ASHLAND, Neb. (AP) — A state park in eastern Nebraska is celebrating its 25th year of producing family-friendly melodramas.

Mahoney State Park’s melodrama season this year includes 60 performances of three funny and family-friendly shows. Five young actors are performing the shows “Alone on the Range,” ”Showdown at Sundown,” and “The Silent Treatment.”

Rachel Robbins is directing the 2017 season, and Julie Eschliman is providing the background music on piano.

In the summer of 1992, Nebraska Game and Parks invited John Burkhart to tour the park and the new theater that was under construction. The idea was to have Burkhart produce melodramas for park visitors.

The details and the contract were worked out, and the first show, “He Ain’t Done Right by Nell,” opened on May 27, 1993.