'Ted and Paul Show' coming to DL's Holmes Theatre this Saturday

Live shows will be returning to Detroit Lakes' Historic Holmes Theatre this Saturday, Oct. 10, as popular Minnesota musicians Paul Diethelm and Ted Manderfeld return to the theater's main stage for a 7:30 p.m. concert.

Billed as "The Ted & Paul Show," the evening will feature about 90 minutes of live music, interspersed with the duo's unique brand of humor, with which local audiences will be familiar from both the "Rock & Roll Christmas" show — a Holmes Theatre holiday staple where both men are prominently featured — as well as Deuces Wild, the dueling piano show that includes Manderfeld and fellow pianist extraordinaire, David Eicholz.

The two are also involved with several other musical acts around the St. Cloud area, some of which have graced the Holmes Theatre stage multiple times as well.

"Our audience knows Ted and Paul really well, from all the shows that they have done here," says Holmes Theatre Executive Director Amy Stoller Stearns, "and they love them."

Stearns added that she decided to reach out to the duo after learning about a small, acoustic-style outdoor show that they had done at a brewery in the St. Cloud area, and realizing that they would be the perfect act to set the tone for the theater's new season.

"One thing we all could use is an evening with some laughter and great music, in a safe environment," said Stearns, noting that the theater would be adhering to all state-mandated pandemic safety precautions throughout this season — which means that ticket sales will be limited to just 200 people, and groups of theater-goers would be physically distanced by at least 6 feet, both in entering the venue, and in the seating arrangements.

"We're calling this our 'Reduced Capacity Tour,'" Diethelm joked.

"We're making 200 t-shirts, because we're sure everyone who comes will want one," Manderfeld added.

When asked whether they would be maintaining social distancing on stage, Manderfeld said, "We will be six feet, one inch apart — or maybe I'll make it 5-feet-11 (inches) and not tell anybody."

"Except you don't want to be on the wrong end of a spot inspection," Diethelm cautioned. However, he added, asking them to do a show without humor "would be like putting a straight jacket on Ted."

"Which a lot of people would like to do," Manderfeld retorted.

Both men noted that the handful of shows they had been doing together over the summer had included quite a bit of humor.

"We've noticed that his well has been overflowing," Diethelm said of Manderfeld. "He hasn't had any place to put his sarcasm."

Manderfeld said that before the pandemic hit, he had ample opportunity "to deplete the well a little bit," doing three to four shows a week, but when the shows "are few and far between," the sarcasm just keeps coming.

As for the music that they will be doing, the two men said that the songs will be familiar, but not quite the same type of fare that fans of the various other musical acts in which they are involved might have heard from them before.

"It will be stuff from the '60s to the '90s, probably," Manderfeld said.

"Mostly favorites of ours, songs that we play well together," Diethelm added.

Tickets for the show will be $28 each, Stearns said, and are general admission only, rather than assigned seating, so they can maintain proper social distancing. For future shows, however, they are planning to have an online seating chart that will show which seats are available, and which are not. Tickets can still be ordered online, however, at dlccc.org/holmes-theatre.html, or by phone at 218-844-7469.

What: The Ted & Paul Show, featuring Ted Manderfeld and Paul Diethelm
Where: Historic Holmes Theatre, 806 Summit Ave., Detroit Lakes

When: Saturday, Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: General admission only, $28 each. Call 218-844-7469 or visit dlccc.org/holmes-theatre.html

Earlier that evening, starting at 5 p.m., there will be an exhibit opening in the Holmes Art Cellar gallery, located on the theater's basement level.

The featured artist will be Mary Estrem, a Callaway native and 1982 graduate of Detroit Lakes High School, who currently makes her home in Sheyenne, N.D.

"Our shop will be open, and there will be COVID-friendly refreshments," said Beth Gilbert, the theater's arts outreach director.

The staff of the Historic Holmes Theatre is asking local arts lovers to "Trust Us" in purchasing season tickets for 2020-21. Though the $200 package will include "at least" eight shows between October and April, the exact lineup has yet to be announced.

"We will be announcing new shows once a month," Stearns said, with the next announcement to take place during this Saturday's performance. At least one show will take place each month between now and May, she added.

Though there will be a minimum of eight shows scheduled, there may be more added as the season progresses, she said.

Several new art classes have already been announced for the Holmes Art Cellar, however, starting with a beading class set for Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 5:30 p.m. Other upcoming classes include a "Glass on Glass" mosaic class on Oct. 21; a Willow Drawing class and Harry Potter Workshop, both on Nov. 14; a Starry Winter Night painting class on Nov. 15; and a Snowy Pine painting class on Dec. 29. There will also be an Anime & Pokemon Workshop during the holiday break from school between Christmas and New Year's Day, taking place daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dec. 28-30. For more information call 218-844-7469 or visit the website at dlccc.org/holmes-theatre.html.