully we'll have to reprint. Wouldn't that be nice?”
Audience members will be able to purchase calendars at the productions. Proceeds from the sales will help the BCT with theater improvements.
“We've got a number of bigger ticket items that we would like to purchase to make the theater just a better experience for everyone,” Halvorson said.
Jodi Tower of Iconic Image Photography took the photos, which featured cast members in what Halvorson calls “clever concealments.”
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“Calendar Girls” is based on the true story of 11 older women who posed nude for a calendar to raise money for leukemia research. Best friends Annie (played by Mary Anderson) and Chris (Tami McMenimen) are the main characters. After Annie’s husband John (Paul Conklin) dies of leukemia, Chris hits upon the idea of asking friends from the Women’s Institute to pose nude (discreetly) for the fundraiser. They enlist a hospital worker named Lawrence (Eric Nelson) to take the photos.
Halvorson points to a funny but poignant scene in which Annie and Chris pitch the calendar idea to their friends.
“They really home in on what is the ‘why’ for each of their friends,” she said. “One of them wants to add a little spark to her marriage. Another one is doing it to spite her parents.”
Cast members had their first “undressed” rehearsal on May 17, and Halvorson wanted to prepare them for the experience.
“We had always done the scene fully clothed before that,” she said. “I told them, ‘I just want you guys to mentally prepare for it because this is something we haven't done yet.’ And they totally came through. They were fantastic. They were laughing. They were all walking around in their robes and their slippers and they just thought it was great.”
Performances will be at 7 p.m. on May 30, 31, June 6 and 7, and at 2 p.m. on June 1 and 8 at the BCT Performing Arts Center, 316 Beltrami Ave. NW.
Tickets are available at McKenzie Place, Ken K. Thompson Jewelry and the BCT Box Office, or online at
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Prices are $16.50 for adults and $13.50 for seniors. This show is recommended for audiences ages 13 and older.
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