June 26 & 27 | Doors at 6:30pm
Performance at 8pm
Tickets Available May 22nd
Jonny V's BBQ, MHK CaravanCo. beverage truck, and FlintHills Pints homemade ice cream
in the gallery:
Garold Sneegas: Flint Hills Fishes
but wait!
If you wish to support the production,
consider becoming a sponsor of
Kansas Abridged
details to come
Become a Friend, a Sponsor, or a Supporter of the Ruin and receive best available seats for the performance of your choice, plus recognition on the Volland gallery wall, the website, and in the printed play program.
We will assign the best available seats in the order of requests received. No need to go to Humanitix unless you need additional tickets beyond your sponsorship.
If you prefer to send a check, please make your check to Volland Foundation. Indicate your level of giving and preferred date of attendance in the memo line of your check. Mail to: Volland Foundation, PO Box 144, Alma, KS 66401. If choosing this method of support, please email us to let us know your check is coming!
We will reserve your seats in the order in which we receive your emailed or mailed request, whichever comes first.
Photo by Maddy Michaelis
Kansas Abridged
What do you find when you draw a circle around an area and mine the talents within? That is the premise for
Kansas Abridged, a series of plays written
and performed by Wabaunsee County residents past and present.
The project, which leans into the community theatre concept, will be produced and directed by
Emmett Spaw, a talented and recognized young actor and playwright with roots in Wabaunsee County. Emmett was chosen by the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home to write and direct a play in honor of America's 250th Birthday Celebration.
The Well-Lit Shadow will be performed at the Eisenhower Library May 22-24. Emmett's plays have been performed across the U.S., establishing what he calls the "Spaw Belt."
Kansas Abridged builds on the format of 2024's Writing Wabaunsee County, presented by Beth Wynstra and Mary Pinard. A selected group of local writers are choosing periods of Kansas history that will serve as the setting for their short plays. Incorporated into each writer's play are key words (or ingredients) selected by Emmett that act to tie all the plays together. Emmett and the Switchgrass Theatre Company crew are guiding the writers and actors, helping them craft and perform their work. Switchgrass will also weave the individual plays together to help ease the jumps in time between the playwright's plays.
After working with Switchgrass via Zoom throughout the Spring, the playwrights and actors will work closely in the week leading up to the June 26 and 27th performances to hone their plays, aiding each other in making last minute edits and acting instructions.
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The Playwrights
Rhonda Nerhing, Nehring Branch
Rhonda also contributes to the Signal-Enterprise and is a good friend of Volland as a volunteer. Writing is just one of Rhonda’s creative skills, which also extends to music with string instruments.
Wendi Rogers, Auburn
Wendi grew up and has spent most of her life in Eskridge and the surrounding hills. As a former librarian and editor/writer/critic, Wendi has devoted much of her life to literature.
Marci Spaw, near Illinois Creek southwest of Alma
Marci is the Executive Director of the Wabausee County Historical Society & Museum. She is a seasoned grant and copywriter for the museum and is excited to continue
playwriting with Kansas Abridged.
Special Contributors
Rob Meseke, Alma
Rob is a regular contributor to the Wabaunsee County Historical Society & Museum’s newsletter, diving into wide-ranging topics, often on regional and personal history. Rob enjoys working in solitude in the hills. In
Kansas Abridged, Rob is paired with Caleb Weaver to develop a script to be used in the play.
Kathy Hogue, Stonebridge, Wabaunsee County
Kathy is a ranch preservationist. Kathy lives in an 1860’s Flint Hills homestead with several crumbling stone structures. After years of neglect, Stonebridge, the landmark homestead with its arched-ceiling stone cellars has been restored. Kathy is a writer who looks forward to contributing to
Kansas Abridged with Dominic Moore's assistance.
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The Actors
top row: Brianna Drinkwater, Don Hendricks, Kim Herren
bottom row: Brian Huntzinger, Blake Thomas, Linda Uthoff
Briana Drinkwater, Alma
Briana comes from a background in performing arts. She’s performed in musicals such as
My Fair Lady and
West Side Story, and previously performed as a professional mermaid on the great island of Hawaii. Briana is an EMT and paramedic. She currently lives in Alma and often practices her singing for her two cats, much to their chagrin.
Don Hendricks, Alma
As a Wabaunsee County native, Don Hendricks has spent many hours in community involvement. He has served on the Alma City Council as an elected official (1989-1997) and as Alma’s Mayor (1997-2005). Don is a business owner in Alma. He and his wife, Rosa, have two daughters and five active grandchildren.
Kim Herren, Alma
Kim, alongside her son Adam, runs
Mel's Gathering Spot, a local spot for coffee and lunch. Mel's has turned into a community hub where Wabaunsee County residents can share conversation, learn, and enjoy quality food and drink.
Brian Huntzinger, near Volland
Brian has appeared in a few productions at The Columbian Theater in Wamego. You may have seen him in
Oliver!,
Annie Get your Gun,
It’s a Wonderful Life! and
A Tribute to Carol Burnett. Brian is a Paramedic/Captain with Pottawatomie County EMS where he has worked for 20 years. A native of Wamego, Brian has lived in rural Wabaunsee County (just a few miles from Volland) for the last 6 years.
Blake Thomas, toward Eskridge
Blake is an eternal optimist, always looking for unique experiences and challenges to learn something new. He has travelled along various career paths including professional horse training, computer technology, construction and parenting – kids, horses and dogs. All of Blake’s life experiences provide an excellent foundation for this theatrical experience. Since Blake's first acting experience in 2024 at Volland, he has gone on to acting roles at the Columbian Theater...
Linda Uthoff, Manhattan
Linda Haynes Uthoff grew up on her family’s 1874 cattle ranch near Wabaunsee, KS, where the 5th and 6th generations now reside. Linda was on the staff of the historic Columbian Theatre in Wamego when it reopened in 1994. She is a singer/actor, director, voice-over artist and theatre educator.
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Production
Emmett Spaw, Director / Playwright Guide
Emmett is a graduating senior at Kansas State University where he studies Theatre and English Literature. Working both on and off the stage, Emmett has produced a number of award winning plays serving as a writer and director. The Well-Lit Shadow - Emmett's play supported by the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home - received the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival's Mark Twain Prize for Comic Playwriting in 2026. Beyond writing and directing, Emmett acts in theatre and film productions, emcees, and hosts improv sessions.
Dominic Moore, Playwright Guide / Technical/Stage Manager
Dominic Moore is a 20-year-old writer from Lawrence, Kansas. He is currently attending Kansas State University pursuing his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and is one of the co-founders of Switchgrass Theatre Company. His poetry has been featured in Literary Yard, Academy of the Heart and Mind, and Flora Fiction’s Spring 2024 Issue. His plays have been performed at the Midwest Dramatists Conference, Newport Readers Theatre, and the KCACTF Region V Festival. When he's not writing, Dominic enjoys spending time with his friends and drinking an obscene amount of coffee.
Caleb Weaver, Playwright Guide / Technical/Stage Manager
Caleb Weaver is a History and Theatre dual major at Kansas State University. He also serves as Head of Community Outreach for Switchgrass Theatre Company. Originally from Paola in Miami County, Caleb has had a great interest in Kansas history and a love for theatre since his early high school career. He would like to thank all of those involved in this project for this exciting opportunity to express both his passions at once!
Heart//Roots: Wabaunsee County, world premiere, 2022
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The Performances
Join us on June 26th and 27th to see the results of everyone’s hard work. Doors will open at 6:30pm with food from Jonny V's BBQ (order your BBQ when you purchase tickets), drinks from MHK CaravanCo., and FlintHills Pints' homemade ice cream, plus Garold Sneegas' exhibition,
Flint Hills Fishes. Volland’s trails will also be open.
Tickets must be purchased in advance as seats are reserved. Volland will set up tables for dining and is providing seating (mostly bleachers with pads and some chairs) for the performance. You don’t need to bring a lawn chair this time!
