On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WI1_KldMTjg?si=FNFCltxat4qiGW_d" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt.

🎤Forward Ever: Kan. Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with CASA of the High Plains executive director&nbsp;Jan Johnson.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HiZHgSSbXgE?si=TxdJjOj7HZupVOv2" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with CASA of the High Plains executive director&nbsp;Jan Johnson.

🎤Forward Ever: CASA of the High Plains executive director Jan Johnson

The Salina Senior Theater Project (SSTP) will open its fourth season with Carol Nimmons's comedy&nbsp;"Mernie's Little Hoax" on Friday, May 3, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 4, at 3 p.m. at the Salvation Army 1137 North Santa Fe.

"Marnie's Little Hoax" is about a rich widow living in the Golden Gate retirement village. She is concerned because she has no known heirs to whom she can leave her fortune. She devises a hoax to see who among her so-called friends might be candidates in her will. When her fake demise backfires she becomes the victim of crazy shenanigans plotted by a network of unpredictable retirees.

Mernie Mayham.......Connie Gibson&nbsp; Maxine........................Taffy Speilman Sally.............................Judy Eilrich Helen...........................Laurie Moavec Herman.......................Mike Odell** Nellie...........................Carol Bragg Stanley........................Jack Owen ** Sadie...........................Kala Hurde Activities Director...Donna Tope ** Judge..........................Wally Hitchcock&nbsp;

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/f8169fe9-e03b-4e8b-998f-2ce10f24d094">Hammer fight breaks out between coworkers in Dollar General parking lot</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708533986894.jpeg" alt=""Mernie's Little Hoax" poster image. Image courtesy Salina Senior Theater Project" />
 <figcaption>"Mernie's Little Hoax" poster image. Image courtesy Salina Senior Theater Project</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThe Salina Senior Theater Project (SSTP) will open its fourth season with Carol Nimmons's comedy&nbsp;"Mernie's Little Hoax" on Friday, May 3, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 4, at 3 p.m. at the Salvation Army 1137 North Santa Fe."Marnie's Little Hoax" is about a rich widow living in the Golden Gate retirement village. She is concerned because she has no known heirs to whom she can leave her fortune. She devises a hoax to see who among her so-called friends might be candidates in her will. When her fake demise backfires she becomes the victim of crazy shenanigans plotted by a network of unpredictable retirees.<h2>CAST **SSTP Debut</h2>Mernie Mayham.......Connie Gibson&nbsp; Maxine........................Taffy Speilman Sally.............................Judy Eilrich Helen...........................Laurie Moavec Herman.......................Mike Odell** Nellie...........................Carol Bragg Stanley........................Jack Owen ** Sadie...........................Kala Hurde Activities Director...Donna Tope ** Judge..........................Wally Hitchcock&nbsp;READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/f8169fe9-e03b-4e8b-998f-2ce10f24d094">Hammer fight breaks out between coworkers in Dollar General parking lot</a>

Salina Senior Theater Project presents 'Mernie's Little Hoax' May 3-4

By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Salina Post

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/SCTGUILD/?paipv=0&amp;eav=AfYXSZJ0AxyzqVt2-0AAMQDxphyHgv4mLV_WVDZuZe136othNlLZawBaJ1BdvKrDiS0&amp;_rdr">The Theatre Salina Guild</a>&nbsp;began its&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://salinatheatre.com/project/guild-flower-sale/">38th Annual Geranium and Plant Sale</a>&nbsp;last week.&nbsp;Residents and visitors can place advance orders for Calliope Dark Red, Galaxy Orange, Patriot White geraniums, and more.

On Thursday, March 14, the guild began taking orders for hundreds of geraniums and plants to raise cash for the Theatre Salina youth programs.

"Our primary goal is to raise money and we split half of what we raise directly with the Youth Education Program," said Theatre Salina Guild Vice President and Plant Sale Chair Patti Breeding. "The other half we use toward scholarships for seniors that are going on to higher education in the arts."

The creative youth also participate in the sale each year, Breeding said, with many student volunteers assisting on the in-person sale days on Friday and Saturday, April 14 and 15.

Ordering geraniums in advance costs $7.50 each, but those purchasing in person on the sale days at Theatre Salina will cost $8. The special geraniums are $10 with advance orders and purchasing in the Theatre Salina lobby.

Breeding said that for advance orders, payment for the flowers must be made on or before Friday, April 12.

This year's special geraniums are for two previous guild members, Florence Jester and Judi Dunn, and their years of service to the Theatre Salina Guild.

"We have done it for people that have passed on, but these two ladies are still with us," Breeding said. "Judy had been vice president for a number of years, and Florence had been secretary. They just stepped down this last year, so we are doing it to honor them for the years of service they provided to the guild."

Guild members also have a raffle alongside the plant sale with various local prizes. One is an arrangement of potted plants by <a href="https://sheilasgardenmarket.com/">Sheila's Garden Market</a> in Galva, a self-contained wooden water feature by a local artist, tickets to a few performances by Theatre Salina in April, and a grand prize of two season tickets to Theatre Salina.

Those interested in ordering flowers for the sale can contact a guild member at 785-643-3372. Theatre Salina Guild will have the flowers available for pick-up from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, April 14 and 15, in the Theatre Salina Lobby.

Geraniums on sale at Theatre Salina Guild

Regular geraniums — $7.50 each Calliope Large Dark Red Calliope Large Hot Rose Patriot White Patriot Lavender Blue

Special geraniums — $10 each Calliope Cascade Violet, in honor of Florence Jester Sunrise Rose+Big Eye, in honor of Judi Dunn

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/e75818b1-80eb-49fc-a472-5e13faca548b">Propane Central celebrates retirement for 26-year employee</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710443967204.jpeg" alt="38th Annual Geranium and Plant Sale. Graphic courtesy Theatre Salina Guild" />
 <figcaption>38th Annual Geranium and Plant Sale. Graphic courtesy Theatre Salina Guild</figcaption>
 </figure>By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Salina Post<a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/SCTGUILD/?paipv=0&amp;eav=AfYXSZJ0AxyzqVt2-0AAMQDxphyHgv4mLV_WVDZuZe136othNlLZawBaJ1BdvKrDiS0&amp;_rdr">The Theatre Salina Guild</a>&nbsp;began its&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://salinatheatre.com/project/guild-flower-sale/">38th Annual Geranium and Plant Sale</a>&nbsp;last week.&nbsp;Residents and visitors can place advance orders for Calliope Dark Red, Galaxy Orange, Patriot White geraniums, and more.On Thursday, March 14, the guild began taking orders for hundreds of geraniums and plants to raise cash for the Theatre Salina youth programs."Our primary goal is to raise money and we split half of what we raise directly with the Youth Education Program," said Theatre Salina Guild Vice President and Plant Sale Chair Patti Breeding. "The other half we use toward scholarships for seniors that are going on to higher education in the arts."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710443742729.jpg" alt="White geraniums. Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>White geraniums. Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>The creative youth also participate in the sale each year, Breeding said, with many student volunteers assisting on the in-person sale days on Friday and Saturday, April 14 and 15.Ordering geraniums in advance costs $7.50 each, but those purchasing in person on the sale days at Theatre Salina will cost $8. The special geraniums are $10 with advance orders and purchasing in the Theatre Salina lobby.Breeding said that for advance orders, payment for the flowers must be made on or before Friday, April 12.This year's special geraniums are for two previous guild members, Florence Jester and Judi Dunn, and their years of service to the Theatre Salina Guild."We have done it for people that have passed on, but these two ladies are still with us," Breeding said. "Judy had been vice president for a number of years, and Florence had been secretary. They just stepped down this last year, so we are doing it to honor them for the years of service they provided to the guild."Guild members also have a raffle alongside the plant sale with various local prizes. One is an arrangement of potted plants by <a href="https://sheilasgardenmarket.com/">Sheila's Garden Market</a> in Galva, a self-contained wooden water feature by a local artist, tickets to a few performances by Theatre Salina in April, and a grand prize of two season tickets to Theatre Salina.Those interested in ordering flowers for the sale can contact a guild member at 785-643-3372. Theatre Salina Guild will have the flowers available for pick-up from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, April 14 and 15, in the Theatre Salina Lobby.<h2>Geraniums on sale at Theatre Salina Guild</h2>Regular geraniums — $7.50 each Calliope Large Dark Red Calliope Large Hot Rose Patriot White Patriot Lavender Blue Special geraniums — $10 each Calliope Cascade Violet, in honor of Florence Jester Sunrise Rose+Big Eye, in honor of Judi DunnREAD MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/e75818b1-80eb-49fc-a472-5e13faca548b">Propane Central celebrates retirement for 26-year employee</a>

Theatre Salina Guild begins 38th Geranium and Plant Sale

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;High Plains Mental Health director Craig Poe..

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cbi3gCJDv0Q?si=e66NsstphQYH_QC0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;High Plains Mental Health director Craig Poe..

🎤Forward Ever: High Plains Mental Health director Craig Poe

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services commissioner David Anderson.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rEqAv09ShHo?si=PFPFgld5NYo-c0e4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services commissioner David Anderson.

🎤Forward Ever: Kansas Dept. for Aging and Disability Services commissioner David Anderson

The 40th Salina Spring Poetry Series, sponsored and organized by Salina Arts &amp; Humanities, begins on Tuesday, April 2, with a reading by Cash Hollistah.

The reading will begin at 7 p.m. at Red Fern Booksellers, 106 S. Santa Fe Ave. Admission will be $5 cash at the door and free for students with ID.

Traci Brimhall, Kansas Poet Laureate, curated this year’s series. Brimhall selected poets with a broad range of perspectives who will share their work in Salina this April.

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/5761a8f7-b8a2-442d-892f-1182ecf5653d">2024 Salina Spring Poetry Series announced for 40th anniversary</a>

“It's wonderful to be kicking off the 40th anniversary with an incredible Salina poet and performer. Cash is masterful with language, whether that's through poetry or music. He brings a sense of rhythm and lyrical dexterity to everything he does. Hearing him perform is elating--my heart and ears are on fire as a listener. He's a wonderful poet and an amazing advocate for the literary and musical arts in Kansas,” says Brimhall.

Cash Hollistah is a national hip-hop recording artist, musician, spoken word poet, arts educator, and community activist based in Salina, Kansas. Hollistah's musical projects, "#cashmob." (2016) &amp; "#cashmob. 2" (2017), and live performances have earned him spots on high-profile stages, notably South by Southwest (SXSW), and billing with acts such as Common, Shaggy, T.I., and Kirk Franklin.

Hollistah founded and hosted the former poetry series, ONE MIC, and occasionally teaches "Poetry &amp; Hip-Hop" specialty classes to students in central Kansas. 

Currently, Hollistah sits on the board of directors of the Kansas Music Hall of Fame.

For needed accommodations, please call Amanda Morris at Salina Arts &amp; Humanities at 785-309-5770 between 8:00 a.m. - Noon and 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Every effort will be made to accommodate known disabilities. For material or speech access, please call at least five working days prior to the event.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711632401335.jpeg" alt="Join the City of Salina and Salina Arts and Humanities for The 40th Salina Spring Poetry Series. The event takes place on Tuesday, April 2, with a reading by Cash Hollistah. Image Courtesy Salina Arts and Humanities" />
 <figcaption>Join the City of Salina and Salina Arts and Humanities for The 40th Salina Spring Poetry Series. The event takes place on Tuesday, April 2, with a reading by Cash Hollistah. Image Courtesy Salina Arts and Humanities</figcaption>
 </figure>Salina Arts and HumanitiesThe 40th Salina Spring Poetry Series, sponsored and organized by Salina Arts &amp; Humanities, begins on Tuesday, April 2, with a reading by Cash Hollistah.The reading will begin at 7 p.m. at Red Fern Booksellers, 106 S. Santa Fe Ave. Admission will be $5 cash at the door and free for students with ID.Traci Brimhall, Kansas Poet Laureate, curated this year’s series. Brimhall selected poets with a broad range of perspectives who will share their work in Salina this April.READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/5761a8f7-b8a2-442d-892f-1182ecf5653d">2024 Salina Spring Poetry Series announced for 40th anniversary</a>“It's wonderful to be kicking off the 40th anniversary with an incredible Salina poet and performer. Cash is masterful with language, whether that's through poetry or music. He brings a sense of rhythm and lyrical dexterity to everything he does. Hearing him perform is elating--my heart and ears are on fire as a listener. He's a wonderful poet and an amazing advocate for the literary and musical arts in Kansas,” says Brimhall.Cash Hollistah is a national hip-hop recording artist, musician, spoken word poet, arts educator, and community activist based in Salina, Kansas. Hollistah's musical projects, "#cashmob." (2016) &amp; "#cashmob. 2" (2017), and live performances have earned him spots on high-profile stages, notably South by Southwest (SXSW), and billing with acts such as Common, Shaggy, T.I., and Kirk Franklin. Hollistah founded and hosted the former poetry series, ONE MIC, and occasionally teaches "Poetry &amp; Hip-Hop" specialty classes to students in central Kansas. Currently, Hollistah sits on the board of directors of the Kansas Music Hall of Fame.For needed accommodations, please call Amanda Morris at Salina Arts &amp; Humanities at 785-309-5770 between 8:00 a.m. - Noon and 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Every effort will be made to accommodate known disabilities. For material or speech access, please call at least five working days prior to the event.

Cash Hollistah to read in Salina Spring Poetry Series, Tuesday April 2

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with new Barton Community College President Marcus Garstecki.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eWEFnvTX8pw?si=nBsAhPwpTGtLnc8V" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with new Barton Community College President Marcus Garstecki.

🎤Forward Ever: New Barton Community College President Marcus Garstecki

RUSSELL - Dream Theatre, a cherished cultural gem in Russell, Kansas, is thrilled to announce its 75th anniversary celebration in the current building. Steeped in history and community spirit, the theater has been a source of joy and entertainment for generations.

Originally known as The Main Street Theater, the venue underwent a remarkable transformation in 1935, emerging as the iconic Dream Theatre. Despite facing adversity, including a devastating fire in 1947, the theater rose from the ashes to captivate audiences with its Art Deco charm.

Designed by renowned architects Robert O. Boller and Dietz Lusk Jr., the Dream Theatre opened its doors on Easter Sunday, April 19, 1949, with a vision to offer Russell and its surrounding community the best in motion pictures. Since then, it has remained true to its founding principles, providing imagination in recreation and offering a haven for relaxation and revitalization.

In 2000, when the theater faced closure, the resilient people of Russell rallied together to form the "Keep the Dream Alive" Committee. Led by Steve Wells, they successfully raised funds to preserve the theater's legacy, ensuring it continued to thrive as a cultural centerpiece. Today, under the guidance of the Russell Arts Council, the Dream Theatre remains a cherished institution, staffed by dedicated community volunteers.

To mark this momentous occasion, Dream Theatre invites the community to join in the celebration with four free screenings of the timeless classic, "The Wizard of Oz," in honor of its 85th anniversary. Showtimes will be held on April 19 - 21, with screenings on Friday and Saturday at 7 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm and 6 pm. Attendees can look forward to exciting prizes, including Oz-inspired merchandise, tickets to the Oz Museum, books, and more. Additionally, the theater will offer its Large Combo at a special price of $7.50 for the weekend, inviting all to experience the magic of cinema.

"We are delighted to commemorate 75 years of enchantment and community spirit at Dream Theatre," said Lisa Hunter, Board Member of the Russell Arts Council. "As we celebrate this milestone, we invite everyone to join us for a weekend of nostalgia, laughter, and celebration."

Don't miss this opportunity to relive the magic of "The Wizard of Oz" and create new memories at Dream Theatre. For more information and updates on the anniversary celebration, visit https://www.dreamtheater.org/ or follow us on Facebook.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644613866759.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RUSSELL - Dream Theatre, a cherished cultural gem in Russell, Kansas, is thrilled to announce its 75th anniversary celebration in the current building. Steeped in history and community spirit, the theater has been a source of joy and entertainment for generations.Originally known as The Main Street Theater, the venue underwent a remarkable transformation in 1935, emerging as the iconic Dream Theatre. Despite facing adversity, including a devastating fire in 1947, the theater rose from the ashes to captivate audiences with its Art Deco charm.Designed by renowned architects Robert O. Boller and Dietz Lusk Jr., the Dream Theatre opened its doors on Easter Sunday, April 19, 1949, with a vision to offer Russell and its surrounding community the best in motion pictures. Since then, it has remained true to its founding principles, providing imagination in recreation and offering a haven for relaxation and revitalization.In 2000, when the theater faced closure, the resilient people of Russell rallied together to form the "Keep the Dream Alive" Committee. Led by Steve Wells, they successfully raised funds to preserve the theater's legacy, ensuring it continued to thrive as a cultural centerpiece. Today, under the guidance of the Russell Arts Council, the Dream Theatre remains a cherished institution, staffed by dedicated community volunteers.To mark this momentous occasion, Dream Theatre invites the community to join in the celebration with four free screenings of the timeless classic, "The Wizard of Oz," in honor of its 85th anniversary. Showtimes will be held on April 19 - 21, with screenings on Friday and Saturday at 7 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm and 6 pm. Attendees can look forward to exciting prizes, including Oz-inspired merchandise, tickets to the Oz Museum, books, and more. Additionally, the theater will offer its Large Combo at a special price of $7.50 for the weekend, inviting all to experience the magic of cinema."We are delighted to commemorate 75 years of enchantment and community spirit at Dream Theatre," said Lisa Hunter, Board Member of the Russell Arts Council. "As we celebrate this milestone, we invite everyone to join us for a weekend of nostalgia, laughter, and celebration."Don't miss this opportunity to relive the magic of "The Wizard of Oz" and create new memories at Dream Theatre. For more information and updates on the anniversary celebration, visit https://www.dreamtheater.org/ or follow us on Facebook.&nbsp;

Dream Theatre celebrates 75 years with free screenings of 'The Wizard of Oz'

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Fort Hays State University Sternberg Museum of Natural History&nbsp;&nbsp;Manager of Visitor Services,&nbsp;Brad Penka.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TjnI8ORX2mg?si=a9fyngG5bnWU1USs" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Fort Hays State University Sternberg Museum of Natural History&nbsp;&nbsp;Manager of Visitor Services,&nbsp;Brad Penka.

🎤Forward Ever: Sternberg Museum Manager Brad Penka

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Curtis Wolf, site manager at Fort Hays State University’s Kansas Wetlands Education Center at Cheyenne Bottoms.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JsvYviWXZ40?si=ipZDW49WXxoPMfq3" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Curtis Wolf, site manager at Fort Hays State University’s Kansas Wetlands Education Center at Cheyenne Bottoms.

🎤Forward Ever: Kansas Wetlands Education Center manager Curtis Wolf

The Stiefel Theatre in Salina is thrilled to announce its upcoming show,&nbsp;Barenaked Ladies with Toad The Wet Sprocket, on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets start at $89 and are on sale Friday, March 22, @ noon.&nbsp;Buy in person at the Stiefel Theatre Box Office or online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.stiefeltheatre.org/">www.stiefeltheatre.org</a>. 785-827-1998

After more than three decades as the lead singer and guitarist for&nbsp;Barenaked Ladies, Ed Robertson has a routine when it comes time to start writing songs for a new album. "I tend to get ideas while I'm driving up to my lake house," he says. "I record voice memos along the way, and then I listen back and try to make sense of them and mix and match the various ideas I've come up with. On a typical drive, I'm happy if I get six or seven — eight ideas would be a good drive.

"For this album," he continues, "on my first writing trip I had 21 different song ideas. I thought, 'Wow, this is really cool.' Then I sat down to write, and I thought if I could finish one of them — get the verses, get the bridge, get the chorus in one day — then I'll know this whole writing period is going to be good. And I finished eight songs. I sat down at 10 in the morning, and I looked up at 9:30 and I hadn't eaten, I hadn't moved from the writing table. It was exciting. I've never felt that before."

The results mark a new chapter for a band that's sold more than 15 million albums, earned Grammy nominations and won multiple Juno Awards, and in 2018, were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.&nbsp;In Flight, BNL's eighteenth studio album, retains the dry wit and keen observation we expect from Robertson, bassist Jim Creeggan, keyboardist/guitarist Kevin Hearn and drummer Tyler Stewart, but adds a strong sense of maturing and lessons learned.

"I think as I age, I get less self-conscious," says Robertson. "I had a goal to write simpler songs on this record, to not out-clever myself and be a little more direct, more emotionally present and honest. And when I listened to what I wrote, I heard what I've been talking about for the last couple of years — ruminations on gratitude, getting older, cancel culture. It was everything I've been thinking about, distilled into songs."

While BNL's last album, 2021's&nbsp;Detour de Force, looked closely at the perils of contemporary, alternate reality media,&nbsp;In Flight&nbsp;offers a sense of joy and appreciation, exemplified in the first single, "Lovin' Life," in which they unironically sing "We're lovin' life/We love it so much that we wanna live it twice/We're lovin' life/We take it high, we take it low/We ride that rollercoaster anywhere it goes." (Robertson wrote the song with Better Than Ezra's Kevin Griffin and Steve Aiello of Thirty Second to Mars; elsewhere on the album, he co-wrote "I Am Asking You" with Donovan Woods).

"It's very easy to get overwhelmed by the firehose of bad news that we're all pretty tuned into, and it is real," says Robertson. "But I think it's really important to remember to still be grateful. I guess I'm just trying to take in the negativity that surrounds us and learn about it and grow from it. 'Lovin' Life' is about experiencing the positivity, because that's there, too."

He points to the recording of the song "Too Old" ("You don't scare me a bit/I'm too old for this shit") as a pivot point for&nbsp;In Flight. "The demo had this arpeggiated acoustic guitar and it was almost melancholy," he says. "It was pretty, but It made it a little more distant from the message. When we started jamming it in pre-production, it turned into this Tom Petty-ish, guitar driven thing, it had a little bite. That was the moment where we were just letting shit happen organically and it felt great."

Even at this point in a legendary career, Barenaked Ladies were open to altering their work habits and finding ways to better serve the new songs. "Typically in the past, we've done all the guitar overdubs, then we go in and do percussion, then do all the keyboard parts," says Robertson. "With this record, we put up a song and said, 'What does it need?,' then put up the next song and finished song by song. So it demanded everyone's attention all the time, as opposed to just concentrating on their parts or the week where they're focusing on their instrument. That kept everybody invested and involved all the way through."

Of course, a band known for hits like "One Week" and "If I Had $1,000,000" isn't going to put out an album without humor — or Canadian Content. Kevin Hearn presented the group with "See the Tower," a song telling the story of the structure that highlights the Toronto skyline. "It's got a kind of sentimental approach, in all the right ways," says Robertson. "It reminds me of a song on&nbsp;Sesame Street&nbsp;or a kid's book about the CN Tower."

Hearn contributed three more songs to&nbsp;In Flight, including one about local Toronto legend "The Peace Lady" and a biting fantasy about a real place in New York City, "The Dream Hotel." Jim Creeggan co-wrote two of the tracks, adding the sweet devotion of "Just Wait" and "Wake Up" (on which he collaborated with Max Kerman of the Arkells).

Robertson is confident that the album's more thoughtful songs, like "Waning Moon" and "Fifty for a While," will play just as well on stage as the comical material. "On the last tour, the songs that I thought we wouldn't even try live ended up being real highlights of the show," he says. "We ended up doing 'Man Made Lake' every night, and it was a real anchor point. 'Live Well' was another one — the most vulnerable, personal, raw, emotional songs. And it's always been like that, we've always had 'One Week,' but the flip side is the reflective nature of 'Pinch Me,' and our audience accepts that from us."

With the song "One Night," Robertson even addresses this unique relationship BNL has with its fans. "We were trying to write something sexy that wasn't just about a steamy night between two consenting adults," he says, "but rather the magical connection that happens between a whole audience and a band. When it goes right — which it almost always does — for that 'One Night' it's a very intense connection."

Barenaked Ladies have become an institution, with a passionately dedicated audience (enough for them to headline their own cruises and have an ice cream flavor named after them) and a constant flow of new fans (plenty of whom discover the band through their theme song to the endlessly popular&nbsp;The Big Bang Theory). Maybe it's just the passage of time, maybe the joy of getting back on the road after the COVID lockdown, but Ed Robertson has noticed a change in his own attitude which adjusted his tone on&nbsp;In Flight.

"I was talking to my daughter the other day," he says, "and I told her that there would have been a me in the past that was standing on stage going, 'Okay, seven more songs and then I get on the bus and go to the next city, and then it's only six more shows before the end of the tour, when I get to go home and be with my family.' Now I find myself looking out and going 'We sold out Red Rocks — again!' I feel very connected to how lucky we are that we still get to do this.

"I think this band is the underdog success story of the century," Robertson continues. "Show me another band with a 35-year career, 15 million records sold, number one hits worldwide, and has never been on the cover of any major music publication. We're a band that has committed to being who we are and what we are, and being as good as we can be — doing the best shows we can do, writing the best songs we can write — and we've done it for 35 years. I'm super proud of that."

Toad The Wet Sprocket - the trio of founding members Glen Phillips, Todd Nichols, and Dean Dinning - are still making new music and touring with the same spirit and independence that started it all, over three decades ago. This year marks a new milestone in their journey with the 30th&nbsp;anniversary of the 1994 platinum selling album&nbsp;Dulcinea.&nbsp;&nbsp;

After the success of&nbsp;fear&nbsp;(1991) the band re-teamed with producer Gavin MacKillop, to create a new body of work that would become their album&nbsp;Dulcinea,&nbsp;and sequestered themselves in a residential studio in Marin County, CA. Inspired by the sound that they had developed from their recent touring, the band tracked the record mostly live in a huge room lit by hundreds of candles. With minimal overdubs, the album comes across as an honest document of a stunning batch of songs, some of which had the benefit of having been already played in on the road.&nbsp;

It was also during these sessions that the band recorded its unique cover of "Rock and Roll All Night" for the&nbsp;Kiss My Ass:&nbsp;Classic Kiss Regrooved&nbsp;(1994) at the request of Kiss bassist Gene Simmons, who loved it and said "it reminded him of Jackson Browne".&nbsp;

Dulcinea&nbsp;arrived in 1994 and was followed by a tour in which the band played over 80 headlining shows, with openers as diverse as Milla Jovovich and Hootie &amp; the Blowfish in their first national tours. The first single "Fall Down" (with a video directed by Samuel Bayer of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" fame) spent 6 weeks at number one on the Billboard Modern Rock chart. "Something's Always Wrong" was featured in the movie "Fear" and had a groundbreaking music video that put the band on the Home Shopping Network selling themselves to the lowest bidder. A highlight of the&nbsp;Dulcinea&nbsp;era was playing the NOW rally in Washington, DC in April of 1995, a performance that put the band in front of a million people and was nationally broadcast.&nbsp;

Crediting their success to the unwavering support of their fans, Toad the Wet Sprocket are celebrating&nbsp;Dulcinea&nbsp;throughout the year on tour – including a co-headline summer tour with the Gin Blossoms, a fall tour with Barenaked Ladies and additional headline dates in select markets.&nbsp;&nbsp;Limited edition commemorative&nbsp;Dulcinea&nbsp;merchandise will be available at the band’s online store and on all tour dates, as well as a limited quantity of&nbsp;Dulcinea&nbsp;on vinyl that will be a repressing of the original.

Dulcinea&nbsp;went on to sell over a million copies and was certified by the RIAA, giving the band its second platinum album in a row. Many songs from&nbsp;Dulcinea&nbsp;are played in the band's live set every night on tour, and in 2023, "Fall Down" was featured on the Showtime series "Billions", with the song showing up on the Shazam charts the following week.&nbsp;

Throughout their career, Toad the Wet Sprocket has remained committed to creating music that is both meaningful and accessible. Their songs are filled with introspective lyrics, melodic guitars and vocal harmonies that have resonated for fans for decades.

Toad the Wet Sprocket first gained attention in the late 1980s with their debut album,&nbsp;Bread &amp; Circus, originally self-released on cassette in 1988. Their sophomore release,&nbsp;Pale, was recorded independently in 1989. Both records were released by Columbia Records, in 1989 and 1990 respectively.&nbsp;

Toad’s third studio album,&nbsp;Fear, followed in 1991 and included their multi-format iconic hit singles “All I Want” and "Walk on the Ocean”. It was certified RIAA Platinum and further solidified the band's popularity and mainstream success. In 1994,&nbsp;Dulcinea&nbsp;followed.

In 1995 Toad released&nbsp;In Light Syrup, a collection of rarities that included the hit “Good Intentions”, which was featured on the Platinum-selling&nbsp;Friends&nbsp;soundtrack.&nbsp;

The band took a break in the late 1990s, with the members pursuing solo projects. However, they reunited in 2006 and have continued to perform together ever since. In 2013, they released their first album in 16 years,&nbsp;New Constellation.&nbsp;The album includes fan-favorite tracks “The Moment”, “California Wasted” and “Enough” that showcase the bands growth and versatility.&nbsp;

Starting Now&nbsp;(2021) marked a return to form for the band, with introspective lyrics, and signature harmonies. It well-received and showcased the band's signature sound while also exploring new sonic territories. Songs like “Transient Whales”, “Starting Now” and “Hold On” serve as core performance tracks at live shows and as fan favorites.&nbsp;

Toad's most recent album,&nbsp;All You Want, is a remastered greatest hits album and features the most recent single “Best of Me (2023)”, an alternative version to the album release cut of the track featuring Michael McDonald.&nbsp;

Throughout their career, Toad the Wet Sprocket has remained humble and grateful for the loyal support of their incredible fans.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is the fuel that inspires the band to continue creating music and performing live to this day.

More information, email list signups and updates may be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.toadthewetsprocket.com/">www.ToadTheWetSprocket.com</a>&nbsp;or on socials @ToadTheWetSprocket.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT JANE GATES.&nbsp;

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/9c740142-863b-46ac-96c9-5a064c3ae18c">Two Salina teens pronounced dead at scene of crash on Friday</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710779175622.jpeg" alt="Barenaked Ladies. Image courtesy Stiefel Theatre" />
 <figcaption>Barenaked Ladies. Image courtesy Stiefel Theatre</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThe Stiefel Theatre in Salina is thrilled to announce its upcoming show,&nbsp;Barenaked Ladies with Toad The Wet Sprocket, on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 7:30 p.m.Tickets start at $89 and are on sale Friday, March 22, @ noon.&nbsp;Buy in person at the Stiefel Theatre Box Office or online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.stiefeltheatre.org/">www.stiefeltheatre.org</a>. 785-827-1998<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710779145306.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>After more than three decades as the lead singer and guitarist for&nbsp;Barenaked Ladies, Ed Robertson has a routine when it comes time to start writing songs for a new album. "I tend to get ideas while I'm driving up to my lake house," he says. "I record voice memos along the way, and then I listen back and try to make sense of them and mix and match the various ideas I've come up with. On a typical drive, I'm happy if I get six or seven — eight ideas would be a good drive."For this album," he continues, "on my first writing trip I had 21 different song ideas. I thought, 'Wow, this is really cool.' Then I sat down to write, and I thought if I could finish one of them — get the verses, get the bridge, get the chorus in one day — then I'll know this whole writing period is going to be good. And I finished eight songs. I sat down at 10 in the morning, and I looked up at 9:30 and I hadn't eaten, I hadn't moved from the writing table. It was exciting. I've never felt that before."The results mark a new chapter for a band that's sold more than 15 million albums, earned Grammy nominations and won multiple Juno Awards, and in 2018, were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.&nbsp;In Flight, BNL's eighteenth studio album, retains the dry wit and keen observation we expect from Robertson, bassist Jim Creeggan, keyboardist/guitarist Kevin Hearn and drummer Tyler Stewart, but adds a strong sense of maturing and lessons learned."I think as I age, I get less self-conscious," says Robertson. "I had a goal to write simpler songs on this record, to not out-clever myself and be a little more direct, more emotionally present and honest. And when I listened to what I wrote, I heard what I've been talking about for the last couple of years — ruminations on gratitude, getting older, cancel culture. It was everything I've been thinking about, distilled into songs."While BNL's last album, 2021's&nbsp;Detour de Force, looked closely at the perils of contemporary, alternate reality media,&nbsp;In Flight&nbsp;offers a sense of joy and appreciation, exemplified in the first single, "Lovin' Life," in which they unironically sing "We're lovin' life/We love it so much that we wanna live it twice/We're lovin' life/We take it high, we take it low/We ride that rollercoaster anywhere it goes." (Robertson wrote the song with Better Than Ezra's Kevin Griffin and Steve Aiello of Thirty Second to Mars; elsewhere on the album, he co-wrote "I Am Asking You" with Donovan Woods)."It's very easy to get overwhelmed by the firehose of bad news that we're all pretty tuned into, and it is real," says Robertson. "But I think it's really important to remember to still be grateful. I guess I'm just trying to take in the negativity that surrounds us and learn about it and grow from it. 'Lovin' Life' is about experiencing the positivity, because that's there, too."He points to the recording of the song "Too Old" ("You don't scare me a bit/I'm too old for this shit") as a pivot point for&nbsp;In Flight. "The demo had this arpeggiated acoustic guitar and it was almost melancholy," he says. "It was pretty, but It made it a little more distant from the message. When we started jamming it in pre-production, it turned into this Tom Petty-ish, guitar driven thing, it had a little bite. That was the moment where we were just letting shit happen organically and it felt great."Even at this point in a legendary career, Barenaked Ladies were open to altering their work habits and finding ways to better serve the new songs. "Typically in the past, we've done all the guitar overdubs, then we go in and do percussion, then do all the keyboard parts," says Robertson. "With this record, we put up a song and said, 'What does it need?,' then put up the next song and finished song by song. So it demanded everyone's attention all the time, as opposed to just concentrating on their parts or the week where they're focusing on their instrument. That kept everybody invested and involved all the way through."Of course, a band known for hits like "One Week" and "If I Had $1,000,000" isn't going to put out an album without humor — or Canadian Content. Kevin Hearn presented the group with "See the Tower," a song telling the story of the structure that highlights the Toronto skyline. "It's got a kind of sentimental approach, in all the right ways," says Robertson. "It reminds me of a song on&nbsp;Sesame Street&nbsp;or a kid's book about the CN Tower."Hearn contributed three more songs to&nbsp;In Flight, including one about local Toronto legend "The Peace Lady" and a biting fantasy about a real place in New York City, "The Dream Hotel." Jim Creeggan co-wrote two of the tracks, adding the sweet devotion of "Just Wait" and "Wake Up" (on which he collaborated with Max Kerman of the Arkells).Robertson is confident that the album's more thoughtful songs, like "Waning Moon" and "Fifty for a While," will play just as well on stage as the comical material. "On the last tour, the songs that I thought we wouldn't even try live ended up being real highlights of the show," he says. "We ended up doing 'Man Made Lake' every night, and it was a real anchor point. 'Live Well' was another one — the most vulnerable, personal, raw, emotional songs. And it's always been like that, we've always had 'One Week,' but the flip side is the reflective nature of 'Pinch Me,' and our audience accepts that from us."With the song "One Night," Robertson even addresses this unique relationship BNL has with its fans. "We were trying to write something sexy that wasn't just about a steamy night between two consenting adults," he says, "but rather the magical connection that happens between a whole audience and a band. When it goes right — which it almost always does — for that 'One Night' it's a very intense connection."Barenaked Ladies have become an institution, with a passionately dedicated audience (enough for them to headline their own cruises and have an ice cream flavor named after them) and a constant flow of new fans (plenty of whom discover the band through their theme song to the endlessly popular&nbsp;The Big Bang Theory). Maybe it's just the passage of time, maybe the joy of getting back on the road after the COVID lockdown, but Ed Robertson has noticed a change in his own attitude which adjusted his tone on&nbsp;In Flight."I was talking to my daughter the other day," he says, "and I told her that there would have been a me in the past that was standing on stage going, 'Okay, seven more songs and then I get on the bus and go to the next city, and then it's only six more shows before the end of the tour, when I get to go home and be with my family.' Now I find myself looking out and going 'We sold out Red Rocks — again!' I feel very connected to how lucky we are that we still get to do this."I think this band is the underdog success story of the century," Robertson continues. "Show me another band with a 35-year career, 15 million records sold, number one hits worldwide, and has never been on the cover of any major music publication. We're a band that has committed to being who we are and what we are, and being as good as we can be — doing the best shows we can do, writing the best songs we can write — and we've done it for 35 years. I'm super proud of that."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710779214522.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Toad The Wet Sprocket - the trio of founding members Glen Phillips, Todd Nichols, and Dean Dinning - are still making new music and touring with the same spirit and independence that started it all, over three decades ago. This year marks a new milestone in their journey with the 30th&nbsp;anniversary of the 1994 platinum selling album&nbsp;Dulcinea.&nbsp;&nbsp;After the success of&nbsp;fear&nbsp;(1991) the band re-teamed with producer Gavin MacKillop, to create a new body of work that would become their album&nbsp;Dulcinea,&nbsp;and sequestered themselves in a residential studio in Marin County, CA. Inspired by the sound that they had developed from their recent touring, the band tracked the record mostly live in a huge room lit by hundreds of candles. With minimal overdubs, the album comes across as an honest document of a stunning batch of songs, some of which had the benefit of having been already played in on the road.&nbsp;It was also during these sessions that the band recorded its unique cover of "Rock and Roll All Night" for the&nbsp;Kiss My Ass:&nbsp;Classic Kiss Regrooved&nbsp;(1994) at the request of Kiss bassist Gene Simmons, who loved it and said "it reminded him of Jackson Browne".&nbsp;Dulcinea&nbsp;arrived in 1994 and was followed by a tour in which the band played over 80 headlining shows, with openers as diverse as Milla Jovovich and Hootie &amp; the Blowfish in their first national tours. The first single "Fall Down" (with a video directed by Samuel Bayer of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" fame) spent 6 weeks at number one on the Billboard Modern Rock chart. "Something's Always Wrong" was featured in the movie "Fear" and had a groundbreaking music video that put the band on the Home Shopping Network selling themselves to the lowest bidder. A highlight of the&nbsp;Dulcinea&nbsp;era was playing the NOW rally in Washington, DC in April of 1995, a performance that put the band in front of a million people and was nationally broadcast.&nbsp;Crediting their success to the unwavering support of their fans, Toad the Wet Sprocket are celebrating&nbsp;Dulcinea&nbsp;throughout the year on tour – including a co-headline summer tour with the Gin Blossoms, a fall tour with Barenaked Ladies and additional headline dates in select markets.&nbsp;&nbsp;Limited edition commemorative&nbsp;Dulcinea&nbsp;merchandise will be available at the band’s online store and on all tour dates, as well as a limited quantity of&nbsp;Dulcinea&nbsp;on vinyl that will be a repressing of the original.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710779252457.png" alt="Toad the Wet Sprocket. Image courtesy Stiefel Theatre" />
 <figcaption>Toad the Wet Sprocket. Image courtesy Stiefel Theatre</figcaption>
 </figure>Dulcinea&nbsp;went on to sell over a million copies and was certified by the RIAA, giving the band its second platinum album in a row. Many songs from&nbsp;Dulcinea&nbsp;are played in the band's live set every night on tour, and in 2023, "Fall Down" was featured on the Showtime series "Billions", with the song showing up on the Shazam charts the following week.&nbsp;Throughout their career, Toad the Wet Sprocket has remained committed to creating music that is both meaningful and accessible. Their songs are filled with introspective lyrics, melodic guitars and vocal harmonies that have resonated for fans for decades.Toad the Wet Sprocket first gained attention in the late 1980s with their debut album,&nbsp;Bread &amp; Circus, originally self-released on cassette in 1988. Their sophomore release,&nbsp;Pale, was recorded independently in 1989. Both records were released by Columbia Records, in 1989 and 1990 respectively.&nbsp;Toad’s third studio album,&nbsp;Fear, followed in 1991 and included their multi-format iconic hit singles “All I Want” and "Walk on the Ocean”. It was certified RIAA Platinum and further solidified the band's popularity and mainstream success. In 1994,&nbsp;Dulcinea&nbsp;followed.In 1995 Toad released&nbsp;In Light Syrup, a collection of rarities that included the hit “Good Intentions”, which was featured on the Platinum-selling&nbsp;Friends&nbsp;soundtrack.&nbsp;The band took a break in the late 1990s, with the members pursuing solo projects. However, they reunited in 2006 and have continued to perform together ever since. In 2013, they released their first album in 16 years,&nbsp;New Constellation.&nbsp;The album includes fan-favorite tracks “The Moment”, “California Wasted” and “Enough” that showcase the bands growth and versatility.&nbsp;Starting Now&nbsp;(2021) marked a return to form for the band, with introspective lyrics, and signature harmonies. It well-received and showcased the band's signature sound while also exploring new sonic territories. Songs like “Transient Whales”, “Starting Now” and “Hold On” serve as core performance tracks at live shows and as fan favorites.&nbsp;Toad's most recent album,&nbsp;All You Want, is a remastered greatest hits album and features the most recent single “Best of Me (2023)”, an alternative version to the album release cut of the track featuring Michael McDonald.&nbsp;Throughout their career, Toad the Wet Sprocket has remained humble and grateful for the loyal support of their incredible fans.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is the fuel that inspires the band to continue creating music and performing live to this day.More information, email list signups and updates may be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.toadthewetsprocket.com/">www.ToadTheWetSprocket.com</a>&nbsp;or on socials @ToadTheWetSprocket.FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT JANE GATES.&nbsp;READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/9c740142-863b-46ac-96c9-5a064c3ae18c">Two Salina teens pronounced dead at scene of crash on Friday</a>

Barenaked Ladies with guest to perform at Stiefel Theatre in November

Cloud County Community College’s Choirs will present a Dance Mix Concert on Thursday, March 26. The concert, which is free, will be at 7 p.m. in Cook Theatre on the Concordia campus.

The concert will feature the Cloud County Community Chorale/Concert Choir and the Cloud 9 Jazz Choir. Cloud 9’s musical numbers will also feature disco and hip-hop choreography.

The Community Chorale/Concert Choir is a non-auditioned, community vocal ensemble that is open to singers from both the college and area communities.&nbsp;Cloud 9 Jazz Choir is an elite vocal music ensemble at Cloud. This auditioned choir consists of only nine singers divided into SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) parts.&nbsp;

The groups will perform a wide variety of selections, including Dua Lipa’s Dance the Night from the 2023 Barbie movie, Elvis Presley’s Jailhouse Rock, Disco Survives (a medley of the biggest disco hits), and Papa Loves Mambo, as performed by Perry Como.

All groups are under the direction of Christopher Langsford, instructor in music at Cloud County. He can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:chris.langsford@cloud.edu">chris.langsford@cloud.edu</a>&nbsp;with questions about the event.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622065565811.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedCloud County Community College’s Choirs will present a Dance Mix Concert on Thursday, March 26. The concert, which is free, will be at 7 p.m. in Cook Theatre on the Concordia campus.The concert will feature the Cloud County Community Chorale/Concert Choir and the Cloud 9 Jazz Choir. Cloud 9’s musical numbers will also feature disco and hip-hop choreography.The Community Chorale/Concert Choir is a non-auditioned, community vocal ensemble that is open to singers from both the college and area communities.&nbsp;Cloud 9 Jazz Choir is an elite vocal music ensemble at Cloud. This auditioned choir consists of only nine singers divided into SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) parts.&nbsp;The groups will perform a wide variety of selections, including Dua Lipa’s Dance the Night from the 2023 Barbie movie, Elvis Presley’s Jailhouse Rock, Disco Survives (a medley of the biggest disco hits), and Papa Loves Mambo, as performed by Perry Como.All groups are under the direction of Christopher Langsford, instructor in music at Cloud County. He can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:chris.langsford@cloud.edu">chris.langsford@cloud.edu</a>&nbsp;with questions about the event.

CCCC Music Department presenting spring concert

The Salvation Army of Salina is hosting a Benefit Concert with Christian Artists Sanctus Real, Unspoken, and JJ Weeks on Friday, April 5, 2024, at Tony’s Pizza Events Center.&nbsp; Tickets range in price from $23, $33 and $45 for VIP.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This past season, the Salvation Army fell $20,000 short of their Christmas Kettle Goal.&nbsp; The Salvation Army depends on these funds to operate throughout the year.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The Kettle Campaign is our biggest fundraiser of the year.&nbsp; It helps us with about 35% of our annual budget.&nbsp; Without these funds we are not able to meet the needs of our community.&nbsp; This concert will hopefully help us to raise the funds that are needed to offset the loss during our Kettle Campaign,” said Salvation Army&nbsp;Lt. Luke Hursh

The funds raised are used for helping with Rental Assistance, Food Service, including our feeding program, Shelter, food and other items for Fire Victims, Youth Programs, Music Programs, Rehabilitation for individuals involved with Drugs and Alcohol, Summer Camps, and more.&nbsp; “We are hoping to sell out.&nbsp; We have 800 tickets and have sold about 75 at last count.&nbsp; If we do not sell enough tickets this will set us back even more.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tickets for the Concert can be purchased at <a href="https://www.tonyspizzaeventscenter.com/">Tony’s Pizza Events Center</a> Box Office or at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ticketmaster.com/the-unreal-tour-salina-kansas-04-05-2024/event/20006036E01717C0">Ticketmaster.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Salvation Army is also looking for Volunteers to help with this event and other activities throughout the year. Volunteers are vital to our operation. If we don’t have them throughout the year, we struggle to meet needs. We need volunteers for our Thrift Store, our Emergency Disaster Services Team, Food Servers, Grounds Keeping, and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;

You can reach The Salvation Army at 785-823-2251 for more information.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710518833906.jpeg" alt="Unreal Tour. Graphic courtesy The Salvation Army of Salina" />
 <figcaption>Unreal Tour. Graphic courtesy The Salvation Army of Salina</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThe Salvation Army of Salina is hosting a Benefit Concert with Christian Artists Sanctus Real, Unspoken, and JJ Weeks on Friday, April 5, 2024, at Tony’s Pizza Events Center.&nbsp; Tickets range in price from $23, $33 and $45 for VIP.&nbsp;&nbsp;This past season, the Salvation Army fell $20,000 short of their Christmas Kettle Goal.&nbsp; The Salvation Army depends on these funds to operate throughout the year.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The Kettle Campaign is our biggest fundraiser of the year.&nbsp; It helps us with about 35% of our annual budget.&nbsp; Without these funds we are not able to meet the needs of our community.&nbsp; This concert will hopefully help us to raise the funds that are needed to offset the loss during our Kettle Campaign,” said Salvation Army&nbsp;Lt. Luke HurshThe funds raised are used for helping with Rental Assistance, Food Service, including our feeding program, Shelter, food and other items for Fire Victims, Youth Programs, Music Programs, Rehabilitation for individuals involved with Drugs and Alcohol, Summer Camps, and more.&nbsp; “We are hoping to sell out.&nbsp; We have 800 tickets and have sold about 75 at last count.&nbsp; If we do not sell enough tickets this will set us back even more.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Tickets for the Concert can be purchased at <a href="https://www.tonyspizzaeventscenter.com/">Tony’s Pizza Events Center</a> Box Office or at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ticketmaster.com/the-unreal-tour-salina-kansas-04-05-2024/event/20006036E01717C0">Ticketmaster.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Salvation Army is also looking for Volunteers to help with this event and other activities throughout the year. Volunteers are vital to our operation. If we don’t have them throughout the year, we struggle to meet needs. We need volunteers for our Thrift Store, our Emergency Disaster Services Team, Food Servers, Grounds Keeping, and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;You can reach The Salvation Army at 785-823-2251 for more information.&nbsp;

The Unreal Tour visits Salina in April for The Salvation Army of Salina benefit concert

The Stiefel Theatre in Salina is thrilled to announce its upcoming show,&nbsp;Legends of Country Rock with Firefall and Richie Furay of Poco and Buffalo Springfield, on Friday, May 31, at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets start at $49 — on-sale Friday, March 15 @ noon.&nbsp;Buy in person at the Stiefel Theatre Box Office or online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.stiefeltheatre.org">www.stiefeltheatre.org</a>. 785-827-1998

Firefall Lead guitarist and vocalist Jock Bartley founded Firefall in Boulder, Colorado, in 1974, along with two other refugees from the legendary Graham Parsons band.

Firefall’s layered harmonies backed by driving rhythms that transcend many genres from rock to country brought them Platinum and Gold Album and Single success with hits like“You Are The Woman,” “Strange Way,” and “Just Remember I Love You.” Other major Firefall radio hits include “Cinderella,” “Goodbye I Love You,” “Livin’ Ain’t Livin” and “Mexico.”&nbsp;

Firefall hit the road and never looked back, including extensive tours with Fleetwood Mac, The Doobie Brothers, Chicago, America, and many others. In recent years, their legendary headline shows have been mixed with package tours with Little River Band, Night Ranger, Pure Prairie League, Orleans, and more.

Jock Bartley (lead guitar and vocals) is joined on stage by longtime Firefall members Steve Weinmeister (guitar, mandolin, keyboards, and vocals), Jim Waddell (keyboards, flute, saxophone), Sandy Fica (drums), and newcomer John Bisaha from The Babys (bass and vocals).

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/841d07ab-499c-4d86-a8d3-678b41ef13e4">EquiFest returns to Salina this week — a quick look at events and vendors</a>

In the Fall of 2023, the band will release “Friends &amp; Family on Sunset Blvd Records, backed by a major promotional campaign.

This unique ‘concept’ album features new versions of classic songs by artists that are part of Firefall’s rich history, including groups that the founding members played in or that Firefall toured with, including The Byrds, Flying Burrito Bros., Spirit, Dan Fogelberg, Heart, Gram Parsons, Poco, the Doobie Bros., Loggins &amp; Messina, Fleetwood Mac, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Marshall Tucker.

Poco, Buffalo Springfield and Souther, Hillman, Furay founder, vocalist, guitarist, and rock &amp; Roll Hall Of Fame Richie Furay is responsible for hits ranging from “For What It’s Worth/Stop Children What’s That Sound” to “Kind Woman” “Rose of Cimmeron” and “Good Feeling To Know.”

Throughout the formative years of our group&nbsp;America,&nbsp;the songs and voice of Richie Furay were a constant inspiration. With both the Buffalo Springfield and Poco albums, Richie was in “heavy rotation” in our world and remains so to this day. –&nbsp;Gerry Beckley, Member of the group AMERICA

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710359343446.jpeg" alt="Firefall band members. Image courtesy Stiefel Theatre" />
 <figcaption>Firefall band members. Image courtesy Stiefel Theatre</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThe Stiefel Theatre in Salina is thrilled to announce its upcoming show,&nbsp;Legends of Country Rock with Firefall and Richie Furay of Poco and Buffalo Springfield, on Friday, May 31, at 7:30 p.m.Tickets start at $49 — on-sale Friday, March 15 @ noon.&nbsp;Buy in person at the Stiefel Theatre Box Office or online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.stiefeltheatre.org">www.stiefeltheatre.org</a>. 785-827-1998Firefall Lead guitarist and vocalist Jock Bartley founded Firefall in Boulder, Colorado, in 1974, along with two other refugees from the legendary Graham Parsons band.Firefall’s layered harmonies backed by driving rhythms that transcend many genres from rock to country brought them Platinum and Gold Album and Single success with hits like“You Are The Woman,” “Strange Way,” and “Just Remember I Love You.” Other major Firefall radio hits include “Cinderella,” “Goodbye I Love You,” “Livin’ Ain’t Livin” and “Mexico.”&nbsp;Firefall hit the road and never looked back, including extensive tours with Fleetwood Mac, The Doobie Brothers, Chicago, America, and many others. In recent years, their legendary headline shows have been mixed with package tours with Little River Band, Night Ranger, Pure Prairie League, Orleans, and more.Jock Bartley (lead guitar and vocals) is joined on stage by longtime Firefall members Steve Weinmeister (guitar, mandolin, keyboards, and vocals), Jim Waddell (keyboards, flute, saxophone), Sandy Fica (drums), and newcomer John Bisaha from The Babys (bass and vocals).READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/841d07ab-499c-4d86-a8d3-678b41ef13e4">EquiFest returns to Salina this week — a quick look at events and vendors</a>In the Fall of 2023, the band will release “Friends &amp; Family on Sunset Blvd Records, backed by a major promotional campaign.This unique ‘concept’ album features new versions of classic songs by artists that are part of Firefall’s rich history, including groups that the founding members played in or that Firefall toured with, including The Byrds, Flying Burrito Bros., Spirit, Dan Fogelberg, Heart, Gram Parsons, Poco, the Doobie Bros., Loggins &amp; Messina, Fleetwood Mac, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Marshall Tucker.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710359640297.png" alt="Richie Furay. Image courtesy Stiefel Theatre" />
 <figcaption>Richie Furay. Image courtesy Stiefel Theatre</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Richie Furay&nbsp;</h2>Poco, Buffalo Springfield and Souther, Hillman, Furay founder, vocalist, guitarist, and rock &amp; Roll Hall Of Fame Richie Furay is responsible for hits ranging from “For What It’s Worth/Stop Children What’s That Sound” to “Kind Woman” “Rose of Cimmeron” and “Good Feeling To Know.”Throughout the formative years of our group&nbsp;America,&nbsp;the songs and voice of Richie Furay were a constant inspiration. With both the Buffalo Springfield and Poco albums, Richie was in “heavy rotation” in our world and remains so to this day. –&nbsp;Gerry Beckley, Member of the group AMERICA

Legends of Country Rock with Firefall and Richie Furay to perform at Stiefel Theatre in May

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rRzLORiSwvM?si=gjhytMNkK585hsnD" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab.

🎤Forward Ever: Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with U.S. Army Garrison Commander of Fort Riley, Col Michael J. Foote.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pDvY7Nmvjns?si=7A7-z3wmGqrybvW4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with U.S. Army Garrison Commander of Fort Riley, Col Michael J. Foote.

🎤Forward Ever: Fort Riley Garrison Commander, Col. Michael Foote 

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Northwest Kansas Technical College instructor Jeremy Skrdlant.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sxb-0ykR8tM?si=PsXv82Ww5P19T9RQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Northwest Kansas Technical College instructor Jeremy Skrdlant.

🎤Forward Ever: Northwest Kansas Technical College instructor Jeremy Skrdlant

Folk musician Tom Neilson will present his satire and social commentary through music on Friday, February 16, at 7 p.m., at Salina's Unitarian Universalist Fellowship,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/901+Beatrice+St?entry=gmail&amp;source=g">901 Beatrice St</a>.

Suggested donation is $15-20.&nbsp; For info contact 785-201-2780.

Neilson is a storyteller who weaves an autobiographical sketch of songs and stories that are both historical and contemporary. He begins with his dairy farm roots and proceeds to the Vietnam War, civil rights, liberation struggles, unions, pipelines, censorship, Raytheon, breastfeeding, oligarchy, parenting, sexuality, humanism, lost loves and whatever else there is time for.&nbsp; Tom will tell you he is just a farm boy with a guitar who likes a good ball game and human rights.

His work has resulted in over 30 awards, to include two Song Of The Year Awards from Independent Musicians; two CD of the Year awards from Just Plain Folks International and a 2015 nomination for the United Nations Nelson Mandela Award for lifetime achievement in peace and justice.

In 2017 he received the Arab American Women Association Award for his human rights work through performance art for Palestine.A member of AFM Local 1000, he has performed his music in 22 countries on five continents. As his 100-year-old mother says, he is “predictably unpredictable.”Michael Stock of WLRN, Miami, FL says “Tom does a great job of reminding people of what is really important and the power of folk music to say it.

Says another reviewer, “He is light, warm, funny, compassion-filled, heart-felt LIFE just pouring out of a guitar with a sharp wit, a seasoned experience, and a big fat uncompromising bunch of truth behind it. He's the kind of sweet &amp; playful that we need.”Performing with him is his wife and accomplice, Lynn Waldron, who provides harmonies and lyric cues. They live in Greenfield, MA.

This article was originally posted on 01.14.2024

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581646825656.png" alt="Tom Neilson" />
 <figcaption>Tom Neilson</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedFolk musician Tom Neilson will present his satire and social commentary through music on Friday, February 16, at 7 p.m., at Salina's Unitarian Universalist Fellowship,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/901+Beatrice+St?entry=gmail&amp;source=g">901 Beatrice St</a>.Suggested donation is $15-20.&nbsp; For info contact 785-201-2780.Neilson is a storyteller who weaves an autobiographical sketch of songs and stories that are both historical and contemporary. He begins with his dairy farm roots and proceeds to the Vietnam War, civil rights, liberation struggles, unions, pipelines, censorship, Raytheon, breastfeeding, oligarchy, parenting, sexuality, humanism, lost loves and whatever else there is time for.&nbsp; Tom will tell you he is just a farm boy with a guitar who likes a good ball game and human rights.His work has resulted in over 30 awards, to include two Song Of The Year Awards from Independent Musicians; two CD of the Year awards from Just Plain Folks International and a 2015 nomination for the United Nations Nelson Mandela Award for lifetime achievement in peace and justice.In 2017 he received the Arab American Women Association Award for his human rights work through performance art for Palestine.A member of AFM Local 1000, he has performed his music in 22 countries on five continents. As his 100-year-old mother says, he is “predictably unpredictable.”Michael Stock of WLRN, Miami, FL says “Tom does a great job of reminding people of what is really important and the power of folk music to say it.Says another reviewer, “He is light, warm, funny, compassion-filled, heart-felt LIFE just pouring out of a guitar with a sharp wit, a seasoned experience, and a big fat uncompromising bunch of truth behind it. He's the kind of sweet &amp; playful that we need.”Performing with him is his wife and accomplice, Lynn Waldron, who provides harmonies and lyric cues. They live in Greenfield, MA.This article was originally posted on 01.14.2024

Folk musician Tom Neilson to present satire through music at UU Fellowship in February

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Hays superintendent Ron Wilson.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gC89geLkiYw?si=j2XpFKUN20ehxGKJ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Hays superintendent Ron Wilson.

🎤Forward Ever: USD 489 superintendent Ron Wilson

In a flash of energetic characters, quick dialogue, and engaging scene work, Theatre Salina actors took to the Sunflower Financial Theatre stage and provided an intimate performance of "The Odd Couple, Female Version."

"The Odd Couple" is an original screenplay by Neil Simon, which initially portrays a group of men living in New York City who play Poker together in Oscar Madison's smoke-filled, sloppy apartment.

Simon replaced Oscar's character with Olive Madison, the female counterpart he described as "attractive, divorced, professional." The other main character of the original screenplay, Felix Unger, is replaced with Florence Unger, described as "attractive, a homemaker/housewife."

The revised characters mirror their male counterparts, with Olive remaining unbelievably sloppy yet charismatic and energetic. Florence also reflects Felix as she is obsessively organized and drives Olive mad throughout the narrative with her continuous cleaning of their shared apartment.

Upon presentation of each main character, the costume design matched these descriptions, with Olive sporting a ball cap, flannel and blue jeans and Florence in a well-kept dress and cardigan.

A review of "The Odd Couple, Female Version"

As the lights to the Sunflower Financial  Theatre lit up the stage and glowed on audience members' faces, the first scene opens with four women sitting around a table in Olive's untidy New York City apartment.

Dice clack between Kristina Freeland's hands as she begins the play with the line, "C'mon baby, we need a piece of the pie!" portraying the character Mickey, a New York City police officer.

Her friends surround her at the table, including Sylvie, played by Lindsey Rojas — Renee, portrayed by Robin Dutton and Vera, played by Sara Young, with Olive making sandwiches for the group in the kitchen, off stage.&nbsp;

The costuming remains consistent here, with each character portraying their roles well. Mickey is dressed in her work uniform, complete with a badge and toolbelt, while the other ladies' fashion choices match the character's personalities well.

This first scene had the entire audience cackling at the line delivery and jokes put in place. The director, Amanda Reynolds, made great stage, costuming and production choices, where the actors felt like friends who had known each other for years surviving in New York City.

Olive enters the stage with a plate full of smelly sandwiches, likely made with expired meats and cheeses. She joins her group of friends at the table and comments about how they are missing one member, Florence.

A string of phone calls allows the audience to take a closer look into the character's personal lives, with the first call answered by Mickey, who regretfully admits to Olive that the person on the line was none other than her ex-husband asking for more money.

Mickey and the rest of the group are married except for Olive at the show's beginning, but the group soon receives another call after Mickey nervously waits for Florence to arrive.

The phone call is from Florence's now ex-husband, who filed for divorce.

All erupt into hysteria around the table, crying out in worry for Florence's safety as they call her "dramatic" and claim she'll attempt suicide if left alone.

The original screenplay also has this scene, but the men are more dismissive of Felix's outburst, while the women version continuously acts scared and hysterical.

Allison Yaple, who portrays Olive, plays the scene well, retaining the New York accent through convincing lines of dialogue, attempting to calm her friends as the doorbell rings. Through the stage door, Florence, portrayed by Shawna Carter, walks in, matching the theatrics and introducing her character as one of obsessive hysteria.

The group of women then try to calm Florence, tiptoeing around questions on whether she planned to harm herself, and they quickly find they're correct that Florence would use the attempt for attention.

As Florence entered the stage, the emersion broke as Carter struggled to continue a New York accent. Not all the other actors kept a New York accent, so Reynolds could have directed Carter to follow suit instead of a challenging New York accent.

Besides Florence's accent, Carter plays the character and scene with over-the-top line delivery and intense expressions alongside Olive.

The ending of this scene marks the tone of the rest of the set, with Olive offering her home for Florence to stay while she gets back on her feet — thus beginning the central conflict between characters.

Olive and Florence are opposites in the home, with Olive remaining sloppy and carefree while Florence picks up after her relentlessly. These characters portray the two extremes of what men think of women — either a nitpicky housewife who drives the husband mad or a woman who doesn't do enough work and isn't "worthy" of being a wife.

When comparing the Female Version to Simon's initial screenplay of "The Odd Couple," there's not a lot of difference in the script, showing a lack of nuance in the intricate lives of women. Instead of just "repainting" the characters, Simon could have changed the script to reflect the complex worlds that groups of women create.

Once Florence and Olive begin living together, Olive's apartment, the set of the play, transforms into a beautiful home, well-kept by Florence. At first, they live harmoniously with each other — Florence enjoyed the company while Olive enjoyed a cleaner place.

Soon, Olive tells Florence that, as single women, they should explore and meet the two Spanish gentlemen living in the building. The two men are brothers, Jesus and Manolo Costazuela, played by Loren Young and Joel Bicknell.&nbsp;

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/fb920b02-c109-4a6f-abd7-774966887c9e">📸 Flashback Friday: Salina Post - The Indian Burial Pit - Vol. 27</a>

Both men portray the characters well through broken Spanish accents but remain tender and hilarious throughout their scenes. When the men first meet Florence and Olive, they immediately begin gravitating toward Florence since her divorce was just a few weeks before.

The men connect with Florence well since they had recently divorced their wives in Spain and moved to New York City to start a new life. They sit together closely, sharing experiences while Olive prepares drinks in the kitchen, away from the stage.

During these scenes, the setting only elevated the performance, with moody lighting from a simple chandelier above the table and the audience merely feet away from the actors.&nbsp;

Overall, the lighting work complemented the stage, with warm spotlighting to direct the audience's focus through each scene.

The Costazuela brothers later invite the women to their apartment for more food and drinks.&nbsp;

Before the two women walk through the door to follow, Florence tells Olive that she does not want to go and makes a scene of "breaking her back" and that she's still emotionally tied to her ex-husband.

Florence's dramatic nature ruins the night for Olive, who then begins taking her frustration out on her roommate with another hilarious scene.

The next day, Olive is sitting on the couch in the living room when Florence walks past with a plate of fresh spaghetti. With a smug look, Olive crosses the room with a can of deodorizer and sprays all around Florence as she sits at the table, ready to eat her plate of food.

As a final display of annoyance, Olive sprays the plate, which causes the last fight between the women.

This begins the conclusion of the play — the women fight with Olive, kicking Florence out of the apartment, so Florence packs her things and storms through the door.

Later, the group of friends revisits Olive's apartment for game night. As the group surrounds the table, a knock raps against Olive's door.&nbsp;

Vera answers the door because Olive claims it's probably Florence returning to beg for forgiveness and a place to stay, and she doesn't want to see her.

Surprisingly, it's instead the Costazuela brothers who visit with Florence to retrieve some of her clothes from the apartment.

Monolo Costazuela informs Olive that he and his brother invited Florence to stay in their apartment while she gets back on her feet.

After further conversation and confusion, the brothers and Florence retrieve the rest of her things and leave, and the women return to their game night as the lights fade on the stage.

In conclusion, a hilarious American soap opera

In conclusion, the entire screenplay was well directed, with convincing performances from the actors who leaned into the comedic aspects of each scene.

Something delightful was the dynamic between the group of women — each time Mickey, Vera, Sylvie, Renee, and Olive sat around the table for game night, the actresses stole the stage with witty and quick line delivery.

Carter performed the character of Florence thoroughly with an over-the-top dramatic line delivery that felt right at home with a woman who adores soap opera media and performances.

The entire theatrical production did well on the show in the round stage, providing the community with an entertaining and delightfully hilarious performance of a facet of American history.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1706984825306.jpeg" alt="Graphic courtesy Theatre Salina" />
 <figcaption>Graphic courtesy Theatre Salina</figcaption>
 </figure>By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Salina PostIn a flash of energetic characters, quick dialogue, and engaging scene work, Theatre Salina actors took to the Sunflower Financial Theatre stage and provided an intimate performance of "The Odd Couple, Female Version.""The Odd Couple" is an original screenplay by Neil Simon, which initially portrays a group of men living in New York City who play Poker together in Oscar Madison's smoke-filled, sloppy apartment.Simon replaced Oscar's character with Olive Madison, the female counterpart he described as "attractive, divorced, professional." The other main character of the original screenplay, Felix Unger, is replaced with Florence Unger, described as "attractive, a homemaker/housewife."The revised characters mirror their male counterparts, with Olive remaining unbelievably sloppy yet charismatic and energetic. Florence also reflects Felix as she is obsessively organized and drives Olive mad throughout the narrative with her continuous cleaning of their shared apartment.Upon presentation of each main character, the costume design matched these descriptions, with Olive sporting a ball cap, flannel and blue jeans and Florence in a well-kept dress and cardigan.<h2>A review of "The Odd Couple, Female Version"</h2>As the lights to the Sunflower Financial Theatre lit up the stage and glowed on audience members' faces, the first scene opens with four women sitting around a table in Olive's untidy New York City apartment.Dice clack between Kristina Freeland's hands as she begins the play with the line, "C'mon baby, we need a piece of the pie!" portraying the character Mickey, a New York City police officer.Her friends surround her at the table, including Sylvie, played by Lindsey Rojas — Renee, portrayed by Robin Dutton and Vera, played by Sara Young, with Olive making sandwiches for the group in the kitchen, off stage.&nbsp;The costuming remains consistent here, with each character portraying their roles well. Mickey is dressed in her work uniform, complete with a badge and toolbelt, while the other ladies' fashion choices match the character's personalities well.This first scene had the entire audience cackling at the line delivery and jokes put in place. The director, Amanda Reynolds, made great stage, costuming and production choices, where the actors felt like friends who had known each other for years surviving in New York City.Olive enters the stage with a plate full of smelly sandwiches, likely made with expired meats and cheeses. She joins her group of friends at the table and comments about how they are missing one member, Florence.A string of phone calls allows the audience to take a closer look into the character's personal lives, with the first call answered by Mickey, who regretfully admits to Olive that the person on the line was none other than her ex-husband asking for more money.Mickey and the rest of the group are married except for Olive at the show's beginning, but the group soon receives another call after Mickey nervously waits for Florence to arrive.The phone call is from Florence's now ex-husband, who filed for divorce.All erupt into hysteria around the table, crying out in worry for Florence's safety as they call her "dramatic" and claim she'll attempt suicide if left alone.The original screenplay also has this scene, but the men are more dismissive of Felix's outburst, while the women version continuously acts scared and hysterical.Allison Yaple, who portrays Olive, plays the scene well, retaining the New York accent through convincing lines of dialogue, attempting to calm her friends as the doorbell rings. Through the stage door, Florence, portrayed by Shawna Carter, walks in, matching the theatrics and introducing her character as one of obsessive hysteria.The group of women then try to calm Florence, tiptoeing around questions on whether she planned to harm herself, and they quickly find they're correct that Florence would use the attempt for attention.As Florence entered the stage, the emersion broke as Carter struggled to continue a New York accent. Not all the other actors kept a New York accent, so Reynolds could have directed Carter to follow suit instead of a challenging New York accent.Besides Florence's accent, Carter plays the character and scene with over-the-top line delivery and intense expressions alongside Olive.The ending of this scene marks the tone of the rest of the set, with Olive offering her home for Florence to stay while she gets back on her feet — thus beginning the central conflict between characters.Olive and Florence are opposites in the home, with Olive remaining sloppy and carefree while Florence picks up after her relentlessly. These characters portray the two extremes of what men think of women — either a nitpicky housewife who drives the husband mad or a woman who doesn't do enough work and isn't "worthy" of being a wife.When comparing the Female Version to Simon's initial screenplay of "The Odd Couple," there's not a lot of difference in the script, showing a lack of nuance in the intricate lives of women. Instead of just "repainting" the characters, Simon could have changed the script to reflect the complex worlds that groups of women create.Once Florence and Olive begin living together, Olive's apartment, the set of the play, transforms into a beautiful home, well-kept by Florence. At first, they live harmoniously with each other — Florence enjoyed the company while Olive enjoyed a cleaner place.Soon, Olive tells Florence that, as single women, they should explore and meet the two Spanish gentlemen living in the building. The two men are brothers, Jesus and Manolo Costazuela, played by Loren Young and Joel Bicknell.&nbsp;READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/fb920b02-c109-4a6f-abd7-774966887c9e">📸 Flashback Friday: Salina Post - The Indian Burial Pit - Vol. 27</a>Both men portray the characters well through broken Spanish accents but remain tender and hilarious throughout their scenes. When the men first meet Florence and Olive, they immediately begin gravitating toward Florence since her divorce was just a few weeks before.The men connect with Florence well since they had recently divorced their wives in Spain and moved to New York City to start a new life. They sit together closely, sharing experiences while Olive prepares drinks in the kitchen, away from the stage.During these scenes, the setting only elevated the performance, with moody lighting from a simple chandelier above the table and the audience merely feet away from the actors.&nbsp;Overall, the lighting work complemented the stage, with warm spotlighting to direct the audience's focus through each scene.The Costazuela brothers later invite the women to their apartment for more food and drinks.&nbsp;Before the two women walk through the door to follow, Florence tells Olive that she does not want to go and makes a scene of "breaking her back" and that she's still emotionally tied to her ex-husband.Florence's dramatic nature ruins the night for Olive, who then begins taking her frustration out on her roommate with another hilarious scene.The next day, Olive is sitting on the couch in the living room when Florence walks past with a plate of fresh spaghetti. With a smug look, Olive crosses the room with a can of deodorizer and sprays all around Florence as she sits at the table, ready to eat her plate of food.As a final display of annoyance, Olive sprays the plate, which causes the last fight between the women.This begins the conclusion of the play — the women fight with Olive, kicking Florence out of the apartment, so Florence packs her things and storms through the door.Later, the group of friends revisits Olive's apartment for game night. As the group surrounds the table, a knock raps against Olive's door.&nbsp;Vera answers the door because Olive claims it's probably Florence returning to beg for forgiveness and a place to stay, and she doesn't want to see her.Surprisingly, it's instead the Costazuela brothers who visit with Florence to retrieve some of her clothes from the apartment.Monolo Costazuela informs Olive that he and his brother invited Florence to stay in their apartment while she gets back on her feet.After further conversation and confusion, the brothers and Florence retrieve the rest of her things and leave, and the women return to their game night as the lights fade on the stage.<h2>In conclusion, a hilarious American soap opera</h2>In conclusion, the entire screenplay was well directed, with convincing performances from the actors who leaned into the comedic aspects of each scene.Something delightful was the dynamic between the group of women — each time Mickey, Vera, Sylvie, Renee, and Olive sat around the table for game night, the actresses stole the stage with witty and quick line delivery.Carter performed the character of Florence thoroughly with an over-the-top dramatic line delivery that felt right at home with a woman who adores soap opera media and performances.The entire theatrical production did well on the show in the round stage, providing the community with an entertaining and delightfully hilarious performance of a facet of American history.

'The Odd Couple, Female Version' review — an American soap-opera comedy

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad President and General Manager Ross Boelling.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W-soXIXjtDs?si=N0_49O7NxWvAx4iW" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad President and General Manager Ross Boelling.

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