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On June 27, 1977, one of Minnesota's grandest homes became the sight of one of its most notorious crimes.

Elisabeth Congdon, 83, was murdered, along with her nurse, Velma Pietila, in the Glensheen mansion on the shores of Lake Superior. 

Pietila was beaten to death with a candlestick, Congdon was smothered with a pillow.

Hearing the details, most people don't think "Let's make a musical!" — but that's exactly what Ron Peluso, Chan Poling and Andrew Fleser have done. "Glensheen," the musical, is now playing at the History Theatre in St. Paul.

History Theatre brings sensational killings to life in 'Glensheen'

"Writing a brand new musical based on tragedy — that's one of the things we've been wrestling with the whole time," said Poling, better known for his role in bands The Suburbs and The New Standards. "How do you turn a real tragic situation into a musical, which is typically known for lightness and entertainment?"

The final production plays with the absurd — there's a top hat song and dance during the courtroom scene, for example — and the actual murders are 

"We did deal with the victims," Poling said. "I tried to give the nurse a song that she could sing that expressed her humanity and the real sadness of her plight."

"Glensheen" doesn't stop with the murders; it delves deep into the aftermath as well. The musical spends time on the police and the prosecutors as they sort out the details of the crime. After the murders, Elisabeth Congdon's son-in-law, Roger Caldwell, confessed and was found guilty. Her adopted daughter, Marjorie Caldwell, was charged with conspiracy, but later acquitted. 

Joe Kimball, author of "Secrets of the Congdon Mansion: The Unofficial Guide to Glensheen and the Congdon Murders," said the musical gives an accurate overview of the complicated and tangled case.

“What To Do” from “Glensheen” by MPR News

Kimball, Peluso, Poling and Fleser appeared on 

 to talk about the adaptation, and about balancing tragic facts with musical theater. The leads of the musical joined them to perform a collection of original songs from "Glensheen."

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Hearing the details of the Glensheen murders, most people don't think "Let's make a musical!" — but that's exactly what Ron Peluso, Chan Poling and Andrew Fleser have done.

The History Theatre's new take on the notorious Minnesota murders mixes crime and music.

'Glensheen': Turning tragedy into a musical

Courtesy of History Theater

This song takes place after Roger and Marjorie Caldwell have been turned down by the family when they asked for money to buy a ranch in Colorado. A little argument breaks out and Marjorie loses her cool. 

Full interview: http://ow.ly/TvdDK  

Image: Jennifer Maren as Marjory Congdon Caldwell in the History Theater's world premiere production of "Glensheen." Written by Jeffrey Hatcher with music by Chan Poling, the show examines one of the most infamous murders in Minnesota history. (Courtesy of History Theater)

'Glensheen': Murder and a musical

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