Norwegians may be invited to their homeland
Reality TV show will be casting at Mall of America this weekend
BY Spenser Bickett – SUN NEWSPAPERS INTERN
Minnesotans with Norwegian heritage have an opportunity to capitalize on their lineage during live auditions this weekend in Bloomington.
O’Connor Casting Company is holding an open casting call 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at Mall of America for season four of Norway’s reality TV show “The Great Norway Adventure.”
The Great Norway Adventure, or “Alt for Norge” in Norwegian, follows Norwegian-Americans who fly to Norway and immerse themselves in Norwegian culture and compete in challenges against one another. To qualify, contests must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, have Norwegian ancestry and have never traveled to Norway.
In the show’s previous three seasons, six contestants have been from Minnesota. Seasons one and two of the show have won Norwegian Emmys, and season three just finished airing. The show is available to watch on YouTube for American viewers. Though there is Norwegian narration, there are English subtitles.
The biggest draw for people to audition is not just an all-expenses-paid trip to Norway, explained casting producer Joan O’Connor. “The winner gets to meet relatives in Norway they didn’t even know existed, so it’s an emotional journey as well as a physical one,” O’Connor said.
The experience offered by being on the show is one you don’t get by just visiting as a tourist, O’Connor noted. “You get to explore Norway, race dogsleds, sleep in ice caves, do things typical tourists can’t,” O’Connor explained.
The casting call is in the Executive Center of Mall of America.
Info: xr.com/norway.
