Deer Camp The Musical Returns Tonight

(KNSI) – Deer Camp The Musical is picking up its stand and touring around central Minnesota this year. There are several opportunities to see the show in Waite Park, including tonight through Saturday at Back Shed Brewing. The original cast has returned. Brad Busse, who plays Diesel, says he is enjoying it.

“Put pencil to paper and [we] figured out that we’ve done it close to 70 times. So you would think it would be easy when it came back, but it’s not been that easy, we’re all getting old. But, it’s been a great deal of fun.”

Busse says he wrote the Spring Break spin-off and there was a Christmas version called Holy Bells. The first Deer Camp was scripted by Gene Jurek, who is sick. Giving him a chance to see it again as it was initially envisioned inspired the actors to don the familiar roles.

The play returns to Waite Park in early October as well, says Busse.

“On the first of October – that actually is going to close out the Ledge’s season for the year. So, it’s going to be kind of fun. They’re actually going to make it kind of an Oktoberfest theme. There’s going to be beer tastings or wine tastings and vendors and everything, and then we’re the show that night on stage.”

Busse says the cast has gotten to the point where it can ad lib, so the production might have an extra flourish or two in store for those attending. He says the characters began a bit bland but now feature fully fleshed out back stories. Busse says Diesel has become a part of him.

The Ledge event has been dubbed Flannel Fest. Busse says the play will also be in Barrett and New London this fall.

Busse’s story is an interesting one. He was a broadcaster in Nashville, Tennessee before moving to Minnesota and becoming a staple in the local theatre scene. He says Nashville picks up 300 new residents per day, so when he does return to his old stomping grounds it hardly resembles the city he began his career in.

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