From staff reports
The Venango Youth Choir will perform a musical titled “Mother Goose Rhymes” at 4 p.m. Sunday at Good Hope Lutheran Church, 800 Moran St., Oil City.
This has been a cooperative and creative effort, said choir director Beth Orris.
When she realized that many children don’t know traditional Mother Goose rhymes, she decided to introduce them to the children. The kids have been taking drama lessons from Janene Michael, Orris said.
“The children have been the creative force behind making the rhymes come alive on stage,” she said.
Leslie Graham has been giving the younger students art lessons during practice times. Linda Vogt, Julie Kosker and Vicki Scherr assist each week, giving out snacks, helping with instrumentation or dances and narrations. Emilee Pullease is the student director.
Participating in the show are Savannah Bishop, Nicholas Brandi, Bradyn Brown, Courtney Crabtree, MacKenna Cramer, Alexis Dehner, Ava Earp, Madelyn Garland, Taylor Gart, Eric Goughler, Macayla Heim, Elizabeth House, Hazel Kosker, Joshua McLoughlin, Morgan McLoughlin, McKenna Michael, Ethan Nuhfer, Morgan Rankin, RaeLynn Scott, Natalie Shevock, Keelie Sutley, Gabi Vogan, Jude Vogan, Maddie Wagner, Tucker Webster and Marissa Wenner.
Mother Goose, played by Janene Michael, will be looking for Little Bo Peep’s lost sheep in Fairy Tale Land during Sunday’s program. Along the way, she meets Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Old King Cole, Humpty Dumpty, Old Mother Hubbard, Little Boy Blue and many others who help her on her way.
Venango Youth Choir is a community outreach program and is a free choir open to all area students from grades 1 to 8.
The singers learn singing and drama techniques, how to play Orff and percussion instruments and how to read music. The older singers learn how to play soprano and alto recorders. The children are from Oil City School District, Franklin, Cranberry, St. Stephens, Christian Life Academy and home-school situations. There are 26 children involved in the production.
There will be a cookie reception following the show on Sunday. The show is free and open to the public.
