Sisters shows off its talent in Sisters Act

As show time neared and the lights went up on the main stage, the stakes were higher than ever for this year's Sisters Act talent show. The lofty goal was to raise $3,800, and impressionist Nathan Woodworth was taping his act live as a part of his bid for a slot in this summer's national television series "America's Got Talent."

Last Saturday night's crowd was very enthusiastic, nearly filling the auditorium at Sisters High School to enjoy a colorful rainbow of area talent and to raise funds for the benefit of the Masaka Orphanage and School in Uganda and the Sisters High School Classified Employees Scholarship Fund for graduating seniors.

The community talent show debuted in 1994 and this year celebrated its 13th run in Sisters. The show is directed by Theresa Slavkovsky and is sponsored by the Sisters chapter of the international non-profit organization Good Samaritan Ministries (GSM) headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon.

"We've taken the last two years off," said Barb Wilson, who is a member of the committee that organizes the event. "It started in 1994, and we did 12 shows. That's why this year we're calling it Sisters Act Rides Again, because we're back."

The show is open to anyone with an act who desires to perform.

"I think we have Celtic dancers based out of Bend, and we have a group from Redmond. You don't have to live in Sisters to be in the show," said Wilson, who noted that acts must be "G" rated.

"It's for the family," she said.

Twenty-one acts from original song, to ballet to monologues and recitations to a South African Zulu dance teased the senses. Sophomore Woodworth, who took first place honors at the Deschutes County Fair talent show last summer, delighted all in attendance with a smorgasboard of impressions from John Wayne to Miss Piggy to Captain Jack Sparrow. Woodworth hopes to this summer win a slot in NBC's talent competition "America's Got Talent" (see related story, page 7).

Proceeds from the benefit specifically earmarked for Masaka will purchase bricks to build more efficient cookstoves in the cookhouse at the orphanage and school.

"These stoves will have chimneys and will vent the smoke out and cook the food much more quickly and efficiently. The upgrade will also save on wood and fuel costs, which is very expensive...," said one of the event's emcees Kelly Powell.

A separate fund-raiser to buy desks for the school was held before and after the show and during intermission. According to Powell, a simple, plank desk for the school can cost more than $50 because of inflation and government control.

"We've managed to put cement floors in. Now, we want them to have desks. It costs $45 for a whole desk or $15 for a place in a desk. I'm trying to sell as many as I can humanly sell," said volunteer Karly Drake-Lusby. Plenty are needed as the school provides an education for 970 children in grades K-12.

The Masaka school was built 11 years ago by the staff and volunteers of GSM in Uganda, and many of the children who attend walk three to seven miles both to and from school each day. Often they leave home in the mornings with nothing to eat, and when they arrive at school they receive a cup of porridge to drink. In the evening the students are fed beans and rice.

Approximately 275 of the children who attend the school call the orphanage their home.