By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
Terri Christensen (left) directs members of the Groveport Madison Area Community Choir during a recent rehearsal.
Take a musical trip across America with the Groveport Madison Area Community Choir during their upcoming performance of “That’s Entertainment: The Great American Road Trip.”
“It’s our fifth annual stage show and we thought it would be fun to present a show that includes country, Broadway, Vegas, Motown, and rock n’ roll music,” said Director Terri Christensen. “There’s a little bit of everything for everybody in this show. The show is weaved together with some members of our choir posing as hobos geographically riding the rails across the country. The hobos provide the link to each music and dancing section of the show.”
Christensen said this year’s show will feature more dancing than in past years.
“There will be tap dancing, kick lines, line dancing, jazz dance, and more,” said Christensen. “It’s a traditional stage show where people can come to see what we have up our sleeve this year and see what their friends and neighbors will be performing.”
Christensen said “something special” is planned for this year’s show.
“This past year a lot of people in our group have lost family and friends,” said Christensen. “So we’ll have a special tribute to those we have lost.”
“That’s Entertainment: The Great American Road Trip,” will be held at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Feb. 23 at Groveport Madison High School, 4475 S. Hamilton Road, Groveport. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids age 12 and under. A portion of the proceeds go to the Center for Groveport Madison Human Needs and a portion goes to fund the Groveport Madison Area Community Choir. Tickets are available at Motts Military Museum and from any choir member as well as at the door.
Christensen said the group is thrilled to be performing the show in the new Groveport Madison High School auditorium.
“It’s wonderful! Everything works!” said Christensen. “The lighting and the sound are fantastic. We’ll have more microphones, more options for backdrops, and the acoustics are great. It’s exciting to be in this new space.”
Christensen said the 74 member choir, which started out with 32 members in its first year five years ago, continues to grow.
“If you want to come sing with us, you can,” said Christensen.
One person who came to sing with the group from the very start is Larry Dowler, 80, who said he’s been singing all his life in church choirs. He said some of the songs he loves to sing are, “Mountain Music,” “Come Fly With Me,” and “Oklahoma!”
“I love being with the people and I love singing. When this group started I jumped at it,” said Dowler, who also performs in comedy skits. “We all enjoy it and have a lot of fun rehearsing and performing. It’s something everyone in the group loves doing.’
For information on the Groveport Madison Area Community Choir and its upcoming performance call 614-753-2947 or visit gmcommunitychoir.org.
The city of Groveport’s senior transportation program will provide free rides to the 1 p.m. performance on Feb. 23 of the Groveport Madison Area Community Choir’s show, “That’s Entertainment: The Great American Road Trip.” For information and reservations call 614-836-7433, option 1.
