Page 11 - 1980

Dogpatch USA

It’s a typical day

fi 6 p u ll house ... are you ready? I “ Li’l Abner” opened. A benefit show
I feel the energy. Think, believe was performed for the elderly to
and good luck.” begin its two week, eight show
No, it’s not your local poker game. schedule. The cast was kept busy
It’s a pre-play pep-rally preparing a with make-up calls, promotions,
unique company of people. publicity and the production nights.
The overture begins. The actors When it closed on July 8, 2,586 peo­
and actresses turn themselves on ple had experienced life as a Dog-
for two hours in an animated world patcher.
full of Yokumberry tonic, Sadie Haw- So, the play ended ... or did it?
kin’s Day and Daisy’s “ drutherly” Four hundred and seventy-four
love for Abner. empty seats, was it really all over?
What made the town of Dogpatch No, for the cast of "Li’l Abner” there
come to life here? The idea was was much, much more. There was
brought up when Director Jack more than the critiques. There was
Parkhurst was applying for the posi­ more than the cast parties. There
tion of drama instructor. was a feeling of a group united to
Auditions were held in the spring form one hard working company.
and were limited to people who lived Businessmen, teachers, students,
in or taught in the Ralston school blue collar workers, and housewives
district. joined talents and the first Ralston
Finally, after eight weeks of hard Community Theatre was born.
work by over two hundred people,
_________________)

Curtain Call. The 55 member cast ends the show with the
song, "Jubilation T. Cornpone." The cast and crews, under
the direction of Mr. Parkhurst and Musical Director Dwaine
Price, played to a total audience of 2,361
Fighting back for the very first time, Pappy (Scott Gilliland)
tens Mammy (Janie Rausch) to "get. " Thousands of man
hours were spent in creating the show which ran June 28-30
and July 1,5,6,7, and 8