Dr. Charles Smith, Peak to Peak. On Saturday, November 2nd the Peak to Peak Players presented their main fund raiser event for 2019. Dozens of items were assorted and placed on tables for the Silent Auction that began at 6:00 p.m. in the lobby of the Gilpin County School. On another table raffle items were up for grabs. The concession stand was open and family, friends, and community members had all gathered together to support the Peak to Peak Players for their important fund raising event. The raffle table included two round trip tickets from United Airlines to anywhere in the United States as well as vacation packages and a huge evening stay at the Ameristar. Gift certificates, books, food items, arts and crafts of all types, and other wonderful items received attention from the bidders.

The Variety FUN Raiser was only getting started. At 7:00 p.m., Master of Ceremonies Mr. Ed Schonradt provided the audience with introductions and information to the performers. 

Variety was an understatement for the evening’s entertainment. Jamie Shaak Ragan provided masterfully a wide assortment of piano accompaniment for the performers. 

The opening selection featured the ensemble from the current production of Willy Wonka, Jr. Their production opens on November 22nd and 23rd. They set up the evening’s atmosphere with their high spirited number The Golden Age of Chocolate.  Following were various selections from musicals, including Anastasia, Aladdin, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, and Light in the Piazza. Folk songs were heard and then came the dance numbers. From Chicago we saw the Hot Honey Rag, a tap dance from Singin’ In the Rain, and two featured members from the Boulder Ballet performing a Christopher Wheelden piece entitled This Bitter Earth. 

The balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet was presented and we even met Grandpa Bredo from Call Me Ned. 

For the instrumentalists, there also was a variety of guitar pieces, and young artists performed string pieces from the Bruch Violin Concerto, and Fanfare Rondo by Mouret.  The Lougheed Irish Band brought the entertainment to a close with Back Home in Derry and New York Girls. 

The 2019 fund raiser was an enjoyable evening of community spirit and talent. The event is a vital link in the company organization. Ticket sales only partially offset the production costs of each event. 

Peak to Peak Players sincerely appreciates the community involvement and support. The small army of volunteers both on stage as well as off stage offer education, teaching, and performance opportunities to young and adults as well. 

(Originally published in the November 7, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)