BJ Fairchild-Newman brought Edgar Lee Masters Spoon River Anthology to the Strand as part of the Shelby County Arts Fest.   She assembled a cast of community leaders to bring the characters from the dead to life.

The cast included:

Tom Krughoff (narrator), Chris King, Tom DeBaun, Denise Holland, Jamie Meyer, Angie Davies, Ron Hamilton, Chris Browder, Jeff Sponsel, John Hartnett, Angela Gill, Gaye McKinney, Candy Miller, Brooke Collins and Scott Asher.

John R. Scott was the auctioneer for the 2011 Shelby County Arts Fest.   This year John R. auctioned the decorated old Strand Chairs.   All proceeds benefit the Shelby County Arts Fest.   The Strand Theatre donated all the chairs for auction.

The Blue River Community Choir under the direction of Kathy Brunsman performed at the Strand for the Shelby County Arts Fest.   This concert, given on October 15, 2011,  featured American music from the 19th century.

The Shelby County Arts Fest each year sponsors a public art contest.   This year various groups from Shelby County decorated our 1938 Strand Seats.   These chairs, built by the American Seating Company for the 1938 Strand renovation are still in use on our balcony.   We have hundreds that used to be downstairs stored in our attic.

This year many groups participated.  Each of the chairs is auctioned off at the end of the Festival to raise money for next year’s event.   You will note the unrestored chair below,  that was the entry be the Strand volunteers!

Shelbyville native Brian Ernstes performed opera and popular classics on the Strand stage on October 14, 2011.   This concert, presented as a kick-off event for the Shelby County Arts Fest, was preceded by an artists reception.

The Shelby County Players performed the comedy classic Arsenic and Old Lace at the Strand Theatre.   The cast and crew did a great job.   The large audience for each performance kept the Strand full of laughter.

Congratulation to director Tiffany Wilson and the rest of the Shelby County Players on an successful show.

Director: Tiffany Wilson	Producer: Lee Sakellarides
Managing Director: Cindy Leahy

 ARSENIC and OLD LACE

Thursday, September 29th at 7:30 pm
Friday, September 30th at 7:30pm
Saturday, October 1st at 7:30pm
Sunday, October 2nd at 2:00pm

Director: Tiffany D. Wilson
Producer: Lee Sakellarides
Assistant Director:Debbie Stafford

CAST MEMBERS:                                       
Abby Brewster: Joann White                   
The Rev. Dr. Harper: Lindy Meyer
Teddy Brewster: Mike Evans
Officer Brophy: Jacob Stillabower
Officer Klein: Jim Hemmelgarn
Martha Brewster: Chris Cox
Elaine Harper: Karen Markle
Mortimer Brewster: Willam Brown
Mr. Gibbs: J Alyn Hurst
Johnathan Brewster: Russ Gross
Dr. Einstein: Carey Nigh
Officer O’Hara: Kelly Short
Lieutenant Rooney: Lindy Meyer
Ms. Witherspoon: Letitia Clemons

CREW MEMBERS:
Stage Manager: Khrystyne Gibson-Turner
Assistant Stage Manager: Betty Vore
Set Designer: Mike Evans
Painting Coordinator: Kelly Short
Light Board Operator: Gordon Hood
Lighting Assistant: Rick Walke
Sound Designer: Bill Mack
Costume Coordinator: Pat Smith
Costume Assistants: Tawni Morningstar
Kim Gallagher