Oakland Community Theater Presents

Our 2026 Production:

‘‘Choo-Choo Chicanery”

A Play by John Burkhart & Bette Keehley

FridayS & SaturdayS
JUNE 19, 20, 26, & 27
7:00 PM

SUNDAYS

June 21 & 28
2:00PM

In Oakland City Park, located at SE 2nd St and SE Maple St
(behind Stearns Hardware)

Bring a chair &/or blanket! 

Please, no dogs. We don’t like the competition.

Cold refreshments and hot buttered popcorn at every performance for purchase!

Boo…Hiss…Cheer…Ahhhh…
Share the gamut of emotions with our characters and the audience.

Location:
Dining Car aboard the Umpqua Valley Railroad on a trip from Eugene City to Oakland in 1885.

Plot:
Barton Balderdash is attempting to gain control of the Umpqua Valley Railroad by sabotaging their passenger trains which results in drastically increasing their insurance rates. 

His dirty work consists of cutting the brake line on one of the passenger dining cars, which in turn causes the entire train to lose brake pressure. 

While riding the train to Oakland, Oregon, he meets Ted Trustworthy, a railroad detective assigned to investigate the sabotage and bring the perpetrator to justice.

When Ted starts his search for the criminal, he encounters Modesty Faithful, enterprising owner of a food catering service. Modesty is eager to obtain a contract to provide meals for passengers on the Umpqua Valley Railroad. Both Ted and Balderdash are smitten by her beauty and compete for her hand. 

Also, Tizzy Ditherspoon is on board the train fulfilling her duties as Balderdash’s long-suffering secretary. 

Can Ted stop Balderdash from succeeding in his evil scheme? Will Modesty find true love on her journey? And is Tizzy really who she says she is? 

Watch Choo-Choo Chicanery and find out!

Cast:

Barton Balderdash, Villain of the Worst Order | Dana Basque

Tizzi Ditherspoon, Bart’s Secretary | Michelle Bossuet

Modesty Faithful, Caterer of Railroad Meals | Rachael Grindberg

Ted Trustworthy, Railroad Detective UVRR | Kip Page

Your Card Lady, Watch closely…she has all the moves! | Karissa Mills

Women’s Association of Comfort Investigators

Tilda, Leader of the WACI Ladies | Mary Jean Morey

Ethyl, WACI Lady – Rupert’s Wife | Joanne Bartleson

Daisy, Another WACI Lady | Nan Nelson

Crew:

Director | Bette Keehley

Costume Mistress | Diana Bergado

Makeup & Hair | Diana Bergado

Lights & Sound Effects | Juan Bergado, Jim Hart

Sound System | Jim Hart, Juan Bergado

Set Construction & Scenery | Juan Bergado, Jim Hart, Diana Bergado, Rachelle O’Brien and Friends

Props | Bette Keehley & Diana Bergado

Concessions | Luann and Friends 

A special thanks to all those who helped pull this production together:

  • Original Music and Lyrics, “The Umpqua Valley Line”  by Jim Hart
  • Oakland Public Works – Jim, David, Betsy, Bob, Damien, Rand and Gavin
  • Oakland City Hall  – Hannah & Carolyn
  • Oakland Community Response Team
  • Oakland Economic Development for marketing assistance
  • OCT Oakland Car Show and Shine Volunteers (it is how we afford to do FREE melodrama!)
  • AmTec  (for the fence space for the banner)
  • Concessions staff:  Jean Bartholomew, Luann Basque, Regan and Rowan, Cathy, Mike Garcia
  • F3B Construction – printers
  • RLOCreative – poster and banner design, beautiful paintings for the train windows
  • Cast and Crew for using the 2nd Floor of Washington School WITHOUT an elevator! (it will be working soon!)