Elks help to fortify Young Players before performances

By Phil Cobb | June 8, 2018 |

SKYE POURNAZARI/THE FORUM
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MARYVILLE, Mo. – Friday evening, before getting into costume, before applying make up and before taking their places for final dress rehearsals, the Maryville Young Players were treated to a picnic meal cooked and served by members of the Maryville Elks Lodge No. 760 at the Raymond J. Courter College Park Pavilion at Northwest Missouri State University.

The short walk from the Ron Houston Center for Performing Arts across College Park Drive, where Northwest Missouri State University Police Chief Clarence Green installed a stop sign to slow traffic, a steady stream of nearly 200 kids who will perform this weekend in “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” made its way to sustenance for the upcoming dress rehearsals and performances.

Family members met up with the actors, stage hands, sound and light crews, prop masters, set and costume designers to enjoy a moment of community.

Co-director Vanessa Parsons recalled offering a ham and cheese plate in the lobby 12 years ago when the organization first started, but outgrowing that space quickly, moving to the pavilion offered a good opportunity.

“The other thing that’s really awesome about it is it offers the kids a chance to eat with their families, when that’s really hard on a night like tonight. It’s a time we all get to be together for some fellowship.”

The event is the fourth time members of the Elks have spent the afternoon and evening preparing the tables and seating and serving the meal to the cast and crew, it is the first time the meal has been cooked by members of the Elks organization.

She explained that much of the food was purchased from Maryville Hy-Vee supermarket, who used to cater the event. Continuing that community support, Elks members purchased much of the food from the store and spent quite some time Friday preparing the pulled pork, hot dogs, corn, macaroni and cheese and drinks. The cookies provided were made by the St. Francis Bread Basket.

Elks secretary Tammy Thompson said the group applied for a grant and received a Beacon Grant worth $2,000 to provide the meal for the young theater enthusiasts.

Last year, she said lodge members believe they served around 450 people. With the popularity of the summer camp growing each year, she thought they might surpass that number this year.

Tammy Immel, one of the core group who started the summer theater camp, said, “We’ve been doing this for 12 years and the Elks helped us from the very beginning with voluntary donations. They have just been a fabulous partner all along.”

She said about four years ago, the Elks offered to set up the tables and chairs, “That alone, was huge,” Immel said. “That used to be me and parents.”

The picnic has always been about getting the families together she said because the summer is busy and this gives the camp members a chance to breathe and calm before the performances.

“The idea has always been to have our families have a minute to sit down together,” Immel said.

She said the picnic has been something that the theater company has paid for over the years and it only got more expensive as the group grew each year.

With the Elks writing and receiving a grant to help pay for the meal, Immel said is a great help.

“We cannot thank them enough,” she said. “We can’t explain what a huge difference their help has made for our camps.”

The performances will be held at 2 p.m. And 7 p.m. Saturday, June 9 and Sunday, June 10. Tickets cost $6 and are available at the Hy-Vee service desk as well as one hour before the shows at the Ron Houston Center for Performing Arts.

SKYE POURNAZARI/THE FORUM
Mattie Dimmitt, 8, will portray a mouse in the chorus in the Maryville Young Players production of “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 9 and Sunday, June 10.