Pageant audiences in for treat with 'I'll Be Seeing You'
By KAREN BITNER Echo Pilot

Ed Beard watches as Chris Seylar, on ladder, decorates for "Motorist, Spare That Tire," a scene from the Old Home Week pageant.

Fueled by coffee and ideas, two Greencastle women will be bringing the area's past to life onstage at the Old Home Week Pageant next week. Sharon Baumbaugh and Dody Clever have been meeting at each other's homes for the past two years to work on the pageant script. "The first time we got together was about two years ago at my house," Baumbaugh said. "We had the coffeepot going, and we both had ideas for scenes, so we got together to decide which ones to do."

Baumbaugh, who also writes the history section of the Echo-Pilot, said they each worked alone and then met again. "The next time we got together at Dody's house with the coffeepot going and filled in things," she explained. "We must have talked about everything you can think of." The collaboration produced "I'll Be Seeing You," an eight-scene pageant spanning area history from 1859 to what Baumbaugh described as "now and for all time."

The completed drama follows a historic story line. "The narration is factual," Clever said. "The scenes are a playing out of what probably happened."

"You do this to help educate," Baumbaugh added. "It helps people learn local history and how it intertwines with American history." The drama depicts local events just before the civil war, the town trolley in 1910, minstrel practice in 1934, the 1942 World War II draft, the "Farmers Nightclub" in 1945, Christmas in 1948, Hurricane Agnes in 1972, which nearly destroyed Martin's Mill Bridge, and the present.

Clever, who has worked on OHW pageant scripts in the past, said ideas for the story emerge from hours of painstaking research through yellowed Echo-Pilot newspapers and files and books at Besore Library. Following through requires telephone calls and setting up personal interviews. Baumbaugh said one of the best parts about writing the script is the relationships that formed as she and Clever contacted people in the community. "When you call and ask for more information, they invite you to their homes," she explained.

Clever, who has worked on previous OHW pageant scripts, said watching the audience reaction to the drama makes all the effort worthwhile. "What is so gratifying is that this auditorium is packed," she said. "People are so cooperative to help put this on."

Both women said the pageant owes much to director Kevin Carley. "He's more of a producer, really," Baumbaugh said, adding that a number of students are helping Carley. "The young people helping him are even making a trolley for one of the scenes." Carley, who also works with the drama group at Greencastle-Antrim High School is also putting together the music for the scenes. Over 200 people are involved in the production, as cast, crew, chorus or band members.

Clever said practice for the pageant began June 11 and has continued twice a week, on Monday and Thursday evenings. The pageant will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday of Old Home Week. The audience can expect a heaping helping of local history seasoned with laughter and sadness, and a chance to reflect on the meaning of community.

Although much of the production work for the pageant is complete, Clever and Baumbaugh say dress rehearsals this week will allow them to see what still needs to be perfected. "I'm amazed at how much work it is," Clever admitted.

The two women say that after this year's production, they won't wait too long before beginning the process all over again. "We have some ideas for three years from now," Baumbaugh laughed. "I told Dody I would work on it as long as she would."