BY MERLE MONAHAN/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
merlemonah@aol.com

IVOR—Hee Haw is returning to the stage of the Ivor Municipal Building on Nov. 5 for its 15th year.

The “hilarious hillbilly” spoof of the TV show of the 1960s will be held at 7 p.m. Admission is $6 for anyone 10 and over, $3 for those age 4 through 9 and free for children under 3. Tickets will be sold at the door.

For the first time, the show will be billed as “A Hee Haw Country Christmas” because although the show is always held in November, it’s never featured any Christmas songs, said Director Lou Ann Darden.

“Some of the earlier artists sang some beautiful Christmas arrangements, and we think it will add holiday spirit to the show,” Darden said.

The idea of former auxiliary president Louise Pittman, the production was originally put on by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Ivor Volunteer Rescue Squad in 1995 to raise money for the squad.

Pittman wrote and directed the performance, which became such a success that the auxiliary has performed it each November except last year when Pittman had some health problems.

Darden, Pittman’s daughter, was very involved in the productions with her mother and will carry on the tradition.

“You’d be surprised at the number of people who’ve called and asked when the show will be held,” said Darden. “They come from as far away as Chesapeake and Petersburg. It is a great moneymaker. In fact, it has become our biggest fundraiser.”

Performers are all local who “get up on stage and lip sync to the songs and music of their favorite country artists,” she said. “They come from all professions. Lawyers, doctors and even clergymen dress in ridiculous costumes and make complete fools of themselves, to the delight of a packed auditorium.”

This year actors will imitate Minnie Pearl and Brother, Lulu, Dolly Parton, Brooks and Dunn, Hank Williams Jr., Conway Twitty, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Alan Jackson and others.

“We hope to have Santa and Mrs. Claus for the youngsters,” Darden said.

Between acts, local musician Rusty Lowe will perform.

“We don’t think our audience will be disappointed,” Darden said.