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December 3, 2009

Sisters bring variety show to Nicollet

By Amanda Dyslin

It all started decades ago at a home in Hanska — three little girls singing together, just for fun, with their mom’s encouragement.

There was talent there, though. Mom recognized it, and soon the girls were in front of audiences at churches and fairs.

“Our mother was very instrumental in getting us out in front of an audience,” said Kara Millerhagen of the south Metro area, where her sisters, Alisa Leonard and Kjersten Dysthe, also live.

Since those early years, there hasn’t been a time when the women haven’t performed together. Even during college they would find time to sing.

The turning point, Millerhagen said, when the singing went from something fun to do to being more serious and professional, was in 2000. That’s when the women, who perform under the group name Sister, started performing original music.

“That was really the turning point for us, when we decided we wanted to put our own stamp on things,” said Millerhagen, a Minnesota State University alum. “Up until that point, we basically mimicked what we heard other people doing.”

These days, you won’t see anyone doing what Sister does. Their act isn’t just music. The women do some theater, wear funny costumes and make jokes. There are variety show elements, which some have compared to Carol Burnett. But there are also serious moments.

“Sometimes you’re going to have moments that are going to feel like a concert and other moments feel like a play,” she said. “I would describe the style as fusion.”

Their current tour is of “Pink Pearls: A Holiday Mixed Bag,” which stops in Nicollet Sunday. The variety show includes Christmas songs, with unique arrangements by Leonard, poetry and funny characters.

“We do a song that depicts our aunts getting ready for the holidays,” Millerhagen said. “We allow for some spontaneity in the camaraderie with the audience so people feel like we’re inventing it on the spot.”

The three sisters, who have toured nationally, have each found their niche in the group. Dysthe handles the marketing of the group. Leonard is the musical director, arranges the music and is the lead singer. Millerhagen writes the music and is the stage director.

They’ve arrived at a mix of entertainment in their performances they think appeals to a wide range of people.

“It’s not all funny, funny, funny,” she said. “There are moments where you’ll say, ‘Oh, that’s beautiful.’”

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