News

Neewollah 2026 Sponsorship Committee

Newollah Generalissimo Cody Dixon has named Abby Emert, Karin Stoner, and Gavin Webster as the three members of the Neewollah 2026 Sponsorship Committee.

Abby Emert has called Independence home for the past 24 years and serves as the Executive Director of the Community Foundation for Independence. Since moving to the community in 2002, Neewollah has been an important part of her life. She especially enjoys her involvement with Queen Neelah, where she finds it rewarding to watch participants grow in confidence and shine on stage after their hard work. Abby has served in various Queen’s roles the past nine years, including two years as Queen’s Director, and also contributed to the Fun Run. She is currently serving her second year on the Neewollah Board.

Karin Stoner has proudly called Southeast Kansas home for nearly three decades, living between Independence and Neodesha for the past 29 years. She works as the Branch Manager at Commercial Bank in Independence. Since moving to the area in 1997, Karin has been a supporter of Neewollah. She especially values the festival’s wide appeal, offering something for everyone, from the opening night of the musical to the excitement of the carnival. Karin has contributed her time and talents as a Ticket Queen, served on various Queens committees, supported sponsorship efforts, worked in the Box Office, and currently holds a role on the Neewollah Board.

Gavin Webster is a lifelong resident of Independence and a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. Neewollah has been a part of his life since childhood, with favorite traditions including the Medallion Hunt, the musical, and the chance to connect with the community. Over the years, Gavin has been actively involved in the festival, from participating in musicals as a child to serving as Co-Chair of the DooDah Parade, Food Vendors, and Sponsorship multiple times. He currently serves on the Neewollah board.

Neewollah is made possible by the entire community coming together in support of this cherished tradition. Every volunteer, sponsor, and supporter plays a vital role, and their contributions are deeply appreciated. To ensure proper recognition and inclusion in marketing efforts, sponsorship forms, whether submitted in person or completed online, are kindly requested by July 1. Sponsorship forms can be found at www.neewollah.com.

Frozen: The Broadway Musical Music

Frozen: The Broadway Musical Music Director and Conductor Director Lisa Paige announced Theresa Fischer as the Music Director for Frozen: The Broadway Musical.

Theresa Fischer has called Fredonia home for the past 16 years and currently serves as the 7–12 Vocal Music and Theatre Director for USD 484. Neewollah has been an important part of her life for the past nine years. Theresa's previous Neewollah involvement includes serving as Music Director for The Addams Family, Shrek, and Elf. She also served as Music and Orchestra Director for The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, and Annie. In addition, she has appeared on the Neewollah stage as a cast member in Beauty and the Beast and was cast in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Auditions for Frozen: The Broadway Musical will be held June 30, July 1, and July 8 at Memorial Hall. Individuals interested in auditioning or serving on a production committee are encouraged to complete the audition form that can be found on Neewollah’s Facebook page or at www.neewollah.com. A variety of opportunities are available for performers. Adult roles are open to high school students and adults and include both singing and non-singing roles, as well as chorus positions. One or two roles will require performers to manipulate puppets as part of the production. The show will also feature a small children's ensemble portraying the Hidden Folk Chorus. Auditions for this group are open to students who have completed second grade through middle school. In addition, there are two girls' roles available for performers ages 8–12.

Performances of Frozen: The Broadway Musical will be presented at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 23, and Saturday, October 24, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, October 25, at Memorial Hall. For more information about Neewollah events and activities, visit www.neewollah.com.

Queen Neelah Candidate Co-Chairs Announced

Queen Neelah Candidate Co-Chairs Announced Queen Neelah Directors Mindy Blackard and Lauren Ysusi are excited to announce Cori Hall and Mersadies Landrum as the 2026 Queen Neelah Candidate Co-Chairs.

Cori Hall has called Independence home for the past 16 years and serves the community as a school-based Physical Therapist. Neewollah has been part of Cori’s life for many years, beginning with childhood memories of attending the Grand Parade and later marching in the parade during high school. After moving to Independence, she quickly discovered that Neewollah offers so much more than the beloved parade tradition. While she enjoys the many exciting events the festival brings to the community, the nostalgia and spirit of the Grand Parade continue to hold a special place in her heart. Cori has been actively involved in Neewollah through several volunteer roles over the years. She has served twice as the Pop Party Etiquette Speaker, was a member of the Queens Brunch Committee in 2022, co-chaired the Pop Party in 2023, and was honored to co-chair Coronation in 2024.

Mersadies Landrum proudly calls Independence home. After growing up in Independence, she returned in 2021 to raise her family in the community she has always loved. Mersadies is currently a stay-at-home mom who enjoys being actively involved in local traditions and events. Neewollah has been part of Mersadies’ life for as long as she can remember. One of her favorite parts of the celebration is Saturday. While it is bittersweet because it marks the final day of festivities, the Grand Parade is always a highlight. She especially loves seeing people from all over come together to celebrate and enjoy the spirit of Neewollah. In 2007, she was honored to be a Queen Neelah candidate, and for the past two years, she has proudly served as co-chair for Headquarters.

There will be a Summer Workshop for girls that are going to be seniors during the 2026-2027 school year, that are interested in participating in Queen Neelah. The workshop will be held Sunday, June 7, at 4:00 p.m. at the First Church of the Nazarene Family Life Center at 3835 CR 3900 in Independence. Participants are encouraged to bring a parent or guardian with them to the workshop. For more information about Neewollah, please visit www.neewollah.com.