Robbie Limon Will Rock Totem Pole Playhouse Fundraiser, 9/16

For several years, Totem Pole Playhouse, in Fayetteville, PA, has been looking for ways to serve its audience by expanding their programming beyond the traditional summer season. This year, Artistic Director Ray Ficca has decided to combine several elements of past events into one blow-out fundraising party that he's certain will please all.

"We've had shows, we've had parties, we've had music," says Ficca. "But now we're going to have everything on one day."

Ficca is pleased to announce a special afternoon picnic and concert on the grounds of The Playhouse on September 16th. Local favorite Robbie Limon and his band return to the stage to provide the music, and Chambersburg eatery The Cottage Pub and Restaurant provides catering for the picnic. The event replaces a few earlier planned functions in attempt to give the audiences more of what they're looking for.

"It's just everything coming together. We've had the Octoberfest party as a fundraiser and we've done additional shows like the Late Nite Catechism series, but people really seem to like the music, so we changed directions a little for our annual fundraiser and thought we'd just throw a big party."

Robbie Limon first appeared at Totem Pole in the hugely successful Hank Williams: Lost Highway,   which opened the season in 2011 and played to packed houses and 18 straight standing ovations. In 2012, he and his band presented a preseason selection of Buddy Holly tunes that likewise filled the seats.

While playing characters has been rewarding, Limon says, he's looking forward to being himself. "This fundraising event will give me an opportunity to share my influences and my wonderful band with the Totem Pole supporters." The band plays a mix of 50's, 60's and 70's rock n' roll, with influences as diverse as Johnny Cash and The Guess Who. "If we sell enough tickets, I'll even play some Buddy or Hank," he says with a wink. 

The Cottage Pub and Restaurant also has links to The Playhouse, and was a natural to provide the catering. "We've had opening night parties there for as long as I can remember," says Ficca. "And our staff always goes in Wednesday nights for Yuengs and Wings during the season. We know its great food, and we know they know how to have fun."

Fun is something that will be on hand for the entire afternoon. The bountiful picnic kicks off at 1 pm on the 16th, and Limon takes the stage at 2pm. Starbucks of Chambersburg will provide a selection of their famous coffee to accompany the homemade desserts provided by the Friends of Totem Pole.  All of the proceeds from the concert benefit The Playhouse, which has a long history of providing live entertainment to the community. Tickets for the fundraiser are $60, but season ticket subscribers receive a $10 discount.  F & M Trust is the main sponsor of the event.

All tickets are general admission and can be bought from the box office at 888-805-7056 or from The Playhouse's website, www.totempoleplayhouse.org.

Photo Credit: R. Limon

America's most uncoordinated childhood ballet and tap student before discovering that her talents were music and writing, Marakay Rogers finally traded in her violin for law school when she realized that she might make more money in law than she did performing with the Potomac Symphony and in orchestra pits around the mid-Atlantic. She has never recovered from being chewed out by Terrence Mann in public for hanging up her bow. A graduate of Wilson College (PA), Marakay is also a writer, film reviewer and interviewer for the Wilkes-Barre (PA) Independent Gazette, science-fiction publications, and other news outlets. She's also taught college-level communications, writing, and English literature classes, has received multiple writing awards, and is listed in Marquis' "Who's Who in America". In her free time, Marakay practices law and often gets it right.

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