MADISON – For 2018, Messiah Lutheran Church Choir will entertain in a nostalgic taste of the past with “The Choir Goes Country” on Sept. 8.

The annual dinner theatre will serve as a fundraiser for the LEAP Academy.

“All profits from the event will support LEAP, a recently formed educational non-profit organization guiding a pilot leadership program for counselors and teacher-selected students in Madison City Schools,” Messiah Communication Coordinator Meredith Kilby said. For more information about LEAP, visit leap-academy.org.

At 6 p.m. on Sept. 8, the event will open with a buffet service dinner. Their Southern-inspired menu will feature ‘Sweet-Tea BBQ Chicken,’ cheesy grits and homemade Southern pies.

The congregation invites the public to attend, Kilby said. Tickets for adults are $15, while a child’s ticket costs $5. Tables for eight are available for $100. Family discounts are available.

Advance ticket reservation is required. For reservation details, visit mlutheran.org.

Messiah member Bob Gustafson conceived and directed the musical revue. The show’s setting is the fictitious “Woodtick Theater,” set just outside of Nashville.

“The audience will enjoy a rousing spoof of a Saturday night radio hour with classic country-western and gospel tunes by artists such as Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash and others,” Kilby said.

The cast includes Terry Frakes (Announcer), Jean Stuart (Story Teller) and Bob Gustafson.

Vocalists and ensembles will be Barb Azzam, Dick Azzam, Larry Frakes, Audrey Gustafson, Bob Gustafson, Andrew King, Rebecca Kollmeyer, Anisa Montgomery, Jan Murphy, Gerry Myers, Adam Neely, Heather Neely, Marc Neely, Don Palmer, Laura Peterson, Art Rockett, Aleksey Smith, Natalie Tidwell and Linda Zutter.

Orchestra members are Ric Birdsong, group leader and rhythm guitar; Paul Zutter, bass guitar; Lois Graff, keyboard; and Rob Alferink, percussion.

Technical Director is Paul Zutter, “Radio Station Engineer” is Lee Seitz, and Jacob Huwaldt is Stage Assistant. Linda Zutter and Greg Kilby are managing the dining room and kitchen, respectively, with Meredith Kilby handling publicity and ticket sales.    

Tickets will be available on Sept. 2 after worship serves or from the church office on Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Tickets must be reserved in advance of the show. For an online reservation form, visit mlutheran.org.

Founded in 1990, Messiah Lutheran is located at 7740 U.S. 72 W. in Madison, just east of Hughes Road. Sunday service times are 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday school for all ages is offered at 9:45 a.m.

For more information, call 256-721-0041.