Man Marks Decade Of Theater

DAYTON - Ten years ago, a local couple met and married while on the set for "The Music Man" at the Liberty Theater in Dayton. A baby, nick­named "The Music Man Baby," was in the womb throughout rehearsals and production. This year, the Touchet Valley "theater family" is bringing back Meredith Willson's "The Music Man" for the theater's 10-year anniversary. And this time the show is a tribute to the director of that first production, Steve Edwards. Edwards was planning to direct this anniversary show, celebrating a de­Music cade of Touchet Valley Art Council Productions and the Liberty Theater opening, said Elizabeth Arebalos-Jagelski. But Arebalos-Jagelski has stepped in as director be­cause Edwards is "very, very sick." "His wife is one of our main principals, and she is keeping up her spirits and staying in the play be­cause

Steve wanted her to do it," Arebalos-Jagelski said. "From the start he had this incredible vision that we could do these big-theater productions."

Each autumn since that show 10 years ago, the arts council has fulfilledthis promise to the com­munity with a full-scale, live theater performance featuring local actors, actresses, musicians and behind-the-scenes talent, from choreography to directing and set design and construction. All have dedicated hundred of un­paid hours to the theater. "We have become one large family, and the the­ater productions have drawn the two communi­ties of Dayton and Waits­burg together," Arebalos-Jagelski said. "It truly takes a village to make a production this grand in our small communities, but we have been doing it now for 10 years, and each year some say we get bet­ter and better." "The Music Man" opens Nov. 12. Showtime is 7 p.m. Other showings will take place through­out the month and into December. For more in­formation or to purchase tickets, visit the theater's website at http://www.liberty­ theater. org or call 509-382-1380.