Arts Council Hosts Successful Dinner Theater, Awards Scholarship To Local Student

Chalybeate Homemakers Provide Turkey and Ham Dinner

Cast members take a bow at the conclusion of "Merry Christmas, Dear Grandpa."

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
The Edmonson County Arts Council held their annual dinner theater Saturday, November 9th at the ECHS Darrell Cassady Auditorium where they performed "Merry Christmas, Dear Grandpa," a comedy by Michael Jacot.

The comical family-friendly performance about a family that was not-so-friendly to each other incited plenty of laughs from the near sellout crowd that enjoyed a delicious meal as much as the play itself. The Chalybeate Homemakers provided a wonder dinner that consisted of turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, dressing, gravy, cranberry salad, rolls, and an assortment of drinks and desserts.

The cast was made up of all local actors: Ricky Skaggs, (who also directed), Angie Hughes, Katie Tennison, Cody Tennison, Sue Fitzpatrick, and Anthony Simon. 

Ricky Skaggs presents a $1000 scholarship to Madison Doyle.

Each year, the council awards a local student a one-thousand dollar scholarship based on help and cooperation to the Arts Council by either the recipient themselves or the recipient's family. Skaggs said the scholarship has been in place for the last seven years, and the recipient has had ties to the council each year.

This year's award was presented to Miss Madison Doyle, a freshman at SKYCTC. She has plans of becoming a special education teacher. 

"We've been able to award this to someone tied to our Arts Council's family each year," he said. "And we've even managed to keep it a surprise for each recipient."

Winners from the last three years have been Ryan Lindsey, Caitlin Simon, and Caleb Skaggs.

Skaggs, who is a founding member of the council that began in 1985, said the organization is completely made up of volunteers and all the efforts are put back into the community with a partnership with the Chalybeate Homemakers.

"We're able to give part of our proceeds to the Homemakers for them preparing our meal each year, which allows them to make a huge donation to our local Angel Tree Program," he said, which is now Edmonson County Affordable Christmas. "We're all volunteers at the Arts Council and we're just like a big family."

The annual event allows donations to made throughout the local community all year long to various local causes as well as the American Cancer Society. Several local businesses and individuals have become annual donors, which helps allow the council to continue their local beneficial causes. 

Next year's dinner theater is already being planned, which is scheduled for November 14, 2020 at 6pm and is set to be a performance from The Andy Griffith Show characters.

For tickets or information on how you can help the Edmonson County Arts Council, call Ricky Skaggs at 270-246-3550 or 270-597-2403.