OMSH's 'Voices of Elmwood' to recognize WWII

Though it's a little over three months away, the Owensboro Museum of Science & History's annual 'Voices of Elmwood' is seeing movement as organizers prepare for the event's 18th year starting in mid-September.
The event, a collaborative effort with the Daviess County Public Library's Kentucky Room, takes attendees on a trailer ride through the cemetery, with stops at various gravesites where actors, dressed in period clothing, present the stories of those who are buried there.
'Voices of Elmwood' will run for three consecutive weekends from Sept. 18-20, Sept. 25-27 and Oct. 2-4 at the Rosehill-Elmwood Cemetery and Mausoleum off Old Hartford Road.
The 2025 event will return to a 10-stop ride — in addition to a pre-ride presentation — following a one-year absence after the 2024 series was reduced to seven to highlight five people who have been buried in Potter's Field.
This year's event will include recognition of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
'It's always been a really neat event for Owensboro,' said Isaac G. Settle, OMSH's executive director. 'It's one of those things that kind of bridges the arts together — the theatre and the history.
'I've always been a big fan of 'Voices of Elmwood,' ' Settle said.
For Settle, this will be his first time overseeing the program as the museum's director following the retirement of Kathy Olson at the end of 2024. However, Settle has had hands-on experience with the historical event in the past.
'My biggest role with the 'Voices of Elmwood' was when I was here (in Owensboro) back in 2015 through 2019 … and I actually helped do the research for the … characters,' he said. '... I would send my research to the scriptwriters, and the scriptwriters would take that research and write the scripts out of that.'
Carolyn Greer, who will direct the performances for her eighth year, said the emphasis on WW II came about after individuals, who have not written for 'Voices of Elmwood' before, continued to bring up names of figures during a researcher meeting that were from Owensboro who were associated with the war.
'We just sort of noticed the pattern,' Greer said. 'So we discussed it and realized that there were a lot of really great stories of people in this community that had a connection to World War II in some form of fashion — whether it be a mother, a soldier, etc.
'As a group, (we) decided it would be a great time to have a specific recognition honoring World War II,' Greer said.
Though Settle said the decision of implementing WWII was decided before coming on board at the museum, he feels its inclusion is necessary.
'I think, personally, it's very applicable because World War II stories are kind of … dying out. With each World War II veteran that passes away and with each person that lived here on the homefront, that history kind of goes, and our local history as it relates to World War II is something that we need to preserve while we still have some of them here,' he said. 'Doing this research and making (it) this year's theme, … I think that it will encourage people to share their own personal stories and their information.'
In previous years, preparations for the performances began in mid-July. However, Greer said it has gotten a head start, with the cast list being announced publicly on Tuesday.
'We started a little bit earlier. We decided we wanted to hold official auditions and give people in the community who may not have been a part of it before an opportunity,' she said. 'It was really good for us. We've got several brand-new performers, and we also wanted to give our actors time with the script ….
'... This way, we have more time,' Greer said. '... We want to make sure that we're still telling quality stories, and we have outstanding performances to share with the community.'
For Greer, who recently retired after 27 years from teaching theatre at Owensboro High School and overseeing the school's Rose Curtain Players, she finds directing for this type of event to be 'more of a concept of storytelling than it is a full play.'
'A play has many characters and many stories going on at one time often; and this does have many characters and many stories, but they're all individual,' she said. 'It's really about individual storytelling, so you approach it a little differently.
'It's really exciting. It's always new,' Greer said. 'It's joyful as a director, and I think it's enjoyable for the actor and then, of course, that conveys to our audiences because we want to hear very individualized experiences.'
Throughout its near two-decade history, Greer finds the event has continued to be embraced by the public.
'It's actually continued to grow … over the last couple years, and I think it's because … this community has a real understanding and a sense of the history and it's also an arts community,' she said. '... This community is rich with incredible stories, and I think people look forward to it every year hearing what's next.
'It's just a really cool experience,' Greer said. 'There's nothing cooler than getting on a wagon, in the dark, in a cemetery that is beautiful at night and hearing these amazing, wonderful, rich stories.'
Settle said tickets will go on sale in August, with additional details of the event to be revealed in the coming months.
All proceeds from 'Voices of Elmwood' benefit the museum, which Settle said will be used for the revamping and upgrading technological features and cases of exhibits, along with updating signage and helping support general facility maintenance.
For more information and updates, visit owensboromuseum.org and facebook.com/OwensboroMuseum.

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