The Adena Lion's club is gearing practice to perform their 58th annual minstrel. The annual event washeld April 25th and 26th @ 7:30 p.m. at the Buckeye Local West Elementary school auditorium in Adena, Ohio. This year's musical performance is entitled, "Route 66 - "Revin', Racin' and Roarin." The production featured talent, skits, singing, and is a fun, enjoyable, event for all ages.

Minstrel performances are classic and the idea originated to the Adena Lions Club when years ago traveling minstrels visited towns to perform brief variety shows. These nomadic actors sought the help of local talent to perform with them in musical ditties and comedy skits on stage. The Minstrel bards were brief variety musicals and the touring companies allowed organizations to retain 60 percent of the profit. The shows were held in localities such as Adena, Cadiz and Dillonvale. The Adena Lions Club always took part in these shows and after realizing the fun and talent they had within their own club, they decided to hold their own. Fifty-eight years ago, the Lions Club directed and created one as an annual spring event. They invited local people take part in the shows such as Adena High School students. The senior girls "Sweethearts" donned in their gowns sang and danced numbers and Art students painted scenic backdrops for the program. Thereafter, Bill Wiggins, portrayed "Silly Willy" on stage playing his toilet seat guitar, and Mabel Boetticher as "Minnie our Pearl", were cast in past productions of the Lion's Club Minstrel programs. Minstrel participants and members John Parkinson and Joe Truini are renowned vocal talents. Traveling Minstrels and rhapsodist performances are now a pastime and the Adena Lions Club has chosen to continue the legacy of balladeer entertainment.

Dustin Kinsey directed the show this year and will also play keyboard accompaniments. The production featured popular road song classics such as, " Get your kicks on Route 66," "We Wanna Say Hello," "Holiday Road," and "Movin Right Along." The Show also included Surf Songs such as the Beach Boys ballads "409," "I Get Around," and "Fun, Fun, Fun." Similarly, the Lions Club has again included local talents this year to partake. The Buckeye Local Jazz Band will performed 30 minutes prior to the played and at intermission. The Buckeye West Elementary Honors Choir also performed. The Southwest Middle School Art Class again created scenic backdrops.

The minstrel is planned ahead to conglomerate scenery, sound, lighting, advertisement, costumes, programs, and comedy into one entertaining evening. Prior to the show, the cast and choir work rigorously and regularly attend the show practices. The Adena Lions Club sings at their monthly meetings and performing a Minstrel show is a festive way of portraying local art.

As part of their sight saving project, used eyeglasses are collected at the Peoples National Bank. Program proceeds are used to benefit the Adena Lion's club who supports the local community and projects of Lion's International.