Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Front Row (left to right): Dalton Deal, Krickett Shoemaker, Michael Williams, Naomi Hutchinson, Gabbie Oleson, Alexis Lenstrom, and Emerson Frerichs. Back Row: Kyle Lenstrom, Alexa Shoemaker, Eliza Wilber, Amanda Waggoner, Ekacia Wilber, Kenzie Shoemaker, Nate Hutchinson, and Devani Frerichs. Not pictured: Micayla McConnell, Callen McConnell, and Ainsley Juelfs Stage crew: Josh Hutchinson, Mary Kasten, Josh Kasten, Jayden Shoemaker, Reagan Williams, Jadyn Juelfs, and Sabrynn Bogert
Young actors and actresses in the Potter-Dix area are once again gathering to practice for the annual Potter-Dix Children's Theater performance.
Under directors Beth Bogert and Kristin Kasten, with costume designer Jodi Enevoldsen, a total of 25 children from ages 4 – 13 build sets, sing, dance, act and have fun while entertaining their audience. Of those children, 18 are performers and seven are stage crew.
"They have an abundance of energy and are extremely excited to share this story and music with the surrounding communities. They practice for two hours every weekday for two weeks to prepare for the final performance at 7pm in the Potter Legion Hall," Kasten said. "It is amazing what they can accomplish in such a short amount of time. With less than 20 hours of practice, they learn lyrics and actions to seven songs, as well as memorize lines and stage movements. You have to see it to believe it! And they do this for FUN during their summer vacation."
Each year for the past 11, the group performs to raise funds for the Potter-Dix Early Learning Facility (PD ELF), a local daycare and preschool. PD ELF is a program of Volunteers of America – Western Nebraska.
Practices for this year's performance, "Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch," a musical adaptation based on the book by Trinka Hakes Noble, began on July 2 and will run for two hours every weekday through July 13.
According to Kasten, the musical will include country music with some 50s songs mixed in.
The performance is scheduled for Friday, July 13 at 7 p.m. in the Potter Community Hall and there will also be a silent auction with items donated from area businesses and individuals, a barbecue and kids craft sale from 5:30 – 6:45 that same evening.
