In conjunction with the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and the nationwide celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, daily productions of the 1987 Broadway musical Teddy & Alice will be available July 2-6, free to the public live from Dorthy Stickney Auditorium at Dickinson State University (DSU).
The production is a collaboration between the Blue Hawks Theatre Guild, DSU Music, the Theodore Rosevelt Center, Badlands Opera Project, and community partners.
The performance schedule for Teddy & Alice is as follows:
- Thursday, July 2 – 7 p.m.
- Friday, July 3 – 7 p.m.
- Saturday, July 4 – 2 p.m.
- Sunday, July 5 – 2 p.m.
- Monday, July 6 – 7 p.m.
Teddy & Alice is an original, family-friendly American musical that brings to life the relationship between President Theodore Roosevelt and his spontaneous daughter Alice, one of the most unconventional women of her era. The show blends history, humor and heart, all while exploring leadership, legacy, family and independence through an engaging and accessible theatrical experience.
“While Theodore Roosevelt is often remembered for his grit, ambition, and larger-than-life presence, this production seeks to honor his legacy by exploring the personal experiences and family relationships that helped shape the man behind the legend,” said Anthony Rohr, director of Teddy & Alice.
The Theodore Roosevelt Center will be providing academic support for the production, including digital library resources, historical instruction to the cast, crew, and production team, as well as public lectures.
The cast includes local performers, DSU students, faculty, alumni, community members and actors from area companies.
Dr. William J. Hansard, who serves as a public historian for the Theodore Roosevelt Center at DSU for over four years, portrays Theodore Roosevelt, offering audiences a historically informed interpretation of one of America's most influential presidents.
"I have spent nearly every day for more than four years with Theodore Roosevelt,” Hansard said. “Because I have studied his life so closely, I feel there are aspects of his psyche I can relate to. He has a great zest for living and thumbs his nose at death precisely because he fears it so profoundly. He has buried his grief and pain as deeply as it can go, refuses to confront them, and keeps them submerged with an overabundance of both jocularity and irritability. He believes everything he does is the right thing to do because he is the one doing it."
Teddy & Alice is more than a theatrical performance – it is an educational and cultural event. The project includes outreach activities such as a coloring contest, Theodore Roosevelt Center events, and educational programming. There will be a scavenger hunt in the program related to historical events.
The production also serves as an experiential learning opportunity for students in theater, music, education and technical production.
“Our goal is simple: to make high-quality theater accessible to everyone while celebrating Theodore Roosevelt's enduring connection to North Dakota. Through Teddy & Alice, we're bringing history to life for a new generation,” said Sarah Crossingham, producer of Teddy & Alice.
Free admission to the show, ensuring that families and community members can experience live theater regardless of income, was made possible through grants from North Dakota 250 and the John & Elaine Andrist Charitable Trust, as well as sponsorships from the DSU Heritage Foundation and community partners.
Teddy & Alice is also presented through Special Arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
For tickets to a show or more information on the production, please visit www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/teddy-and-alice/.