Shows reveal no shortage of talent

Friday and Saturday night Valentine concerts at the Bieroc Cafe were notable because the "headliners," the Talbott Brothers, fresh from an East Coast tour and with several albums of original music under their belts, were once the "local openers" that are a tradition at the popular listening room.

The local openers for the two-day, sold-out engagement were the cast of the Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre production of the Elvis tribute, "All Shook Up" on Friday, and Oscar and Stephanie Montes, accomplished local musicians in their own right.

In a way, Southwest Nebraska has the best of both worlds. We enjoy small-town living, but quality live entertainment is the rule rather than the exception.

"All Shook Up," for example, takes the stage in March, three different nights and two consecutive Sundays at the historic Fox Theatre in downtown McCook.

Directed by officially but not actually retired music teacher Charles Coleman, the show takes a fanciful look back at vintage 1955 America through Elvis Presley's tunes.

Shows will be Saturday, March 8; Sunday, March 9; Friday, March 14; Saturday, March 15; and Sunday, March 16. The Friday and Saturday performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday shows will start at 2 p.m.

Advance tickets are $12 each and are available at Hershberger Music Company and Janssen-Kool Honda in McCook, or by calling Janet Hepp at (308) 345-5387.

If seating remains, tickets will be on sale at the door on the days and nights of the performances for $15 each.

If you can't wait that long, however, check out this Sunday's Hometown Talent show, 2 p.m at the Fox.

You'll have another chance to hear Oscar and Stephanie Montes, plus Kerri Unger and Angie Reiners, tap dancers Allison Tolliver and Lindi Johnson, Rachel Gordine (who co-stars in "All Shook Up"), the McCook Community College Select Choir; long-time local musicians Lonnie Weyeneth, JeriLynn Karr and Darin Karr in their newly formed musical group Three Fold, keyboardist Elsie Kerchal from the band "My Starving Lion," Brad and Adrienne Randel of Indianola and the entire cast of 'All Shook Up."

Admission is by a free-will donation, with all proceeds going toward McCook's own hometown community theater.

Judging from the quantity and quality of upcoming local talent, we're in for many years of enjoyable live entertainment.