Pagosa Springs Music Boosters Back

Music Boosters History

As told by past President Joan Hageman:

Our first show was called "Radio Hour" and was music of the 1930's and 1940's. We put it on in the old Junior High gymnasium with a large cast and some great music and a pair of grandparents (Russ and Carol Boosted) telling stories, showing photographs and playing music of their era. It was a fun show with about a six piece combo accompanying. We had lots of solos, duets, trios, and ensembles and some big production numbers.

The second show was music of the 50's and 60's (same gymnasium) with Elvis (Bill Nobles) and trios and solos, etc. Also very fun.
We had the Country Western Jamboree held at the Catholic Parish Hall (Father John played a medley as he did in the "Radio Hour" show).

Then Nancy Mead (former Methodist Minister and good friend to all) and Dave Krueger and Lisa Hartley and I got together at Dave's house and brainstormed "Twisted Fairy Tales" (off the record..a little wine helped). We each took a different style of music and a fairy tale and wrote music or borrowed it and wrote scripts and cast our segments and put it on at the Lodge. My Dad ended up playing drums as the drummer didn't show but he had done that a few times before and he loved it. Nancy Mead did a version of "The Billy Goat Gruff", Dave Krueger did a version of "The Three Little Pigs", Lisa Hartley did a version of (agh, I can't remember, it was rap and oh so, cute..ask her - note: it was "The Stepsister's Lament")and I got to do "Rapunzel, the Opera".

Our first major musical was "BRIGADOON" done in the sanctuary of the Methodist Church. We painted the walls of the choir loft and bell choir loft (actually with drops), built a rope and pulley and pole system (not unlike flag poles) to pull up back drops, built big trees to place all around the church and by this time, my husband had developed a computer based X-10 lighting system with only two light trees and a lap-top computer to control everything. We had full orchestra and a TV backstage camera on me (I conducted also) so the backstage chorus could see the cues for their backstage music. This was our most successful production and after one performance, David Mitchell (owner and editor of the Pagosa SUN) came up to me and took my hand and said, "Do you know what you've done here?" (I was thinking along the lines of desecrated a sanctuary). He went on to say that Music Boosters had given Pagosa Springs the "Gift of a lifetime" and that he was "stunned with the talent of so many in such a small place." After that, the newspaper was our strongest ally and helped promote our scholarship program and shows and goals and ambitions. It was a very exciting time for all of us.

After "BRIGADOON", we did a "Christmas Fantasy" (revue), A Gospel Concert, Sponsored a Ft. Lewis Faculty Concert, held "Pianorama" to raise money through pledges and the concert for the new Yamaha Conservatory Grand piano for the high school. We also brought in the Alpine Ballet and did their lighting and sound for them, followed by the Aspen Ballet, followed by the David Taylor Dance Theatre. At the Fourth of July celebration for the Centennial, we formed a 45-voice chorus and sang a concert for the community at the athletic fields. My brother, Major General William A. Stofft, was asked to be the guest speaker. It was a red-letter occasion for me.

Our next show was "THE MUSIC MAN", also done in the sanctuary of the Methodist Church. Then we did "GODSPELL" in the sanctuary of Community Bible Church, followed by "THE GOOD DOCTOR", performed in the old hardware store/now Sears.

T hen came the bond election (actually during this time) and Music Boosters campaigned hard. A couple of us were on the bond committee and the vote was going to be WITH an auditorium or WITHOUT. We gave presentations to the board, sought public opinion and went out on the streets, literally, to get the public informed. We were up until the last vote was counted and, for the first time, a school bond election won the first time around...not only won, but by a margin of 2 to 1. We got the auditorium. I was invited to be on the auditorium board as an advisor and really did get to have some input, mostly in the way of explaining the architect's terminology, (things like fly area, apron, pit, pin rail, ellipsoidal, flood lights, par cans, etc.). When the final product was finished, several things were "value-engineered out" due to over-runs, but we really had enough to get a great start. Some folks came to train us on the light board and pin-rail but most didn't get a lot of hands-on time so the training continues from those who have learned to those who need to learn. The high school asked Music Boosters to put on the first show in the auditorium and we picked a teenage show, "BYE-BYE BIRDIE" with both teens and adults and even some younger kids. Our crowds just grew and grew as did our scholarship fund and the extra things we could do for the schools and the community. Following "BIRDIE" we did a Gershwin Revue, "S'WONDERFUL", which Kathy Isberg and JoAnn Laird directed. It was a big hit. Then we did "FOREVER PLAID" which was a huge hit and which we took to the SW Theatre Festival. Then came "NUNSENSE", the first time I got to perform instead of direct, followed by "Rhythmania" with Tony Osana, and sponsored the Queen City Jazz Band. The next show was "FIDDLER ON THE ROOF".

Since Fiddler, Music Boosters has performed You Can't Take It With You, "Meet Me in St. Louis", "A Christmas Carol", "Nunsense II", The Mousetrap, "A Wonderful Life", "The Hills Are Alive......", "A Magical Madrigal Dinner", and "Oklahoma!".

Holiday shows are now on a 3 show, 3 year schedule. They include "A Christmas Carol", "A Wonderful Life", and the night of music and food from old times: "A Magical Madrigal Dinner".

Spring 2006, brought Lily, the Felons Daughter, an ol' fashioned Melodrama. For Summer 2006, we will stage"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in July and a reprise of "Lily" in August. Fall brought a new adventure, and a fundraiser, Hallo-Swing, an evening of 40's style big band swing music. Christmastime found "Nuncrackers" on the schedule.

The 2007-2008 season opens with a reprise of the community based Kaleidoscope II. A musical revue highlighting the talents of many of Music Booster's regulars as well as several newcomers. The summer musical features the family favorite 'The Sound of Music'. The Christmas venture will be a new rendition of 'The Magical Madrigal Dinner'.