Church Basement Ladies are, seated from left, Sara Bayliss Croninger as Beverly and Maggie Leigh Walker as Vivian. Standing lare Carissa McCurdy as Karin and Sarah Philabaum as Mavis. (Photo by Jeff Stillson)

NAPPANEE — The sequel to the musical comedy, “Church Basement Ladies,” is slated to open The Round Barn Theatre season on Wednesday, April 10. Originally produced by Troupe America Inc., “A Second Helping: the Church Basement Ladies Sequel,” reassembled the original creative team, picking up the story in 1969. As the world is rapidly changing with protests of the Vietnam War and women everywhere are demanding equal pay for equal work, in their small rural Minnesota community, the ladies of the Lutheran church basement kitchen are dealing with changes of their own.

“A Second Helping” is based on the humorous novel “Growing Up Lutheran” by Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson with a book by Greta Grosch and music and lyrics by Drew Jansen and Dennis Curley. Authors Martin and Nelson joined forces with Twin Cities based production company Troupe America Inc. and its Executive Producer Curt Wollan to transform their book into a new musical comedy, the original Church Basement Ladies, that has subsequently been enjoyed by countless audiences across the country, including breaking the record for its time slot at The Round Barn Theatre in 2012.

The cast includes Round Barn Theatre alumni Mathew C. Scott and Sarah Philabaum, with newcomers Sara Bayliss Croninger, Carissa McCurdy and Maggie Leigh Walker rounding out the cast. This comedic gem of the Regional Theatre circuit will be directed by Scott who previously directed the 21st season of “Plain and Fancy,” “Pump Boys” and “Dinettes” and 2012’s popular holiday production, “Miracle on 34th Street.” Travis Smith returns for a third season as The Round Barn Theatre’s Music Director.

“A Second Helping: the Church Basement Ladies Sequel” opens on Wednesday, April 10 and continues through Sunday, May 26 with 2 p.m. matinees and 8 p.m. evening performances. A complete show schedule, ticket availability, and reservations can be found by calling the Box Office at (800) 800-4942 extension 2 or online at AmishAcres.com. Theatre tickets can be combined with Amish Acres famous family style Threshers Dinner or a Theme Dinner served on select Friday nights at a savings. Theme Dinner seating is limited and reservations must be made in advance at The Round Barn Theatre box office.

All patrons are invited to join the cast of “A Second Helping: the Church Basement Ladies Sequel” and the staff of Amish Acres for an opening night reception which includes wine, cheese, information about the show and a toast to opening night. The reception will take place in the Wine Tasting Loft in the Restaurant Barn on Wednesday, April 10 from 6:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. The cast, director and Round Barn Theatre staff  will be mingling during a meet and greet and also readily available to give you their insight into the production. In addition, learn the history and research that went into the making of the show from Artistic Director, Jeremy Littlejohn and Executive Producer, Richard Pletcher.

Following “A Second Helping: the Church Basement Ladies Sequel” and running in repertory with “Plain and Fancy” will be “Nunsense A-Men,” “9 to 5 the musical,” “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” “Arsenic and Old Lace” and for the holidays, “The Wizard of Oz.” Season tickets remain on sale for only $119.95 for adults and children 4-11 are free with the purchase of an adult season ticket.