Musical Director Isabella Dawis Discusses Ten Thousand Things' Production of The Most Happy Fella
Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 10:21AM
Ten Thousand Things is staging a revival of Frank Loesser’s 1956 musical about love, deception, and understanding, running April 29 – June 7. We talked to Isabella Dawis, Musical Director, about the stripped-down production, performances in non-traditional venues and why we’ll all love a story about love, family and immigrants. Please see the list of venues and schedule below – it’s only going to be staged for a short while, so get your tickets today!
Q: I read some history of the musical and learned that there was much discussion on what to call The Most Happy Fella - one critic called it "one of the most ambitiously operatic works ever written for the Broadway theatre.” Another called it a ‘music drama’ and that Frank Loesser (songwriter) "has now come about as close to opera as the rules of Broadway permit.” How do you classify the play and how do you approach the hybrid score as a music director?
Isabella DawisA: I would say it's a musical that often leans in the direction of opera - though it actually includes a variety of influences, including jazz. I think Frank Loesser's score is very purposeful in how it conveys character and story. Opera is part of this musical because this story depicts Italian immigrants in America.
Q: How does working in nontraditional venues (like community centers and correctional facilities) shape your musical direction?
A: The acoustics for each venue are wildly different - sometime we're performing in a huge echoing warehouse, sometimes in a small carpeted room with low ceilings - so the cast and I have to modulate our performances accordingly using our volume, diction, and articulation.
Q: What challenges - or freedoms - come with reimagining a classic score for a stripped-down production?
A: Rather than the lush orchestration of the original Broadway production, we get to bang around on xylophones and wood blocks and cowbells.
Q: Ten Thousand Things emphasizes accessibility and connection. How do you help performers use music to reach audiences who may not be regular theatergoers?
A: We're so lucky to have several talented instrumentalists in our cast - Maje Adams on guitar and saxophone, Pedro Bayon on percussion, Phinehas Bynum on accordion and melodica, and Norah Long on violin. They bring this show to life in such a uniquely appealing and delightful way.
Q: The Most Happy Fella explores longing, love, and identity - how does the music deepen those themes for our audiences?
A: This piece centers around a community of immigrant workers who love music. They sing in Italian and play musical instruments to celebrate happy times, to share their traditions with their new friends in America, and to connect with their history.
Q: What do you hope audiences carry with them after experiencing The Most Happy Fella?
A: I hope audiences take to heart that this is a story about immigrants, love, and family.
Q: If someone has never experienced a Ten Thousand Things production, what makes this one a great introduction?
A: The music of The Most Happy Fella is absolutely gorgeous, and at the same time the story is unexpectedly real, messy, and human. I think this show will surprise audiences with its humor and frankness in how it approaches political and sometimes taboo topics.
Performance Schedule and Details
PAID Ten Thousand Things hosted performance times by day of the week:
- Thursday & Friday 7:30pm; Saturdays 2pm and 7:30pm; Sundays 2 pm
- Tickets are $40 suggested and Pay As You Are Able from $15-$60
Open Book, 1011 Washington Avenue S
- Thursday, May 14 (preview, all tickets $15)
- Friday, May 15 (post-show reception)
- Saturday, May 16
- Sunday, May 17
Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, 511 Groveland Avenue
- Thursday, May 21
- Friday, May 22 (post-show conversation)
- Saturday, May 23
- Sunday, May 24
Capri Theater, 2027 W Broadway
- Thursday, May 28
- Friday, May 29 (post-show conversation, ASL-Interpreted)
- Saturday, May 30
- Sunday, May 31
825 Arts, 825 University Avenue W, St. Paul
- Thursday, Jun 4
- Friday, Jun 5
- Saturday, Jun 6
- Sunday, Jun 7
FREE, COMMUNITY-HOSTED PERFORMANCES (reservations required)
- Thu, Apr 30, 12 pm at Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College (2101 14th St, Cloquet)
- Thu, Apr 30, 7 pm at Zeitgeist Arts (222 E Superior St, Duluth)
- Mon, May 4, 10 am at MSS (900 Ocean St, St Paul) (Audio-Described)
- Tue, May 5, 1 pm at Touchstone Mental Health (2312 Snelling Ave, Minneapolis)
- Wed, May 6, 1:30 pm at Avalon School (700 Glendale St, St Paul)
- Thu, May 7, 9:45 am at Harmony Learning Center (1961 County Rd C E, Maplewood)
- Fri, May 8, 7 pm at Project Success (One Groveland Terr, Minneapolis)
- Tue, May 12, 1 pm at Dellwood Gardens (753 E 7th St, St Paul)
- Wed, May 27, 12:30 pm at Cora McCorvey Center (1015 N 4th Ave, Minneapolis)
- Thu, May 28, 1:30 pm at Transition Plus (2015 E Lake St, Minneapolis)
- Tue, Jun 2, 2 pm at Episcopal Homes – The Gardens (1860 University Ave W, St Paul)
- Wed, Jun 3, 12 pm at Interact Center (1860 W Minnehaha Ave, St Paul)
