It was 40 years ago when Betty Ferra was working with a collection of Rohnert Park seniors who agreed with her they, too, could “put on a show” just like Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney did in the movies. Ferra, a show biz veteran, knew about creating music with wooden spoons for percussion, blowing kazoos for melody and teaching amateurs the simple art of singing songs.

She also found a young pianist, Larry Broderick, to provide a solid musical  accompaniment.

They called themselves the “Kitchen Kut-Ups.”

Fast forward 40 years, and now Broderick’s leading an orchestra in the pit, a dozen or more senior musicians at each show, 25 to 30 or more dancers on stage in a series of elaborate costume changes, talented solo vocalists including guitarists with timeless repertoires, and a clever assortment of comedians armed with side-splitting skits to punctuate the songs and dances.
After 40 years, it’s difficult to call them amateurs.

It’s a professional entertainment package and all of ‘em will be on the main stage at Spreckels Performing Arts Center, July 7, 10, 12 and 14.

Curtain time for each of the four shows is 1 p.m. and tickets are $15 each.

Tickets are available at the Spreckels box office, open Tuesday through Saturday afternoons, or call 588-3400 during those hours. They’ll also be available one hour before curtain time, if they have available seating.

RP’s celebrating its 50th anniversary (in September) this year of signing city incorporation documents with many out-of-town musical groups including a rock band. The Kitchen Kut-Ups, a homegrown organization, will be celebrating their 40th anniversary in July as sort of a nostalgic prelude in this year of two anniversaries.