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Independence, MO —
As a steady rain fell Wednesday afternoon, John Eppert kept working outside at George Owens Nature Park.
Eppert and two other Independence volunteers, Steve Campbell and Paul Harris, had a pirate ship to finish constructing.
Bigger and better than last years, organizers say, the pirate ship is returning as the grand finale in the 21st annual Enchanted Forest event, which opens this Friday and Saturday and continues next weekend.
“It’s fairly grant,” Eppert said of this year’s pirate ship, which attendees view while on a short hay ride.
Although Harris is one of the original founders of the City Theatre of Independence – Enchanted Forest is a fundraiser for the city’s theatrical groups under the Parks and Recreation Department – this marks his first year in helping Eppert, the Enchanted Forest’s director of operations and stage manager.
Harris attended the Blue Springs City Theatre’s July 2011 production of “Oliver,” which Eppert’s wife, Nancy directed, when John Eppert approached him and asked if he wanted to volunteer with Enchanted Forest. Eppert’s former right-hand man had retired and moved away from the Eastern Jackson County area.
“Somebody told John I was good at holding things and handing him screwdrivers and stuff,” Harris said jokingly. “
This year’s pirate ship is about 4 feet longer, and the masts are about 5 feet taller. It’ll also feature canons firing blanks, as well as a sword fight among Blackbeard’s pirates and villagers. Across the lake, two villagers also will defend their treasure chest in shooting toward the pirate ship.
“The more I get involved in it, the more things I do with it, the more enthused I become about it,” said Campbell, who also helped assemble the pirate ship last year.
Enchanted Forest – still G-rated, still non-scary fun appropriate for all ages – will stick with the basics of nursery rhymes and fairy tale characters, and for the first time, Humpty Dumpty will join the cast.
“First time ever on the trail – no pressure for Humpty,” Eppert said, laughing.
Another difference that attendees might not notice at first is the lighting in the plastic pumpkins that line the trails. In previous years, organizers used real votive candles, but because of this summer’s drought, Enchanted Forest purchased inexpensive flame less tea lights as an alternative.
“They look just like the real thing,” Eppert said. “People will never know the difference.”
Enchanted Forest truly represents a community collaboration, Eppert said, with the Sermon Center and the theatrical groups loaning platforms and other materials; Independence Power & Light donating old telephone poles for the ship; Independence School District allowing attendees to park in the lots of the neighboring middle schools; and other cooperative efforts.
“I only want to hear one word out of people when they turn the corner and see (the ship): ‘Wow,’” Eppert said. “That’s what we’re striving for.”
As a steady rain fell Wednesday afternoon, John Eppert kept working outside at George Owens Nature Park.
Eppert and two other Independence volunteers, Steve Campbell and Paul Harris, had a pirate ship to finish constructing.
Bigger and better than last years, organizers say, the pirate ship is returning as the grand finale in the 21st annual Enchanted Forest event, which opens this Friday and Saturday and continues next weekend.
“It’s fairly grant,” Eppert said of this year’s pirate ship, which attendees view while on a short hay ride.
Although Harris is one of the original founders of the City Theatre of Independence – Enchanted Forest is a fundraiser for the city’s theatrical groups under the Parks and Recreation Department – this marks his first year in helping Eppert, the Enchanted Forest’s director of operations and stage manager.
Harris attended the Blue Springs City Theatre’s July 2011 production of “Oliver,” which Eppert’s wife, Nancy directed, when John Eppert approached him and asked if he wanted to volunteer with Enchanted Forest. Eppert’s former right-hand man had retired and moved away from the Eastern Jackson County area.
“Somebody told John I was good at holding things and handing him screwdrivers and stuff,” Harris said jokingly. “
This year’s pirate ship is about 4 feet longer, and the masts are about 5 feet taller. It’ll also feature canons firing blanks, as well as a sword fight among Blackbeard’s pirates and villagers. Across the lake, two villagers also will defend their treasure chest in shooting toward the pirate ship.
“The more I get involved in it, the more things I do with it, the more enthused I become about it,” said Campbell, who also helped assemble the pirate ship last year.
Enchanted Forest – still G-rated, still non-scary fun appropriate for all ages – will stick with the basics of nursery rhymes and fairy tale characters, and for the first time, Humpty Dumpty will join the cast.
“First time ever on the trail – no pressure for Humpty,” Eppert said, laughing.
Another difference that attendees might not notice at first is the lighting in the plastic pumpkins that line the trails. In previous years, organizers used real votive candles, but because of this summer’s drought, Enchanted Forest purchased inexpensive flame less tea lights as an alternative.
“They look just like the real thing,” Eppert said. “People will never know the difference.”
Enchanted Forest truly represents a community collaboration, Eppert said, with the Sermon Center and the theatrical groups loaning platforms and other materials; Independence Power & Light donating old telephone poles for the ship; Independence School District allowing attendees to park in the lots of the neighboring middle schools; and other cooperative efforts.
“I only want to hear one word out of people when they turn the corner and see (the ship): ‘Wow,’” Eppert said. “That’s what we’re striving for.”
