Walpack Follies close out festival

sussex county-The Walpack Follies will close out the Voices of Summer ‘04 Festival at the Walpack Historic Church at 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15. The follies are a vaudevillian recreatiuon with audience participation.. Leading the cast as Master of Ceremonies is Steve Depass, dubbed "America's Singing Poet" by the late Nelson Rockefeller. Depass began his career at age five in vaudeville at New York City's Palace Theatre, where the famed Jimmy Durante was then headlining. Depass, whose specialty is an uncanny ability to improvise poetry to music, has performed on stages around the world and has entertained the Queen of England four presidents. In its tradition of featuring local entertainers, the producers are bringing Branchville tenor, Brian K. Ernstes back with his zany sense of humour, along with Sparta's Kelli Ann Miro, who is currently starring as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz at Metuchen's Forum Theatre. Also returnins is soprano Jacqueline Kroschell, who brings Broadway, international touring and City Opera credits to the production. Denville's Carol Middleton, a singing pianist with a great sense of humour and an operatic voice, is musical director. The concerts are presented in cooperation with the National Park Service's Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area and the Walpack HistoricalSociety. The church is on Route 640 near Peters Valley and the Walpack Inn. Admission is $15 adults, $13 children, and $33 family. For moreinformation and directions, call 973-729-5524.