Spoon River Rascals

01/07/2025

01/07/2025

Another show in the books- and the 23rd season of the Spoon River Rascals is off and running.

Thank you to all who made the journey to our little theater to see “Guys and Dolls”. I believe it was our best to date best and I couldn’t be more proud of this cast and crew!

If you attended this production, I know you will agree that we have some serious talent in our small towns and villages. That talent needs a place to develop and grow… so its wonderful to have the Opera House stage centrally located for this area’s talent to converge!

Again, I will make the plea- if you have skills or the desire to explore:

Acting
Directing
Costuming
Sound production
Light production
Set design (carpentry or painting)
Advertising/promotions
Program design
Ticket sales

Please leave a message or comment, or contact Paula. Currently we are in need of an assistant director for the youth production this fall. Auditions will take place mid-August and the show will be the first weekend in October.

29/06/2025

Last chance to see this incredibly talented cast present an American classic!

28/06/2025

Please join us!!!

25/06/2025

It's been a whirlwind spring, but this weekend will deliver the fruits of all our labors!

I'm not a "flowery" director. Blame it on the heavy influence of the staunch Germans who molded me as a kid, if you like. But I was raised to understand when you do something really well... you won't need anyone to tell you how good you are... you'll know.

But I have to pause for a moment to brag on this summer's cast of Guys and Dolls. What an amazing bunch of young people! Their talent is enormous, their work ethic-unwavering, their attitudes- 100% positive energy! I am so privileged to work with such an incredible cast.

We have a couple of new folks helping with production this week. One spoke to me after Monday's rehearsal, saying "This is a unique theater, isn't it?" These guys are not only acting, but they're setting the stage, costumes and props... and yet they're bring more to their performance than I've seen most elsewhere". I found that high praise indeed for someone to make that observation on Monday of tech week!

And why do Karol and Mike Franke, Niki Howerter, Cindy Pugh, Bonnie King and I pour ourselves into this year after year? Well, I can't speak for them, but for me- musical theater is a darned-near perfect genre. It encompasses just about all the arts into one compact 2 hour experience. It requires teamwork on and off the stage. Those who perform with ease inspire others to aspire to be better (and yes- they always reach their goals.) It offers opportunities to "think on their feet" when the unexpected happens. It allows the cast to experience new cultures (in this case- post war 1940s, and believe me- it is foreign to the modern young adult!) And most precious for me to witness- egos are set aside and what's best for the overall production and cast is what's important to each individual. I can't help but think if our country's leaders had participated in theater a little more in their lives, we'd have a more functioning government right now!

Anyway, in a day and age when quality entertainment is literally at our fingertips at any given moment, it's really easy to miss opportunities like this weekend's performance of Guys and Dolls, but I encourage you to make the trip to the village of Ellisville, climb the 26 steps to the auditorium (or take the elevator if you need!), and experience something special and uplifting... something genuinely "live".

Don't forget, if you come on Saturday night, from 4:00-7:00 a meal will be served by the Ellisville Community Association on the 1st floor with proceeds benefiting the maintenance of the Opera House. (Take out will also be available.)

We hope to see you there!t

16/06/2025

It's shaping up to be one of our best yet! Make plans to join us for Guys and Dolls!

07/06/2025

In less than three weeks our spring musical "Guys and Dolls" will open and we couldn't be more excited! This cast is exceptionally talented and when it comes to musicals, they don't get much better than this one.
Every song is a showstopper! The costumes and the amazing set design will be a feast for the eyes and the cast's singing will delight!
I feel so fortunate to work with such dedicated and talented people, on and off the stage, but it's the audience that brings the magic to opera house performances. Those who've attended in the past can tell you- the intimate setting of our theater allows the audience to become an integral part of the performance and the energy that results is simply "magical"!
Please plan to join us and be part of the magic! Mark your calendars now and make plans to attend our production of "Guys and Dolls" June 27th & 28th at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30) and June 29th 2:00 p.m (doors open at 1:00)
Adults $12, Students K-12 $6.
We are not currently able to take reservations, so seating is open (first come, first serve).
And if you come to Saturday's performance, make plans to attend the fundraising dinner hosted by the Ellisville Community Association! $12 meal includes your choice of Catfish or Pulled Pork, two sides and a drink. Desserts available for donation. Proceeds will benefit the Opera House! Meal will be served from 4:00-7:00 p.m. and takeout will be available!
The key word in Community Theater is COMMUNITY! Come, be a part of our community and share laughter, connect with old acquaintances and make new friends, too! There's no better place to do it than the Ellisville Opera House!

28/04/2025

Here ya go! The cast list for Guys and Dolls! If you couldn't make it out today but would still like to participate, we could use a couple more gamblers and Mission Band members, so contact us if you are interested!

To all who made it to auditions this weekend- what a talented cast this is! I can't wait to get started! First read-thru is tomorrow evening at 6:00. Bring a pencil to make notes in your script. We will start running group songs on Thursday. Congratulations to all and I hope you are as excited as I am to get started!

27/04/2025

Don’t forget today is the last chance to audition for our summer community theater production of Guys and Dolls! 3:00-5:00 this afternoon at the opera house (2nd floor, entrance on the east side of the building).

22/04/2025

There is nothing quite like community theater and there are very few shows that are as fun as Frank Loesser's classic "GUYS and DOLLS"! And the Spoon River Rascals' theater is bringing this production to Fulton County June 27th-29th!
We are confident this will be one of the most entertaining productions we've ever done, so if you'd like to be a part of the fun, join us at the Ellisville Opera House theater this weekend (either Saturday or Sunday afternoon at 3:00.) There's a variety of roles to fill, so come out and check it out! We ask that you bring a list of any and all dates you absolutely could not rehearse when you audition. Please keep in mind everyone is required to be present during tech week (June 23rd-26th).
"Guys and Dolls", tells the story of two love stories set against the backdrop of New York City's gambling scene in the 1940's. Gambler Nathan Detroit is struggling to find a location for his craps game, so he makes a bet with high-roller Sky Masterson. What do they bet on? A "doll" of course! Sky bets that that he can make the next girl he sees fall in love with him, but the next girl turns out to be Miss Sarah Brown, a Salvation Army mission worker! Meanwhile, Nathan is juggling his 14-year engagement while avoiding the "M Word" with nightclub performer Miss Adelaide.
Memorable music, great laughs, and nostalgia make this a timeless musical comedy! Come join us and make the start of your summer one to remember!