“We Are Family” is the theme for the fifth annual Princess Theater Gala to be held Saturday, Aug. 25, and Sunday, Aug. 26, at the Princess Theater in Mount Ayr.
Tickets are on sale at the Mount Ayr Record-News and the Princess Theater for the event, which sold out last year.
Those performing this year will include the Tracee Knapp family, Jane Thomas and family, Drew Ingram, Judy Cunning, Sherri Hymbaugh and Nancy Sackett.
Tracee Knapp family
Tracee Knapp and her extended family will entertain with several numbers.
Raymond Hutchinson, auctioneer and mayor, and Beulah, a nurse for 50 years, put this bunch together -- Karla Hines, Karen Hanisch, and Tracee Knapp, husband Steve, children Lew, Reas and Trace.
The Hutchinsons really don’t sing but they do a lot of clowning around, dancing and playing music and have a lot of fun doing it. Each daughter has enjoyed being in various programs thoughout the years with Tracee owning the “Dance Connection,” teaching dancing and performing for 10 years or more.
Mother Beulah Hutchinson will be doing her rendition of “Rindacellar” (Cinderella all mixed up), a comedy monologue, and another comedy monologue about football by daughter Karla. Lew and Reas Knapp will perform on the piano and drums, Lindsay will be singing an inspirational song and Tracee Knapp will be clogging.
“America The Beautiful” is among the numbers that will be performed.
Jane Thomas family
Jane Thomas and her children and grandchildren will be performing for the gala as well.
Thomas played for many events in this area for lots of years, had her own small band, played solo organ for dances, reunions, weddings, receptions, dinner music and the like and gave 20 family Christmas concerts over a 22 year period.
“I am especially proud that my children and grandchildren now carrying forward three generations of the love of music in their lives,” she said.
Sean and Jennifer Thomas have degrees in vocal music and studied voice for several years. They are now living in Minnesota and are parents of 12 year old twins, Aria and Austin Thomas.
Aria will be dancing as her parents sing and Austin will be playing his electric guitar.
The family will entertain the audience with selections like “I Have Dreamed” from “The King and I,” “Autumn Leaves” and “The Star Spangled Banner.”
Thomas and her husband Robert also have a daughter, Angela Pearl. Angela and her husband have two children as well -- Alyssa and Caleb Pearl.
Drew Ingram
Drew Ingram, son of Dwight and Julie Ingram, grew up in Mount Ayr and graduated from high school in Winterset. He attended the University of Iowa, where he received his bachelor’s degree in vocal performance.
Following his time at Iowa, he attended Indiana University School of Optometry in Bloomington, IN. He now resides in Waukee with his wife Natalie Ingram, son Trenton, and daughter, Cadence. He is now a licensed optometrist and practices in Des Moines at Whylie Eye Care Centers.
Two selections of Drew’s performance will be “Me and You” by Kenny Chesney and “Your Grace Still Amazes Me” by Steve Green and Michael English (performed with his father Dwight Ingram).
Judy Cunning
Judy Cunning has appeared in many musicals which she has loved, the Nunsence plays being her favorite. Area residents may remember her in her part as Mother Superior. She has directed and co-directed many Moonlighter productions including “The Sun Shine Boys,” “Smoke on the Mountain” and other mysteries and comedies. She has been a member of Ringgold Singers for many years.
Judy is married to Dan Cunning and has two grown children, David and Stacey. She will be singing many favorites including “God Bless America,” arrangement sang by Sandi Patti, and selections from “The Sound of Music.”
Nancy Sackett and
Sherri Hymbaugh
Nancy Sacket and Sherri Hymbaugh will be playing a couple of piano duets for the show this year -- “Waltz in A Flat” by Johannes Brahms and “I Write the Songs.”