Wastebasket Revue

Nearby schools & colleges

District 279 Foundation
93rd Avenue N, Maple Grove

American Indian Education - ISD 279 Osseo Area Schools
93rd Avenue N, Maple Grove

Osseo Area Schools Community Education
93rd Avenue N, Maple Grove

Osseo Area Schools Community Ed - Adult & Youth Enrichment
93rd Avenue N, Maple Grove

How we came to be ...

In the fall of 1967, a group of Osseo teachers began working on the creation of a "variety show" to accomplish two goals: (1) raise money for scholarships for Osseo Senior High students going on to college; and (2) provide an opportunity for teachers new to both District 279 and to teaching, to meet their peers outside of the buildings in which they worked. For a couple of y

ears prior to 1968, the District experienced incredible growth - over 200 new teachers were hired each year! From his experience performing in the "Blackboard R***e" while teaching choral music in Virginia, MN, Duayne Malewicki brought the ideas of a similar variety show to a group of Osseo teachers. There was no lack on interested hams that first year, but for two years following, many staff members were very skeptical that this idea would be successful. As you can see, this is our 44th year of performing and raising scholarship dollars in our community. The name Wastebasket R***e was coined at a writing meeting of 15-20 interested teachers because more ideas were thrown into the wastebasket than were actually used in that first show. The musical group Swingin' Educators name was also coined by the committee that first year. The group was patterned after Johnny Mann's "Young Americans" who appeared in a weekly TV variety show wearing white pants and sweatshirts, singing both popular songs and standards as well as folk songs and patriotic music. The Swingin' Educators also wore white pants the first two years, but orange sweatshirts the first year were replaced with lime green sweatshirts the second year. To keep the show going by having seed money, the writers decided to sell "shares" for the third show. Nearly everyone who participated in the first two years purchased shares at $5.00 each. These were all paid in full with the box office receipts that years, and a board of directors was established. The board held back enough money so that the next year's show could be launched, but it gave the rest away in scholarships. In 1968, that scholarship amount could carry a student through North Hennepin Community College for a year! The theme of the first show was Miss Newteach played by Judy Nelson. Included in the first or second year show was Superprof, a character designed to show how an experienced teacher can give a new teacher lots of help. Some of the teachers who started Wastebasket R***e are still active members in the District and the R***e. Auditions for Swingin' Educators were not held for the first five years since space on the Osseo Junior High stage did not limit the number of performers. Those first few years, everyone played a variety of parts because all available bodies were needed. However, when nearly 90 singers jammed the stage during the following years, auditions soon became standard policy. As the R***e matures, it is becoming increasingly important to recruit new cast members - employees of the District (past and present) and their spouses are encouraged to join the R***e. Each year, approximately 300 staff members from all areas of the District (teachers, administrators, secretaries, paraprofessionals, custodians, cooks, etc.) are needed to write and produce the R***e. The writing committee starts to create a theme and script in October. The Swingin' Educators and the dancelines begin practicing in December. The rest of the cast usually begins practicing in February. Our band is so talented, they don't need to practice until April!!

04/27/2024

IYKYK 😂😂

04/26/2024

THANK YOU, to everyone that came out to the show, to everyone that donated, and to everyone that supports us from afar. We couldn’t do it without you!!! Until next year!!!

Photo Credits: Justin Cox Photography

04/21/2024

Today is your last chance to see the BIG GAME on stage!! Head over to Park Center at 2:30, you can get your tickets at the box office!!

Photo Credits: Justin Cox Photography

04/20/2024

Show #3 coming your way at 2:30! Make your way to Park Center to see how our teams BAND together for the big game 💪🏈

Photo Credits: Justin Cox Photography

04/19/2024

Show #2 is happening tonight at 7:30!! Look who showed up for the big game last night!! I wonder what other celebrities will show up at Park Center 😜😜

04/18/2024

OPENING NIGHT 7:30 at Park Center!! We want to see your best game faces 😎🥸🤩

04/17/2024

And the scholarships!! 💸 www.wastebasketrevue.org

Wastebasket R***e: LVII tickets are now on sale

04/17/2024

🏆🏈🎟️

Wastebasket R***e: LVII tickets are now on sale For 57 years, Osseo Area Schools current and former employees and community members have put on an annual variety show to raise money for scholarships to assist graduating students in their post-secondary plans. Some of the performers have been involved since the original show in 1967 and continue t...

04/16/2024

You Betcha!! 💃🕺 www.wastebasketrevue.org

04/15/2024

...or an audience member 🥰🥰🥰 www.wastebasketrevue.org

04/14/2024

Everyday is for WBR 😉🎟 www.wastebasketrevue.org

04/13/2024

But we want to see U there 👀👀 www.wastebasketrevue.org

04/12/2024

All I do is WIN WIN WIN no matter what 🏆🏆🏆 wastebasketrevue.org

04/11/2024

AT LEAST 7 🥨🌭🍟 www.wastebasketrevue.org

04/10/2024

Start living 🏈🏆 www.wastebasketrevue.org

04/09/2024

🥸🎟🎟www.wastebasketrevue.org🎟🎟🥸

04/08/2024

The final countdown has begun 💪🎟 10 more days until we hit the stage!!!www.wastebasketrevue.org

04/03/2024

It’s all about the practice snacks 💃🏼🕺🏼 The big game is coming your way April 18-21 get tickets at www.wastebasketrevue.org 🏆

03/30/2024

03/30/2024

Who will you root for?? Get your tickets for the big game April 18-21 and show your support at www.wastebasketrevue.org !!

03/25/2024

Get tickets for this year's Wastebasket R***e running April 18-21 at www.wastebasketrevue.org 🏈

03/17/2024

03/16/2024

Tickets are officially on sale for the 57th annual Wastebasket R***e LVII!! Visit our website www.wastebasketrevue.org to reserve your tickets today🏈🏆

03/10/2024

We are proud to announce our 2024 Wastebasket R***e Scholarship Recipients! Congratulations everyone!!

Amelie Tonoyan - Anonymous Donor
Annika Deshpande
Arielle Vo - The Judy Nelson Memorial Scholarship
Ava Rehl- The Suzanne and Larry Larson Scholarship
Clara Lee Holden
Daniel Kochenderfer - The Mathews Family Scholarship
David Kochenderfer- The Schindele Family Scholarship
Elizabeth Perusse
Farsen Ismaiel- The Suzanne and Larry Larson Scholarship
Grace Finn - The Loidolt Family Scholarship
Hannan Mohamed
Heather Sheedy
Jacob Johnson - John O. Link Scholarship
Jeddiah Fehr - The Miedema Family Scholarship
Jiaa Bartake
Maya Rose Strommen - The Osseo Lions Club Scholarship
Meenakshi Pillai
Michael James - The Malewicki Family Scholarship
Natalie Moua - The Machacek Family Scholarship
Nathan Stienessen
Olivia Jerabek- The Miedema Family Scholarship
Rebecca Anyamele - The Etta Looby Scholarship
Ryann Hopp- The Schindele Family Scholarship

Thank you to all of our corporate sponsors, patrons, and audience members who support our organization each year. None of this would be possible without your support!!

You can buy tickets for this year's show starting March 15th by visiting: www.wastebasketrevue.org

Or you can donate by clicking the link below:
https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=ZCKAK8Q8RRJK2