Performances: May 1st & 2nd, 2026 @ 7pm

Iowa Theater
Bloomfield, IA

Welcome to a journey across the seas where sailors work hard every day. They will tell you stories of their adventures, fears, jokes, and tales of old. Sing along on this adventure if you feel so moved. We begin at port in the British Isles. From there, we will travel the world before returning back to port.

Sea shanties are the working man’s song of the ships that sailed the 7 seas. They supported the workers with maintaining a pace for efficiency and collaboration. There are many different shanties that speak of different jobs. In addition, they told stories of the seas, of landmarks, of tragedy, and of journeys. 

Act I

Narration 1 – Kimra Hines
Narration 2 – Rosalee Russell
Merchant Ship Captain – Richard Wortmann

“Heave Away (My Johnnies)” – Shantyman: Matt Perry

Joke – Newbie Sailor: Sarah Clawson; Merchant Ship Captain: Richard Wortmann

“Haul Away, Joe” – Shantyman: Sarah Clawson; Percussion: Dorothy Day and Joy Orwig

Joke – Rosalee Russell
Joke – MaryJo Johnson
Joke – Terri Williams
Narration – Kimra Hines

“Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” – Shantyman and Guitar: Aaron Gingrich; Percussion: Richard Wortmann, Joy Orwig, and Sarah Clawson

Narration – Joy Orwig
Skit – Fisherman: Kerri Shirkey; Crewmate: Matt Perry
Narration – Kimra Hines

“The Downeaster ‘Alexa’” – Shantyman: Sarah Clawson; Percussion: Dorothy Day, Richard Wortmann, Terri Williams, and Aaron Gingrich

Narration – Rosalee Russell
Joke – Terri Williams

“Cape Cod Girls (Haul Away)” – Shantyman: Aaron Gingrich

Skit – Narrator: Richard Wortmann; Captain of Battleship: Terri Williams; Seaman: Sarah Clawson

“Blow the Man Down” – Shantyman: Kerri Shirkey; Potato Skit – Cook: Joy Orwig; Peelers: Dorothy Day, Rosalee Russell, MaryJo Johnson, Sarah Clawson, and Matt Perry

Narration – Aaron Gingrich

“Pay Me My Money Down” – Shantyman: Matt Perry; Ukelele: Dorothy Day; Percussion: Joy Orwig

Narration – Joy Orwig

Intermission

Act II

Bullhorn – Kimra Hines
Joke – Kerri Shirkey; Dorothy Day
Joke – Terri Williams; Merchant Ship Captain: Richard Wortmann
Joke – Aaron Gingrich and whole crew

“Sloop John B.” – Shantyman: Sarah Clawson; Percussion: Joy Orwig, Aaron Gingrich, and Sarah Clawson

Joke – MaryJo Johnson
Narration – Matt Perry

“Santiana” – Shantyman and Guitar: Aaron Gingrich; Percussion: Joy Orwig

Skit – Sailor: Kimra Hines; Merchant Ship Captain: Richard Wortmann; Narration: Rosalee Russell

“Bound for South Australia” Shantyman: Matt Perry; Percussion – Crew; Spoons: Terri Williams

Narration – Terri Williams

“Wellerman” – Shantyman: Aaron Gingrich; Percussion: Joy Orwig, Sarah Clawson, and Dorothy Day

Joke – Rosalee Russell 
Narration – Rosalee Russell
Skit – Sailor: Kimra Hines; Bartender: Terri Williams

“What Can You Do With a Drunken Sailor” – Shantymen: Richard Wortmann, Matt Perry, and Sarah Clawson; Drunken Sailor: Kimra Hines; Percussion: Terri Williams and Joy Orwig

Joke – Kerri Shirkey
Merchant Ship Captain – Richard Wortmann
Narration – Dorothy Day

“Leave Her, Johnny” – Shantyman: Kerri Shirkey

Joke – Terri Williams

“Brandy (You’re a fine girl)” – Lead Singer: Richard Wortmann; Percussion: Kerri Shirkey, Sarah Clawson, Terri Williams, and Matt Perry

Joke – Richard Wortmann

“Scotsman Song” – Lead Singer: Matt Perry; Scotsman: Richard Wortmann; Ladies: Rosalee Russell and MaryJo Johnson

Cast

Sarah Clawson
Dorothy Day
Aaron Gingrich
Kimra Hines
MaryJo Johnson
Joy Orwig
Matt Perry
Rosalee Russell
Kerri Shirkey
Terri Williams
Richard Wortmann

Instrumentation

Props 

Rosalee Russell
Karly Good

Set Build

Karly Good
Bruce Wortmann

Lights

Sound and Projection

Director and Producer

Letter from the Director

I am so glad you came to see our production! It has been a work in the making for the past three years. Ideas have come and gone, and come again. As a variety show goes, acts are brought to the show by the community. This is a combination of ideas from the director/producer and the actors. I curated many songs of the sea over the past three years and some stayed with the show while others were discarded, or cut, to the editing room floor. The remaining 15 were those that spoke of a journey. Starting in England, to Ireland, the Americas, to Australia and New Zealand, the stories are only as factual as they could make them fit the songs. Much of the lyrical entertainment is true, silly, or rhythmically apropos.

As was mentioned before, those who chose to share this journey with you as the sailors have shared their ideas for songs, jokes, skits, and blocking of the show all the way from the start. This is truly a community show where one idea sparked the production that morphed into your entertainment for the evening. We hope you enjoy the show!

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We are thankful to have a wonderful council that keeps our community in touch with the arts. Thank you to the Davis County Fine Arts Council for sponsoring this performance.