Northfield lawmaker and teacher stars in musical

Much of Northfield High School teacher Kevin Dahle's life is already a real-world civics lesson for his students. After all, he juggles teaching with being a state senator.

But this fall, Dahle's making history come alive on stage. He's playing U.S. President John Tyler in the debut of "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too: Or Whatever Happened to William Henry Harrison," a historical musical and comedy about the 1840 presidential election.

Dahle has enjoyed acting since high school. But he had to "kind of put my community theater aside" since 2008, when he became a senator.

"It was about the perfect time for me to do it," he said. "It's been a long time since I've had to sing and dance."

Dahle was approached by director Rachel Haider and accepted because he found the script interesting. A collector of campaign buttons and memorabilia, he's always been intrigued by past presidential elections.

The campaign of President William Henry Harrison, who would become the ninth U.S. President, was groundbreaking because it was among the first to use advertising tactics, including slogans and jingles, to get him elected, he said.

"That's interesting to me as a civics teacher and a politician as well," he said.

Dahle fit right in with the cast of 21 adults and one child. "He's just terrific. He's very unassuming, very knowledgeable," said Haider. "He's been able to embody the aristocracy of the character."

This is the first time the play has ever been performed. It was brought to Haider by a friend of Nancy Purbeck, who stars in the show and is co-executive producer.

The script was a longtime project of W. Watts Biggers, an advertising executive and novelist who is most famous as co-creator of the animated television series "Underdog."

Biggers, also a history buff, worked on the script for 20 years. When he died in 2013, Purbeck, his partner, was looking for a theater to put it on. A friend had Northfield theater connections and she was thrilled the company wanted to do it, she said.

To produce the show, Haider and others formed a new theater company and nonprofit called Underdog Productions, honoring Biggers' well-known cartoon.

"It's wonderful for a family," Purbeck said. "You get to laugh and learn."

In 1840, Harrison, an elderly war general, and Tyler, a lawyer and senator, ran on the Whig Party ticket with virtually no political platform.

They won in part because their campaign captured the public's imagination. Memorable songs like "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" praised the two candidates while mocking incumbent Martin Van Buren.

In the play, the advertising element is represented by the character of Walter Thompson, an "advertising man" from New York. He sings and dances to songs with lyrics like, "I have to weasel on my easel, so it pays to advertise."

Thompson is fictional, as are two other characters, but everything else in the show is true to history, said Haider.

When Harrison and Tyler are elected, two influential senators intend to control them like puppets.

The power struggle in the play — between the party, the presidency and Congress — is similar to today. And, like now, there was no shortage of name-calling and corruption in politics, said Dahle.

"There is a perception that [politics] is dirtier than ever, but it was just as corrupt 100 to 150 years ago," Dahle said.

Another highlight is the music — there are 26 original songs written by Biggers. Said Haider: "The music is so catchy. Everyone who has stepped into a rehearsal walks out humming."

During a recent study hall at Northfield High, a fellow teacher asked Dahle to perform a song for the class. Dahle obliged, belting out "Call Me Mr. President," and doing the accompanying jig, he said.

Dahle, who has been teaching in Northfield for 21 years, is also a driver's ed teacher in town, so many students know him, said Haider, adding:

"I know that he is an absolutely beloved teacher. I expect that a lot of students will show up to see him."

Purbeck said she feels "very blessed" at how the show has turned out. The cast is "a riot," she said.

Her sweetheart, Biggers, "is up there in heaven having a blast. I know he would be moved by how they have honored him by giving so much of themselves."

Erin Adler • 952-746-3283