March 20, 2025 • 30 mins
The episode delves into the vibrant community spirit of Shelby County, highlighted through the annual Dogwood Festival and the Shelby County Community Theater. Listeners gain insights into the festival's rich history, upcoming events, and the importance of local arts, education, and community engagement.
- The Dogwood Festival roots back to the 1970s
- Emphasis on community and education intertwining in the festival
- More than 120 artisan booths set for this year’s festival
- Expansion of entertainment options, including professional musicians
- The significance of the Shelby County Community Theater as a local cultural hub
- Plans for future growth and volunteer opportunities in the theater
- Encouragement for community involvement and feedback for future projects.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Janette Marson (00:22):
Welcome to Kentucky Hidden Wonders.
I'm Jeannette Marson and I'mMason.
Warren.
Together, we're uncovering thesecrets, stories and hidden gems
of Shelby County, Kentucky.
Mason Warren (00:33):
From unforgettable places to off-the-beaten-path
adventures.
Join us as we explore Kentuckytreasures and Shelby County's
best-kept secrets.
Janette Marson (00:41):
Today's guest is Cyndi Skellie, and Cyndi, you
have to my voice.
I'm losing it just a little bit.
So excuse me, but go ahead andintroduce yourself.
I know you wear a lot of hats.
Tell us all the things thatyou're involved in and all that
you do.
Thank you.
Cyndi Skellie (00:59):
So first and foremost, I am the public
relations coordinator for ShelbyCounty Public Schools.
I have a long history witheducation.
I've been a teacher most of mylife and I'm education's
greatest hero.
Another thing that I'm involvedin I have been on the board off
and on at our Shelby CountyCommunity Theatre.
(01:20):
I'd love to direct plays downthere and see the arts coming to
life in our downtownShelbyville.
And then I'm also part of theShelby County Education
Foundation, which successfullyrevived the Dogwood Festival,
which is one of our favoritecommunity events.
Mason Warren (01:39):
Gotcha.
So what is the Dogwood Festival?
Cyndi Skellie (01:43):
So the Dogwood Festival is a longtime tradition
in Shelby County.
When I was little I got excitedbecause I got to put on my
dance uniforms, my dancecostumes, and go dance on a
tobacco wagon in the middle oftown.
Oh, wow, I know, and so we gotto wear our costumes early and
then you would go around andthere were little activities you
(02:04):
could do.
There were artisans, and wealways looked forward to spring
because the Dogwood Festival wascoming to town and somewhere in
the late 90s it disappeared.
And with the Ed Foundationlooking for a way to raise money
for scholarships, we thoughtthat a community experience
(02:26):
would be a great way to giveback plus make a little money to
help students who wanted tobecome teachers and hopefully
come back to Shelby County.
So we started kind ofresearching the Dogwood Festival
.
We talked to people who hadbeen involved.
The were the original peoplewho and I say original people,
they were the big group thattook it over.
(02:46):
The original people who startedthe Dogwood Festival were
teachers, and so we thought thatwas kind of a cool connection.
Georgianne Carpenter was ateacher in Shelby County who
loved making eggshell mosaics
Oh, wow.
And she and her fellow teachers who loved
crafting got together and theydecided to peddle their wares at
a festival.
We also discovered that theDogwood Festival traditionally
(03:11):
had been held on the front lawnof the old Shelbyville High
School, which is where ourcentral office is now, and
eventually that Shelbyville HighSchool became West Middle
School and then CO.
But we thought what greatvisibility for a festival and
the connection that it has toeducation.
So here's another hat.
(03:33):
I'll just make this connection.
I was also a member of AlphaDelta Kappa and they do Trims
and Whims Festival, so I hadthis connection with artisans.
So we just started inviting somepeople to come back in the
spring instead of doing theirChristmas festival, come back in
the spring.
And so we have a festival ofover 120 booths, mostly artisans
(03:58):
and craftsmen, and we also haveschool booths.
So we're celebrating the arts,we're celebrating education, we
have community entertainment andfun for kids.
It's exciting.
You're ready for spring.
The dogwoods are blooming onMain Street, which a lot of them
(04:19):
had started to die out.
I learned we had a mayor, PaulSchmidt, who planted dogwoods
down Main Street.
If you drive down lovely MainStreet, Shelbyville the dogwoods
were the thing for many years,especially in April, blooming
and they had started to die backand our tree board here in
(04:40):
Shelby County has made an effortto replenish them.
So you'll also find TomMcGinnis and the tree board
giving away dogwood trees at ourfestival.
So we think that's kind of cooltoo.
Janette Marson (04:51):
They're beautiful, it's magical, it is.
Cyndi Skellie (04:54):
It's absolutely phenomenal and I just love that.
People love that festival.
It's community but we havepeople who come from Ohio and
Indiana and Tennessee it'scommunity, but we have people
who come from Ohio and Indianaand Tennessee, eastern Kentucky,
to bring their goods to ourfestival and it's pretty
exciting, I think, to seeeverybody roll up early on that
(05:17):
Saturday morning and startpopping up their tents and
setting up their goods.
Janette Marson (05:22):
Well, it's one of the best festivals I've been
to.
It's wonderful, absolutelywonderful.
So about how long, would yousay, the Dogwood Festival's been
around?
Cyndi Skellie (05:32):
Oh gosh, I knew you'd ask that when was the
first one.
You had to ask me.
I believe it was sometime inthe 70s.
I don't have a specific date,but that's when Miss Georgianne
and her teacher friend startedwas in the 70s and I really wish
I'd looked that up to be morespecific, but I think that's
kind of neat.
And then the Jaycees took itover and lots of hands on deck
(05:54):
to make that festival a big deal.
Janette Marson (05:58):
Now, before we forget, what are the dates for
this year's festival.
Cyndi Skellie (06:02):
Oh good, I'm so glad you asked that the Dogwood
Festival is April 19th.
It's a Saturday, it is theSaturday before Easter, but what
a great time to celebratespring and it will be from 10
o'clock to 5 o'clock on that day.
There's also a Dogwood ClassicHorse Show and another festival
(06:23):
happening at the Fairgrounds.
So there's lots to do inShelbyville and you should try
to.
You know, come on in and checkit all out.
So how can people get thatinformation?
That's a great question.
Right now, the Information forDogwood Festival is hosted on
our Shelby County Public Schoolswebsite or you can email me
cyndi.
(06:44):
skellie, s-k-e-l-l-i-e at shelby.
kyschools.
us.
Mason Warren (06:54):
Gotcha, we'll put all of that in the show notes as
well, so it'll be in thedescription for people.
Is there anything?
Dogwood Festival is a great.
It's one of the busiest days ofthe year in Shelbyville and
Shelby County.
But is there anything new ordifferent planned for the 2025
Dogwood Festival?
Cyndi Skellie (07:07):
So one of the big things that has continued to
grow is thanks to Paulie Felice.
Paulie has manned theentertainment section portion of
the Dogwood Festival and westarted out with school groups
singing on the stage and now wehave professional musicians
coming to Shelbyville and we aregoing to try to start a third
(07:30):
stage, which will be an acousticstage, because some of the
feedback we had gotten is thatyou know, oh, that was too loud,
I couldn't sell my stuff, youknow, with musicians playing and
drums going.
So we have one stage that willbe in the food area, we have a
stage in the Settles Gym whichwill be some of our local talent
that's not, as I guess, loud inthe gym for our vendors who are
(07:53):
inside, and then we'll have athird stage this year with
acoustic talent somewhere on thefront lawn.
So I think that's kind ofexciting,
Janette Marson (08:02):
That is exciting !
Sorry about my voice again.
So earlier you mentioned aboutfood.
What kind of foods can peopleexperience at the Dogwood
Festival?
Cyndi Skellie (08:11):
We have a plethora of food trucks that
roll in, and can I mentionspecifics?
Janette Marson (08:18):
Yeah, absolutely .
Cyndi Skellie (08:19):
Ms.
Lynda Moore is usually therewith her food truck and I last
year did not get a fried bolognasandwich and I was devastated.
We always have popcorn andfunnel cakes.
We've got Smoke and Wheelsbarbecue out of Waddy that rolls
in and the corn.
You've got to get some of thatcorn and the barbecue as well.
(08:41):
I feel like I eat more on thatday than I do all year because
of the wonderful people who comein.
We have Spotz Gelato.
We've had some of our localdowntown merchants who will come
set up a booth for the day aswell.
So just lots to eat.
You can't miss that.
Janette Marson (09:00):
That's fantastic .
So, in addition to the DogwoodFestival, I know you're involved
with the Shelby CountyCommunity Theater, as is Mason,
but talk a little bit about thetheater, what it is, what we can
expect.
Just go with it.
I know we've got such a greattheater here.
(09:25):
I grew up at Shelby CountyCommunity Theater.
When I was 10 years old, mymother dragged me and my sister
to auditions for the King and Iand we had to recite the
Princess Ying Yaowalak'smonologue.
We had to sing a song and Ithought what is this craziness?
My mom ended up playing thepiano for rehearsals and the
performance and we were in it.
I don't know how we got in it,but we were in it and from then
(09:46):
on I was hooked because therewere all these talented people.
There were all these people whowere moving set pieces and
building things and playinginstruments, and it's one of the
reasons I went to college to be.
I wanted to be an actress onBroadway, but I discovered that
teaching was probably my forte.
So I have a degree in speechand theater because of Shelby
(10:09):
County Community Theater and Idid grow up there.
I remember when the board ofdirectors bought that building
at the corner of 8th and Mainbecause we were a traveling
vagabond group in the 70s andearly 80s we performed at the
Old West Middle School, wherethis school board is right now
Shelby County High School.
(10:30):
Anywhere we could find a spotthe old courthouse.
We did a courtroom drama in the70s up in the old courtroom,
and so they traveled around andthe board said you know what?
There's a building for sale.
What could we do with it?
And I was 10 years old whenthey bought that building and I
did Charlie and the ChocolateFactory in that building as a
(10:52):
young person, and they moved itout on a piece of paper and mark
things off, and Peggy and AlMiller were two people who'd sit
in the lobby for about an hourevery day and you could go down
and make your reservations withthem for one hour.
(11:14):
And so I just think about howfar we've come, because now we
have eight shows, eight shows ayear.
We have eight shows, eightshows a year.
And I came back from collegeand that board of directors let
me choreograph shows and I gotto direct shows and eventually I
sat on the board of directorsand recently I was asked to be
(11:38):
the executive director for thetheater.
So I'll be the announcement hasbeen made.
It's here.
So I'll be the announcement.
The announcement, it's here.
It's here.
Cyndi Skellie (11:44):
There you go, people so.
I'm acting kind of in aninterim capacity right now
because I am still at the publicschools, but I will retire July
1st and move into the theaterfull time at that time.
So I'm really excited because Ifeel like you know, I've grown
(12:05):
up there and they're going tolet me stay in my old age a
little bit.
Janette Marson (12:08):
Oh, that's so good.
Well, everybody loved Cheryl,but there could not be a better
replacement.
Your personality is fantastic.
I mean, you've got wonderfulstage presence, as you can.
As everybody knows, you'refabulous.
I just have one.
Well, I've got a millionquestions, but so do you have a
favorite show?
I know you've been involved inso many.
(12:30):
What's been your?
Cyndi Skellie (12:30):
favorite one?
Oh my gosh, that's a hardquestion because there are lots.
I'm a musical girl, I love allsorts of plays, but if I could
do eight musicals a year downthere.
Janette Marson (12:44):
Mason, you know I would.
I would go for eight musicalsas well.
Mason Warren (12:49):
There's a reason there's a whole committee with
lots of contrasting opinion.
I know and we do need you dohave to have something for
everyone.
Cyndi Skellie (12:58):
So, if it were, you know, the Cyndi Skellie
Community Theater, we'd do eightshows a year, but eight
musicals a year.
But my favorite show, gosh wedid Mamma Mia in 2019.
Oh, I bet that was great.
Janette Marson (13:12):
Oh my gosh.
Cyndi Skellie (13:13):
People were dancing in the aisles, like I
looked out of the sound boothand people were waving their
arms and dancing and singingalong and it was just like you
were part of the show.
Janette Marson (13:25):
I would have loved it.
Oh my gosh.
Cyndi Skellie (13:27):
Another one of my favorite shows we did right
after the pandemic was BrightStar and it was written by Steve
Martin Steve Martin, that'sright and I fell in love with it
.
My husband and I went to theCumberland County Playhouse,
which is a really cool spot, andwe said you know, we've never
(13:49):
heard of this show before.
Let's just go see it.
We were down in that area,let's go see a show, and we got
to intermission and I was on myphone.
I was like they cannot end thisfirst act this way.
What are they thinking?
And so what was cool aboutdoing Bright Star in our little
theater is we had a live band onstage, we had a banjo player,
we had a fiddler, we had astand-up bass and a piano and I
(14:12):
stuffed them in the tightestquarters possible but it worked
and it was just amazing.
People loved it and the storyis just beautiful.
Mason Warren (14:21):
It was a really really fun experience to be in
the audience for that.
Janette Marson (14:25):
I've seen little snippets of it with Steve
Martin, but I haven't seen that.
So over the weekend, Mason andI were in New York and we got to
see Harry Potter and the CursedChild, and so I have a couple
of suggestions now that you'reexecutive director.
There needs to be morepyrotechnics in your show.
Cyndi Skellie (14:44):
Oh my gosh.
Mason Warren (14:46):
Pyrotechnics there was.
Janette Marson (14:46):
What a swimming pool pyrotechnics, swimming pool
, oh my gosh All these flyingpeople.
I'll make a list for you of allthe things you just make that
list.
I will be prepared.
Cyndi Skellie (15:00):
Well, you know we have some possible pyrotechnics
in the play.
That goes wrong, but we're alittle scared that they'll go
wrong, so we're trying to figureout.
Janette Marson (15:10):
How do we keep people safe and still have the
spectacle, do it, just do it.
Cyndi Skellie (15:14):
And we have to have some fog and some smoke and
I'm like, listen, we can crackthese doors open and pull the
fans as soon as they go off.
So there are always ways tomake the spectacle happen, even
in our small little theater.
We may not be Broadway, but wecan make it happen.
Janette Marson (15:29):
Exactly I agree.
Mason Warren (15:32):
So this will be out in about two weeks or so,
and so what is left in thetheater's current season and
what is coming up in the nextseason?
Cyndi Skellie (15:40):
Great question.
So I've been texting Clint Gill, who's directing our next show
called Marjorie Prime, andthat's about artificial
intelligence, which is kind of atimely topic for us and it's
going to be upstairs at 8.01.
So what?
Janette Marson (15:57):
kind of story Like AI and like is it mystery?
Cyndi Skellie (16:06):
Like if somebody could help you with your
memories as you grow older.
If there was artificialintelligence that could help you
remember, what would that looklike?
I know we have to be a littlemysterious.
Janette Marson (16:16):
Okay.
Cyndi Skellie (16:17):
And so, marjorie Prime, all right, mark it down,
it'll go up in April, butthey're auditioning February 8th
and 9th.
And then we have the Play thatGoes Wrong, which is just
hilarious.
Jen Starr is directing that,and Jen and I were sorority
sisters in college, so we wereDelta Omicrons, we were nerdy
(16:38):
music sorority, but it was greatfun and I love that she's
coming to Shelbyville to do that.
She directed Elf and she's justgot a great way to bring people
together.
Great cast.
They've already auditioned andthey've got their scripts and
they're working on some thingsearly so that they can, you know
, pull that show off for us inMay.
(16:59):
That one sounds hilarious Verygood, I'm excited I get to
direct a kid's show.
It's a youth production andit's called Puffs and you all
just went to see Harry Potter.
This is making fun, it's notsanctioned by the author of
Harry Potter, but so we can'tsay certain things.
So they are the puffs and thewhole script is just hilarious
(17:24):
and it's about you know what arethe puffs?
They're not braves, they're notsmart, they're not the snakes,
so what makes them who they are?
And it's kind of a feel goodlike if you're a person who just
didn't fit in, which you knowwhen you're in your teens,
nobody fits in.
You think you do, but you reallydon't.
(17:45):
Nobody does, and so I think itwill be fun to see a youth
production of Puffs, and thatwill be upstairs as well, and
I'd love to figure out how tohave candles like hanging over
people's heads for that show.
Oh yeah, so, talk aboutspectacle, if you all have any
great ideas.
Mason Warren (17:59):
So I have ordered floating candles, your Harry
Potter themed Thanksgiving.
Janette Marson (18:04):
Indeed, amazoncom, okay, and you even?
You use a wand to turn them onand off and you can barely see
the fishing line.
There you go.
That's what it is.
Cyndi Skellie (18:15):
So what age?
When you say age, so that'll belike ages 12 to 17.
Okay, and yeah, sometimes that'sa group that you know.
Our little ones get to do theshow in the fall and um and
while the older kids can be inother productions and we have
opportunities.
We thought they needed theirown space, their own show to be
(18:36):
able to kind of highlight thetalent that we have here in
Shelby County.
So I'm excited about it,perfect, anything else?
Well, that ends our 2024-2025season, and then in the summer
we just started announcing onour Facebook page.
So if you follow Shelby CountyCommunity Theater, we have some
videos that are revealing oneshow a night and we're up to
(18:59):
show six Now by the time thiscomes out, they will have all
been announced, so I can tellthem all.
All right, so we're going toopen our season with one of my
favorites Fiddler on the Roof oh, wonderful, I know.
A good, traditional,intergenerational opportunity.
And then you're going to put mymemory to the test.
Next in September will be theLion in Winter, and we usually
do our kids show.
(19:19):
In September will be the Lionin Winter, and we usually do our
kids' show in September, butwe're going to try something
different to see if kids can,instead of getting back to
school and starting a show, trysomething a little different.
So the Lion in Winter is anadult show and it's just
spectacular.
Katherine Hepburn did the moviewith some other famous people
(19:42):
that I can't think of right now.
Janette Marson (19:42):
The title is very familiar, but I'll have to
Google it.
It's amazing.
Cyndi Skellie (19:45):
You'll love the story and then upstairs in
October we will have Murder,murder by Poe.
So Edgar Allen Poe the BlackCat some of the spooky stories
by Edgar Allen Poe, that soundswonderful.
Janette Marson (20:02):
If murder can be wonderful, it sounds fabulous.
It's timely for October, verygood.
Cyndi Skellie (20:08):
And then super stoked about Christmas.
I'll always love our Christmasshows too, White Christmas, oh
wow.
Janette Marson (20:15):
Won't that be fun?
Cyndi Skellie (20:16):
You'll want to come sing along, get some snow
in your hair and get ready forthe holidays.
And then we have moved ouryouth production to February.
Dr Michael Troischel, who is atJCTC here in town, will be
directing John Lennon and Me, awonderful story for our youth,
(20:36):
and Peter Pan will be our LittlePeople production, and that
will be in March.
And now I'm struggling becauseI've made all those videos.
Mason Warren (20:45):
Mason, do you remember?
Cyndi Skellie (20:47):
I know what it is .
Hold on, and then we'll have anupstairs production of Uncle
Vanya, a little classic, youknow, something you probably had
to read, but you get to see itlive on our stage Right.
And then we will finish with aclassic the man who Came to
Dinner.
Oh wow, in May, big timeclassic, so it's a great season.
Janette Marson (21:10):
Oh, that is exciting.
Well, we honestly.
I love her theater and I meanjust is exciting and it's very
professional.
I'm always amazed at thecaliber of actors that the
theater has.
Cyndi Skellie (21:22):
We have a lot of talent and I think that's
because we also have educationalprograms Like we want to build
our talent, and we have, youknow, camps for kids during our
spring and fall breaks.
Mason Warren (21:38):
That was my next question.
That was our next questionEducational opportunity.
Cyndi Skellie (21:42):
And kids love that.
So I'm trying to remember whichone goes which.
But we do a 10-minute playopportunity for kids.
So in one week you learn a10-minute play and you perform
it.
And then we have some um scenework and monologue work that the
kids get to do Um, and then wealso have um Dr Jack Wan, who
(22:04):
does some Shakespeare classesand adult acting classes, and
people come from all around toum take our adult classes as
well.
So that's kind of fun and it'snot all acting class.
Mason Warren (22:16):
I mean they've been directing classes, stage
management classes, things likethat.
Cyndi Skellie (22:20):
That's right.
I love that too, because weforget the stars are not always
on the stage.
It takes a lot of people to puton a show, so trying to build
our backstage talent andopportunities.
Janette Marson (22:33):
And the sets too .
Oh yeah, that whole process.
Who does the sets?
Cyndi Skellie (22:37):
That's artists and whoever we could find, but
but it's really interesting.
Um, like the, I feel like ourEbenezer set was just
spectacular and we had an artistwho kind of came along and said
, yeah, I think I'd like to trythis, and he had done some
upstairs shows and he'sdirecting and loves doing the
(22:59):
sets.
Great, great photographer too.
He took some pictures that Iwas like we need those for
future advertising.
So so sometimes you know, youjust meet people who find their
niche in what we're doing and weneed them.
Like you think about, it takesa community to pull this off.
You need to have a good base ofvolunteers and you have to have
(23:24):
educational programs.
You have to have a show foreverybody.
Janette Marson (23:29):
Even though I won eight musicals, there's a
show for everybody Withpyrotechnics, with pyrotechnics,
exactly, and that's exciting,exactly.
So you mentioned volunteers.
What kind?
Cyndi Skellie (23:45):
of volunteer opportunities are there.
Oh, we have so many fromworking box office ushering,
helping us with our concessions.
We also need people to helpbuild sets and paint, to make
costumes or even just findcostumes, to help us find props,
build them, paint them,whatever it takes.
We do pay our directors, butit's really a volunteer pay at
(24:10):
that point.
So we're always looking forfresh talent with directors and
stage managers.
We also maintain a facilitywhich a lot of community
theaters don't have.
You know our board of directorsback in 1980, they were very
forward thinking, but it takes alot to keep the lights on and
(24:31):
to keep the water running andit's in an historic part of town
so you want to make sure thatit stays pretty on the outside
and the landscaping looks good.
And you know we want to be goodneighbors.
But it's all volunteer peoplewho do that and we have Cheryl
was great because she partneredwith some local agencies that
people would come in and youknow we'd have these little
projects, so they took care ofthose projects for us and we
(24:54):
need to continue that.
But we also need to continue tobuild our volunteer base and I
started a Facebook group lastnight.
This was my genius idea.
I don't know if it's genius ornot and I called it the Showtime
Supporters.
They're not athletic supporters, they are Showtime supporters.
Mason Warren (25:12):
I know I shouldn't have used that joke, but anyway
, no, it's fine I love it, we'reall good.
Janette Marson (25:16):
We're all good.
Cyndi Skellie (25:17):
So if anyone wants to get involved, you can
see it publicly, Just ask tojoin.
We'd love to have informationabout you, where you'd like to
fit in, and then I'll be puttingsome opportunities out in that
little group.
And you know I've alreadyfilled all the slots for the
(25:40):
ushers that we needed for ourupcoming production of Inherit
the Wind and just by putting itin that little, you know, in
that little group last night.
So that was exciting.
Janette Marson (25:46):
It was genius, go with genius.
Cyndi Skellie (25:47):
Absolutely.
Mason Warren (25:49):
So you have just kind of come on in a new role at
the theater as the executivedirector, in a new role at the
theater as, uh, the executivedirector.
What do you see in the next?
You know several years of thefuture of the Shelby County
community theater.
Cyndi Skellie (26:02):
That's a great question.
We have um.
We have a feasibility studyhappening, uh, to see if we can
expand.
Do we have um, the foundationto expand at the corner of
eighth and main?
Um, do we have the foundationto expand at the corner of 8th
and Main?
Do we have the communitysupport?
Do we have the volunteers?
We need to have a biggerperformance space and still
(26:25):
maintain our little building onthe corner and we have done some
stakeholder interviews and nowwe are asking for some community
input and there is a surveycoming out and I think you have
it right.
Mason Warren (26:43):
You're going to link it yes, so we'll have a
link in the in the show notesfor everyone great and we'd love
to have your feedback aboutwhat you want to see downtown.
Cyndi Skellie (26:54):
I would love to see a larger performance space
where we could have a show goingon at the corner of 8th and
Main and, in a proscenium typetheater, possibly be able to do
more musicals, more children'sshows, have a classroom space
where classes can be happening.
But also, how can we serve thecommunity as a whole?
(27:15):
Like our theater is thereduring the day not being used,
could we provide a facility andpartner with people like tourism
and other businesses who mightneed meeting space or maybe a
good experience for some clientsbefore they go see a show, a
(27:37):
good experience for some clientsbefore they go see a show.
You know and have space forthat.
So what does our community needand how can we tie that into
our vision as a theater?
Janette Marson (27:43):
Right, so many of the shows are sold out so
fast because it's so great andso definitely a bigger space I
could see being used definitely.
Cyndi Skellie (27:54):
And I think we could fill it.
Oh, I know you could, andthat's my own personal, but I'm
interested to see what ourcommunity thinks.
Absolutely, that feedback willbe valuable to us moving forward
.
Janette Marson (28:03):
Absolutely For sure.
So when do tickets go on salefor the next?
Cyndi Skellie (28:09):
show, so Inherit.
The Win tickets are on saleright now and those we open
February 14th.
We already have like half thehouse sold for every show, so
get your tickets for that Ifit's still going on when this
goes up.
I don't know, and you know, it'sthe 100th anniversary of the
(28:30):
Scopes trial.
So it's kind of cool that we'redoing a play about the Scopes
Trial in its 100th anniversaryand it's a big cast.
It's a great show.
Go to our website to find outabout tickets.
We want you to come and see it.
And what is the website?
Oh, very good, it isshelbytheaterorg and I believe
(28:52):
theater is spelled R-E, is that?
Janette Marson (28:53):
correct?
I was just going to say it R-E,it, and I believe theater is
spelled R-E.
Is that correct?
I was just going to say R-E.
It's the fancy way.
The fancy way, cindy, thank youso much for being with us.
Cyndi Skellie (29:02):
Again, I apologize for my voice, but
you've been a wonderful yousound like Demi Moore, like I
expect Patrick Swayze to comeout and make some pottery with
you.
I am, oh, I feel it.
Janette Marson (29:11):
I feel it behind me.
I feel it behind me.
It's happening.
I'm getting in the ghost vibe.
That would be a good musical todo that would be a fabulous one
.
Mason Warren (29:22):
Well, if only we knew some people.
Janette Marson (29:23):
Well, you have been an absolute delight and our
community theater, the DogwoodFestival, and you yourself are a
hidden gem that we could not dowithout.
But thank you so much for beingon our show.
Thanks for inviting me.
Mason Warren (29:40):
This has been Kentucky Hidden Wonders.
Thank you to Cyndi Skellie forcoming on the show to talk about
the Dogwood Festival and allthe exciting things happening at
the Shelby County CommunityTheater, and thank you for
listening.
If you've made it this far,make sure you subscribe and
leave us a review.
It means the world to us.
We'll be back in two weeks witha brand new Kentucky Hidden
(30:05):
Wonder.
Bye everyone.
Kentucky Hidden Wonders is aShelby KY Tourism production.
Your hosts are Jeanette Marsonand Mason Warren.
To learn more about Shelby KYTourism and to start planning a
visit, head to vcom.
com.
Welcome to Kentucky Hidden Wonders.
I'm Jeannette Marson and I'mMason.
Warren.
Together, we're uncovering thesecrets, stories and hidden gems
of Shelby County, Kentucky.
Mason Warren (00:33):
From unforgettable places to off-the-beaten-path
adventures.
Join us as we explore Kentuckytreasures and Shelby County's
best-kept secrets.
Janette Marson (00:41):
Today's guest is Cyndi Skellie, and Cyndi, you
have to my voice.
I'm losing it just a little bit.
So excuse me, but go ahead andintroduce yourself.
I know you wear a lot of hats.
Tell us all the things thatyou're involved in and all that
you do.
Thank you.
Cyndi Skellie (00:59):
So first and foremost, I am the public
relations coordinator for ShelbyCounty Public Schools.
I have a long history witheducation.
I've been a teacher most of mylife and I'm education's
greatest hero.
Another thing that I'm involvedin I have been on the board off
and on at our Shelby CountyCommunity Theatre.
(01:20):
I'd love to direct plays downthere and see the arts coming to
life in our downtownShelbyville.
And then I'm also part of theShelby County Education
Foundation, which successfullyrevived the Dogwood Festival,
which is one of our favoritecommunity events.
Mason Warren (01:39):
Gotcha.
So what is the Dogwood Festival?
Cyndi Skellie (01:43):
So the Dogwood Festival is a longtime tradition
in Shelby County.
When I was little I got excitedbecause I got to put on my
dance uniforms, my dancecostumes, and go dance on a
tobacco wagon in the middle oftown.
Oh, wow, I know, and so we gotto wear our costumes early and
then you would go around andthere were little activities you
(02:04):
could do.
There were artisans, and wealways looked forward to spring
because the Dogwood Festival wascoming to town and somewhere in
the late 90s it disappeared.
And with the Ed Foundationlooking for a way to raise money
for scholarships, we thoughtthat a community experience
(02:26):
would be a great way to giveback plus make a little money to
help students who wanted tobecome teachers and hopefully
come back to Shelby County.
So we started kind ofresearching the Dogwood Festival
.
We talked to people who hadbeen involved.
The were the original peoplewho and I say original people,
they were the big group thattook it over.
(02:46):
The original people who startedthe Dogwood Festival were
teachers, and so we thought thatwas kind of a cool connection.
Georgianne Carpenter was ateacher in Shelby County who
loved making eggshell mosaics
Oh, wow.
And she and her fellow teachers who loved
crafting got together and theydecided to peddle their wares at
a festival.
We also discovered that theDogwood Festival traditionally
(03:11):
had been held on the front lawnof the old Shelbyville High
School, which is where ourcentral office is now, and
eventually that Shelbyville HighSchool became West Middle
School and then CO.
But we thought what greatvisibility for a festival and
the connection that it has toeducation.
So here's another hat.
(03:33):
I'll just make this connection.
I was also a member of AlphaDelta Kappa and they do Trims
and Whims Festival, so I hadthis connection with artisans.
So we just started inviting somepeople to come back in the
spring instead of doing theirChristmas festival, come back in
the spring.
And so we have a festival ofover 120 booths, mostly artisans
(03:58):
and craftsmen, and we also haveschool booths.
So we're celebrating the arts,we're celebrating education, we
have community entertainment andfun for kids.
It's exciting.
You're ready for spring.
The dogwoods are blooming onMain Street, which a lot of them
(04:19):
had started to die out.
I learned we had a mayor, PaulSchmidt, who planted dogwoods
down Main Street.
If you drive down lovely MainStreet, Shelbyville the dogwoods
were the thing for many years,especially in April, blooming
and they had started to die backand our tree board here in
(04:40):
Shelby County has made an effortto replenish them.
So you'll also find TomMcGinnis and the tree board
giving away dogwood trees at ourfestival.
So we think that's kind of cooltoo.
Janette Marson (04:51):
They're beautiful, it's magical, it is.
Cyndi Skellie (04:54):
It's absolutely phenomenal and I just love that.
People love that festival.
It's community but we havepeople who come from Ohio and
Indiana and Tennessee it'scommunity, but we have people
who come from Ohio and Indianaand Tennessee, eastern Kentucky,
to bring their goods to ourfestival and it's pretty
exciting, I think, to seeeverybody roll up early on that
(05:17):
Saturday morning and startpopping up their tents and
setting up their goods.
Janette Marson (05:22):
Well, it's one of the best festivals I've been
to.
It's wonderful, absolutelywonderful.
So about how long, would yousay, the Dogwood Festival's been
around?
Cyndi Skellie (05:32):
Oh gosh, I knew you'd ask that when was the
first one.
You had to ask me.
I believe it was sometime inthe 70s.
I don't have a specific date,but that's when Miss Georgianne
and her teacher friend startedwas in the 70s and I really wish
I'd looked that up to be morespecific, but I think that's
kind of neat.
And then the Jaycees took itover and lots of hands on deck
(05:54):
to make that festival a big deal.
Janette Marson (05:58):
Now, before we forget, what are the dates for
this year's festival.
Cyndi Skellie (06:02):
Oh good, I'm so glad you asked that the Dogwood
Festival is April 19th.
It's a Saturday, it is theSaturday before Easter, but what
a great time to celebratespring and it will be from 10
o'clock to 5 o'clock on that day.
There's also a Dogwood ClassicHorse Show and another festival
(06:23):
happening at the Fairgrounds.
So there's lots to do inShelbyville and you should try
to.
You know, come on in and checkit all out.
So how can people get thatinformation?
That's a great question.
Right now, the Information forDogwood Festival is hosted on
our Shelby County Public Schoolswebsite or you can email me
cyndi.
(06:44):
skellie, s-k-e-l-l-i-e at shelby.
kyschools.
us.
Mason Warren (06:54):
Gotcha, we'll put all of that in the show notes as
well, so it'll be in thedescription for people.
Is there anything?
Dogwood Festival is a great.
It's one of the busiest days ofthe year in Shelbyville and
Shelby County.
But is there anything new ordifferent planned for the 2025
Dogwood Festival?
Cyndi Skellie (07:07):
So one of the big things that has continued to
grow is thanks to Paulie Felice.
Paulie has manned theentertainment section portion of
the Dogwood Festival and westarted out with school groups
singing on the stage and now wehave professional musicians
coming to Shelbyville and we aregoing to try to start a third
(07:30):
stage, which will be an acousticstage, because some of the
feedback we had gotten is thatyou know, oh, that was too loud,
I couldn't sell my stuff, youknow, with musicians playing and
drums going.
So we have one stage that willbe in the food area, we have a
stage in the Settles Gym whichwill be some of our local talent
that's not, as I guess, loud inthe gym for our vendors who are
(07:53):
inside, and then we'll have athird stage this year with
acoustic talent somewhere on thefront lawn.
So I think that's kind ofexciting,
Janette Marson (08:02):
That is exciting !
Sorry about my voice again.
So earlier you mentioned aboutfood.
What kind of foods can peopleexperience at the Dogwood
Festival?
Cyndi Skellie (08:11):
We have a plethora of food trucks that
roll in, and can I mentionspecifics?
Janette Marson (08:18):
Yeah, absolutely .
Cyndi Skellie (08:19):
Ms.
Lynda Moore is usually therewith her food truck and I last
year did not get a fried bolognasandwich and I was devastated.
We always have popcorn andfunnel cakes.
We've got Smoke and Wheelsbarbecue out of Waddy that rolls
in and the corn.
You've got to get some of thatcorn and the barbecue as well.
(08:41):
I feel like I eat more on thatday than I do all year because
of the wonderful people who comein.
We have Spotz Gelato.
We've had some of our localdowntown merchants who will come
set up a booth for the day aswell.
So just lots to eat.
You can't miss that.
Janette Marson (09:00):
That's fantastic .
So, in addition to the DogwoodFestival, I know you're involved
with the Shelby CountyCommunity Theater, as is Mason,
but talk a little bit about thetheater, what it is, what we can
expect.
Just go with it.
I know we've got such a greattheater here.
(09:25):
I grew up at Shelby CountyCommunity Theater.
When I was 10 years old, mymother dragged me and my sister
to auditions for the King and Iand we had to recite the
Princess Ying Yaowalak'smonologue.
We had to sing a song and Ithought what is this craziness?
My mom ended up playing thepiano for rehearsals and the
performance and we were in it.
I don't know how we got in it,but we were in it and from then
(09:46):
on I was hooked because therewere all these talented people.
There were all these people whowere moving set pieces and
building things and playinginstruments, and it's one of the
reasons I went to college to be.
I wanted to be an actress onBroadway, but I discovered that
teaching was probably my forte.
So I have a degree in speechand theater because of Shelby
(10:09):
County Community Theater and Idid grow up there.
I remember when the board ofdirectors bought that building
at the corner of 8th and Mainbecause we were a traveling
vagabond group in the 70s andearly 80s we performed at the
Old West Middle School, wherethis school board is right now
Shelby County High School.
(10:30):
Anywhere we could find a spotthe old courthouse.
We did a courtroom drama in the70s up in the old courtroom,
and so they traveled around andthe board said you know what?
There's a building for sale.
What could we do with it?
And I was 10 years old whenthey bought that building and I
did Charlie and the ChocolateFactory in that building as a
(10:52):
young person, and they moved itout on a piece of paper and mark
things off, and Peggy and AlMiller were two people who'd sit
in the lobby for about an hourevery day and you could go down
and make your reservations withthem for one hour.
(11:14):
And so I just think about howfar we've come, because now we
have eight shows, eight shows ayear.
We have eight shows, eightshows a year.
And I came back from collegeand that board of directors let
me choreograph shows and I gotto direct shows and eventually I
sat on the board of directorsand recently I was asked to be
(11:38):
the executive director for thetheater.
So I'll be the announcement hasbeen made.
It's here.
So I'll be the announcement.
The announcement, it's here.
It's here.
Cyndi Skellie (11:44):
There you go, people so.
I'm acting kind of in aninterim capacity right now
because I am still at the publicschools, but I will retire July
1st and move into the theaterfull time at that time.
So I'm really excited because Ifeel like you know, I've grown
(12:05):
up there and they're going tolet me stay in my old age a
little bit.
Janette Marson (12:08):
Oh, that's so good.
Well, everybody loved Cheryl,but there could not be a better
replacement.
Your personality is fantastic.
I mean, you've got wonderfulstage presence, as you can.
As everybody knows, you'refabulous.
I just have one.
Well, I've got a millionquestions, but so do you have a
favorite show?
I know you've been involved inso many.
(12:30):
What's been your?
Cyndi Skellie (12:30):
favorite one?
Oh my gosh, that's a hardquestion because there are lots.
I'm a musical girl, I love allsorts of plays, but if I could
do eight musicals a year downthere.
Janette Marson (12:44):
Mason, you know I would.
I would go for eight musicalsas well.
Mason Warren (12:49):
There's a reason there's a whole committee with
lots of contrasting opinion.
I know and we do need you dohave to have something for
everyone.
Cyndi Skellie (12:58):
So, if it were, you know, the Cyndi Skellie
Community Theater, we'd do eightshows a year, but eight
musicals a year.
But my favorite show, gosh wedid Mamma Mia in 2019.
Oh, I bet that was great.
Janette Marson (13:12):
Oh my gosh.
Cyndi Skellie (13:13):
People were dancing in the aisles, like I
looked out of the sound boothand people were waving their
arms and dancing and singingalong and it was just like you
were part of the show.
Janette Marson (13:25):
I would have loved it.
Oh my gosh.
Cyndi Skellie (13:27):
Another one of my favorite shows we did right
after the pandemic was BrightStar and it was written by Steve
Martin Steve Martin, that'sright and I fell in love with it
.
My husband and I went to theCumberland County Playhouse,
which is a really cool spot, andwe said you know, we've never
(13:49):
heard of this show before.
Let's just go see it.
We were down in that area,let's go see a show, and we got
to intermission and I was on myphone.
I was like they cannot end thisfirst act this way.
What are they thinking?
And so what was cool aboutdoing Bright Star in our little
theater is we had a live band onstage, we had a banjo player,
we had a fiddler, we had astand-up bass and a piano and I
(14:12):
stuffed them in the tightestquarters possible but it worked
and it was just amazing.
People loved it and the storyis just beautiful.
Mason Warren (14:21):
It was a really really fun experience to be in
the audience for that.
Janette Marson (14:25):
I've seen little snippets of it with Steve
Martin, but I haven't seen that.
So over the weekend, Mason andI were in New York and we got to
see Harry Potter and the CursedChild, and so I have a couple
of suggestions now that you'reexecutive director.
There needs to be morepyrotechnics in your show.
Cyndi Skellie (14:44):
Oh my gosh.
Mason Warren (14:46):
Pyrotechnics there was.
Janette Marson (14:46):
What a swimming pool pyrotechnics, swimming pool
, oh my gosh All these flyingpeople.
I'll make a list for you of allthe things you just make that
list.
I will be prepared.
Cyndi Skellie (15:00):
Well, you know we have some possible pyrotechnics
in the play.
That goes wrong, but we're alittle scared that they'll go
wrong, so we're trying to figureout.
Janette Marson (15:10):
How do we keep people safe and still have the
spectacle, do it, just do it.
Cyndi Skellie (15:14):
And we have to have some fog and some smoke and
I'm like, listen, we can crackthese doors open and pull the
fans as soon as they go off.
So there are always ways tomake the spectacle happen, even
in our small little theater.
We may not be Broadway, but wecan make it happen.
Janette Marson (15:29):
Exactly I agree.
Mason Warren (15:32):
So this will be out in about two weeks or so,
and so what is left in thetheater's current season and
what is coming up in the nextseason?
Cyndi Skellie (15:40):
Great question.
So I've been texting Clint Gill, who's directing our next show
called Marjorie Prime, andthat's about artificial
intelligence, which is kind of atimely topic for us and it's
going to be upstairs at 8.01.
So what?
Janette Marson (15:57):
kind of story Like AI and like is it mystery?
Cyndi Skellie (16:06):
Like if somebody could help you with your
memories as you grow older.
If there was artificialintelligence that could help you
remember, what would that looklike?
I know we have to be a littlemysterious.
Janette Marson (16:16):
Okay.
Cyndi Skellie (16:17):
And so, marjorie Prime, all right, mark it down,
it'll go up in April, butthey're auditioning February 8th
and 9th.
And then we have the Play thatGoes Wrong, which is just
hilarious.
Jen Starr is directing that,and Jen and I were sorority
sisters in college, so we wereDelta Omicrons, we were nerdy
(16:38):
music sorority, but it was greatfun and I love that she's
coming to Shelbyville to do that.
She directed Elf and she's justgot a great way to bring people
together.
Great cast.
They've already auditioned andthey've got their scripts and
they're working on some thingsearly so that they can, you know
, pull that show off for us inMay.
(16:59):
That one sounds hilarious Verygood, I'm excited I get to
direct a kid's show.
It's a youth production andit's called Puffs and you all
just went to see Harry Potter.
This is making fun, it's notsanctioned by the author of
Harry Potter, but so we can'tsay certain things.
So they are the puffs and thewhole script is just hilarious
(17:24):
and it's about you know what arethe puffs?
They're not braves, they're notsmart, they're not the snakes,
so what makes them who they are?
And it's kind of a feel goodlike if you're a person who just
didn't fit in, which you knowwhen you're in your teens,
nobody fits in.
You think you do, but you reallydon't.
(17:45):
Nobody does, and so I think itwill be fun to see a youth
production of Puffs, and thatwill be upstairs as well, and
I'd love to figure out how tohave candles like hanging over
people's heads for that show.
Oh yeah, so, talk aboutspectacle, if you all have any
great ideas.
Mason Warren (17:59):
So I have ordered floating candles, your Harry
Potter themed Thanksgiving.
Janette Marson (18:04):
Indeed, amazoncom, okay, and you even?
You use a wand to turn them onand off and you can barely see
the fishing line.
There you go.
That's what it is.
Cyndi Skellie (18:15):
So what age?
When you say age, so that'll belike ages 12 to 17.
Okay, and yeah, sometimes that'sa group that you know.
Our little ones get to do theshow in the fall and um and
while the older kids can be inother productions and we have
opportunities.
We thought they needed theirown space, their own show to be
(18:36):
able to kind of highlight thetalent that we have here in
Shelby County.
So I'm excited about it,perfect, anything else?
Well, that ends our 2024-2025season, and then in the summer
we just started announcing onour Facebook page.
So if you follow Shelby CountyCommunity Theater, we have some
videos that are revealing oneshow a night and we're up to
(18:59):
show six Now by the time thiscomes out, they will have all
been announced, so I can tellthem all.
All right, so we're going toopen our season with one of my
favorites Fiddler on the Roof oh, wonderful, I know.
A good, traditional,intergenerational opportunity.
And then you're going to put mymemory to the test.
Next in September will be theLion in Winter, and we usually
do our kids show.
(19:19):
In September will be the Lionin Winter, and we usually do our
kids' show in September, butwe're going to try something
different to see if kids can,instead of getting back to
school and starting a show, trysomething a little different.
So the Lion in Winter is anadult show and it's just
spectacular.
Katherine Hepburn did the moviewith some other famous people
(19:42):
that I can't think of right now.
Janette Marson (19:42):
The title is very familiar, but I'll have to
Google it.
It's amazing.
Cyndi Skellie (19:45):
You'll love the story and then upstairs in
October we will have Murder,murder by Poe.
So Edgar Allen Poe the BlackCat some of the spooky stories
by Edgar Allen Poe, that soundswonderful.
Janette Marson (20:02):
If murder can be wonderful, it sounds fabulous.
It's timely for October, verygood.
Cyndi Skellie (20:08):
And then super stoked about Christmas.
I'll always love our Christmasshows too, White Christmas, oh
wow.
Janette Marson (20:15):
Won't that be fun?
Cyndi Skellie (20:16):
You'll want to come sing along, get some snow
in your hair and get ready forthe holidays.
And then we have moved ouryouth production to February.
Dr Michael Troischel, who is atJCTC here in town, will be
directing John Lennon and Me, awonderful story for our youth,
(20:36):
and Peter Pan will be our LittlePeople production, and that
will be in March.
And now I'm struggling becauseI've made all those videos.
Mason Warren (20:45):
Mason, do you remember?
Cyndi Skellie (20:47):
I know what it is .
Hold on, and then we'll have anupstairs production of Uncle
Vanya, a little classic, youknow, something you probably had
to read, but you get to see itlive on our stage Right.
And then we will finish with aclassic the man who Came to
Dinner.
Oh wow, in May, big timeclassic, so it's a great season.
Janette Marson (21:10):
Oh, that is exciting.
Well, we honestly.
I love her theater and I meanjust is exciting and it's very
professional.
I'm always amazed at thecaliber of actors that the
theater has.
Cyndi Skellie (21:22):
We have a lot of talent and I think that's
because we also have educationalprograms Like we want to build
our talent, and we have, youknow, camps for kids during our
spring and fall breaks.
Mason Warren (21:38):
That was my next question.
That was our next questionEducational opportunity.
Cyndi Skellie (21:42):
And kids love that.
So I'm trying to remember whichone goes which.
But we do a 10-minute playopportunity for kids.
So in one week you learn a10-minute play and you perform
it.
And then we have some um scenework and monologue work that the
kids get to do Um, and then wealso have um Dr Jack Wan, who
(22:04):
does some Shakespeare classesand adult acting classes, and
people come from all around toum take our adult classes as
well.
So that's kind of fun and it'snot all acting class.
Mason Warren (22:16):
I mean they've been directing classes, stage
management classes, things likethat.
Cyndi Skellie (22:20):
That's right.
I love that too, because weforget the stars are not always
on the stage.
It takes a lot of people to puton a show, so trying to build
our backstage talent andopportunities.
Janette Marson (22:33):
And the sets too .
Oh yeah, that whole process.
Who does the sets?
Cyndi Skellie (22:37):
That's artists and whoever we could find, but
but it's really interesting.
Um, like the, I feel like ourEbenezer set was just
spectacular and we had an artistwho kind of came along and said
, yeah, I think I'd like to trythis, and he had done some
upstairs shows and he'sdirecting and loves doing the
(22:59):
sets.
Great, great photographer too.
He took some pictures that Iwas like we need those for
future advertising.
So so sometimes you know, youjust meet people who find their
niche in what we're doing and weneed them.
Like you think about, it takesa community to pull this off.
You need to have a good base ofvolunteers and you have to have
(23:24):
educational programs.
You have to have a show foreverybody.
Janette Marson (23:29):
Even though I won eight musicals, there's a
show for everybody Withpyrotechnics, with pyrotechnics,
exactly, and that's exciting,exactly.
So you mentioned volunteers.
What kind?
Cyndi Skellie (23:45):
of volunteer opportunities are there.
Oh, we have so many fromworking box office ushering,
helping us with our concessions.
We also need people to helpbuild sets and paint, to make
costumes or even just findcostumes, to help us find props,
build them, paint them,whatever it takes.
We do pay our directors, butit's really a volunteer pay at
(24:10):
that point.
So we're always looking forfresh talent with directors and
stage managers.
We also maintain a facilitywhich a lot of community
theaters don't have.
You know our board of directorsback in 1980, they were very
forward thinking, but it takes alot to keep the lights on and
(24:31):
to keep the water running andit's in an historic part of town
so you want to make sure thatit stays pretty on the outside
and the landscaping looks good.
And you know we want to be goodneighbors.
But it's all volunteer peoplewho do that and we have Cheryl
was great because she partneredwith some local agencies that
people would come in and youknow we'd have these little
projects, so they took care ofthose projects for us and we
(24:54):
need to continue that.
But we also need to continue tobuild our volunteer base and I
started a Facebook group lastnight.
This was my genius idea.
I don't know if it's genius ornot and I called it the Showtime
Supporters.
They're not athletic supporters, they are Showtime supporters.
Mason Warren (25:12):
I know I shouldn't have used that joke, but anyway
, no, it's fine I love it, we'reall good.
Janette Marson (25:16):
We're all good.
Cyndi Skellie (25:17):
So if anyone wants to get involved, you can
see it publicly, Just ask tojoin.
We'd love to have informationabout you, where you'd like to
fit in, and then I'll be puttingsome opportunities out in that
little group.
And you know I've alreadyfilled all the slots for the
(25:40):
ushers that we needed for ourupcoming production of Inherit
the Wind and just by putting itin that little, you know, in
that little group last night.
So that was exciting.
Janette Marson (25:46):
It was genius, go with genius.
Cyndi Skellie (25:47):
Absolutely.
Mason Warren (25:49):
So you have just kind of come on in a new role at
the theater as the executivedirector, in a new role at the
theater as, uh, the executivedirector.
What do you see in the next?
You know several years of thefuture of the Shelby County
community theater.
Cyndi Skellie (26:02):
That's a great question.
We have um.
We have a feasibility studyhappening, uh, to see if we can
expand.
Do we have um, the foundationto expand at the corner of
eighth and main?
Um, do we have the foundationto expand at the corner of 8th
and Main?
Do we have the communitysupport?
Do we have the volunteers?
We need to have a biggerperformance space and still
(26:25):
maintain our little building onthe corner and we have done some
stakeholder interviews and nowwe are asking for some community
input and there is a surveycoming out and I think you have
it right.
Mason Warren (26:43):
You're going to link it yes, so we'll have a
link in the in the show notesfor everyone great and we'd love
to have your feedback aboutwhat you want to see downtown.
Cyndi Skellie (26:54):
I would love to see a larger performance space
where we could have a show goingon at the corner of 8th and
Main and, in a proscenium typetheater, possibly be able to do
more musicals, more children'sshows, have a classroom space
where classes can be happening.
But also, how can we serve thecommunity as a whole?
(27:15):
Like our theater is thereduring the day not being used,
could we provide a facility andpartner with people like tourism
and other businesses who mightneed meeting space or maybe a
good experience for some clientsbefore they go see a show, a
(27:37):
good experience for some clientsbefore they go see a show.
You know and have space forthat.
So what does our community needand how can we tie that into
our vision as a theater?
Janette Marson (27:43):
Right, so many of the shows are sold out so
fast because it's so great andso definitely a bigger space I
could see being used definitely.
Cyndi Skellie (27:54):
And I think we could fill it.
Oh, I know you could, andthat's my own personal, but I'm
interested to see what ourcommunity thinks.
Absolutely, that feedback willbe valuable to us moving forward
.
Janette Marson (28:03):
Absolutely For sure.
So when do tickets go on salefor the next?
Cyndi Skellie (28:09):
show, so Inherit.
The Win tickets are on saleright now and those we open
February 14th.
We already have like half thehouse sold for every show, so
get your tickets for that Ifit's still going on when this
goes up.
I don't know, and you know, it'sthe 100th anniversary of the
(28:30):
Scopes trial.
So it's kind of cool that we'redoing a play about the Scopes
Trial in its 100th anniversaryand it's a big cast.
It's a great show.
Go to our website to find outabout tickets.
We want you to come and see it.
And what is the website?
Oh, very good, it isshelbytheaterorg and I believe
(28:52):
theater is spelled R-E, is that?
Janette Marson (28:53):
correct?
I was just going to say it R-E,it, and I believe theater is
spelled R-E.
Is that correct?
I was just going to say R-E.
It's the fancy way.
The fancy way, cindy, thank youso much for being with us.
Cyndi Skellie (29:02):
Again, I apologize for my voice, but
you've been a wonderful yousound like Demi Moore, like I
expect Patrick Swayze to comeout and make some pottery with
you.
I am, oh, I feel it.
Janette Marson (29:11):
I feel it behind me.
I feel it behind me.
It's happening.
I'm getting in the ghost vibe.
That would be a good musical todo that would be a fabulous one
.
Mason Warren (29:22):
Well, if only we knew some people.
Janette Marson (29:23):
Well, you have been an absolute delight and our
community theater, the DogwoodFestival, and you yourself are a
hidden gem that we could not dowithout.
But thank you so much for beingon our show.
Thanks for inviting me.
Mason Warren (29:40):
This has been Kentucky Hidden Wonders.
Thank you to Cyndi Skellie forcoming on the show to talk about
the Dogwood Festival and allthe exciting things happening at
the Shelby County CommunityTheater, and thank you for
listening.
If you've made it this far,make sure you subscribe and
leave us a review.
It means the world to us.
We'll be back in two weeks witha brand new Kentucky Hidden
(30:05):
Wonder.
Bye everyone.
Kentucky Hidden Wonders is aShelby KY Tourism production.
Your hosts are Jeanette Marsonand Mason Warren.
To learn more about Shelby KYTourism and to start planning a
visit, head to vcom.
com.
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