The King is back: Raintree Arts Council to channel Elvis Presley at April 5 event

CLARKSVILLE, Mo. —  Elvis is in the building … at least his music will be.

Raintree Arts Council is presenting a tribute to the king of rock ‘n’ roll for its annual fund-raising dinner concert. Doors for the event will open at 6 p.m. with the show beginning at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, at The Apple Shed.

Tickets are $30 if bought prior to March 20 and $35 after that date, with a purchasing deadline of March 28. Tickets include dinner by Keely Catering and Events with a cash bar available and a silent auction.

Raintree board members Debbie Ingram and Donna Grote are putting the show together.

In a press release, Grote said, “I love Encore. It is so much fun. It has really grown since its start. Picking a theme then going crazy with costumes, dancing and watching the crowd participate is a blast.”

Grote and Ingram kicked around ideas before deciding upon the Elvis theme.

“When I finally approached her about it, she agreed pretty quickly,” Ingram said. “And then we realized that this year would have been Elvis’ 90th birthday, so it just sort of sealed the deal that this was the year to celebrate Elvis at Encore.”

In addition to Ingram and Grote, performers will be Angela Maier, Beverly Cogar, Kaitlyn Fielder, Alyssa Niemeyer, Tina Sprague, Tom Wallace, Jessica Harding, Mindy Webert and Richard Biggs presenting 10 solos and four group numbers.

The set list features some of Presley’s biggest hits, including “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Suspicious Minds,” “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” and “Love Me Tender.”

The audience is welcome to sing along and to “get up and dance, either with a partner or by themselves, and just have a good time,” Ingram said. Dressing in period outfits is encouraged. A look-a-like contest and other games are planned.

Ingram remembers where she was and what she was doing when news broke that Presley had died on Aug. 16, 1977.

“He had one of those stories of coming from nothing and making a name for himself,” she said. “I think because of the time he started out in the 1950s, he seemed very genuine with people – very humble.”

Tickets may be reserved by scanning the bar code on the Jan. 31 Encore announcement on the Raintree Facebook page or by calling 314-518-5637.