A fair holds memories as sweet as cotton candy for many.
Donna Browne figures so. And she and her Lasting Impressions senior theater troupe hope to capitalize in a blue-ribbon way on such nostalgia this weekend at Mill Race Center in downtown Columbus.
“This is probably the most fun show we’ve ever done,” she said.
Browne directs a 16-member cast of a dinner theater musical “Come to the Fair” Friday through Sunday at the center, 900 Lindsey St. The production just completed an inaugural weekend at Willow Leaves of Hope. Some 20 songs are from the 1945 movie “State Fair,” a virtual smorgasbord of Rodgers and Hammerstein hits, ranging from the title cut to “It Might As Well Be Spring.”
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Plus, nine other tunes are drawn from other sources, including the whimsical “Old McDonald Had a Farm.”
And the script, in order to avoid licensing predicaments, is an original that Browne penned, a task that she regularly has done. The two-act musical opens as the fictional Hicks family prepares to take their exhibits to the state fair.
In the past, the group has enjoyed what would qualify as grand champion crowds at the local center, which can seat 200 for the show and a buffet dinner prepared by Sadie’s Catering, a local favorite. In past years, a number of shows have sold out.
Browne mentioned that, in this presentation, troupe member Geneva Foster, long considered a handy helper with husband John Foster, has outdone herself building props, from fair booths to animal cutouts.
“She has just done something unreal,” Browne said.
Lasting Impressions fan Ruth Lucas considers the whole troupe unreal. She has been following its shows for several years, and bought her Columbus tickets even before this presentation opened in Hope.
“To me, seeing these people sing and perform so well amid their 60s, 70s and 80s is really inspirational,” Lucas said. “If people haven’t seen them yet, they should go (and attend). They won’t be disappointed.”
Helping their performance are professionals such as Kevin Butler, a veteran church choral leader and retired choral teacher and choral competition judge, who is serving as vocal coach and artistic director. Plus, veteran pianist Ed Bruenjes, a mainstay of community theater, is the accompanist for the show.
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What: The Lasting Impression’s presentation of the dinner theater musical "Come to the Fair."
When: 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Mill Race Center, 900 Lindsey St. in Columbus.
Tickets: $20, available at Mill Race Center or by calling 812-376-9241.
Information and updates: Facebook page for The Lasting Impressions.
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