Max Bialystock is a washed-up Broadway producer who is, how to put it, morally fluid. After his latest musical closes almost before the opening night curtain goes down, he’s out of ideas, out of options, and out of money. Until, that is, he meets Leo Bloom, an accountant with enough neuroses to fill a textbook. When Bloom, upon examining Max’s books, jokes it would be possible, with some creative bookkeeping, to make more money from a flop than with a hit, Max seizes upon the idea, recruiting his malleable new accountant friend to help. All they have to do is raise two million dollars, find the worst play ever written and hire the worst director and actors in the world. Simple, right? It would seem so until Springtime For Hitler, a musical comedy, hits their desk. It’s a can’t miss flop. A musical in which the Nazis were the good guys and won the war has to bomb, right? Right?

The Producers, a Mel Brooks Musical, produced by The Actors Guild of Parkersburg, is to put it bluntly, as rude and raunchy as you would expect from a Mel Brooks production. And it’s also every bit as gut-achingly hilarious as you would expect from a Brooks piece. Under the direction of Brent Null, with musical direction by Mike Lockney, this is laugh-out-loud show starring R.J. Lowe as Max Bialystock, a part seemingly written for the inimitable Lowe. Chris Parsons as Leo Bloom, his partner in crime, is more than equal to the task of trading quips with Lowe. Alexis Parsons is quite memorable as Ulla, Max’s and Leo’s bombshell of an assistant, as is George Litman as Franz Liebkind, the playwright with a soft spot for der Feuhrer. As is always true with the Guild, the whole cast is stellar, as is the set.

I mean no disrespect to the rest of the cast, but this is R.J. Lowe’s show. He has never submitted a poor performance at the Guild, but this might well be his best. So if you are a fan of his, you definitely do not want to miss it. So, get your tickets immediately. Be aware that the dates originally published have been slightly altered due to the first weekend being scrubbed. Here are the new dates. Opening night is now scheduled for Friday, April 29 with 2:30 and 8:00 performances on Saturday, April 30 and a 6:00 pm showing on Sunday, May 1. The next week will consist of 8:00 shows on May 5, 6, and 7, along with another 2:30 pm show on May 6. Get your tickets before they all sell out. You’ll be glad you did!

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You Can’t Take It With You opens at the Mid Ohio Valley Players

Martin Vanderhof is the patriarch of a family that could be best described as eccentric. Once a Wall Street power player, he realized he wasn’t happy and just walked away one day, and he’s done whatever he wants since.

One might wonder if Martin’s granddaughter Alice isn’t adopted, as she’s absolutely nothing like her parents or sister or grandfather. She dresses normally, has a well-paying job at a powerful Wall Street company, where she just happens to have fallen in love with the vice-president of the company, Anthony Kirby, Jr. She is understandably hesitant to introduce her beloved’s strait-laced family to her Bohemian clan. But it has to happen, so she arranges to invite them to dinner. Imagine her horror when they show up on the wrong night and she hasn’t had a chance to normalize the house or prepare her folks.

This is the hilarious situation of You Can’t Take It With You, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman. Between the daft but lovable characters, crazy situations, and witty repartee, this is a delightful show to watch and the nice folks at the Mid-Ohio Valley Players have put together a wonderful cast who are clearly enjoying their parts.

David White is stellar as Martin Vanderhof, aka Grandpa. The rest of the cast is equally terrific. Ike Eastwood is sweet and witty as Penelope Sycamore. George Gaston is hilarious as her husband Paul. His sidekick, Mr. DePinna, is humorously played by Jedd Butler. Essie and Ed are played quite well by Becca Buck and Caleb Bland. Angela Shrader is simply superb as Alice, a young woman who loves her family, even if she doesn’t fully understand them or accept them for who they are. Sean Shoop’s Tony is a truly kind young man who helps his family, along with Alice, see that people don’t have to be the same to love and like each other.

This show, under the direction of JR Wells, Emily Ketelson, and Erin O’Neill, is a must watch. The show opens on Friday, April 22 at 8:00 pm, with subsequent evening performances on April 23, 29, and 30. Three matinee performances will take place at 3:00 pm on May 1. Tickets are available by going to the MOVP’s website. Tickets are also available at the box office before each performance. Get your tickets soonest. You’ll be glad you did.

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A Few Good Men, a drama centering around the trial of two Marines who have been accused of murdering a fellow Marine while stationed at the infamous Guantanamo Bay installation in Cuba, opens this Friday at The Actors Guild of Parkersburg. The story revolves around the defense team, who are trying to prove the men were just following orders when something went terribly wrong, while the prosecution tries to lay the blame solely on the accused. The show, directed masterfully by Charlie Matthews, will run for three weekends.

The defense team are the stars of the show, and they are more than up to the task. David Prather does a consummate job of transforming Lt. J. G. Daniel Kaffee from a brilliant but lackadaisical lawyer who is just putting in his time until he can be discharged and join a high-powered civilian law firm into a bulldog who won’t stop until the truth is revealed. George Litman is also stellar in a role that goes against his usual type. Lt. J. G. Sam Weinberg may seem lighthearted on the surface, but he has an angry drive to protect the weak and disenfranchised and punish those who take advantage of them. The scene in which that anger bubbles to the surface is powerful to watch. The third member of the team, Lt. Commander Joanne Galloway, is brilliantly played by Torrey Archer. Being the only woman in this testosterone-filled story, Archer gives as good as she gets.

On the other side of the trial is Danny Bayer’s Lt. Jack Ross, who, while he’s friends with Kaffee, will do all he can within his abilities to convict the defendants. And his abilities are considerable. Bayer’s performance is powerfully effective, as he creates a character who is likable but tough.

But as anyone who knows this story will attest, the role that can make or break the play is that of Lt. Col. Nathan Jessep. Pick an actor that can’t fill this man’s puffed-up persona, and the play will fall flat. Well, no need to worry about that, as Mike Dotson, a kind and truly gentle man in real life, morphs into a beast onstage as Jessep, a Marine’s Marine, military with every fiber of his being. He sees his role as the leader of those who do what no one else can do to ensure the freedoms he doesn’t feel the rest of us truly appreciate enough. So, while he’s a true warrior, he’s also somewhat embittered—a dangerous combination. And Dotson oozes that danger with every movement.

The set, though relatively simple, is a subtle but powerful force in the play. Reminiscent of the set in another courtroom drama, Inherit the Wind, the wall separating the Americans and the Cubans is always in the background, looming over every action, every reaction, every word. Adding an air of realism to the show are the costumes. The Guild wisely chose to rent real uniforms rather than try to cobble together what they could from their costume closet.

This play is probably not for everyone. The language is quite strong at times, and there are violent and dark scenes. But this is an impactful, well-done show, one that is important to see. It opens Friday, March 4 at 8:00pm, with subsequent evening performances on March 5, 11, 12, 18, and 19. There will be one matinee on Sunday March 13 at 2:30. Tickets are available by going to the Guild’s website, or by calling the box office at 304-485-1300. The box office will also be open two hours prior to each show. Go see this show. You’ll be glad you did.

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Being raised by a single father has always been challenging. Though it may seem to make things easier, often being wealthy simply adds complications. Add to that the feeling that your father blames you for the death of your mother, whom he practically worships, even decades later, and it can cause some pretty severe self-esteem issues. This is the predicament in which Catherine Sloper finds herself. Being raised by her father, an affluent doctor in mid-nineteenth-century New York, she has the added pressure of being expected not only to marry but to marry well. The big problem is Catherine has been so beaten down by her ostensibly protective father, she is too backward for any man to be interested. Until Morris Townsend comes onto the scene, that is. Morris is suave and dapper and, against all odds, seems to be crazy about Catherine. Unfortunately, Morris has lived a life of dissipation and is therefore essentially penniless, causing her father to suspect he’s only interested in Catherine’s money. 

This is the situation in The Heiress, a play by Ruth and Augustus Goetz, based on a novel by Henry James, which is being produced by the Mid-Ohio Valley Players under the direction of Jena Lane Blair. Starring Vanesa Rake as Catherine; Mack McHale as her father, Dr. Austin Sloper; and Sean Shoop as Morris Townsend, this play is quite well done. The actors are up to the emotional complexity of the material for sure. The tension between Shoop’s Morris and McHale’s Sloper feels real, as does the tortured chemistry between Rake’s Catherine and Morris. The play is definitely carried by Rake, who turns in a powerful performance as a young woman struggling to believe she is worthy of love from anyone, let alone this handsome, magnetic man who at least seems to be crazy about her.

Though McHale, Shoop, and Rake have the bulk of the lines, the supporting cast is stellar as well. Even Kathy Biery and Nathaniel Maciag, who play the smallest of parts, are satisfying to watch.

Beyond the acting, the technical aspects of the show are strong too. For instance, the set is quite well done. Everything, from the color of the walls to the fireplace to the period-appropriate furniture is spot on. The costumes are amazing. Lighting, sound, special effects, even the musical bumpers between scenes, are all clearly well thought out. There really is no weak aspect to this show.

The curtain goes up on Friday, March 4 at 8:00pm, with subsequent evening performances taking place on March 5, 11, and 12. There will be one matinee on March 13 at 2:30pm. You can purchase tickets by going to their website, or by calling the box office at 740-374-9434. If you go to the website, check out the specials available from various local restaurants that will allow you to make a whole evening of it. Get your tickets soon—you’ll be glad you did!

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The danger of recreating a classic is the possibility of the audience making comparisons between the original and the new version. But the upside is that, for most, the story is so familiar the audience isn’t worried about following the plot and has a chance to just sit back and enjoy the performances. This is definitely true of the Actors Guild of Parkersburg’s rendition of The Wizard of Oz—Young Performer’s Edition. This show is pure joy from beginning to end and will be loved by Oz lovers and those new to the story alike. Though the entire cast is just fabulous, the show is completely stolen by the two main adversaries: Ana Bennett as Dorothy and Willow Peyton as Miss Gulch and the Wicked Witch of the West. These two alone are worth the price of admission. Happily, they aren’t alone, though, as they are surrounded by a huge cast of talented, well-trained young people from all over the Mid-Ohio Valley.

As I said before, Ana Bennett quite admirably fills Dorothy’s ruby slippers. She does the immortal “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” proud. Speaking of doing a part proud, Willow Peyton is pitch perfect as the evil green antagonist. The audience feels like she really would put a rock around Toto’s neck and drop him in the river and enjoy it. One fun addition found in this show is Olivia Raber as Dorothy’s beloved pup. Rather than casting a real dog, this story calls for making Toto a character with an actual part, and Ms. Raber is simply splendid as the canine companion.

No iteration of this story would be complete without Dorothy’s three traveling companions, and the three young people who play those parts are just great. Brittany Ward as Scarecrow, Zoe Koskey as Tin Man, and Jack Peyton as the Cowardly Lion truly shine. Peyton’s portrayal of the Lion who had courage all along is nearly as funny as Bert Lahr’s original.

The cast, too numerous to mention, all do a fantastic job. I would be remiss, though, if I didn’t mention the stellar work of Mollie Smith in the titular role. Though a small part, Ms. Smith does a wonderful job of creating a slightly brilliant and slightly daffy professor who is clearly doing his best to cope with being a truly terrible wizard.

While the cast all did a great job, it’s important to mention the amazing work of all the technical crews, under the leadership of Doug Parks and Joe Reeves. In today’s world of electronic backdrops, it’s refreshing to see a show with a good old-fashioned set, complete with moving parts. The backdrops are provided by a series of triangular columns on wheels with a different setting portrayed on each side. The work that had to go into creating them has to have been tremendous. And the set crew worked well in getting them moved into place, especially considering all the practice time lost lately to weather and health issues. And just like the set, the costumes are spot on, even Dorothy’s immortal footwear.

You need to see this show, whether you’ve seen the movie a hundred times or you have no idea who Dorothy Gale is. Get your tickets soonest, as it sounds like they are disappearing as fast as the Wicked Witch taking a bath. The curtain goes up on Friday, January 21 at 7:00 p.m. Subsequent evening performances will take place at the same time on January 28 and 29 and February 4 and 5. Matinees will take place at 2:30 p.m. on January 22, 23, and 30, and February 5. To get tickets, go to the Guild’s website. Do it now or risk missing out!

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Percy Talbot is a girl with way more than her share of a past for someone who is only 21 years old. Just freed from a five-year prison sentence for a crime not immediately revealed, she gambles her future on a wide spot in the road named Geliead for no reason other than a picture she’s torn from a travel magazine while locked up. When she gets there, she finds a dying town with nothing to speak for it except a greasy spoon restaurant run by Hannah Ferguson, a widow who’s been trying, with the questionable help of her nephew Caleb, to sell the place for the last decade. Joe Sutter, the town sheriff is puzzled why anyone would come to a place everyone, himself included, is clamoring to get away from. But at the request of the prison’s warden, Sutter does what he can to help her. Knowing nowhere else to take her, he goes to the one place that could possibly give her somewhere to stay and maybe even employ her—The Spitfire Grill.

And this is where we find ourselves at the beginning of the The Spitfire Grill, a musical presented by the Mid-Ohio Valley Players. With music and book by James Valcq and lyrics and book by Fred Alley, it is based on a movie of the same name by Lee David Zlotoff. In case the opening description doesn’t make it clear enough, this is not a musical in the sense of American musical comedy. This story is hard and edgy and dark and full of the harsh realities of life in a small town where all the jobs are gone and there’s little left for the few people who haven’t escaped to do but dream of better days and gossip about their neighbors. That’s not to say there aren’t numerous joyful moments. This ultimately is a story of redemption and of people learning to trust and find hope and love and forgiveness. But don’t go into this show expecting Hello Dolly or The Music Man.

Without question, the show is carried by Morgan Maciag as Percy Talbot, a troubled soul whose hard exterior belies a heart that wants only to be loved and accepted. Ms. Maciag is a talented young lady who brings the character to life in a powerful way. To say her singing is aesthetically pleasing is not fully accurate, but that is more a function of the style of the show. The goal of the music is not to be mellifluous and pleasant, but to reflect the harshness of the narrative it reveals. That being said, Morgan Maciag does a tremendous job with her dialogue as well as her singing.

(Vanessa Rake)

The same can be said of the rest of the small cast. Nathanial Maciag as sheriff Joe Sutter does a fine job portraying a kindly man who wants nothing more than to sell his family land once he inherits it and never see Geliead again. Karen Parlett effectively presents Hannah Ferguson, a widow who, like many others, lost her son to the Vietnam War. Like Percy, Hannah seems tough on the outside, but her wounded heart wants nothing more than forgiveness and to learn to love again. Dyrk Conrad Michael does an admirable job portraying Caleb Thorpe, Hannah’s nephew who has been trying for all of his adult life to fill the giant shoes of his MIA cousin and take care of his aunt as best he can. His wife Shelby is sweetly played by Amber Nicole Smrek. Shelby is a charming young woman who is only just discovering who she is beyond simply being her husband’s wife. Finally, Erin O’Neill is humorous as the town postmaster and gossip Effy Krayneck.  

This is a show worth seeing. Directed by Jeff Walker with music direction by Peter Sour, it is hard yet beautiful story with which many of us in Appalachia can no doubt relate, at least on some level, with gritty, believable performances by its whole cast. So, get your tickets now. The curtain goes up Friday, January 21 at 8:00 p.m. Subsequent performances will take place on January 22, 28, and 29. Two matinees will take place on January 23 and January 30 at 3:00 p.m., with the January 30 performance being a special presentation for those worried about safety. For that performance, all audience members will be required to wear masks. To get your tickets, visit the MOVP website!

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Certain holiday tales have become an indelible part of our culture and so much a symbol of the season it’s almost not Christmas in many folks’ minds unless they’ve read or seen them. Classics like A Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life come to mind. But newer stories have been added to that list more recently, such as A Christmas Story, Home Alone, and even National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Quite possibly the most recent addition to that list is Elf, the heart-warming, if slightly odd, tale of Buddy the elf who isn’t actually an elf. The movie starring Will Ferrell has become a must watch in many households. For those who are not Ferrell fans, the movie is still worth the watch just for Ed Asner’s Santa Claus and Bob Newhart’s Papa Elf.

Some may not know, however, that Elf was adapted into a stage musical, one that is arguably even more entertaining than the movie. And that is even more true in the capable hands of director David Rexroad in The Actors Guild of Parkersburg’s production of Elf: The Musical. Starring the inimitable R.J. Lowe, this show is a true Christmas gift to the Mid-Ohio Valley. I would normally hold this entreaty to the end, but you probably shouldn’t wait until you finish reading. Tickets for this show will almost certainly all disappear, so you should do yourself a favor by stopping where you are and going to the Guild’s website to order your tickets now. But don’t forget to come back here and finish reading!

For those unfamiliar with the story, Buddy is an elf living at the North Pole with Santa. But he’s not like all the rest of the elves. He really stinks at making toys. And, well, he’s huge. Finally, troubled by how he doesn’t fit in with the other elves, he asks Santa what’s wrong with him. Santa sets him down and tells the story of a baby who has been orphaned when his mother dies. On Christmas eve, when Santa visits his orphanage, the baby crawls into the jolly old elf’s pack, where he naps undiscovered until St. Nick arrives back at the North Pole. Santa decides to raise the child as an elf, but the fact is he has a father back in New York City. So, in an attempt to find his place in the world, Buddy walks from Santa’s workshop all the way to NYC, where he meets his dad. But, to no one’s surprise, Buddy, who’s known nothing but elf life, still doesn’t quite fit in.

R. J. Lowe turns in his usual stellar performance as Buddy. But the rest of the cast is terrific too. Ashley Fluharty is sweetly cynical as Buddy’s crush, Jovie. Buddy’s dad Walter Hobbs, played wonderfully by George Litman, is about as far from who you’d expect an elf’s dad to be as possible. He’s a children’s book publisher who seems to dislike kids and anything they enjoy, especially Christmas. Heather Hepburn and Jack Peyton are simply great as Buddy’s new stepmom and stepbrother. Their scenes together are really sweet. Even smaller parts like Missy Arnold as Walter’s assistant Deb and Charlie Matthews as Walter’s boss are spot on, as are all of the ensemble actors, many of whom play multiple parts, from elves to office workers to residents of the mean streets of New York City, where there is so little Christmas cheer that Santa can’t keep his sleigh aloft.

As is always true at the Guild, the technical elements of the show are fantastic as well. The background is simply magical, the musical numbers and choreography are smooth and professional, the sets and set pieces are changed seamlessly, and the costumes are amazing. Beth Lane does a great job as the technical director, as do Barbara Full as musical director, Eric Augenstein as choreographer, Charlie Matthews as assistant director, and Marsha Mueller as stage manager. 

Opening night is just around the corner on Friday, November 19 at 8:00pm. Subsequent evening performances will take place on November 20, 26, 27, December 3, 10, and 11, with matinees at 2:30pm on November 21 and 28. There will also be a 4:00pm curtain on December 4, with a 6:00pm show on December 5. That may seem like a lot of performances, but it’s a good bet they’ll all sell out, so don’t delay. If you didn’t do it when I told you the first time, get your tickets now by going to the Guild’s website. You’ll be glad you did!

The Actors Guild is also a collection site for items to benefit House to Home during Elf. This organization assists our local homeless population and needs personal hygiene items, socks, mens and womens underwear in small, medium and large, cleaning supplies for the House to Home facility, and non-perishable food items which are easily opened, like pop top canned meats and peanut butter, and other prepared foods. There will be a box in the lobby to receive donations during Elf, The Musical.

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The death of a longtime friend can cause us to reflect on our lives and remind us of the importance of choosing not to put off our dreams for someday. This is exactly the situation for Sugar Lee, who takes the death of her dear friend quite hard, but then decides to use this tragedy as a spur to fulfill her dream to own her own business. And she decides she is going to bring her best friends Carlene, Nita, Crystal, and Mavis along with her in her attempt to convert an old dangerously decrepit church into the Spa-Dee-Dah, in the hilarious, heartfelt comedy, The Hallelujah Girls, produced by The Actors Guild of Parkersburg. 

The cast, under the strong direction of Jean Newton, are all just plain wonderful. Susan Courtney is perfect as the kind, determined, slightly sad heroine of the adventure, Sugar Lee Thompkins. We learn shortly after the show starts the source of that sadness, when Bobby Dwayne Dillahunt, portrayed terrifically by Danny Bayer, walks through the door of the still-under-construction spa. It seems Sugar Lee and Bobby Dwayne have a history. This being a comedy, the audience can guess what will come of the tension between the two characters. The chemistry between Bayer and Newton is perfection.

Adding great flavor to the story are Tara Kniffin Polan as Carlene and Jane Mancini as Nita. Polan’s Carlene is a sweet, grounded woman who has had the bad luck of burying three husbands, giving her an undeserved reputation in their small town of Eden Falls, Georgia. When things go wrong, as they will, Sugar Lee can count on Carlene for strength. Mancini’s Nita has had a hard-knock life, almost all those knocks having been provided by her hooligan son, who has been in and out of jail more times than Nita can count. Those knocks have made Nita a little punch-drunk and Mancini portrays this fantastically.  

Kathy Mulinex Frederick as Mavis, and Betty Dotson as Crystal are also a scream, though in two very different ways. Frederick’s Mavis is a brassy, straightforward woman who has a smart remark about everything, especially her dunderheaded husband. Betty Dotson’s Crystal, on the other hand, is simply delightful as the daffy eternal optimist of the group, who celebrates every single holiday, no matter how small, with costumes, carols, and baked goods.

No play is complete without a villain, and Mary Lou Adams as Bunny Sutherland is a doozy. Bunny seems to have been cruel since birth and may the good Lord have mercy on the soul of anyone who gets on her bad side. Sadly, Sugar Lee has been solidly in her crosshairs ever since she beat out Bunny for most popular girl way back in high school. Adams is gleefully evil as the woman who might just have a coat made of puppies in her closet.

This show is sweet and sassy and laugh-out-loud funny. You need to see it. Your first opportunity is Friday, September 17 at 8pm. Subsequent evening performances will be September 18, 24, and 25 and October 1 and 2. A matinee performance will take place at 2:30pm on September 26. You can get tickets by going to the Guild’s website, or by calling the box office at 304-485-1300. Get your tickets soon. You’ll be glad you did.

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When Sierra Cox, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy originally from Parkersburg, finished her tour of duty in which she’d been a surface warfare officer stationed out of San Diego, she followed her partner, fellow Naval officer John Pennacchio to his last duty station in Washington state. Not sure what they wanted to do or where they wanted to go after life in the military, they stumbled upon Sequim, which Cox described as “this little peninsula covered in lavender.” It is known among those who pay attention to such things as the lavender capital of the United States. “We’re there, hanging out, sipping lavender flavored Margaritas and we’re like this is fun. This is what we should do.”

Were this a romantic fiction novel, we would cut immediately to a successful lavender farm in the heart of West Virginia. This, however, is real life, and business ventures rarely move in a straight line from start to success. Wonder Valley Farm in Roane County is not one of those few that did. The original idea was to have, in Cox’s words, a “showstopping lavender farm.” The hope was to distill their own oil. “But after doing that for a while, we kind of learned that you just have to have so much lavender.” So, though lavender is still a big piece of the puzzle, it is just one piece. “Needless to say, our plans have evolved, which I feel like a lot of people who get into farming, that happens to them. We just realized that diversification was important.”

Beyond their lavender, from which they sell plants and dried buds for sachets and adding to foods and beverages, they have branched out to beekeeping, cultivating and harvesting forest botanicals, and herbalism. On top of all that, they are working on renovating their 30-foot O’Day sailboat. Yes, in the middle of Roane County, miles from a large body of water, they have a sailboat. The idea came from when they were both serving in California. “And that’s kind of the bougie thing to do out there. They will renovate sailboats or old Airstreams and stuff.” So, instead of building a cabin for guests to rent, they decided to renovate a pre-existing vehicle. “And with both of us being Navy, we’re like, oh, boats, that would be really cool.” They got the funds for the boat through the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council’s Launchpad Competition. It has a kitchenette, will soon have plumbing, and sleeps up to six. “Four comfortably,” Cox said with a smile.

I like working with people. And so, any way that we can get people and farming together, I’m happy. Even if I don’t sell a dime.

While it is named Wonder Valley Farm, the hope is to make it much more. “So, long term we’re hoping to kind of be like a destination place for people to come and decompress.” A real emphasis for them is to connect with veterans. “John and I work a lot with veterans groups. So, we’re part of the farmer veteran coalition. We do a lot of stuff with the Department of Agriculture and the VA. We would love to do something around veterans and agriculture.”

In the short term, though, one of the emphases is on growing the farm itself. Toward this end, they are collecting honey from their fifteen hives of bees, as well as developing botanicals on the 100-acre property, most of which is covered by forest. “Rural Action came out and they did an assessment of our forests. They told us what things they see and what things could possibly be planted, like ginseng and goldenseal and black cohosh.” They are also cultivating yarrow, comfrey, and even ramps, which they’re digging up along public roadsides and planting in patches all over the farm.

Their second emphasis is education. “Yeah, that’s a big one,” she said. “I feel like that’s kind of what we’ve been directed to.” While she humbly claims she’s no expert, she is fast becoming one on nearly every aspect of sustainable farming. Beyond that, “I like working with people. And so, any way that we can get people and farming together, I’m happy. Even if I don’t sell a dime.”

They hope to help people learn from their mistakes, but even more, they want people to know that farming is possible.

“I’ve talked to people that say that’s so brave to just drop everything and buy a farm. I think there’s a lot of people out there that want to do this and don’t think that they can, but you can.” Cox hopes to give people the benefits of her experience to eliminate some of the pitfalls they faced. ”Yes, there’s a lot of learning and a lot of prep you could do to make it a little less painful than some of the things we did.” One of those things she stressed was taking advantage of all the resources available to the small farmer, the most important being the many hard-working, resourceful farmers all around the state.

Whether you’re considering taking up farming or would just like to pick up some local honey or herbs, you should definitely visit Wonder Valley Farm in Roane County. Sierra Cox will definitely become one of your favorite people really fast. If you would like to visit, look them up on Facebook or email them at wondervalleyfarm@gmail.com.

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One of the big reasons people give for either not wanting to move to the Mid-Ohio Valley or for yearning to move away as soon as they get out of school is there’s nothing to do here. Set aside that fact that, when pressed for specifics, the things those people say can’t be done are available a couple hours’ drive away in any one of several directions. Actually, don’t set that aside. A strong argument people and organizations who are trumpeting the virtues of life in the MOV have going for them is we really are in a Goldilocks zone—near enough to metropolitan areas to get to big-time venues and activities, sometimes without even having to spend the night, but also rural enough to enjoy the somewhat slower pace of life in a small town. And that slower pace does not mean we live in an entertainment and cultural vacuum. All one need do is attend a choir concert by one of the local high schools or an entity such as the Smoot Theater Youth Vocal Ensemble to be reminded of the deep and rich tradition of quality choral music we have here. But, some argue, there’s no comparable program for those musicians once they leave school.

The problem with that argument, though, is it’s just not true. The Parkersburg Choral Society, currently under the direction of long-time educator and brilliant musician Luke Zyla, is one of multiple groups available in the area. It has for decades been providing an opportunity for those with at least some rudimentary knowledge and a passion for choral music to practice their craft with likeminded musicians. Beyond that, lovers of choral music have the opportunity to hear this excellent music multiple times throughout the year.

Spend just a little time with the members of the Choral Society, and the three words that will undoubtedly come to mind will be passion, professionalism, and family. Recently, after a hiatus of several months forced by the pandemic, several of the members got together for an informal kickoff event. It, of course, centered around singing. Even after months of not singing together—of not singing at all for some—they seemed to pick up right where they left off. In between songs, punctuated by Mr. Zyla stopping to give direction, the group caught up, sharing family stories and discussing missing members who are struggling with health issues. It wasn’t a formal rehearsal. Those don’t start until September. Yet, the majority of the members were there.

The group is made up of a diverse demographic, though it does skew a bit older. More on that later. The longest serving member is Don Hainkel, who joined in 1974.

“I worked for Public Debt. And they told me I’m going to Parkersburg. I got here in December. And then the first thing I did was I auditioned for Choral Society. And I joined the Actors Guild.” When asked his favorite memory, he smiled and said, “Well, it’s where I met my wife.” Many others have more than twenty years singing with the society and all have warm memories of past concerts and recruitment trips to small towns all over the valley.

Not only is it an outlet to make music with other people, but it’s a big social event too. I’ve got friends here that will last a lifetime.

Robert and Melissa Herceg have also been in the group for decades. And for both of them, it’s about the music, but even more about something else.

“For me,” Robert said, “not only is it an outlet to make music with other people, but it’s a big social event too. I’ve got friends here that will last a lifetime.” Melissa echoed this. “The non-musical factors are always more significant. It becomes almost a family as everyone’s announcing their adventures.”

There are some younger members. By far the youngest is Cassie Cline, who had been in marching band under, of all people, Luke Zyla. After graduating from West Virginia Wesleyan, where she minored in voice, she came back to town and looked up her old band director. She immediately felt at home in this group and enjoyed, “getting to get with people who are passionate about singing, and the art of reading music and keeping that alive.”

That sentiment, keeping the art of choral singing and reading music alive, was echoed by nearly every member of the ensemble. Person after person mentioned the importance and joy of putting in the work together to make the music sound just right. And that work, according to Director Luke Zyla, will be worth it when they finally perform. “And it’s so much work, but the real reward is when you do a concert, and nothing can duplicate that. You hear the applause and then afterwards, people are saying how wonderful it was and stuff and then it makes all the hard work worth it.”

The numbers have fallen off over the years and the group has started to show its age, with much of that first get-together dedicated to explaining the physical ailments that are keeping some members away. The lack of age diversity is a bit of a frustration for Cline, by far the youngest member. “We need new members, and we need young members and enthusiastic members to bring in new ideas. And, you know, that zest.”

There are two ways you can support this admirable group. One is to join in. There are really only two requirements, other than a desire to make great music. “But when people interview to join,” Zyla said, “those are my first two questions: do you have experience singing with a choir, and can you read music? And if they have those two things, we’d love to have them.”

The second way to lift up the Parkersburg Choral Society is open to all, even those who can’t read music or even carry a tune. The group performs four times a year. They are planning a fall concert, a Winterfest, a Valentine’s show featuring lots of fun pop tunes, and a recital in the spring, which will be held in their new home, the ballroom of the Parkersburg Arts Center. For more information on how to join or when you can see the group perform, find them on Facebook or go to their website. You’ll be amazed by the talent and passion of this remarkable ensemble, so make a point of attending at least one of the performances this year.

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