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 The opener of the show is three selections from "You're a good Man
Charlie Brown." All are exceptionally well done, especially the
piece "Suppertime" which features Dan Bailey in the role of Snoopy,
who is overjoyed by the arrival of his dinner. Even so, his
performance does not overshadow any of the next half dozen or so
numbers in the first hour of the show as performed during the dress
rehearsal on Thursday evening.
The two-hour production will feature a wide variety of music that is
a selection of favorites from past performances of the theater
group. Guests can expect to see a selection from Les Miserables by
Brenda Popham. Dan McLaughlin will perform a well-known selection
"If I were a rich man" from Fiddler on the Roof.
Other selections will be taken from The Sound of Music, The King and
I, and Godspell in the first half of the program. After a ten minute
intermission, the second half will open with selections from My Fair
Lady featuring the voices of Emmary Roemer and Tom McLaughlin.
 Additional selections will be performed from the musicals Nunsense,
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Seussical: The
Musical, and Pirates of Penzance. There will also be a feature of
Leading Ladies that will include Glenda from Wicked played by
Brittney McLaughlin, Adelaide from Guys and Dolls by Julie King, and
Gail King will perform "Don't Cry for me Argentina" as the title
character in the musical Evita.
Opening comments about the theater group will be offered by Jean
Gossett, and Tom McLaughlin will introduce the performances. Musical
accompaniment will be provided by Kay Dobson, Julie Kasa and Paula
Knopp.
Director Tim Searby said on Thursday evening that the cast is very
excited to see opening night arrive. The rehearsals for the
performance started six weeks ago, and everyone is very well
prepared for opening night.
The theater group offered up their first performance 43 years ago,
in 1972. For many years they offered three performances each summer
and are hopeful that next year they will be able to offer at least
two. Searby said the board of directors would meet after this
weekend and look at the financial capabilities of the group for next
year. He is hopeful that the donation-only performances this weekend
will bring in enough to support two productions next summer. If so,
Searby said they want to do one play specifically for children, then
a second family oriented play.
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Searby noted that he is thrilled with the response that the return of the
Lincoln Community Theatre has brought in. Right now the Friday night performance
is filled, and there are 200 seats spoken for the Saturday night performance.
Searby said the Johnston Center for Performing Arts is a wonderful place to hold
their productions and in the history of the group there had been only two
seasons when they did not perform on the campus of Lincoln College.
He noted that in those two years, the performances were done at the Lincoln
Theater just off the Downtown Square in Lincoln. He said then the theater was
set up for Vaudeville style performances in addition to movies and being there
was also a great time for the group.
The group took a few years off, but this summer they are returning triumphantly
with a remarkable performance.
For anyone who wishes to attend one of the two remianing performances (Friday is
filled) at the Johnston Center this weekend, they need to act quickly. Tickets
are required and are going fast. To reserve a free ticket go to the Lincoln
Theatre Group (
http://lincolncommunitytheatre.org/ ) website and click "add to cart" beside
the performance you wish to attend. On Saturday, the curtain opens at 7:30 p.m.
and the Sunday performance will be a 2 p.m. matinee.
While there is no admission fee, a donation envelope will be enclosed in the
program, and Searby is hopeful that guests will give generously.
Searby also noted the group had planned on doing some short clips from their
performance at the Lincoln Art in the Park event on Saturday and Sunday.
However, he said looking at the weather, and considering the tempo of the
performances plus the makeup and costumes, they decided they would have to
cancel that plan for the well-being of the performers. Another good reason to
get those seats reserved now.
[Nila Smith]
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