The big stage of the Sampson Community Theater is getting some much needed rest this week after two grueling weekends of having the stage full of teenagers singing and dancing and bouncing basketballs off the boards in our production of eight performances of “High School Musical.”

The audiences were supportive of the two casts by their applause and filling the auditorium almost every show. The casts are to be commended for their hard work during rehearsals and for impeccable performances.

Many thanks to Angela Martin for her directing, to Anne Wicke for painting the backdrops, to Natalie Jackson for painting the side panels, to David Hobson for sponsoring the show and to the many volunteers who worked in the Green Room, and to those who helped clean up after each show.

Shows like this make us realize that it takes a devoted, hard working group to become a community jewel like we enjoy at the Sampson Community Theater. We thank all our patrons for their support for our efforts to supply quality entertainment for our residents.

Dan Holland, the director of “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” has a full cast in rehearsal and has announced that Fann Farms will be the sponsor. This should be a good show with the cast Dan has selected. I will announce their names in future columns.

A memorial service will be held at the theater on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. for our dear departed friend, Board member and fellow thespian, Gary Wilson. The public is invited to attend as we pay our last respects to a fine gentleman.

Our website is available at: www.sampsoncommunitytheatre.org and we are on Facebook but if you visit us there, we ask that you “like” us while there.

Upcoming events:

You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown — Directed by Dan Holland. Sponsored by Fann Farms. Rehearsals ongoing. Performances Oct. 2-4 and Oct 9-11. (Six shows)

Best Little Christmas Pageant Ever — Directed by Angela Martin. Auditions Oct. 3. Performances Nov. 13-15 and Nov. 20-22. (Six shows)

Taylor Michaels Music and Magic Christmas Show — Performances Dec. 18-19 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 20 at 3 p.m. This is a fundraiser for the theater and not a patron sponsor event.

Thoughts until next week:

Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting.

If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough — Albert Einstein.

You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.

Bruce Caldwell is a member of the Sampson Community Theatre Board of Directors.

By Bruce Caldwell

Contributing columnist

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