Kansas Abridged

NOTE: CHANGE OF VENUE -Due to predictions of rain Thursday through Saturday, the decision was made to move the theatre production to town!  Although we won't be at the Ruin this year, the venues in Alma are historical treasures and perfect places to stage a play about Kansas history.

Pre-play activities will be hosted at the Wabaunsee County Historical Society Museum, truly a hidden gem and an authentic archive of the families of the county, accompanied by a significant collection of Indian tools.

The play will be performed in the original auditorium of Wabaunsee High School, vintage 1937, designed by prominent Topeka architect W.E.Glover, built as a WPA project.

We hope you enjoy this small-town experience in the heart of the Flint Hills.

Kansas Abridged, which leans into the community theatre concept, is 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.

Do you want to support Kansas Abridged? Sponsorship packages can be found here.

Meet the writers, actors, and producers in Kansas Abridged

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 land/site preservationist living at Mission Valley Ranch where registered Angus roam. After years of neglect, she and her husband Bill, restored “Stonebridge”, an 1860’s Flint Hills homestead with arched-ceiling stone cellars to share with our community. They hope others will follow in their path of preservation. Kathy is honored to write for Kansas Abridged and grateful for the collaboration with Dominic Moore.

Actors

Briana Drinkwater, Alma

Briana comes from a background in performing arts. She’s performed in musicals such as My Fair Lady andWest 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 become 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.

Producers

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!