Green Pastures Fundraiser 2017
2017 · Green Pastures Campground, near Meredosia, Illinois
The 2017 Green Pastures Fundraiser continued the annual benefit tradition — an emceed variety concert staged across two acts to fund the Performing Arts Camp, with counselors and friends in piano solos, vocal numbers, dance, and "Let's Make Up" improv comedy. Ken Bradbury hosted, wrote the run-of-show and intro patter, and introduced each act with the personal stories of camp alumni; he also performed, joining John Love and Brock Gwaltney in a live piano trio. The gospel trio Two by Two — celebrating their 30th year together, having begun their ministry in 1987 — capped the evening. Among the night's stories: choreographer Brittany Davis, who came up through the camp as a camper and then as one of its choreographers before heading the dance department; pianist John Love, all-state in football, a slam-dunk champion in basketball, Triopia's ace baseball pitcher, and an Illinois College theatre scholarship recipient; the Carls family; and longtime collaborator Rick Barger, whom Ken "liked so well I made him camp cook."
Program
Act I
- The Carls Trio (live accompaniment) — Nathan Carls (carpenter), Carrie Carls (Head of the Wounds Unit at Passavant and a Green Pastures counselor), and Parker Carls (student at Western)
- John Love — piano (studying with Second City in Chicago; wrote music for Ken's plays)
- Hope Cherry — vocal (accompanied by John; a counselor who works for the SIU School of Medicine)
- "Let's Make Up" Improv — Erin Washington, Hope Cherry, John Love, Nate Saint, with special guests Maddy Albers and Kyler Miller
- Rick Barger — song (accompanied by Roger Wainwright)
- Two by Two (gospel trio, 30th year) — John Rohn, Ray Anderson, Wes Hendricker
Act II
- Becky McCartney — vocal (formerly Chapin, now Pittsfield)
- Brock Gwaltney — piano (Millikin top music award; University of Illinois; a Routt boy)
- Brittany "Brit" Davis — dance (head of the dance department; former camper; Southwest Baptist University)
- Piano trio — Ken, John Love, and Brock Gwaltney
- "Let's Make Up" Improv
- Two by Two
Performers
Ken Bradbury (emcee), Two by Two (John Rohn, Ray Anderson, Wes Hendricker), the Carls Trio (Nathan, Carrie, and Parker Carls), John Love, Hope Cherry, Erin Washington, Nate Saint, Maddy Albers, Kyler Miller, Rick Barger, Roger Wainwright, Becky McCartney, Brock Gwaltney, and Brittany Davis.
Production Notes
The show ran in two acts as an emceed benefit concert for the camp. The "Let's Make Up" improv troupe performed improv games including "The Onion," "Last Man Standing," "Nightmare," "Genres," "New Choice," "Hitchhiker," "Hands Behind," and "Scene 3 Ways: A Place, a Problem." Two by Two were celebrating their 30th year together, having begun their ministry in 1987; holding these fundraisers was originally Wes Hendricker's idea.
Ken used the night to remind the audience of the camp's mission — founded by Doris and Bud Groat in 1978, Green Pastures hosts roughly 400–500 kids each summer, with each camper paying about half the cost and some who can't afford to pay anything still attending. There were 12 camps the previous year. Chuck served as sound and stage manager, with Aaron close by.