The Owensboro Museum of Science and History is once again bringing the past to life with Voices of Elmwood, returning for its 18th year this fall. The 2025 installment of the popular cemetery theater program will pay special tribute to the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The event will run for three weekends — Sept. 18-20, Sept. 25-27, and Oct. 2-4, with the full cast already in place. Organizers said the experience blends historical storytelling with theatrical performance as costumed actors portray real individuals from Owensboro’s past near their actual gravesites in Elmwood Cemetery.
Isaac Settle, the museum’s director, called it one of the museum’s “biggest events of the year.”
“It brings together a lot of different people — the theater community, the museum community, as well as the community at large,” Settle said. “You’re in the cemetery, you’re where these people are often buried, and it’s someone portraying that person, giving you facts about that person and the story of their life through kind of a theatrical version of it.”
This year’s edition centers on the stories of Owensboro residents who served during World War II or supported the war effort from the home front. That includes local factory workers, soldiers, and civilians whose lives were shaped by global conflict.
Carolyn Greer, who oversees the acting component of the event, said the lineup features a mix of new and returning actors.
“All of the pieces we’re doing this year have to do with World War II,” Greer said. “It gives people who are interested in history—and people who are interested in the arts—an opportunity to really experience the stories that have come from our community.”
Kathy Olson, the museum’s former director who still helps research and organize the stories, said the WWII theme emerged organically during their annual researcher meeting.
“So many stories came in — from surgeons, factory workers, and families with multiple members serving—that it just made sense,” Olson said. “We realized ‘Voices of Elmwood’ to honor WWII’s 80th anniversary with powerful portrayals of local history
Among the sources were personal journals, local family histories, and inspiration from films like The Six Triple Eight, which sparked one portrayal honoring African-American women who ensured mail delivery to the front lines.
Olson said audiences can expect stories that are emotional, enlightening, and highly detailed — many shedding light on lesser-known aspects of local wartime life.
“There was not a person in this community that wasn’t sacrificing in some way,” she said. “We have several stories this year about families with multiple sons who served — stories that truly bring home how widespread the impact was.”
Attendance at Voices of Elmwood typically reaches between 1,200 and 1,500 guests annually, depending on the weather. Last year saw nearly 1,300 visitors despite heavy rain forcing indoor performances during one weekend.
Each evening includes seven narrated wagon tours, each seating about 22 guests per ride. Performances often sell out.
Organizers hope this year’s expanded rehearsal timeline will yield even more polished performances and deeper audience connections.
“Our goal is always to improve,” Greer said. “Giving our performers more time allows them to become stronger storytellers — and gives the audience a better experience.”
For those with untold stories from the era, Olson said the museum welcomes community input and hopes to continue expanding ways to preserve and share local history.
Tickets and additional event details will be announced in the coming months through the museum’s website and social media channels.
“We have something really powerful on our hands,” Greer said. “This is a special tribute to the end of World War II and to both the soldiers and the folks on the home front who contributed to that victory.”
