Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, August 22, 2013

The Princess Theater is opening its doors for its Fifth Anniversary Gala performance Saturday, August 24 at 7 p.m.

"Still Celebrating!" is the title of this year's gala, and event organizers are pleased to announce four vocal grups from the community will provice the evening's entertainment: the HARDY Family, Simply Voices, First Things First and Beards of a Feather.

Tickets for the event are now on sale. The ticket price remains $10, which includes a seat for the show and refreshments at intermission. This year admission proceeds will go to the Princess' endowment fund, and funds raised will be matched by the South Central Iowa Community Foundation (SCICF).

Tickets can be purchased at the Princess and Mount Ayr Record-News.

Family Circle got its start in June 1990 when the HARDY family was returning home from a reunion in Plattsburg, MO. The family is comprised of the parents, David and Carolyn HARDY and five children, in chronological order: Julie, Jane, Susie, Brian and Cynthia. The three eldest daughters, who were riding in the back of the family van, were overheard singing the song "Going to the Chapel," without benefit of musical accompaniment. Their unrehearsed, perfect harmony caught the attention of their astonished parents, who had no idea their daughters possessed this hidden talent. Since then, the three singing daughters have grown up, married and started families of their own, but they also continue to sing.

The Family Circle has performed for churches, nursing homes, benefits, REC, special shows to honor veterans, 1950's rock and roll shows, county fairs, weddings, high school reunions and three different television performances.

It is their pleasure to bring back memories to those in their audiences who remember the golden oldies of the past. They enjoy gospel, rock and roll, country, forties, fifties, sixties, etc. They hope that all who listen to their music will find at least one song to sing along with them. When they see people in their audiences singing with them, then they know the feeling of success.

Simply Voices is a group of women from the Mount Ayr United Methodist church with a common love . . . sharing music. The group formed through casual conversation about a desire to sing some special music at church. From that, invitations to sing for other churches and events came about. They have been singing together for 10 years this fall and have enjoyed singing for various churches in Iowa and have sung for the worship service at the Iowa State Fair, Ayr Days, the Ringgold County Fair and others.

Through love of Christ and love of music they have formed a forever sisterhood that includes Cheryl TAYLOR, Donna ELLIOTT, Katie STILL, Sally YOUNG, Nancy ROE, Debbie CANNON, Brenda WOODY, Marilyn SAVILLE and Teresa ROBERTS and their forever angel, June SMITH. Their hope is that the music they share brings some joy, comfort, peace and hopefully a bit of fun.

First Things First, a gospel singing group out of Mount Ayr, is comprised of Carol Anne McCREARY, daughter Barbara BELZER, sister Grace WARIN and Grace's daughter Jodie WURSTER. In 2003 Jodie was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was a 29-year-old mother of three small boys. A year later after seven surgeries and chemo and radiation, she was pronounced cancer free. Also a year later Carol Anne was also diagnosed with breast cancer. So one day, singing around the island in the McCREARY kitchen, which was a tradition, the group decided to give back to God by praising Him in a gospel group. All felt that the healing in the family was a miracle.

The group is still singing today in churches, nursing homes, funerals and wherever asked. The motivation is still the same and the gratitude is stronger than ever to the Lord for answered prayer and healing.

Beards of a Feather was founded in the fall of 2010 when Jack BUTLER and Ken CAMPBELL crossed paths in Creston. A love of music and musicianship kindled a fire that continues to this day.

Jack BUTLER excels at lead guitar and slide guitar while Ken handles lead vocals, rhythm guitar, mandolin and harmonica. A little bit country and rock and roll blended with folk, jazz, blues and gospel can best be termed as blue-acid-garage-twang. They perform at nursing homes, churches, weddings, town celebrations and coffee houses. They are also the house band two years running at the Creston Farmers Market from June-October. They recently spent a week at Juniors Motel Recording Studio in northern Iowa to lay down the tracks for their upcoming CD releases. Last year along, they performed 139 times for the public.

The Princess Theater board of directors, manager Karen BENDER and her staff an this year's singing groups invite everyone to come and enjoy, "Still Celebrating!"

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, August 29, 2013

Photographs courtesy of Mount Ayr Record-News

Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2013