​Broken Lemons Meets Every Other Wednesday from 6:30-8:30pm

Every other Wednesday evening, the Broken Lemons Playwriting Group gathers to share new work among the group. New work is read by the group, offering playwrights the opportunity to hear their work read aloud. The group serves as a support system for playwrights, giving feedback and encouragement. Members of the Broken Lemons receive fully staged readings of their work as part of BHCT's New Play Development Series. 

Meet the Lemons

Al Christenson

What originally began as the dress-rehearsal and headshot photographer for a small non-profit theatre company in Northern California gradually became a more-involved participation in acting and eventually, in learning more about writing. Acting credits include Sagot in Picasso at the Lapin Agile, The Cabby in Harvey, Rev. Dr. Harper in Arsenic and Old Lace, and The Sheriff in Romeo & Juliet.   With a few plays in progress and writing Tom Tenor in the 2019 24 Hour Theatre at BHCT, he is “hooked” on the freedom and the challenge of writing and thoroughly enjoys the comradery of the group in Broken Lemons. It is exciting to read and hear some of the interesting and humorous creations of the other “Lemons” in the group.

Nick Christenson

Nick Christenson (He/him) has always fancied himself a storyteller. From tales told around campfires to performing on stage, the story is key. He hopes to continue growing his storytelling ability through playwrighting. He loves being in and around Theatres any chance he gets. He received his B.A. from Sonoma State University with a Concentration in Acting and continues to study and learn as often as possible. ​

Lindsey Clouse

Lindsey Clouse was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and has lived in South Dakota for twelve years. She earned her B.A. in linguistics at the University of Kentucky and her M.A. in language and rhetoric at South Dakota State University, and she currently teaches writing at Western Dakota Tech and Black Hills State University. Her first book, an analysis of Hollywood’s treatment of stigmatized dialects in mainstream film, is scheduled for publication in 2022. In her free time, Lindsey loves hiking in the Black Hills with her four dogs.

Heidi Dehn

Heidi Dehn has always been drawn to the written word. She loves being able to create worlds and see them come to life on the stage. She is particularly fond of absurdism and wit and enjoys the works of Albee, Ruhl, and Wilde. Plays allow for unique examination of life and Heidi aims to see the world from as many angles as possible in her work. 

Mike Fellner

Originally from Brooklyn New York, Mike has lived in South Dakota since 1975. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Texas in Counseling Psychology and after completing his career with the V.A. at Fort Meade, he has worked as a mental consultant first at the Northern Hills Drug Court and presently for Box Elder Job Corps working with adolescents and young adults. He grew up around opera and theater in New York City and although his three daughters all grew up in South Dakota, two of them now live in the New York Metropolitan Area and are active in the arts. His oldest daughter lives in Minneapolis. All of them have had careers in the performing arts. He and his wife, Carol have three grandchildren, all of them in the New York area so that is where you can find him when he is not in Sturgis, SD.​

Lloyd Potter

Lloyd Potter began playwriting around six years ago and has been a member of the Broken Lemons since its inception.  In 2019 he participated in the 24 Hour Playwriter Festival where his ten-minute play, Sense and the Tenor, was performed.  The past two years, he has been commissioned to write the one-act plays which St. Thomas More High School performed at the regional one-act play competition: Fruit Stand in 2021 and Mr. Thompson’s Farewell in 2022.  In January, 2022, his show, Quattour Equites, (The Four Horsemen), was read as part of the New Play Development Series.

Interested in joining the Broken Lemons? Email Merlyn Q. Sell at merlyn@bhct.org