‘A Don’t Hug Me County Fair’

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“A Don’t Hug Me County Fair,” the sequel to the hit musical “Don’t Hug Me,” will have its Midwest premiere this weekend at St. Croix Off Broadway Dinner Theatre in Hudson. It will run weekends through May 16, including noon lunch matinees March 8 and April 18.

The show again is set in a Northern Minnesota bar, as were the original “Don’t Hug Me” and “A Don’t Hug Me Christmas Carol.” Written by a native Minnesotan, both shows have been staged all over the country, including a successful at Christmastime at the Jon Hassler Theatre in Plainview.

As “A Don’t Hug Me County Fair” opens, it’s summertime and the Bunyan County Fair is approaching. It’s the biggest thing that’s happened in Bunyan Bay since the winter carnival snowplow parade.

This year the fair means two things to Gunner and Clara Johnson, owners of a little bar called The Bunyan — the big County Fair Fishing Contest and the Miss Walleye Queen competition. Bernice, the pretty waitress, sees this as her big chance to win Miss Walleye Queen and have her face carved in butter at the Minnesota State Fair.

Trouble begins when Clara decides she also wants to be Miss Walleye Queen. Bigger trouble arrives when Gunner’s twin sister Trigger shows up to try to win the beauty pageant.

Adding to his troubles, Gunner makes the mistake of betting the bar that he’ll win the fishing contest.

For tickets, call (715) 386-2394 ext. 333 or go to www. stcroixoffbroadway.com. St. Croix Off Broadway Dinner Theatre is in the Best Western Hudson House Inn off Exit 2 on Highway 94 in Hudson.

Tags: dont hug me county fair, applause