{"id":7,"date":"2011-02-24T13:16:57","date_gmt":"2011-02-24T21:16:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/?page_id=7"},"modified":"2026-06-17T10:40:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T17:40:34","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"has-text-align-center has-x-large-font-size\"><strong>Oakland Community Theater<\/strong> Presents<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"font-size:18px\">Our 2026 Production:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>\u2018\u2018Choo-Choo Chicanery<strong>\u201d<\/strong><\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>A Play by John Burkhart &amp; Bette Keehley<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/OCT_ChooChooChicanery_EUAd_8x3pt3_Web-1024x422.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-481\" width=\"615\" height=\"255\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/OCT_ChooChooChicanery_EUAd_8x3pt3_Web-300x124.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/OCT_ChooChooChicanery_EUAd_8x3pt3_Web-768x317.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/OCT_ChooChooChicanery_EUAd_8x3pt3_Web-500x206.jpg 500w, https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/OCT_ChooChooChicanery_EUAd_8x3pt3_Web.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\">FridayS &amp; SaturdayS<br><strong>JUNE 19, 20, 26, &amp; 27<\/strong><br>7:00 PM <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\">SUNDAYS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\"><strong>June 21 &amp; 28<\/strong><br>2:00PM<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"has-text-align-center has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:700\"><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/c93DG7kdSaDMVg9i6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">In Oakland City Park, located at SE 2nd St and SE Maple St<br><\/a>(behind Stearns Hardware)<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d490.7759684933626!2d-123.29803907683151!3d43.42168879928474!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x54c6a7d205155555%3A0x6c7ca663106a4b27!2sOakland%20City%20Park%20and%20Pavilion!5e1!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1781461972586!5m2!1sen!2sus\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" style=\"border:0;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Bring a chair &amp;\/or blanket!&nbsp; <\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"has-text-align-center has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Please, no dogs. We don&#8217;t like the competition<\/strong>.<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"has-text-align-center has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Cold refreshments and hot buttered popcorn at every performance for purchase!<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-medium-font-size\" style=\"color:#b18912\"><strong><em>Boo\u2026Hiss\u2026Cheer\u2026Ahhhh&#8230;<br>Share the gamut of emotions with our characters and the audience.<\/em><\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/choochoochicanery_poster-683x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-511\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/choochoochicanery_poster-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/choochoochicanery_poster-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/choochoochicanery_poster-768x1151.png 768w, https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/choochoochicanery_poster-1025x1536.png 1025w, https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/choochoochicanery_poster.png 1194w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Location:<\/strong><br>Dining Car aboard the Umpqua Valley Railroad on a trip from Eugene City to Oakland in 1885.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Plot:<\/strong><br>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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">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.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Also, Tizzy Ditherspoon is on board the train fulfilling her duties as Balderdash\u2019s long-suffering secretary.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><em><strong>Can Ted stop Balderdash from succeeding in his evil scheme?<\/strong><\/em> <strong><em>Will Modesty find true love on her journey?\u00a0And is Tizzy really who she says she is?\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Watch Choo-Choo Chicanery and find out!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cast:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-container-2 wp-block-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-container-1 wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p>Barton Balderdash, <em>Villain of the Worst Order<\/em> | <strong>Dana Basque<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tizzi Ditherspoon, <em>Bart\u2019s Secretary\u00a0<\/em>| <strong>Michelle Bossuet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Modesty Faithful, <em>Caterer of Railroad Meals<\/em> | <strong>Rachael Grindberg<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ted Trustworthy, <em>Railroad Detective UVRR<\/em> | <strong>Kip Page<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your Card Lady, <em>Watch closely\u2026she has all the moves!<\/em> | <strong>Karissa Mills<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Women\u2019s Association of Comfort Investigators<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-container-4 wp-block-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-container-3 wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p>Tilda, <em>Leader of the WACI Ladies\u00a0<\/em>| <strong>Mary Jean Morey<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ethyl, <em>WACI Lady \u2013 Rupert\u2019s Wife<\/em> | <strong>Joanne Bartleson<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Daisy, <em>Another WACI Lady<\/em> | <strong>Nan Nelson<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Crew:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-container-6 wp-block-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-container-5 wp-block-column\">\n<p>Director | <strong>Bette Keehley<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Costume Mistress | <strong>Diana Bergado<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Makeup &amp; Hair | <strong>Diana Bergado<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lights &amp; Sound Effects | <strong>Juan Bergado, Jim Hart<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sound System | <strong>Jim Hart, Juan Bergado<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Set Construction &amp; Scenery | <strong>Juan Bergado, Jim Hart, Diana Bergado, Rachelle O\u2019Brien and Friends<\/strong><br><br>Props | <strong>Bette Keehley &amp; Diana Bergado<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Concessions | <strong>Luann and Friends<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 style=\"font-size:16px\"><strong>A special thanks<\/strong> to all those who helped pull this production together:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Original Music and Lyrics, <em>\u201cThe Umpqua Valley Line\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 by Jim Hart<\/li><li>Oakland Public Works \u2013 Jim, David, Betsy, Bob, Damien, Rand and Gavin<\/li><li>Oakland City Hall\u00a0 &#8211; Hannah &amp; Carolyn<\/li><li>Oakland Community Response Team<\/li><li>Oakland Economic Development for marketing assistance<\/li><li>OCT Oakland Car Show and Shine Volunteers <em>(it is how we afford to do FREE melodrama!)<\/em><\/li><li>AmTec\u00a0 <em>(for the fence space for the banner)<\/em><\/li><li>Concessions staff:\u00a0 Jean Bartholomew, Luann Basque, Regan and Rowan, Cathy, Mike Garcia<\/li><li>F3B Construction \u2013 <em>printers<\/em><\/li><li>RLOCreative \u2013 <em>poster and banner design, beautiful paintings for the train windows<\/em><\/li><li>Cast and Crew for using the 2<sup>nd<\/sup> Floor of Washington School WITHOUT an elevator! <em>(it will be working soon!)<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChooChooChicanery_ROUND-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-524\" width=\"430\" height=\"430\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChooChooChicanery_ROUND-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChooChooChicanery_ROUND-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChooChooChicanery_ROUND-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChooChooChicanery_ROUND-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChooChooChicanery_ROUND.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 430px) 100vw, 430px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Oakland Community Theater Presents Our 2026 Production: \u2018\u2018Choo-Choo Chicanery\u201d A Play by John Burkhart &amp; Bette Keehley FridayS &amp; SaturdaySJUNE 19, 20, 26, &amp; 277:00 PM SUNDAYS June 21 &amp; 282:00PM In Oakland City Park, located at SE 2nd St &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7"}],"version-history":[{"count":109,"href":"https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":526,"href":"https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7\/revisions\/526"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oaklandmelodrama.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}