Stratton Festival -- Big Success!
© 1997 Bill Coe

Stratton's Annual Harvest Festival was held Saturday, September 27th. The festivities included a free barbecue, a humorous melodrama, and a slightly delayed street dance. The barbecue was provided by Stratton Recreation Club and was open to all.

"Alias Smedley Pewtree or The Villain of Glitter Gulch" by Tim Kelley was performed by a cast of local actors. Many in attendance laughed until tears rolled from the corners of their eyes. Gross over-acting, missed lines, and the most basic humor filled the show. The melodrama has proven to be so successful that two shows are performed to a full house.

The cast included Joyce Forch, Pam Burks, Peg Carter, Janet Felt, Marilyn Goodenberger, Jay Tidyman, Jolene Heldenbrand, Paul Gift, Matt Christensen, Becky Carter, Melissa Melchert, Amanda Kaspar, and Johnny Walker. A singing dedication to Tiny Tim, by Wally Gummere and Mike Pruter, will have many a person looking at their flower gardens and grinning from ear to ear. For a contrast, the elegant violin solo of Beth Augustyn silenced a crowd not wanting to miss a note. The stage crew included Ronda & Gaylord Vrbas, Chuck Hudson, and Larry Forch, Jr. Beth Kollmorgen was the director and accompanist. The Stratton Community Players donated all proceeds from their melodrama to the Playground Equipment Fund Drive for the city park.

The street dance was eventually a success. The D.J. from Kearney mistook Stratton, Colorado for Stratton, Nebraska. After a long drive, she now knows the difference. Even with the late start (around 10:00 p.m.), the dance seemed to be a big success with everyone.

The Stratton Harvest Festival is held the last Saturday in September of every year.