2008 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen, Haley Reynolds, goes for her presentation
one more time, on Thursday night, to get it down to perfection, for Saturday night's show.
"The Show Must Go On....."
Dress Rehearsals Friday Night
For Dairy Festival Pageant
by: Bobby McDonald
with Photo Assistance by Mary Campbell
"Ready or Not," there will be one final time for Dairy Festival Candidates and performers to "get it right," before Saturday night's 50th Anniversary Dairy Festival Pageant. Friday night will be the full dress rehearsal for the production and the show will be staged in the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center on Saturday night. "We're expecting a huge crowd for Saturday night," advised Ticket Sales Chairman, Cindy Lancaster. "We've got all the former queens and their families coming back and each of them will be introduced, so the auditorium should be about full. It promises to be a great show, with some outstanding talent by the candidates and guest performers!"
Contestant #2, Callie Dennis, works on her dance routine.
Contestant #6 Mia Taylor, adds sparkle to her song and dance routine, with these flags.
Each night this week, Dairy Festival Candidates have practiced their routines and become accustomed to the stage, lighting, and sound equipment, as they "nailed" performances and got ready. Many contestants have gone over their routine as many as six or seven times, to "iron out" kinks in the presentation, before the appearance before the judges. "We make the practices available to each of the girls, so they can get everything right, before making their presentation that counts!" allowed Lynda Hager, veteran chairman and coordinator of the pageant. "We want every candidate to have the opportunity to feel comfortable and do her best on the night of judging!"
Contestant #1, Daylan Burns, gets a feel for the runway, as she practices her talent
presentation, on Thursday night.
Katelyn Cody, Contestant #3, isn't relaxing in a chair, but is making certain that the lights and sound are
perfected for her song and monologue.
"We practiced walks, coming up and down the stairs, and tried to cover everything for every angle," explained Patricia Chase, a member of the Dairy Festival Board. "Tonight (Friday night), we've just got to get all the dads comfortable with escorting their daughters down the stairway! Sometimes that takes a little bit of training! They aren't quite as cooridinated as their daughters might be!"
Contestant #8, Daci West, gets the steps down to her song and dance routine,
as she perfects her talent presentation.
Contestant #4, Jami Scroggins, prepares for one of her difficult gymnasitc moves,
as she "nails" her talent presentation, in practice.
Friday night's rehearsals will include 24 mini-performers, the children who will be appearing on stage, and that appeared in last Saturday's parade, as well as a couple of guest performers who will entertain the audience during breaks in the program.
Contestant #5, Elizabeth Sheffield, waits for a "sound check" as she relaxes her voice, during practices
for her vocal presentation for Saturday night!
And, it's Contestant #7, Brittany Woolley, that's working with sound and props, to make certain that
her dramatic monologue and song are to perfection.
Meanwhile, the members of the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Board have been working "feverishily" behind the scenes, as they painted props, glittered letters, and arranged staging, to perfection. "We're doing a little bit extra this year, simply because it is the 50th Anniversary," advised Dairy Festival Board chairman, Gena Prickette. "We've added loads of gold glitter and attendees can expect a 'dazzling' stage for the evening gown competition and coronation!"
Guest performer, Jake Moreland, goes over one of his numbers, in preparation for Saturday night's show.
You've got just hours to purchase a ticket from your favorite Dairy Festival Candidate, but tickets for Saturday night's show will be available at the door, as long as they last. With the large number of attendees, seating for the show will be at a premium, so get your tickets early. "This is a very historic event!" declared Prickette. "How many times does one have the opportunity to attend a pageant that has been around for 50 years and have approximately 40 of the former queens appear on stage?"
Meanwhile, there's loads of fun and entertainment behind the scenes, as everyone adds
humor and laughs to the entire production.
And, the Dairy Festival Board members continue to add sparkle and glitter to everything......
Then, there are some of the board members that it doesn't take too much to "push over the edge," like Lonnie Fox, who
decides to take a swim in the river!!!
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