SRC Community Chorus

Since 2005, the success of our musicals, concerts, revues, and plays, presented by hundreds of area volunteers, is proof that the performing arts are alive and thriving in west central Illinois. We perform not for fame or money, but out of passion – a passion to create quality live entertainment and to raise funds for Spoon River College scholarships. Our “performance hall door” is open to anyone who shares this passion. To become a part of the SRC Community Chorus family or to be added to our email distribution list, please contact us by sending an Email to SRC Community Chorus

-Carol Davis, Past Artistic Director

Cast photo of We Hold These Truths show, some in period costumes

2026 Season Opens with
WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS
to be Presented at the Opera House Plaza

The Spoon River College Community Chorus and the Canton History & Arts Alliance present the original theatrical production, We Hold These Truths, on Sunday, June 28 at 7 p.m. at the Opera House Plaza in downtown Canton. The show includes over 40 actors, singers, musicians, and technicians. The production is free and open to the public.

We Hold These Truths, written by Carol Davis, Chad Murphy, and Corrinna Markland Pickel, commemorates the 250^th anniversary of the United States. The production is directed by Carol Davis.

“Chad, Corrinna, and I set out to write a production that was entertaining, thought-provoking, historically based, challenging, and memorable,” Davis said. “We Hold These Truths has something for everyone.”

The show features an outdoor television broadcast of the popular 2026 show – We Hold These Truths. Through an unexplained twist of time, Presidents George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, along with Abigail Adams, are featured guests on the program. The show’s moderator, Sage Stark, asks the presidents and Mrs. Adams if the America of today is the America they had intended when the country was first formed in 1776. Much is revealed as the presidents respond and the WHTT audience performs musical numbers highlighting the nation’s history.

The musical numbers include popular songs from the revolution to a Canadian choral arrangement of Bob Dylan’s Chimes of Freedom, a song specifically commissioned for the 250^th celebration, and a closing number which invites those in attendance to participate.

The cast includes Phil Funkenbusch as George Washington, Chad Murphy as John Adams, Sara Mathis as Abigail Adams, Douglas Okey as Thomas Jefferson, Corrinna Markland Pickel as Sage Stark, Stacy Smith as the Stage Manager, and BJ Stone as the Host of We Hold These Truths.

Pamela Willison serves as musical director and pianist for the production. Drake Miller provides sounds of 1776 on the piccolo with Lindsey Larson on glockenspiel. Greg Pollitt is the sound technician. Costumers are Denise Kirgan, Andrea Barbknecht, and Lori Beecham.

Chorus members include Andrea Barbknecht, Sherry Coffey, Colin Davis, John Davis, Jennifer Fletcher, Clay Klinedinst, Carol Kohler, Charlene Kornoski-DuVall, Aja Lawson, Wendy Martin, Trygve Meade, Janet Munson, Natalie Orwig, Cecily Pearson, Lydia Robinson, Ron Smith, Sue Smith, Marley Smith, Lily Smith, Shane Smith, Jean Sprecher, Jeanine Standard, Mike Varnes, Melissa Walker, Kevin Watson, and Tammy Weaver.

We Hold These Truths is appropriate for all age ranges and families are encouraged to attend. Audience members should bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Should inclement weather prohibit the production from taking place outdoors, the production will be moved to the sanctuary of the First Christian Church of Canton.

For more information, email Carol Davis.

Concerts and Productions since 2005:

The SRC Community Chorus presents 2-3 concerts, revues, plays, and musicals each year. To date, the list includes:

Concerts/Revues:

The Musical World of Disney
50 Years of Broadway
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
A Golden Holiday
Broadway, Too
Songs for the Season
A Joyous Jubilee
A Classic Afternoon with Alison Richter-Meuth and John L. Davis
Cole, Irving, George, & Jerome
An American Choral Mosaic
A Winter Tapestry
Lincoln’s America
Broadway, Start to Finish
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Songs and Snowflakes
Handel’s Messiah (twice)
Ken Bradbury in Concert
Winter Wonders
Winter Tales & Tunes
The River’s Song by Barry Cloyd
Frosty Airs & Fables
Burl Ives: Midwestern Minstrel by Barry Cloyd
Home for the Holidays: Virtually Unplugged (2020 Virtual Holiday Concert)
Silver Songs & Golden Gifts
Our Favorite Things
The Best of Barry Cloyd
48 Hours: A Musical Revue 2023
The Wonder-Full World of Winter, An International Concert
Playin’ Favorites: The Great American Songbook
Winter Blues & All That Jazz
Music from the Time of the Dust Bowl 2025
Handel’s Messiah & Winter Olio

Musicals:

Man of La Mancha
Mass Theatrical*
Pirates of Penzance
Hotel Holidaze*
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Quilters
Guys and Dolls
Into the Woods
An Evening with Patsy Cline

Plays:

Vanities
Bleacher Bums
A Tuna Christmas
The Guys

*Denotes an original production written by a member of the SRC Community Chorus

Two Rivers Arts Council logo

The SRC Community Chorus appreciates the support of The Two Rivers Arts Council throughout the years. This not-for-profit arts organization keeps the arts alive by serving the 159,000 residents of Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Fulton, Greene, Hancock, Henderson, Jersey, Mason, McDonough, Pike, Schuyler and Scott counties.

Shows for a Cause:

The SRC Community Chorus operates under the auspices of the SRC Foundation and is entirely self-funded, with occasional support from entities such as Two Rivers Arts Council. Since its inception, it has raised well over $100,000 for the Foundation’s scholarship program and has established seven permanent, endowed scholarships, each named after a Chorus member or someone special to the Chorus: