A Night at the Music Box, the Ladybirds first formal show for a number of years, is on the calendar for September 9, 2006. The show will be centered around the music of Irving Berlin in a setting that will depict the times of Berlin’s theatre, called the Music Box.

The Ladybirds Chorus 2006

Of course, the Barbershop Harmony Singers will begin the show with a special rendition of This Is The Army and other Irving Berlin songs, while in the wings of the theatre will be the featured guest quartets Pizzazz, an award-winning quartet from Baltimore, Maryland; Sentimental Sound, long time members of the S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. organization and also an award-winning quartet; Totally Vocal, from the local area; and Afternoon Delight and Havin’ Fun from the Ladybirds Chorus. These quartets will appear in the second half of the show, and their performances promise to be spectacular.

Everyone has a job to do in preparation for the show, and cooperation has been optimal as the group prepares to perform on that September evening at 7:30 p.m. in the Allegany College Theatre. Tickets will sell at the door for $10.00, though advanced-sale tickets can be had for $8.00. The Allegany Arts Council has agreed to support the Ladybirds production, and the sincere apprecation of the group is extended to their organization located on the downtown mall in Cumberland.

Already, the Ladybirds are selling ads (patrons and business) to locals who have shown an interest in the Ladybirds and their mission to spread barbershop harmony everywhere they go in the tri-state area. Super Shoes, where Ladybird Karen Emerick is employed, has very graciously offered to do some printing of posters, tickets and programs for the group. Additionally, they will print a coupon on the backs of the admission tickets and run a half page ad in the program. Several businesses are donating door prizes to be given out on the night of the show. Super Shoes and Bob Evans (LaVale) have donated so far. The Ladybirds wish to express heartfelt thanks to all those who have supported A Night at The Music Box!

A Night at the Music Box Poster
(Download PDF Version)

A Night at the Music Box is to benefit the Western Maryland Food Bank, and meetings with their director, Diana Loar, and the show committee have been held to plan the event from that standpoint. A fifty/fifty drawing will be held and the Western Maryland Food Bank will split the funds with the lucky winner. The drawing will be made on show night, and the winner does not necessarily have to be present to win. Also, people attending the show are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to be given to the Food Bank.

The Ladybirds wish to thank Jim West for his untiring and inspired coaching of their chorus and for helping with the show in many ways, not the least of which is by writing the script which the emcee, Andee Thompson, from WCBC Radio will read the night of the show. Thanks also to Ken Batchelor and Frank Batchelor for their expertise in photography. They did the photo shoot for the group (see the first photo in this article, which you can click on to view at a larger size in the Gallery) and Ken edited the picture to make it a wonderful shot for the show’s advance publicity on posters and in the newspaper. Additionally, the group thanks Ken Batchelor for his format and design of the documents needed to get the show procedures moving: letter and ad applications, ticket design, poster design and program design. You can view and download PDF samples of some of these materials below…

• A Night at the Music Box Flyer (PDF–212 KB)
• A Night at the Music Box Cover Letter (PDF–100 KB)
• A Night at the Music Box Advertising Application (PDF–139 KB)
• A Night at the Music Box Poster (PDF–1.46 MB)

One more item that should be mentioned here is the appreciation to Ken for the “face lift” he has given the Ladybirds’ website, which he manages. He has done a wonderful job, and hopefully, people will visit the site frequently and write articles and/or comments. Finally, thanks to each and everyone in and out of the chorus for all their dedication to selling ads, learning the music attending regular and extra practices, and carrying out the endless responsibilities of publication (Betty Twigg), afterglow (Margie Mouse), choreography (Liz West), costuming (Jackie Gillis), makeup, ticket sales, 50/50 sales (Karen Emerick) and everything else imaginable that goes into the making of a production. Speaking of “production,” thanks to Shirley Carson, the producer of A Night at the Music Box, Shirley Chisholm and Sandy Daughton, Co-Chairladies of the show, and Ellie Batchelor, choral director.

Come see A Night at the Music Box!