Most of the time, Jay Schueller is the man behind the scenes making sure that the lighting is just right, microphones work, sets are built and anything else that needs to be done so the show goes off without a glitch.
On Saturday, Schueller, who is technical director for the Pine City Heritage Players, will leave those duties in the hands of others and take the stage as the featured ventriloquist at the Masquers Theatre Company's "A Little Night Music," a variety show and silent auction benefit at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Forest Lake.
"He has a dry sense of humor and he's very funny," said Tony Nobles, the community theater company's vice president. "His comedy is not the style people are used to. He does bring a lot of laughs."
Nobles found that out when Masquers Theatre needed lights for last year's fundraiser at Stella's 97 Grille and Bar. The theater contacted Schueller, who provided them at no cost in exchange for a 20-minute performance.
We thought "this could be scary," said Nobles, who has been involved with Masquers since 2007. "He had people rolling in the aisles. He stole the show."
He might again this year, but he will face stiff competition from the 17 local musical and comedy acts ranging in age from middle school to adults that will appear in the variety show, said event coordinator Liz Capouch.
The $10 admission includes a silent auction in which showgoers can bid on more than 200 items, everything from Minnesota Wild tickets to personal income tax services and coffee gift packs to children's books.
Proceeds from ticket sales and the silent auction will go pay expenses for Masquers' upcoming season, which will feature three productions. The first is the musical "Don't Hug Me" by Minnesota playwright Phil Olson. It will open in February. The season schedule also includes "The Little Shop of Horrors" in June and "The Music Man" in July.
