Kiwanis variety show returns for 26th year

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WEST BRANCH, MI - Members of the Kiwanis club will once again present their annual variety show this Friday and Saturday at Ogemaw Heights High School.

The program begins at 7 p.m., both nights.

According to Kiwanis Club secretary Ellen Pugh, the theme for this year's show is Broadway.

"All of the songs will be from Broadway shows," Pugh said. "We have lots of acts. Our area has so many talented people."

Kiwanis Member John Lockhart, along with his wife Carol, will direct this year's show. There will be 13 shows represented with 26 different songs.

"It includes all kinds of stuff form the 30s to the 40s, to the 50s, to more contemporary stuff," Lockhart said. He said some of the shows represented during the evening will be "Annie Get Your Gun," and "Showboat," as well as music from "Peanuts" for the kids.

"It's all local, very, very good talent," Lockhart said. "There's probably more variety than we've had in the last two or three years."

Local artist Jan Hasty designed the backdrop for the show. The chorus will be directed by Mary Lynch, and Denny Kiroff will be this year's master of ceremonies.

Lockhart said there is a mix of song and dance numbers planned throughout the evening. He said approximately 75 people assist in the production, from planning to performances, and the club has been working since January to prepare this year's show.

"Carol and I think it's going to be an outstanding production," Lockhart said. "We've put a lot of effort into it. There are 75 or more involved in the production. If everything works the way it's planned, it should be a great show. We're going to have a lot of fun."

Pugh said tickets would be $6 per person, with children under 13 free.

"So a family with a couple of kids under 13 can come for $12," she said.

Pugh said all of the money goes to the Kiwanis club for projects for the community. She said the biggest project right now is the Boys and Girls Club. The Kiwanis Club also supports the library program. She said the Kiwanis Club also works with Angel Food Ministries to provide meals for the needy.

This year's program is dedicated to Ray King, who has been the master of ceremonies for many years. He retired after last year's show.

Pugh said she estimates that over the two nights, approximately 800 people usually attend the show each year.

"It's very family friendly," she said. "People come from all over to watch it. It's phenomenal that a town our size has the talent that it has. We have some phenomenal talent."

She said with the intermission break, the show should last approximately two hours.

For more information on the event, call Mike or Ellen Pugh at 989-345-0978.