Rollicking! A Winter Carnival Musical
Book & Co-Lyrics by Rachel Teagle
Music & Co-Lyrics by Keith Hovis
Directed by Laura Leffler
Music directed by Isabella Dawis
Choreographed by Joey Miller
November 20–December 21, 2025
A gust of icy wind changes everything! Follow St. Paul’s own Clarence “Cap” Wigington and his wife Viola as their Winter Carnival ice palace design plunges them into the magical realm of King Boreas. They’ll encounter iconic Minnesota figures, from bygone poets to racing legends, all woven into the vibrant tapestry of the Carnival’s myth and history. Discover the strange, wonderful heart of a tradition built on resilience, imagination, and the enduring spirit of our snowy state.
The Reviews are in!
- Rollicking! blends fact and fantasy in fun, bouncy production (Play Off the Stage, 12/25)
- Line up the sled and take a ride through the snow (Ernest goes to the Theatre, 12/4/25)
- Rollicking! Adds more than a Dash of Fantasy (The Stages of MN, 12/5/25)
- Fantastical world of King Boreas within a snowglobe (Talkin' Broadway, 11/26/25)
- A yummy confection of a winter musical (Cherry and Spoon, 11/25/25)
- History Theatre's Rollicking is Tuneful but Scattershot (Pioneer Press, 11/23/25)
Learn more about the show
- 5 Holiday Reviews (Stages of MN, 12/25)
- Rollicking!, Winter Carnival, Music (The Gaily Show, 12/5/25)
- Interview with Elena Glass (Mouthing Off, 12/8/25)
- History Theatre mounts its musical take on our wild and wacky winter fest (MyVillager, 12/2/25)
- History and fantasy blend in Rollicking! A Winter Carnival Musical (Pioneer Press, 11/27/25)
- Keith Hovis & Rachel Teagle on Fox9 Good Day (Fox9, 11/17/25)
- 5 Questions with Rollicking! Writers of Saint Paul Winter Carnival Musical (Mpls St Paul Magazine, 11/19/25)
- Rollicking! A Winter Carnival preview video
- New Musical Explores the Legendary Myth and History of the St Paul Winter Carnival (WCCO-TV, 11.20/25)
- The stages of MN Holiday Preview (Stages of MN, 11/24/25)
Learn more about the St. Paul Winter Carnival
- St. Paul's 140th Winter Carnival History Display (WCCO, 12/1/25)
Special Events
- Nov 20-21 Previews (Pay What You Can or $20 Buy Online)
- Nov 22 Opening Night with the Winter Carnival, CynCity Tours, RETHOS and more!
- Dec 6, 2pm Family Day with pre-show activities
- Dec 12, 7:30pm Pre-show Meet + Greet Winter Carnival Royal Family
Afterthoughts
(Post-show discussion follows all Sunday matinees)
- Nov 30: Bob Olsen, Ice Palace historian
- Dec 7: Erin Hanfin Berg, RETHOS
- Dec 14: Adrienne Zimiga-January, Rollicking! actor, and Sara Pillatzki-Warzeha, Dakota Cultural Consultant
- Dec 21: Rachel Teagle, playwright/co-lyricist and Keith Hovis, composer/co-lyricist, Frank White, author/historian/Rondo Elder
The Cast
The Musicians
Ticket pricing
For more information, visit Ticket Information
- Adults/Seniors: Starting at $30
- Students: $15
- Balcony Seating: There are 15 steps to balcony seating. No elevator is available. If this is a concern for you or your party, please contact the box office at 651-292-4323.
- Book a Group of 10+. Click to Save!
- Buy a Season Pass. Book by Nov. 14. Click to Save!
The Playbill
To read the playbill, click here.
Food Drive for Neighborhood House
History Theatre is organizing a food drive for Neighborhood House to combat food insecurity. We invite you to contribute shelf-stable nonperishable foods for donation throughout the run of Rollicking! A Winter Carnival Musical. Essential wish list items include flour, oil, sugar, canned tuna, toilet paper, coffee, paper towels, and more. Please take a moment to check out the Neighborhood House Food Market Wish Listfor additional items we need. We truly appreciate your generous donation!
