Rob Ford recalls the founding of the new incarnation of The Elk Rapids Players.

Almost three years ago, Elk Rapids Township announced that it no longer wanted to operate its old town hall at the corner of Spruce Street and River Street. In place of the township, a kind-hearted group of dedicated people collectively known as HERTHA [Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall Association] stepped forward and has become responsible for the operation and management of the storied structure.

About that same time, nearly three years ago, a local guy [Ford himself] with an every other week column in the local paper had a wild idea. Thinking back to a time nearly a decade earlier, he had been given his first opportunity to perform in a community theatre presentation of Neil Simon’s “Rumors.” The net proceeds of that production had been presented to some local worthy cause and the local guy figured that HERTHA could be the beneficiary in much the same way.     Excerpt from Community Theatre…rewarding, Rob Ford, Elk Rapids News, April 27, 2012

Bravo, Rob! Another excerpt:

Thanks to the one of a kind historic Elk Rapids Town Hall, we not only now have a stage that is the envy of the community theatre world, our drives are shorter and our gasoline bills are lower.

Better yet, with each new play that the Elk Rapids Players has produced, a few new faces have come forward to join us. From that first group of folks that were gathered, convinced or cajoled to join up with Oscar Madison, Felix Unger and the Coo-Coo Pigeon Sisters, nearly 25 different faces have appeared on the old stage in the course of five different plays, including the upcoming HARVEY.

HARVEY runs May 3, 4, 5, 11 and 12. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. A Sunday matinee on Mother’s Day, May 13, starts at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $12. Proceeds go to HERTHA.