Haen finds comfort zone when curtains open

Jacob Haen feels right at home on the stage. That's why he made the trip from Mankato, where he will be a junior at the university there this fall, to Brookings, SD to work at the Prairie Repertory Theatre.
The Prairie Repertory Theatre is a summer stock stage funded by South Dakota State University. Actors and actresses are under contract and paid for their performances.
Haen has already appeared in "The Play That Goes Wrong," at the Prairie Repertory Theatre. He currently is appearing in "Footloose", which will be shown July 6-9.
Haen was on stage in both of those performances with Abby Turner, who will be singing on stage here during Boxelder Bug Days this fall.
Haen has appeared in "Footloose" before, having played Travis in the production at the Lake Benton Opera House in 2019.
"I play Lyle in this show," he said. "It's basically the same part. Both are sidekicks of a bad guy.
"The musical is based on the 1984 film about a boy who helps a town heal from tragedy through dance and music.
"I am under contract until July 13 at the Repertory Theatre and then I will head back to Mankato," said the 2020 Minneota High School graduate.
Rehearsals for productions at the Repertory Theatre consist of six hours a day (broken into two three-hour slots), as well as a three-hour work session.
"The work sessions might be selling tickets or promoting the production or something like that," Haen said. "Those hours are typical of summer stock theatres," Haen said.
Haen, the son of David and Lisa Haen, will be a junior this fall at the Minnesota State University, Mankato, majoring in Musical Theatre.
Haen has sent out audition tapes to regional theatres throughout the Twin Cities area in hopes of one day getting to perform there.
"I'd like to be a professional actor, performer, musician, singer, dancer in the Twin Cities area," he said. "It's a growing theatre scene. If that takes me to Chicago or even New York, who knows?"
Haen is no stranger to stage performances. He was on the speech team for six years at Minneota High School, while also appearing in 13 plays and musicals from seventh grade to his senior year, including his performance at the Lake Benton Opera House. At Minnesota State University, Mankato, Haen has already performed in "HMS Pinafore", "The Sound of Music" and "Hair".
"I was also a tech guy working lights and sound for a couple of shows at Mankato," he said. "As they say, it takes a village."