‘River Adventures’ at Theatre B: a fun night for the family

Theatre | July 15th, 2025

By John Showalter

john.d.showalter@gmail.com

Photo by Yvonne Denault

There is something intimate and personal about plays. Even in our age of multimillion dollar Hollywood productions and droves of streaming services, watching actors on stage can be enthralling in a way the former can’t quite achieve. Since 2003, Moorhead’s Theatre B has been bringing a combination of both award-winning plays and new works to the stage for Fargo-Moorhead residents to enjoy. “River Adventures,” which will soon be making its premiere at Theatre B, is one of the latter.

“River Adventures,” is the tenth play written by Moorhead resident Annie Hough. Even though she has quite an impressive resume as a playwright, it was not the calling she expected.

“While going to school for horticulture, I dreamed of becoming a county extension agent,” said Hough. “I won a scholarship for people with disabilities to take a class at The Playwrights’ Center. (I sustained a disabling traumatic brain injury during adolescence.) The class included a staged reading of a play. I wrote one, enjoyed the reading and have been writing them ever since.”

Hough first got involved with Theatre B when she moved to Moorhead five years ago and joined the Clay County Master Gardener program. Her volunteer hours led to many connections.

“I wanted to have a simple play performance for the MG volunteer hours, but had no budget,” said Hough. “Tania Blanich at The Arts Partnership suggested I reach out to a guy at Moorhead Parks. That guy got the play in a RiverArts Festival lineup. Someone else suggested connecting with Theatre B to find a director. Theatre B’s Monika Browne-Ecker shared my script, ‘Vineyard Adventures,’ with her people. Theatre B ensemble member Jacob Hartje e-mailed me the day after he read the script. I won a Career Development Grant from the Lake Region Arts Council that allowed me to pay Jacob and a local costumer modest stipends. The outdoor performance was delightful. Since then, we have had shows at libraries, FMCT and Riverhaven Event Center. Last year, I was able to rent Theatre B. It’s Jacob’s happy place. I am happy to be renting the space again.”

“River Adventures” is a 35-minute, one-act play inspired by Hough’s love for nature, writing, learning and bringing people together. She also stated that the play has fantastic costumes and sets and includes cast members of many ages, races, abilities and genders.

“It’s about a gentle boy named August who is visiting his grandma for the summer. Grandma and August are both dealing with recent losses. They bond and heal a bit as they catch frogs, go canoeing and observe sassy dragonflies, fierce eagles and other river creatures,” said Hough. “Almost everyone will love, like, or at least get something from the play. It is G-rated, humorous and heartfelt.”

Due to being funded by a Legacy Grant from the Lake Region Arts Council and an Individual Artist Grant from the Arts Partnership, not only are Hough and Theatre B able to bring this entertaining production for the entire family to the stage, there will be no charge for tickets. Reserve tickets at https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=289918.

YOU SHOULD KNOW:

“River Adventures”

Friday, July 25 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, July 26 at 11 a.m.

Theatre B, 215 10th St. N., Moorhead

Tickets are available at no charge from Theatre B

https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=289918