Racine & Me: Salmon-A-Rama: The Sketch Comedy Puppet Musical Your Children Won’t Understand

RACINE, WI (CBS 58) -- Over Our Head Players will close its 34th season with the world premiere of Salmon-a-Rama: The Sketch Comedy Puppet Musical That Your Children Won’t Understand, an original fishing farce by Rich Smith and OOHPs. The production runs May 8, 9, and 10; May 15, 16, and 17; May 21, 22, 23, and 24; and May 28, 29, and 30, 2026, at the Sixth Street Theatre, 318 Sixth Street in downtown Racine. Performances are scheduled for Thursdays at 7:00 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 5:00 and 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., with tickets priced at $24 plus fees. This new work is supported by an ArtSeed grant from the Racine Arts Council and is an official participant in World Premiere Wisconsin (WPW), a statewide festival celebrating new plays and musicals developed in Wisconsin. O & H Danish Bakery sponsors the show. With a nod to the classic movie Jaws, Salmon-A-Rama is set in Racine, Wisconsin, in the summer of 1975. Salmon-A-Rama follows a lakeside community facing an unusual crisis, something in the waters off North Beach may be far more dangerous than anyone expected. Rumors of a rogue, man-eating salmon begin to circulate just as the city prepares for its annual fishing contest, sending local personalities into chaos. Among the characters brought to life by the puppeteers are Gil Gilson, a local legend with a deep-seated hatred of salmon and a past he’d rather not revisit; Wilma Finson, a tough and relentless sport fisher who leads the Racine chapter of “Salmon R Limited”; Gertie Olson, a Kringle maker who has just invented deep-fried cheese curds and hopes debut them at the tournament; and Mayor Hansen-Jensen-Petersen-Christensen, a civic leader determined to keep the beaches open despite growing concerns. As the situation escalates, the community must decide whether they can face what’s lurking beneath the surface and whether they’ll ever feel safe going back into the water. The production is a fast-paced, PG-13 sketch-comedy puppet musical filled with sharp parody, quick-fire humor, and the kind of locally flavored comedy that OOHPs audiences have embraced for years. It features a full slate of original parody songs created in classic OOHPs fashion, using familiar pop, rock, and rap songs as the musical foundation for entirely new lyrics written specifically for the world of the play. With hand-built puppets, musical satire, and a playful, irreverent tone, the show lovingly pokes fun at small-town life on the Great Lakes while delivering the theatrical mischief that has become a hallmark of OOHP’s original work. Artistic Director Rich Smith, who also directs the production, describes the show as a long-imagined project finally coming to life. “This one has been swimming around in my head for years,” Smith said. “It’s a love letter to Racine, Lake Michigan, and to the wonderfully weird people who make this community what it is. The puppets may be made of foam, but the heart behind them is real.” The ensemble for Salmon-a-Rama includes Anne Mollerskov, who also serves as Musical Director and Managing Assistant Director, along with Ron Schulz, A.J. Laird, Teri Stanley, Joan Roehre, David L. Maack II, Mike Becker, Elizabeth Bitner, John Dicks, and Timothy James Lewis. The production features puppetry design by Scott Lema, supported by the puppet build team of Elias Rangel, Faraday Lema, and Mallory Oleson. Amy Ball serves as Stage Manager, with Claudia Bruce as House Manager. The creative team includes Director and Managing Artistic Director Rich Smith, with Tim Mathis operating sound and Rebecca Eisel operating lights in the booth. Music supervision is provided by Skip Carlson. Costumes are designed by Cynthy McCrory, Danielle Frees, and Brandy Smith, with props by Laura Lehman. Comedic advising is provided by Joe Van, with additional lyrical and comedic advising by Brandy Smith. Staff includes Elizabeth Bitner as Volunteer Director, A.J. Laird as Production Volunteer Director, Steven Brown as Technical Director, and Maureen Troy as Publicity Director. Over Our Head Players will also present a bonus summer production under its ROOT CAUSE program: The Good One, a gripping and emotionally charged family drama about the limits of forgiveness, written by local author Amy Hanson. This new work is also recognized by World Premiere Wisconsin (WPW) as part of this year’s statewide celebration of original plays and musicals developed in Wisconsin. Performances run July 24–26 and July 31–August 2. Tickets will be available on OOHP’s website, www.overourheadplayers.org.