“Dead to the Last Drop,” written by Ken Jones, is an interactive murder mystery set in a coffeeshop called Café Caffeine. As the audience is led through the twists and turns of the mystery by an eccentric cast of characters, they will have to pay close attention to the clues. Unlike many plays, the audience will vote on the outcome of the case at the end.

The show will be directed this year by Christina Bartlett. With years of acting, stage managing, and directing behind her, Bartlett will bring a fine-tuned eye to the production. “I’m looking forward to directing a show that has this level of audience interaction,” Bartlett said. “It really gets everyone involved in the action of the play.”

The scene will be further set for this coffee-themed play by The Blacksmith Coffee Roastery, who will be sponsoring this year’s event. “We all thought that this show would be a great opportunity to involve a local business,” Johnson said. “Because the play is set in a coffeeshop, it seemed perfect to involve a coffee roastery.” The Blacksmith Coffee Roastery will be serving coffee with dinner as well as providing a gift basket for a drawing that evening.

“Dead to the Last Drop” will be presented February 17 and 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Bethany Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. Tickets are $30, which include dinner and the show, and may be purchased in advance. To reserve tickets, contact the Broadway RFD board by calling (888)-227-2227 or by email at info@broadway.org.

The plan started as Bethany Home was searching for ideas to celebrate its centennial. “When we were initially talking about who we could collaborate with for our celebration, Broadway RFD came up. We asked and we’re grateful they said yes,” said Dale Hoosier, Bethany Home Development Director.

To honor Bethany Home’s service in the community, Broadway RFD proposed the idea of a Musical Revue. “We will be able to represent all the years that Bethany Home has been caring for individuals,” Ann Metcalfe, vocal director for the Musical Revue, said.

A Celebration of 100 Years Through Music will feature music and dancing from each decade of Bethany Home’s existence. “So much of our lives and memories are connected with music. It invokes that history. It will be a good remembrance,” said Andrea Johnson, Bethany Home Human Resources Director.

To further the memories, photographs depicting Bethany Home, since their beginning in 1911, will be prominently displayed during the program.

The Musical Revue is only one part of a weeklong celebration. Other events include the opening of a cornerstone in the Bethany Home library at 1:00 p.m. and an open house for former and current staff and board members from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, November 19. On Sunday, November 20, a special chapel service led by Bishop Mansholt at Bethany Home chapel will be held at 9:30 a.m. A groundbreaking will be at 1:00 p.m. for the new Bethany Home Assisted Living Site at 1001 E. Swensson Street.

“We’re thrilled to be a part of the festivities. Theatre is an art form that is meant to be shared and we look forward to any opportunity we have for collaboration,” Molly Johnson, President of Broadway RFD, said.

A Celebration of 100 Years Through Music will be performed 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 19 and 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 20 in Smoky Valley High School Auditorium. Tickets are $5 for the public and free to Bethany Home staff and residents.

“When we were approached with the idea, we thought it would be a wonderful way to mark this incredible anniversary,” Molly Johnson, President of Broadway RFD, said.

Bethany Home was quick to agree. “When we were initially talking about who we could collaborate with for our celebration, Broadway RFD came up. They always do quality productions,” said Dale Hoosier, Bethany Home Development Director.

To highlight the talents of local actors, musicians, and dancers, Broadway RFD decided to put together a Musical Revue. It will feature both music and dancing, which are representative of each decade of Bethany Home’s 100 years. Ann Metcalfe will direct the vocal segments of the Revue, while Tammi Dahlsten will direct the dancing.

To further the memories, photographs from Bethany Home’s history will be prominently displayed during the program.

“It is an opportunity to relive some great times. All of us love reminiscing. It’s easy to get caught up when you hear music from a certain era,” Hoosier said.

The Musical Revue is only one part of a weeklong celebration. Other events include the opening of a cornerstone in the Bethany Home library at 1:00 p.m. and an open house for former and current staff and board members from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, November 19. On Sunday, November 20, a special chapel service led by Bishop Mansholt at Bethany Home chapel will be held at 9:30 a.m. A groundbreaking for the new Bethany Home Assisted Living Site will be at 1:00 p.m. at 1001 E. Swensson Street.

Join Broadway RFD and Bethany Home as they celebrate this remarkable anniversary. A Celebration of 100 Years Through Music will be performed November 19 at 7:00 p.m. and November 20 at 4:00 p.m. at Smoky Valley High School Auditorium. Tickets are $5 for the public and are free to Bethany home staff and residents.

Audience members are sure to enjoy a diverse season this year. With musicals, comedies, and mysteries, there will be something for everyone.

This fall, Broadway RFD will collaborate with Bethany Home to present the Musical Revue A Celebration of 100 Years Through Music. The production, directed by Ann Metcalfe with choreography by Tammi Dahlsten, will showcase music and dancing from each decade since Bethany Home’s founding in 1911. The Revue will also feature photographs from Bethany Home’s history. “So much of our lives and memories are connected with music. It invokes that history. It will be a good remembrance,” said Andrea Johnson, Bethany Home Human Resources Director. A Celebration of 100 Years Through Music will be presented November 19 at 7:00 p.m. and November 20 at 4:00 p.m. at Smoky Valley High School Auditorium. Tickets are $5 for the public and free to Bethany Home staff and residents.

During February’s blistering cold, audiences will be able to warm up with the coffee-themed dinner theatre Dead to the Last Drop by Ken Jones. The show is an interactive murder mystery, which has both comedy and suspense. The dinner theatre will be presented February 17 and 18. A venue will be announced soon.

As the weather turns warmer, Broadway RFD will join forces with The Bethany College Theatre Department to present A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare. This classic Shakespeare comedy centers around four young lovers as their lives are magically manipulated by faeries in the forest one fateful night. The play will be presented at the amphitheater on the Bethany College Campus April 20 and 21. “We had a wonderful experience collaborating with Bethany College on The Odd Couple last year. This is so exciting that we will be able to combine resources again,” said Cody Whetstone, who will direct the play.

Next summer, the annual musical will be Pirates of Penzance by Arthur Sullivan and W.S. Gilbert. The musical, about Frederic, a boy celebrating the end of his apprenticeship to pirates, premiered in 1879 and has been a classic ever since. It features one of the most famous musical numbers, “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General.” The show will be July 20, 21, 27, and 28 at 8:00 p.m. at the Swensson Park Memorial Bandshell.

“We are excited about our shows this year. It will definitely showcase the range of talent we have in this community,” Johnson said.

For more information about Broadway RFD’s season including information about tickets, venues, and dates visit their website at www.broadwayrfd.org or contact them at info@broadwayrfd.org or by calling (785) 227-2227.

“I sing a song at the beginning of the show called ‘Pure Imagination.’ That’s what this story is. What kid wouldn’t want their own chocolate factory?” says Tyler Johnson, who plays the title character Willy Wonka.

The musical, based on the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, tells the story of Charlie Bucket who, along with four other children, finds a golden ticket hidden in a chocolate bar and wins the chance of a lifetime – a rare tour of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. The factory is filled with unbelievable sights including green-haired Oompa Loompas and rivers of chocolate. What the kids don’t know is that this is truly a test to choose the heir to Willy Wonka’s chocolate empire.

Although the book certainly demonstrates every kid’s fantasy, Tanner Larson, who plays Charlie in the musical, also believes there’s more to this story than meets the eye. “I think everyone can learn lessons from Charlie like loving your family. And just because you have problems like Charlie being dirt poor doesn’t mean something amazing can’t happen. Granted, it probably won’t be winning a chocolate factory,” Larson says.

Bill Olson, who plays Charlie’s Grandpa Joe, agrees. “Charlie and Grandpa Joe both learn through their journey that honesty is always the best policy and that you should always maintain your good character,” Olson says.

Molly Johnson, this year’s director, believes there’s something for everyone in this production. “The cast has really had a great experience putting this together. I think audiences will find that it’s so much fun, but also that there are many lessons that we learn with Charlie along the way,” Johnsons says.

Willy Wonka will be performed Friday and Saturday, July 29, and 30 at 8:00 p.m. at Swensson Memorial Park Bandshell. If one performance is rained out, it will be moved to Sunday, July 31 at 7 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs and settle back for an evening of “Pure Imagination!”

Based on Roald Dahl’s classic novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this story of a peculiar candy factory owner and the search for his heir has been turned into a movie twice as well as this musical stage production. Willy Wonka includes a cast of 45 consisting of people from many age groups around the Smoky Valley area.

“I’m really excited with how many young people are involved this year. They bring an energy and excitement to the show and it’s a great experience to be able to work with them,” says Molly Johnson, this year’s director.

Tanner Larson will be playing the role of Charlie Bucket, a young man who, through a lucky golden ticket hidden in a chocolate bar, wins the chance of a lifetime – a tour of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.  Though his family is incredibly poor, through a bit of luck Charlie finds the ticket and embarks on his journey with his Grandpa Joe, played by Bill Olson.

Four other children also win a tour including Augustus Gloop, played by Laurence Dahlsten; Mike Teavee, played by Chandler Sherwood; Veruca Salt, played by Kaylee Hanson; and Violet Beauregard, played by Payton Truitt. Their tour guide is the eccentric owner of the chocolate factory – Willy Wonka, played by Tyler Johnson.

Also appearing this summer are Mary Willard as Grandma Georgina, Beth Olson as Grandma Josephine, Warren Johnson as Grandpa George, Stephen Klaassen as Mr. Bucket, Meghan Klaassen as Mrs. Bucket, Brent Heizelman as Mr. Salt, Lara Reid as Mrs. Beauregard, Nichol DeChant as Mrs. Gloop, Marianne Mooney as Ms. Teavee, and Benjamin Dolezal as Phineous Trout.

Playing the Candy Man Kids and Chorus of Cooks are Tabitha Miner, Katie Klaassen, Sharaie Andrusak, Alyssa Sharpe, Hannah Carlson, Emma Anderson, Leslie Manning, C. C. Reid, Jessica VanRanken, Jonathan Dahlsten, Ashley Unrein, and Alyssa Carlson.

As the Oompa-Loompa Chorus are Bailey Roberts, Anna Reece, Avery Cooper, Julia Wilson, Shealee Krehbiel, Baylee Wolf, Dalana Dutton, Alyssa Patrick, Abigail Rishel, and Elise Nelson.

The Squirrels are being played by Lauren Dolezal, Malina Anderson, Diana Hernandez, Danielle Rodgers, Maria Apel, and Meka Heizelman.

Willy Wonka will be July 22, 23, 29, and 30 at 8:00 p.m. at Swensson Memorial Bandshell in Lindsborg.

A musical revue for Bethany Home Centennial Celebration

Location:

Smokey Valley High School Auditorium

Lindsborg, KS 67456

Date:

Sunday November 20, 2011

Time:

4:00pm

More information (316) 650-8658

Ticket Pricing: $5.00 or FREE for Bethany Home residents and staff.

A musical revue for Bethany Home Centennial Celebration

Location:

Smokey Valley High School Auditorium

Lindsborg, KS 67456

Date:

Saturday November 19, 2011

Time:

7:00pm

More information (316) 650-8658

Ticket Pricing: $5.00 or FREE for Bethany Home residents and staff.

Location:

Burnett Centre – Bethany College Campus

Lindsborg, KS 67456

Date:

May 27, 2011

Time:

7:30pm

More information (316) 650-8658

Ticket Pricing: $10.00 or $5.00 with Bethany College Student ID

Location:

Burnett Centre – Bethany College Campus

Lindsborg, KS 67456

Date:

May 27, 2011

Time:

7:30pm

More information (316) 650-8658

Ticket Pricing: $10.00 or $5.00 with Bethany College Student ID