05/27/2026
What an unforgettable evening in Olivia! 🎶🚗🌽
The world premiere of Randy Sabien’s original musical “Are We There Yet?” received a standing ovation from a crowd of more than 100 attendees at Olivia’s historic 1914 Armory, now the Olivia Community Center, on Saturday, May 16!
The Olivia Corn Capital Days Committee extends its heartfelt thanks to Randy Sabien, Gary Rue, and Jan Lee for bringing Olivia’s incredible history to life through music, storytelling, and historic imagery. The performance beautifully captured the legendary journey of former Olivia Mayor Michael J. Dowling and his 1913 family motorcade trek from Olivia to Yellowstone National Park—helping blaze America’s first northern coast-to-coast auto routes and inspiring the spirit of the great American road trip.
Dowling’s remarkable story of perseverance, leadership, and innovation continues to inspire generations. Despite losing both legs, one arm, and the fingers on his remaining hand to frostbite during Minnesota’s historic 1880 blizzard, Dowling went on to become a pioneering educator, newspaperman, businessman, advocate, and community leader whose impact reached far beyond Olivia.
This special event was hosted in partnership with the Corn Capital Days Committee’s “250 Kick-Off” initiative, celebrating our shared community story leading up to America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 and Olivia’s 150th anniversary in 2028.
A special thank you to the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Legacy Fund, Olivia Public Library, Novak Creative Exchange, Boy Scout Troop 313, Bill Gabbert, the women of House of Hope, and the City of Olivia for helping make this incredible evening possible.
And thank you again to Randy, Gary, and Jan for their masterful musical craftsmanship and dedication to sharing Olivia’s trailblazing legacy.
If the question is “Are We There Yet?”
The answer is: You’ll want to be.
