Making a Scene: Concordia student cast in Medora Musical

FARGO – Olivia Berglund has been performing since she was a child, first in church productions, then through Fargo South High School, Davies High School and Trollwood Performing Arts School, including four mainstage musicals.

After years of acting, singing and dancing, she decided to take a year off while making the transition to college life at Moorhead's Concordia College, where she's studying communication and music.

"I thought that would be a good test to see if I really love it," she says.

It worked. Berglund felt like something was missing, so she returned to the stage her sophomore year with Concordia productions of "Les Miserables" and "Songs for a New World."

This summer, the 19-year-old Fargo woman is heading west for a new gig: as one of the 12 "Burning Hills" singers in the outdoor Medora (N.D.) Musical.

She'd seen the show growing up and thought "Why not?" when a group audition was scheduled at Concordia in January.

Before heading to Minneapolis for rehearsals, Berglund took a break to talk to The Forum about her next adventure in musical theater.

What happened after the audition?

I kind of had this weird feeling. I didn't have any expectations, but I felt really good, like I left it all out there. ... I felt like I made a connection with them.

That was a Sunday, and the next day, Monday, I got a call from the director. It was crazy. ... It was literally a one-day turnaround.

Were you surprised?

I was, especially by how fast it happened. My roommate was in the room, and I said, "Did I just talk to someone on the phone? Did that actually happen?" I was just in shock. It still doesn't feel totally real.

How does it feel to have a paying job in your field?

It's every performer's dream, to be able to get paid for what you love to do. It's completely humbling. ... Every night this summer I get to be on stage doing what I love.

Do you know anyone else who was cast?

I don't. I'm the only one from Fargo. There are two other people from North Dakota.

I think over half the cast are returning members who've done it for many summers. I think I'm one of the youngest, too. At the same time, it's exciting to have a clean slate where no one knows you and you can kind of just bring what you've got.

I'm so excited to meet everyone else.

What do your friends and family think about it?

They're really excited. Everybody's making plans to come out and see the show. My grandma and grandpa live in Montana, so they're really familiar with Medora. They're pretty pumped I'll be close to their state.

Is it different performing outside versus inside?

I'm really glad I had that Trollwood experience under my belt, that outdoor theater experience, because it is different. You have to deal with all the elements – that's the main thing. I think it was during "The Music Man" we had a run of the show where it was like, 99 to 105 degrees. All of us girls were wearing tights and dresses, and we all had to curl our hair at the end of the night because it was flat and wet.

How do you deal with the elements?

You have to imagine the coldest you've ever been in your entire life and put yourself there. It takes a lot of stamina, mental and physical stamina.

Performing outside is a whole different ballgame. You're battling heat, wind, rain, bugs, all of those things, but there's nothing like it, though. Performing as the sun is going down, with the stars up above-it's just amazing.

If you go

• What: Musical performance and Q-and-A with the 2015 cast of the Medora Musical
• When: 1 p.m. May 18
• Where: West Acres mall food court, Fargo
• Info: The performance, a preview to the opening show June 5 in Medora, is free and open to the public. Questions for the cast can be submitted before or during the event via the "Medora, ND" Facebook page or Twitter @MedoraND using the hashtag #CastQuestion or asked live during the Q-and-A, hosted by Chris Berg.