The Villages Daily Sun

THE VILLAGES — In its latest show, the Showtime Singers took a trip from one coast to the other through music and dancing.

One of its members, Janet Kobar, hopped in the car with her husband and drove across the nation. Twice.

For the Kobars’ 25th wedding anniversary, they went from northeast Pennsylvania to San Francisco. The following year, they took three weeks to visit seven national parks around the country.

“We enjoyed seeing the natural beauty of the national parks,” Kobar said. “Just awesome.”

The most awe-inspiring part of the trip was visiting Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, where the rock formations, or hoodoos, are found.

“They’re like temples to God,” Kobar said.

The Showtime Singers, under the direction of Sharon Pederson, brought “Are We There Yet?” to life during two performances Friday night at Savannah Center.

With photographs projected on a large screen, the singing and dancing troupe performed such songs as “This Land Is Your Land,” “New York State of Mind,” “Old Cape Cod,” “Rocky Top,” “My Kind of Town (Chicago Is)” and “California Dreamin’.”

Kobar, who lives in the Village of Glenbrook, sang solo on “Moonlight in Vermont.”

“I really like (the song),” Kobar said. “The melody is kind of mysterious.”

Kobar joined the group five years ago after seeing it perform at Church on the Square.

“This group is very special to me,” Kobar said. “It’s a small group of singers, and we have to work together. It’s an honor and a privilege to work with Sharon and all of the members of the Showtime Singers. We are a small family.”

Joanne Kells-Murphy, a Village of Santo Domingo resident, made her debut with the Showtime Singers on Friday. In addition to singing with the group, she had a brief solo in the final number, “Go Light Your World.”

She has been singing since the age of 3, performing in various school choruses.

“Then I got away from it for a while, then I got back into it when I came to The Villages,” said Kells-Murphy, who also sings with the Philharmonic Chorale. “I enjoy singing, and I thought (the Showtime Singers) would be fun.”

During her younger years, Kells-Murphy leaned toward the classical side of music, but she has enjoyed performing show tunes in recent times.

“The harmonies are great,” she said. “I don’t always sing alto (in other groups), so I’m enjoying it (here in the Showtime Singers). It’s different for me and it’s fun.”

Since joining the Showtime Singers, Kells-Murphy also has adjusted to singing and dancing at once.

“It takes a little getting used to, but it’s not too bad,” she said. “Performing is fun, and this is a wonderful group of people. We have a lot of fun. I like being in a supportive group. I’m doing things I thought I’d never do after turning 50.”

Michael Fortuna is a reporter with the Daily Sun. He can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9234, or michael.fortuna@thevillagesmedia.com.