Everyone will be a suspect at the mystery dinner theatre hosted by Campbell’s Lane Farm in September. The fundraiser for the Maryland Food Bank features the original play “D-TANED: A Wild West Bank Robbery.”
Performances will be held on Friday, September 20, Saturday, September 21, and Sunday, September 22 at Campbell’s Lane Farm, located at 22862 Dover Bridge Road in Preston, Maryland. On Friday and Saturday guests are welcome to arrive at 5:45pm; the buffet opens at 6pm and the show begins at 7pm. On Sunday the farm opens at 1:45pm with the buffet at 2pm and show at 3pm.
Anne Altvater, owner of Campbell’s Lane Farm, is the host of this event. Altvater and her team have earned a reputation as proven results riding instructors. Their services have expanded to include programs focused on innovative leader development, team building, equine therapy, and events for people of all ages.
Photo: Pictured with Pogo the Donkey are (L-R) Alan Smith, who plays the Sheriff in the play; Anne Altvater, owner of Campbell’s Lane Farm; playwright Nicki Swann; and Amy Cawley, Farm to Food Bank coordinator for the Maryland Food Bank.
“I grew up in an Eastern Shore farm family that valued creativity, community service and education,” says Altvater, a member of the Talbot County 4-H Fair board and of the Shore Leadership board and executive committee. “My parents and grandparents taught me that giving back to our community was the best way to use my talents.”
Altvater adds, “When a local farmer introduced me to Amy Cawley, the Farm to Food Bank coordinator for the Maryland Food Bank, I knew that I wanted to do something to support this non-profit organization that does so much good in our community. One of the Campbell’s Lane Farm riding instructors, Nicki Swann, is a creative genius. I knew she had experience writing plays. Together we came up with the idea to host a mystery dinner theater fundraiser at Campbell’s Lane Farm. This seemed like a fun way to introduce people to our farm and raise some money for the Maryland Food Bank.”
The Maryland Food Bank’s Farm to Food Bank Program works with more than 50 farm partners to supply fresh, local produce to communities in need through field gleanings, donations, and contract growing. Last year, MFB distributed nearly three million pounds of produce through the Farm to Food Bank Program, ensuring food-insecure Marylanders all across the state have access to high quality, nutritious food.
“There are many ways to support your neighbors in need, and Anne’s unique idea to raise money for our organization is a great example of what it means to be a good community partner,” said Amy Cawley, MFB’s Farm to Food Bank coordinator.
“D-TANED: A Wild West Bank Robbery” written by Nicki Swann takes place in 1890 in an older western town similar to Preston, Maryland. Local actors cast in leading roles include Alan Smith as the Sheriff and Jackie Kinney as Scarlett. Pogo the Donkey, a favorite at Campbell’s Lane Farm, stars as D-Tane, the deputy sheriff’s sidekick. Other roles will be played by guests in the audience. The audience participates in solving the mystery of who robbed the bank.
“In Nicki’s play not everyone is who they say they are,” says Altvater. “At Campbell’s Lane Farm we are always teaching and learning. That’s why Nicki wrote a play that turns a bad situation into a lesson. But the most important thing is for everyone to come out and be a part of the fun!”
Tickets for “D-TANED: A Wild West Bank Robbery” are $75, which includes an all-you-can-eat barbeque dinner prepared by Grills on Wheels. The menu features pulled chicken and pulled pork with special sauces, cole slaw, beans, macaroni and cheese, and corn bread. An assortment of homemade pies round out the down-home meal. Iced tea and water will be served. Children 13 and older are welcome to this family-friendly event.
Guests will receive giveaways, purchase chances to win prizes, and ante up donations to have their photos taken with Pogo.
Purchase tickets online through the events section of the Campbell’s Lane Farm Facebook page and at Eventbrite (bit.ly/D-TANEDCLF). Call 410-310-8033 for more information.
Campbell’s Lane Farm, located at 22862 Dover Bridge Road in Preston, Maryland, offers a variety of programs for people of all ages. Workshops include Innovative Leader Development for work teams, Teen Leadership Camp, Insight Equine Therapy for individuals, and personalized equine experiences for children with special needs. The Campbell’s Lane Farm team brings creativity and fun to other group experiences such as Mission Quest games through which teams solve problems and learn strategic leadership skills. Other offerings include custom-made parties for birthdays, anniversaries, retirements and other life events. To learn more about programs and services available at Campbell’s Lane Farm, contact Anne Altvater at [email protected] or call 410-310-8033.
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