PEORIA MAGAZINE November 2023

CURTAIN CALL

PAYING TRIBUTE TO A STAR Mary Simon’s life and legacy are as enduring as the dinner theater she helped launch and lift through the decades

BY KATIE FALEY

A ll you need is love and dinner theater. That’s what sums up The Barn III Dinner Theater and Event Center in Goodfield (and all its past incarnations). Mary Simon was a performer, director, producer, faithful friend, and one-time owner of the beloved dinner theater. Simon died on July 31 at the age of 74, leaving behind a larger-than-life legacy. It’s hard to sum up an entire life, but here’s an attempt in three sentences: • Born in 1949 in central Illinois, she was a theater major at Illinois State University until 1969 when she got an opportunity to audition for Chaunce Conklin, a producer who along with Simon would go on to open the fa mous Conklin Players Dinner Theater. • Simon took on ownership and op eration duties of the dinner theater, which by then had become The Barn, in 1995, a role in which she faithfully served for the next 20 years. • Though her life was full of theater, those who knew Mary best agree that her life was full of sharing love with others. Following are several testimonials: Bill Hoffman , now an actor and set designer in NYC, knew Simon at the beginning of her career:

compassion. Her heart was a sanctuary of kindness — always open, giving and forgiving. “When the Barn was badly damaged [in 2015], Mary pushed on. With her hard work and great efforts, nothing was going to stop her! “Mary trusted fully in God’s plan. Her relationship with Christ gave her much comfort. She loved reading daily inspi rations and the Bible.

Mary Simon

“Mary Simon was a remarkable com bination of passion, beauty and talent. I first saw her on stage at ISU. She was stunning, electric. “We first met when we both audi tioned for Chaunce. To our delight, we were both cast and began a tumultuous five years trying to establish a dinner theatre in a series of venues throughout the area. “Chaunce soon had her singing in the lounge after every show to his accom paniment on the organ. I appeared in over 30 plays and musicals with Mary and Chaunce. “Mary leaves a legacy of unforgetta ble performances on stage, cherished memories by actors and a public who simply adored her.” John Bearce was a dear friend and fellow philanthropist: “Mary was a beacon of light in a world that sometimes forgets true love and

AS SHE ENDED EVERY SHOW, ‘WE’LL SEE YOU

AGAIN, IF THE GOOD LORD’S

WILLING AND THE CREEK DON’T RISE!’

— John Bearce “I hope we all focus on honoring her legacy through acts of kindness, love and holding steadfast to our faith, just as she would have wanted. “As she ended every show, ‘We’ll see you again, if the good Lord’s willing and the creek don’t rise!’” Dan Challacombe is a long-time Barn employee, actor and friend of Simon: “She was a meticulous director and a fierce businesswoman. Her goal was to provide a good product at a good

104 NOVEMBER 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE