From staff reports
Two recent weekends of dinner theater productions by Clarion Community Theater resulted in more than $3,000 in gifts and assistance for local families.
The group performed the comedy “Stay As Dead As You Are,” a spoof of murder-mysteries and high school reunions.
After discussing where to donate the proceeds, the group opted to offer assistance to Clarion Forest Visiting Nurses Association’s Christmas project.
Clarion Forest VNA provided the theater group with the names of 10 individuals or families the organization’s nurses wanted to help this year.
About $2,000 worth of food, gifts and cash gift cards were distributed by the members of the theater group in the Knox and Clarion areas.
Another $500 was used at Marianne Pharmacy where theater group member Ken Omecinski distributed gift cards to help people with prescription costs just before Christmas.
Additional funds helped purchase food for complete Christmas meals for two families in the Knox area and clothing for children in the area.
“We preformed the shows at the American Legion in Knox and at the Clarion Mall,” said Sherman. “The folks at the legion worked it out so we had no costs using that location and Denny Hill at the Clarion Mall donated the space we used there.
“We’re very grateful for the support of the Knox American Legion and the Clarion Mall.”
The cast of the show included Hannah Allison of Clarion, Andrea Deible of Knox, Jody Frazier of Kossuth (who directed and organized the show), Pam Huffman of Lamartine, Linda Lerch of Miola, Kim Nichols of Clarion, Kim Pfaff of Shippenville, Eddie Schmader of Clarion, Sherman of Salem Township, Eric Sterner of Shippenville, Keegan Stewart of Kossuth and Steve Wozniak of Clarion.
It was a great show, a great cast and a great time,” said Sherman. “We’re very grateful, though, to all of the people who bought a ticket and came out to see the show.
“The audiences were very supportive and generous. They got into the spirit of the Class of 88 reunion’ and they, along with us, had a really enjoyable time.”
Clarion Community Theater will return to the group’s home stage June 13-15 and 20-22 at the Sawmill Theater in Cook Forest with a yet to be determined comedy performance.
The group plans on performing another holiday benefit dinner theater next fall as well.