by Friday night, the Dakota Theatre, under new management and new ownership, will kick off its 2024 season with “Lights Up @ The Dakota Theater.” There will be three shows: Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Yankton native Scott Arens will be leading the musical variety show. And he enthusiastically jumped at the chance to come back to his “home theater” to help in any way he could.
“I am incredibly excited for this opportunity,” he told the Press & Dakotan. “When Kathryn (Reimler, executive director of the Dakota Theater) called me after a recital I gave at Trinity Lutheran Church last December, she had this amazing idea, and I was on board from the start.
“I have to say the Dakota Theatre is so special to me,” Arens continued. “I spent many, many summers here at the Dakota Theatre in plays and musicals. I have very fond memories and, honestly, grew up in this theater. I’m just absolutely thrilled.”
Arens is a 2006 Yankton High School graduate. He majored in piano performance at the University of South Dakota and then a master’s in collaborative piano at the University of Michigan. He then joined the Des Moines Metro Opera. He is currently the marketing and public relations director.
When Arens heard that Reimler had been tabbed to lead the restoration and programming for the Dakota Theatre rebrand, he said he was beyond excited.
“When I learned that Kathryn was taking over and the theater had been purchased by Onward Yankton, it really made me think they have an exciting path in front of them, and I am looking forward to see where she takes this theater,” he said.
Reimler, Arens and Onward Yankton are encouraging people to come to one of the shows this weekend to see the changes that have been made, to check out the plans that are in place and to get a sneak preview of the entire 2024 season with a chance to purchase season tickets.
“We just want to get people in the theater,” Reimler said. “We’re hoping to announce everything about the upcoming season. We’re hoping to educate a little bit, we’re hoping to inform, and then also let people know that season tickets are available for the rest of the year.”
Arens has been rehearsing this week for the review. Reimler said the emotions really set in during those first few rehearsals.
“I’m feeling great,” she said. “I’m so excited but feeling quite emotional, as well. I’m sure I’ll be pretty emotional over the weekend.
“Even last night, when Scott Arens arrived, and he was up on stage rehearsing his first piece, which happened to be with my daughter, Margaret, I just started crying and I couldn’t stop. So, it’s already started. But, in the end, I’m truly excited. I think this is going to be a great group of singers and dancers. I think people are just going to enjoy it so much.”
For his part, Arens is not only honored to be invited to lead the musical variety show and Dakota Theatre 2024 kickoff event, but he’s also eager to promote the importance of the arts in any community.
“A successful community needs to have a thriving arts scene,” Arens stated. “I would say Yankton has a long, rich history of supporting the arts. And it was a tremendous help that set me up for the career that I have. And I know many other former classmates of mine, friends who have gone on to have professional careers as musicians, artists, actors, all of us and we’re all from Yankton.
“The Dakota Theatre was a part of that. It was a very formative experience for me growing up, and I think it’s just vitally important for this community to get behind the Dakota Theatre again. If anyone can get this theater back up and running again, it’s Kathryn Reimler. I’m convinced of that. I hope everyone comes out for this not only for this grand opening celebration for ‘Lights Up,’ but also for the kickoff of their full season again.
“The theater is an historic landmark that we need to renovate and restore, so every little dollar helps and goes a long way. We need the community’s full support in order to make this a success.”
The show itself will feature piano accompaniment from Arens. Singers will include: Jim Reimler, Elita Eastman, Eva Reyes, Sylvia Selgestad, Margaret Reimler, Tyler Thress and Willa Reimler. Dancers from the Academy of Dance will include: Reese Hejna, Brynlyn Hamburger, Emma Hamburger, Margaret Reimler and Willa Reimler.
“We’re also going to have dancers performing,” Kathryn Reimler said. “We have all those singers, and I have a small group of dancers that will be performing three different showtune-related dance numbers. There will be singing, dancing, piano, acting, and lots and lots of information and education.”
Both Reimler and Arens expect the audience to have a fun, “toe-tapping” time to Broadway showtunes from the past four decades.
There will also be a sneak peek of the children’s play coming up in March, according to Reimler.
Arens perhaps summed it up best: “(The audience) should expect a to have a wonderful time. Getting to know this beautiful theater once again, hearing a bunch of tunes that have been ringing through these halls for the past four decades. They can expect to come and tap their toes. They’ll be whistling tunes on their way out. And that’s a lovely group of people that Kathryn has assembled to sing and dance. She’s really pulling out all the stops to make this a memorable kickoff event for the new Dakota Theatre.”
Reimler also wanted to mention to current and future Dakota Theater patrons that the venue’s website is active and is located at dakotatheatre.org (note the “re” ending on theatre). Visitors can access the 2024 season schedule, purchase season tickets and learn more about projects the theater is working on.
