"Foggy Dew Western Review" at Harrington Opera House

Submitted by Karen Robertson

The next performance event at the Harrington Opera House will be Friday, March 21, at 7 p.m.

The Horse Crazy Cowgirl Band and Dave McClure will lead the audience on a hilarious trip down the memory trail with a visit to the golden age of radio. Beneath a western moon and surrounded by the spirited history of the American West the (fictional) KMOO radio station, dedicated to preserving cowboy culture, will provide wholesome entertainment for the whole family!

Planning to perform some of their best loved songs, the Horse Crazy Cowgirl Band is nationally recognized by the Western Music Association as the best "Trio" of the year. Dave McClure, cowboy poet and author claims to be "the best announcer this side of the Missouri River"! Dave's zany humor and original wit are "always the talk of the town," according to the band members.

Advance tickets are available at $12 for adults and $5 for ages 12 and under at The Odessa Record Office, Harrington Foods, Harrington City Hall, and AmericanWest Bank in Davenport, or by calling 509-253-4719. Tickets at the door will be $15 for adults (but remain at $5 for ages 12 and under).

Patrons of the historic Opera House will notice a few changes as the Harrington Opera House Society (HOHS) has had a busy year. For a limited time only, visitors will be able to view the brickwork in the walls of the auditorium. HOHS volunteer Bonnie Hardy has spent the last month removing the disintegrating plaster on the east and south walls. Over the next few months, they will be returned to their original look using sheetrock instead of plaster. Bonnie has also been working on refinishing the wood moulding and accent pieces from the auditorium walls. Last week, Davenport Building Supply installed carpeting in portions of the lobby and The Art Room. Jay Kane recently provided expertise in refurbishing the woodwork and walls surrounding the Art Room windows. Stage curtains, formerly located in EWU's Showalter Hall, are waiting in the wings off stage to be resized and hung in the near future. Thanks to a grant from the Lincoln County Commissioners, architectural drawings and engineering design work by Sue Lani Madsen has been completed for the elevator and to provide ADA accessibility. There's a long way to go to secure the additional $231,000 still needed to complete the preparation, purchase, and installation of the elevator.

In addition to performance events like the upcoming "Foggy Dew Western Review," fundraising has included Rummage & Collectibles Fundraising Days, applying for grants and accepting HOHS memberships which are $25 for individuals or $35 for families or businesses.

Besides fundraising and ongoing building rehabilitation, the HOHS expanded the music and arts program from one to two afternoons a week this winter. More details will be provided in a future article.

A support form and more information about the historic Harrington Opera House is available from http://www.harringtonoperahouse.org and on Facebook. Ticket purchasers for performances are reminded that the auditorium is on the second floor. A video feed can be provided in The Art Room on the ground floor for those who call 509-253-4719 in advance.