'Fiddler' carries on fine tradition

Since McCook is located hours away from metropolitan centers, you might think the community is deprived of musical and theatrical performances. And there were times -- years back -- when that was true.

But things started changing 20 years ago when a new community theater group presented "Music Man." As it has turned out, that show -- presented in March 1985 -- was the dawn of a new era.

Since then, the Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre Association has presented more than 40 shows, with a spring musical and a fall drama taking place almost every year.

This year's musical, "Fiddler on the Roof," is an illustration of the quality of productions which have distinguished the theater group. "Cast members are more than four weeks away from the opening performance," said Director Don Harpst, "but they're already out of their books." That's show business talk, which means the 40 cast members have already memorized their song lyrics and speaking lines, and are now concentrating on the finer parts of their performances, such as timing and stage movements.

That's due, in part, to the experience of the cast. Showing the loyalty and devotion of the theatrical troupe is the fact that seven members of the "Music Man" production in 1985 are also members of the cast of "Fiddler on the Roof" in 2005.

Over 20 years of shows, Harpst estimates more than 1,000 cast and crew members have been involved in Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre Association production. "When you add up all the rehearsals, set building, costume sewing and performance time, I'm guessing that more than 100,000 hours have been devoted to theatrical productions in McCook in the last 20 years," Harpst said.

Harpst is one of the seven in the original production of "Music Man" 20 years ago who are also involved in the "Fiddler" show in 2005. The others are Linda Baker, Charlie Coleman, Merlin Brown, Karrie O'Brien, Marie Coffey and Phil Lyons.

"We owe a lot to Don Blank and Cloyd Clark for helping to get the ball rolling on the Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre Association in the fall of 1984," Harpst said. The community, in turn, is indebted to the dedicated members of the theater group. Their enthusiasm and dedication have given this area many marvelous hours of musical and theatrical entertainment.