Stephen Foster Story kicks-off 56th season with a night under the stars
By JIM BROOKS
NC Gazette / WBRT Radio
Opening Night features desserts and drinks for guests. Click to enlarge.
Sunday, June 15, 2014, 11 a.m. — Just like our state song, the sun actually shined brightly Saturday at Our Old Kentucky Home State Park for the Opening Night celebration of the 56th season of “The Stephen Foster Story.”
Events celebrating Foster and his music took place throughout the community all day Saturday. For Opening Night, the drama celebrated with a dessert and drinks reception in front of the amphitheater prior to the evening’s performance.
Cast members mingled with the guests, many of whom were local residents, and a surprising mix of out-of-town — and out-of-country — visitors, including groups from Ghana and China. Patrons enjoyed a wide variety of desserts, including pies, cakes, cheesecakes, cheeses and fruit along with an open bar and silent auction. The day’s events were blessed with picture postcard-perfect weather.
The drama’s familiar storyline has been freshened with new songs and the energy of Mickey Rafalski, who took the stage Saturday in his first performance as Stephen Foster. The Carmel, Ind. native was joined by a mix of new and veteran cast members, who came together several times during the performance as an ensemble to give voice to some of Foster’s signature tunes.
As the strains of the drama’s final number came to a close, an appreciative audience gave the performers an extended standing ovation — an appropriate final act honoring one of the longest-running outdoor musicals.
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