Photo courtesy of Marc Stewart Back row left to right: Ed Dotson, Lori Lamphere, Lea Keylon, Pam Witte, Mike Keylon, Larry Kingsley, Josie Parsons, James Martel and Wayne Wilkerson; front row left to right: Jason Johnson and Sharon Lurix.
Disaster relief comes in many forms and sometimes laughter is the best medicine, definitely a welcome respite from stress and anxiety. Residents of Lincoln County have become accustomed to the whir of helicopters, the steady stream of Forest Service trucks and semis piled high with gigantic bales of straw crawling up Swiss Chalet Hill. We’ve accepted the sight of charred mountainsides, blackened, surreal landscapes and loss of homes. But we refuse to let adversity get us down.
Lincoln County residents know what it is to be victims of disaster and we know how to help our own – we have community spirit in spades. So when Shirley Estes at Mountain Annie’s Center for the Arts asked if LCCT would donate a night’s performance of “Harvey” to Little Bear Fire victims, fire fighters and disaster relief personal, the answer was a resounding yes. The decision was unanimous.
Everyone in Lincoln County was affected by the Little Bear Fire in one aspect or another, including the folks at LCCT who juggled evacuation, hosted displaced friends and family, volunteered throughout the county, while remaining committed to the production of their summer comedy, “Harvey.” Why? Because everyone needs a break from the troubling reality of disaster, an hour or two to laugh, time spent with friends, a sense of community.
Sunday night LCCT’s community spirit shined as the cast and crew of “Harvey” welcomed a full house to their complimentary show at Mountain Annie’s Center for the Arts.
The local thespian group was thrilled to greet an enthusiastic crowd, delighted by their laughter and blown away by resounding applause, standing ovation and abundance of heartfelt thanks. Actors, director, stages hands, lighting technicians, everyone involved felt the joy of community spirit, of giving. It was a night to be remembered for one and all.