OnStage: The first time here

"Summer of '42" was a memory film that now provokes its own memories for lads of a certain age. It was the consummate date flick back in the summer of '72, when it hit the drive-in circuit. All that cinematography of Jennifer O'Neill, the sand, the sea and the raunchy conversation among horny teenage buddies created a perfect atmosphere in which to try to honor the film's themes of puppy love and coming of age, preferably in the front seat of the family Chevy.

Herman Raucher wrote the film, later expanded on the story in a book and encouraged the creation of a stage musical that was produced off-Broadway in 2001. Well received, it was nonetheless hammered at the box office in the post-Sept. 11 theater slump. A subsequent concert version, however, produced a CD. That, in turn, spawned interest in the provinces. Minneapolis Musical Theatre gives the show a regional premiere this weekend at Hennepin Stages in Minneapolis.

Kevin Hansen, MMT's executive director, will stage the show -- his first time in that capacity for the troupe. Hansen is usually behind the keyboard, leading the band, but this one seemed ripe for him to step out.

"It's probably about three-quarters sung through and there is so much underscoring that it makes a lot of sense," Hansen said. "Music played such a huge role in the movie -- and it continues to. It's almost the 10th character in the show."

Of the nine human characters, seven of the actors are new to MMT, Hansen said, a necessity given the age requirements of the roles.

"Six of them have to pass for 15-year-olds," he said."We've done 'Zombie Prom,' where you can get by with older people, and let's face it, there are 40-year-olds in 'Grease,' but with this show, you can't do that. These kids aren't 15, but many of them are still in college or just recently finished."

Steven Meerdink, MMT's artistic director, normally stages the troupe's shows. In this case, he's actually happy to have the break. Meerdink also directs shows for Totino-Grace High School in Fridley, and works a regular day job.

"My typical day was working until 4:30, then rehearsing at the high school and then going over to MMT and getting home at about 11 at night," Meerdink said. "It's nice not having three things going on constantly. In fact, going forward we might always have a guest director for this slot."

Coming of age on summer vacation

Raucher's film was autobiographical. He and his buddies -- Oscy and Benji -- spent a summer on Nantucket, talking constantly about sex. Even though the film balances on the experience of "Hermie" (Raucher), the writer had Oscy in mind when he put pen to paper.

"What prompted him to put the movie together was that Oscy was killed in Vietnam," Hansen said. "He felt terrible and put it together as an ode to his friend."

Be that as it may, the dramatic exchange takes place between Hermie and Dorothy, a young woman whose husband has just gone off to fight in World War II. After learning that her husband has been killed in action, Dorothy seeks solace from Hermie. In an appearance on the "Mike Douglas Show" in the 1970s, Raucher said he had never reconnected with the woman. Predictably, responses poured in and after sifting through the claims, Raucher finally found the real Dorothy.

"She did not want to get together," Hansen said. "But ever since that summer, she had worried that she had hurt him. She just wanted to make sure he was OK."

OK!? Raucher turned it into a smash film and book that has paid his bills for life. Yeah, he's OK.

Actor Hunter Foster wrote the book for the musical, with composer David Kirshenbaum doing lyrics and tunes. Hansen said that he's been impressed by how faithful the script is to the movie.

"A lot of the film is ingrained in people's minds, so you don't want to veer too far from that," he said.

That assumes we were all paying more attention to the film than to our dates.

"It's got that whole nostalgia thing, recalling our first real kiss, or that first passionate time," Hansen added.

Ah, yes. It was the summer of '72, at the Navarre Drive-In. The movie was "Summer of '42."

Graydon Royce • 612-673-7299