Public Relations & Volunteer Spotlight

Volunteer Spotlight Cay, Julie and Mark listening to show prelims Chuck and Julie at last year's stage rehearsal Julie Gustafson Minot Heartland Variety Show Committee       When Julie stepped forward four years ago to contribute her theater expertise and creativity to the Variety Show Committee, everyone knew that the show would take on a brand new dazzle.  Julie has that kind of enthusiasm for the arts and senior performers that makes her the perfect fit for the show’s planning and production team.      Julie has always been a show biz kid.  Her first stage memory was when she and her sister sang “Supercalifragileisticexpialidocious” at the Fourth of July in Sheldahl when they were 5 and 2.  “They tell me we won $5, “Julie relates, “But I was fast asleep by the time they handed out the awards!”  Since then, Julie has been involved in various parts of the theatre from acting, directing, sound design, music directing, sets, etc. for over 40 local shows.      Julie is a native of this community, growing up between Kelley and Slater.  She graduated from ISU in 1986 with a degree in vocal performance.  She currently is a licensing associate with the Office of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer at ISU.  Now married, Julie lives less than 3 miles from where she grew up.       Julie has been involved in the year-round planning of the Variety Shows.  In the past she has provided general assistance to the show director, helped with stage managing, and this year will be putting together the Power Point presentation.  “A very special effect of the show will be the portraying of childhood pictures of many of the performers,” she reports.  “You will see that these performers have been quite the characters since day one,” she smiles.      What is her favorite aspect of the show?  “The absolutely incredible amount of quality talent in this community!  Also, the gracious people who agree to share those gifts,” she adds.  “It is always interesting to see the varied backgrounds of the performers who come together with the common love of entertaining.”     Thank you, Julie, for volunteering your time and talent to help make the Variety Show the fine community tradition that it has become.