The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

It was a play that will be remembered! It was a musical in Big Sandy! It was a comedy with a number of fun music parts. In my opinion, the sarcasm about politicians was front and center.

The play was two and a half hours long but entertaining in every 17 scenes. The amount of work they went through had to be immense. There were 41 members of the cast and 12 members of the crew, including four directors: Amanda Hoffman, Dianna Keane, Michelle Danreuther, and Stephanie Drga.

It all takes place at The Lost Loon Lodge, which was inherited by two sisters, Elsie Hartley and Rebecca Wiehe. They know nothing about running a lodge that is full of wild creatures. The keeper of Loon Lodge, Pete, is played by Warren Hartley. He writes a story about Big Foot, which attracts reporters and guests and fills the lodge.

Congressman Oakley, played by Erik Sietsema, wants to put a dam on the Grand Canon and has other crazy ideas. He sees no value in nature and is a complete fool. He and his assistant, Miss Birch, played by Stephanie Overbay, keep everyone laughing. Miss Birch actually works for Mr. Pine, played by TJ Bond, who was secretly running the Congressman's office in Washington.

The search is on for Big Foot. He's caught by two sisters, Judy and Jane Pike, played by London Keane and Abbey Sietsema, who are on vacation fishing; even though they don't know how to fish and never heard of bait, they catch Big Foot in their fishing nets. However, Big Foot is never revealed because he is taken to Roswell by some of Pete's friends playing Men in Back. The reporter, Grace, played by Eryn Hartley, through the whole thing, ends up being the new Congressman, which was a comment on politicians because, as a reporter, she never said anything intelligent throughout the entire play.

Jessica Siesema plays Holly Hauk, a serious TV reporter who, in the end, decides to quit and go and work for the tabloids. Jessie Jaramillo played the only real serious reporter.

It was a fun, nonsensical play with lots of laughs and songs. But more important is the confidence our children get from experiencing the process of putting on a play.

Reporters at the lodge were played by Wren Danreuther, Lucy Yirsa, James Calvao, Kiki Overbay, Natalie Lavenger, Emma Chauvet, Alliyah Hoffman, and Kennedy Keane.

Piper Phillips, Ruth Erie, Parker Yirsa, Freedom Washburn, Makenna Han, Jaeliana Parker, Thea Merrill, Davy Overbay, and Riley Echols played quests at the lodge.

Chorus Ensemble were Jewell Parker, Hannah Erie, Chaz Danreuther, Bridger Keane, Sawyer Chauvet, Luke Weaver, Eliora Erie, Abby Yirsa, Paxton Yirsa

Backstage helpers Kira Hoffman, Debra Lavanger, Filly Phillips-Hass, and Titus Sietsema.

Lights and Sound Chase Hoffman

Assistants Tom Arnold, Donna Upham

Videography Nathan Keane