Patrons Give Back To BACK TO THE GARDEN Cast With Beaded Peace Sign Necklaces

So you've already seen Shadowbox's hit musical, Back to the Garden and now you're coming back with friends to relive the experience. Well if you have a keen eye on you, you might just notice a very subtle difference this time around: several of the cast members are sporting beaded peace sign necklaces that hadn't previously been a part of their costumes.

The necklaces were a present to the cast from some returning audience members who make it a point to spread the peaceful, loving ideals of the Woodstock era. Joe Lambert, Joanne Blum, Ralph Leeseberg, and Jim Fuller are friends and musicians from the Columbus area who decided to form a band that would focus on the positive, "hippie nostalgia" songs of the sixties and seventies. "We focus on the songs of those times that spoke of peace, love, and hope for the future", says Lambert. They call themselves "The Bead People" and have played at several coffee shops and churches since their inception in 2008.

Hearing about Shadowbox's musical, Back to the Garden, the quartet figured it would be right up their alley and decided to check it out. They were so impressed by their first viewing that, not only did they spare no time in coming back to see it again, but they made physical representations of their gratitude to the cast for the show they enjoyed so much by constructing love bead necklaces.

It has been a practice of the band for some time now to give away homemade love beads to their own audiences and all of the group agreed that these would also make a fitting gift to the Shadowbox crew.

"We formed ‘The Bead People' out of a desire to reaffirm the message of peace, love, and optimism of those times", says band spokesman, Joe Lambert. "I believe Back To The Garden is doing just that, and people seeing the show are able to remember what a special time it was. Hopefully the ideals of those times can be brought back to our present age to effect some change for the good. We are really impressed with the quality of the show and the talent and energy of everyone involved, and the beads are just our way of saying thanks to all."

Back to the Garden runs most Sundays at 2:30 and 7pm until May 23rd. Make your reservations by calling (614) 416-7625 or by going to www.shadowboxcabaret.com.