SRC Community Chorus

"...the arts have been an inseparable part of the human journey; indeed, we depend on the arts to carry us toward the fullness of our humanity. We value them for themselves, and because we do, we believe knowing and practicing them is fundamental to the healthy development of our children's minds and spirits. That is why, in any civilization - ours included - the arts are inseparable from the very meaning of the term 'education.' We know from long experience that no one can claim to be truly educated who lacks basic knowledge and skills in the arts."

-National Standards for Arts Education

SRC Community Chorus, Man of La Mancha, July 2013

Our SRC Community Chorus Feature for May/June!

For May/June, we feature our own Gretchen Fuller's piano solo of "My Tribute" by Andraé Crouch. Learn about how the song came to be written at https://www.staugustine.com/article/20150903/LIFESTYLE/309039972.

From Gretchen: Because May includes Mother's Day, I selected "My Tribute" because it was my mother's favorite song. When I was 13, I performed an arrangement of it in Peoria. The owners of Byerly Music enjoyed it so much, they offered me a huge discount on a new piano. We were able to purchase a new piano for me, and I could play "My Tribute" for my mother any time she wished.

Thanks to Greg Pollitt and the First Christian Church of Canton for the audio recording of Gretchen.

To keep abreast of our upcoming events, please visit this webpage each month AND "like" us on our Facebook page.

2021 PRODUCTION NEWS (as of June 28, 2021)

SRC Community Chorus Presents The Musical World of Disney Revue August 5-8, Tickets On Sale!

The SRC Community Chorus returns to the stage for the first time in two years featuring the original revue The Musical World of Disney. Direction and script are by Carol Davis with musical direction and arrangements by Tony Roberts. The full-length production, with over 45 singers, technicians, and band members, features songs from Disney animated movies, live action films, and Broadway productions.

The Musical World of Disney will be presented in the Taylor Hall theater on the Spoon River College Canton Campus. The four evening performances on August 5-8 begin at 7:30 p.m. with an additional matinee performance on Sunday, August 8, at 2:30 p.m. Seats are $10 per person.

Seating can be reserved by calling (309) 649-6260 Monday through Thursday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. A confirmation email will be sent once payment has been approved by credit or debit card.

For safety and comfort, reserved seating is limited to 75 per performance. The reserved seating will be arranged in groups guaranteeing that those who order together can sit together. All tickets will be sold in advance and no tickets will be available at the door. Due to the length of the production, the show is not recommended for those under the age of nine.

Performers include Aja Lawson, Cecily Pearson, Carla Bobell, Corrinna Markland, Janet Munson, Lindsey Larson, Melissa Walker, Sara Mathis, Stacy Smith, Susan Juliusson, Tori Albanito, Sue Smith, Tammy Weaver, Charlene Kornoski-Duvall, Andrea Barbknecht, Natalie Orwig, Aaron Haacke, Alex Smith, Bruce Beal, Chad Murphy, Tony Roberts, Clay Klinedinst, John Davis, Mike Varnes, Trygve Meade, Ron Smith. Douglas Okey serves as Master of Ceremonies. Lindsey Larson and Alex Smith serve as assistant directors.

The SRC Community Chorus is a fundraising arm of the SRC Foundation raising funds for SRC student scholarships through the performing arts. The production is partially funded by a grant from the Two Rivers Arts Council, the Illinois Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

(Previous Update: May 15, 2021)

The Musical World of Disney: Because Illinois has now officially entered the Bridge Phase of COVID-19 our revue, The Magical World of Disney, is on! Rehearsals, using strict guidelines, will begin on June 1 as planned. We will update you about ticket sales once Illinois reaches Phase 5.

The Guys: Ditto on the 9/11 commemorative production of The Guys, a joint production of the SRC Commnity Chorus and SRC Theatre, featuring Douglas Okey and Carol Davis.

December 2021 Winter Concert: Plans are now underway to offer our annual winter concert once again. Rehearsals will begin in late September with the concert occurring on December 4 and 5, 2021. The concert will include a wide variety of holiday songs with a little theatre tossed in for good measure. We will continue to provide new information about the winter concert in the coming months.

But what about Messiah, you ask? We were presenting Handel's Messiah in 2020 to celebrate the SRC Community Chorus' 15th anniversary. Although we will not be presenting the work in 2021, we DO plan to reschedule that concert and are moving it to a future (as yet-to-be-determined) date.

(Previous Update: Apr. 9, 2021)

Our First Live Production in Two Years!

Activities continue as we optimistically prepare for our August 5-7 production of The Musical World of Disney. The cast has received music, the set designers are ready and set construction will begin on May 1, a full production meeting will be held via Zoom on April 18, preceded by a technical staff meeting on April 14. We celebrate so much talent both on stage and off! We will continue to update you each month on All Things Disney.

NOTE: Ticket sales will take place later than usual as we will need to know State Pandemic Protocols near the time of production. We do anticipate that our seating capacity will be reduced and limited, but we have added extra performances. Please follow recommended guidelines to ensure our "show can go on."

(Previous Update Below)

The SRC Community Chorus presents The Musical World of Disney, a musical revue, August 5-7, 2021 in the Taylor Hall Theatre at Spoon River College. Songs from all your favorite Disney animated films, live action movies, and Broadway shows.

Production Team:
Director - Carol Davis
Musical Director - Dr. Tony Roberts
Some Other Guy: Chad Murphy
Assistants to the Director: Lindsey Larson & Alex Smith

Master of Ceremonies: Douglas Okey

On-Stage Performers: Aja Lawson, Cecily Pearson, Carla Bobell, Corrinna Markland, Janet Munson, Lindsey Larson, Melissa Walker, Sara Mathis, Stacy Smith, Susan Juliusson, Tori Albanito, Sue Smith, Tammy Weaver, Andrea Barbknecht, Natalie Orwig, Aaron Haacke, Alex Smith, Bruce Beal, Chad Murphy, Dr. Tony Roberts, Clay Klinedinst, John Davis, Mike Varnes, Trygve Meade, Ron Smith.

The Rubber Band: Dr. Tony Roberts, Musical Director (Piano); Pam Willison (Keyboards); Dr. Matt Buczko (Trumpet & Accordion); Joey Buczko (Trombone); Tammy Weaver (Woodwinds); Peggy Bonner (Percussion); Drew Ponder (Bass).

Crew Members:
Stage Manager: Robin Henry
Set Decoration: Jim & Sue Lafary
Lights & Sound: Sydney Munson, Hannah Zimmerman
Set Construction: SRC Maintenance Staff
Costumes/Props: Denise Kirgan, Andrea Barbknecht, Natalie Orwig, Robini Henry, Lori Warden, Lindsey Larson
Hair/Makup: Julie Toney

Rehearsals will begin in June and will strictly follow CDC pandemic guidelines at that time. Check back monthly for updates about the show and tickets.

Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of 9/11/01

In remembrance of the 20^th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., The SRC Community Chorus and SRC Theatre jointly announce the production of THE GUYS, a two-person play written by Anne Nelson. The production will be presented on September 10, 11, and 12, 2021 in the SRC Theatre in Taylor Hall on the Canton Campus. The cast features Douglas Okey as Nick and Carol Davis as Joan.

Based on a true story, THE GUYS takes place less than two weeks after the attacks on New York City. An editor, Joan, receives an unexpected phone call on behalf of Nick, a New York City Fire Chief, who lost most of his department in the attack. Nick must deliver eulogies at several memorial services and seeks Jane's help in developing these extremely emotional speeches.

Nick and Joan spend a long afternoon together, recalling the fallen by recounting their virtues and their foibles, and then fashioning the stories into memorials of words. In the process, Nick and Joan discover the possibilities of friendship in each other and their shared love for the unconquerable spirit of the City. As they make their way through the emotional landscape of grief, they draw on humor, the tango, the appreciation of craft in all its form, and the enduring bonds of common humanity. (Adapted from Dramatist Play Service website)

THE GUYS was developed and first produced at The Flea Theatre in December 2001 with Sigourney Weaver as Joan and Bill Murray as Nick. The 2021 SRC production is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service.

First responders and frontline workers will be recognized at each production. More information will be forthcoming in the coming months.

Critical Reviews of THE GUYS...

"[A] straight-from-the-gut beautifully written two-hander…laughter is heard as often as sobs." —CurtainUp.com.

"The kind of quiet hybrid that the situation and the times—an era of a million pithy sound bites, booming rhetoric, and the numbing repetition of the CNN loop that followed the attacks—seemed to demand…A small jewel of a play." —Chicago Tribune.

"Ms. Nelson's play…gives credible and powerful voice to a very specific kind of pain…perhaps the keenest message to emerge from THE GUYS is the assertion that writers—and actors—have a serious role to play in a grieving society." —NY Times.

"A generous, sad, touching play about the braveries of grief." NY Post.

"A courageous and riveting…play that tackles the horror of September 11th with an intimacy that's both unsettling and healing." —Christian Science Monitor.

Check back monthly for updated information or provide your email address to srccommunitychorus@gmail.com to be added to the monthly newsletter.