FROM THE DIRECTOR
As I reflect on the first ever Robertson County Players musical, I remember how excited and fearful we were to undertake such an expensive project. We had an absolutely awesome production staff which included Clair Cheran as producer and her husband George as set builder. Both of them are now deceased, as are many of the cast and crew which you may have seem in the picture in this program. Donna Wilkins, who may have been the chief founding voice of the the players, was a wonderful stage manager. Roger Bunch was music director then just as now. Some members of that cast whom you may know are Randy Seay (Will Parker) and his sister Connie Smith; Rosemary Koss (Ado Annie), whose father Pete constructed the ramp which was added to the stage at what is now Springfield Middle School; my wife Judy (Aunt Eller) and our son Stan, who was six and appearing in his first of many RCP productions; Ronny Noles, who was then a relatively young dancer; Danny Atchley (Ali Hakim); Adrian Marshall (Curly); Muzetta Swann (Laurey), who would tell you today she was Laurey for a little while; Tommy Mitchell (Jud Fry) and his wife Betty who is also deceased; Anne Harris, who provided some wonderful after midnight snacks and others, some of whom unfortunately I cannot remember their name. The temperature was often over 100 degrees outside and nearly that warm inside. Everyone who helped, and there were many who did not even make that picture which is a wonderfully large group, was excited to cooperate in this artistic endeavor and we still love to reflect on those great memories.
Then, I was a young energetic thirty seven year old director. Today as we undertake this production thirty-six years later I cannot help but think about what some members of this cast and crew will say about this production in thirty-six years. I will be 109 years old then. I doubt that my memory will be as sharp as it is today.
I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Roger, Judy, Ronny, and Connie again, as well as many new and often much younger members of the cast and crew on this production. I especially wish to thank Rusty and Ronny for asking me to direct Oklahoma again, and Shelby and Connie for always keeping me on task.
Thanks also to you the audience. I am excited to be sitting there with you. You may even hear me sing a few phrases of "O K L A H O M A" or see me wipe a tear of pride as I see Judy perform on stage with our grandchildren Morgan and maybe even Sloane.
In the immortal words of Bob Hope "Thanks for the Memories."
Guy Stanley
