You Are Closer to Heaven (in the Church Basement), where we do the Good Lord’s work. Everywhere you look you see spectacular sights: 40 kinds of food to feed some fierce appetites, nearly new linoleum and fluorescent lights, managed by a stalwart squad, here below the house of God.

Beginning with this infectious opening tune, Broadway Palm Dinner Theater offers up yet another very entertaining evening with their latest production of "Church Basement Ladies." Having served over 700,000 guests since opening its doors in 2001, the Broadway Palm continues to impress with its style. Before the show, guests sit down to a perfectly cooked Prime Rib dinner, offered a beverage of choice, and a wide array of desserts (Triple Chocolate Cake!).

The story sounds like something straight out of a Garrison Keillor story -- a rural Minnesota church, characters named Snustad, Gilmerson, Engleson and Gunderson, and all those dinners served up at church functions like weddings, funerals, and holidays. The show, written by Jim Stowell and Jessica Zuehlke with music and lyrics by Drew Jansen, has its origins in the book “Growing Up Lutheran” by Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson. It pays homage to the women who toil, often unappreciated, in the kitchens of American churches. It celebrates the importance of these women with songs such as "The Pale Food Polka", a tribute to Scandinavian cuisine, and "Dead Spread", a song inspired by food served at funerals, and provokes both laughter and recognition for those who toil in church kitchens or are the husbands, sons, or daughters of someone who did. (Who would have thought someone could use "krumkake" in a song?)

Lead by a talented cast, Kay Francis as Mrs. Lars Snudstad, Arizona native Angela Dirksen as Mrs. Gilmer Gilmerson, Jessica Unice as Mrs. Elroy Engelson, Kelly Karcher as Signe, and Edwin Hanson as Pastor E.L. Gunderson this is a MUST SEE SHOW! The four female leads' voices were so perfectly blended that it was reminiscent of a barber shop quartet. Musical direction was by J.R. Mcalexander and choreography was by Brooke Robyn Dairman.

Director Curt Wollan should be very proud of the masterpiece he has created. He dedicates this production to the memory of his mother who was a Church Basement Lady herself. What "Nunsense" did for convents, "Church Basement Ladies" does for church kitchens. It is a wholesome and funny show that deserves an audience. Not seeing this live would truly be a sin.

A special thanks to Gary Kimble, Curt Wollan, and of course The Church Ladies, who took time out of their busy schedules to meet with me.

Get your tickets now!