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Our History
Mahoney State Park
1995
May 25, 1995
was the starting date for the third season at Mahoney State Park. There were no scheduling changes from the previous
season of approximately 140 performances. Our supply of seven person shows of approximately 1 hr.15 min. duration
was still low, so two melodramas written by local authors were produced. Some personnel changes were made to both
the cast and staff, due to graduations and relocations. The plays selected for production were old standard,
"Foiled by an Innocent Maid" by Fred Carmichael (Publisher, Samuel French). "Whatever Happened
to Sweet Mary Rodgers" by local writer D. Chapelle and "Shootout at Sadie's Saloon" by
Producer John Burkhart. Cast member Shannon Marple became Shannon Marple-Hespe and fellow cast member Jennifer Walker
was the maid of honor for the wedding, so Julie Fitzgerald and Coleen Byrd stood in (with distinction) for
one weekend. We were contacted by the Fremont Dinner Train about the possibility of providing a melodrama for them.
After a series of meetings, it was decided to proceed with a production designed specifically for a moving train!
"Railroad to Rack and Ruin" was created by Chapelle and Burkhart, a cast was selected and the show was
off and running. After a successful season on the train, there was an unexpected opening at the park for the fall
season. A set was rapidly constructed and the show was re-blocked for the stage (as opposed to the center aisle of
a railroad car) and a very successful fall run was completed at the park. As there was also a need for a show in
Lincoln for their "Haymarket Holidays", we decided to test the winter market for a melodrama as well as
explore the feasibility of theater in the Lincoln Haymarket. The set from the park was subsequently moved to a leased
space in the Haymarket area and "Railroad" was running once again! Thus "Railroad became truly a travelling show!
The Production Staff for the 1995 summer season
Producer/Director ..........John Burkhart
Music Director ...........Linda Laessle
Costume Design ....Donna Himmelberger
Set Design ............. Tom Curtright
Makeup Design ........William M. Cover II
Technical Director.........Tom Curtright
Set Construction...Mark Matulka, Nick Robinson, Bill Kiesling
Combat Choreography ....Will Cover, Ashley Hassler, Jeremy Kendall & Charles Russell,
The Cast of "Whatever Happened to Sweet Mary Rodgers"
J Alvin Acne......William M. Cover II
Mikki Finn..............Jennifer L. Walker
Ida Dustmoor.............Emily C. Williams
Sweet Mary Rodgers....Shannon Marple-Hespe
Sheriff Horace Witless.....Charles Russell
Side-Kick Jones...........Jeremy Kendall
Sandi Hills..........Ashley A. Hassler
The cast of "Shootout at Sadie's Saloon"
Sadie Spencer....Shannon Marple-Hespe
Jake Jones.............William M. Cover II
Sally Spencer..............Emily C. Williams
Hazel Hoochater........Jennifer L. Walker
Prudence Purewater.......Ashley A. Hassler
Dirk Devious..............Jeremy Kendall
Clint Cactus.............Charles Russell
The cast of "Foiled by an Innocent Maid"
Hemlock Shyster.......Jeremy Kendall
Ferguson Longfellow......Charles Russell
Letitia Carruthers.......Jennifer L. Walker
Rachel Follansbee.......Shannon Marple-Hespe
Maude Filbert............Ashley A. Hassler
Faith Hopewell...........Emily C. Williams
Jimmy...................William C. Cover II
Villain J. Alvin Acme (William M. Cover II)
and Villainous Mikki Finn
(Jennifer Walker) combine a tango with their exit.
Sheriff Jake Jones (William M. Cover II)
And saloon owner
Sadie Spencer (Shannon Marple-Hespe) are having a discussion
with villain Dirk Devious (Jeremy Kendall).
Villain Hemlock Shyster (Charles Russell) comes upon
heroine Faith Hopewell
(Emily C. Williams) unconscious on a couch and ponders what to do next!.
The cast and crew of our
inaugural Fall Melodrama "Railroad to Rack and Ruin"
by D. Chapelle and John Burkhart
Staff
Producer ....................John Burkhart
Director..........................D. Chapelle
Music Director...........Lynette Forney
Costumes........Donna Himmelberger
Richard Driverman........Brad Boesen
Dewey Cheatem..............D. Chapelle
Titania Twain..............Lynette Forney
Valerie/Mallory..........Laura Holman
Pictured above: Titania Twain (Lynette Forney)
is shocked that her daughter
Valerie (Laura Holman) is being menaced by Dewey Cheatem (D. Chapelle)
who is about to be clonked by hero Richard Driverman (Brad Boesen)
Additional Pictures
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