HARD to believe but the Light Opera Group of the Negev (LOGON) is celebrating its 20 birthday! The group has come a long way since its highly successful debut performance of "Trial and Jury," delighted Omer locals. ALTHOUGH they are by definition amateurs, the performers are united in their determination to put on a professional performance. In fact, the producer and director of choreography, the musical director, the costume designer, the lighting and sound team and the stage builders are all professionals and receive payment for their work.

However, pretty much everyone else on the stage (and behind the scenes) is something else in real life - a doctor, a bank manager, a librarian, an English teacher, the manager of a kibbutz factory. Not only do they receive no payment for their efforts, they even pay membership dues for the privilege of rehearsing, two, three, four and even five times a week towards the opening night and give a hand with building the scenery, too! And when the performance ends and the audience goes home, the members of the company lend a hand to dismantle the stage and load the lorry. Around midnight you can see them boarding the bus to take them to their homes in the Negev where they will arrive in the wee hours.

Next day, it's work as usual. THIS year's LOGON production is Rodger and Hammerstein's Carousel, chosen as musical the century by Time magazine for its beautiful score and skilled musical storytelling. The musical was adapted from the play Liliom written by the Hungarian playwright, Ferenc Molnar, which was a huge hit when it opened on Broadway in 1921.

The location was changed from Budapest to a New England seaside resort and the characters take on American names. But the real transformation is the wonderful songs, such as June is Busting Out all Over, If I Loved You and What's the Use of Wond'rin, which in this production, are performed under the inspired direction of musical director, David Waldman. The talented cast is complemented by a great dance troupe with lots of young dancers to guarantee an evening of great entertainment.

And for those of you with Hebrew-speaking spouses, this year there is no excuse for them to stay at home;

Hebrew translation will be provided. THE female lead role of Julie Jordan is played by Devorah Barenholtz, a new olah from San Diego, California. She came to Israel on a 10-day JNF National Future Leadership "Artzenu" mission last March.

The spiritual connection was instant and just three months later, she arrived in Arad, where she entered a WUJS program for English-speaking graduates. She came upon LOGON by chance, after hearing about it from some people she had met in Arad. "I have just finished the WUJS program and am staying in the area until after the production.

I am looking for work, probably teaching English but I am open to offers. I have a PhD in clinical psychology and was offered a job here. But decided I don't want to stay in Arad.

I like the water and am now looking in the direction of Tel Aviv." Devorah Barenholtz has always loved the theater and is very enthusiastic about her role. "It is a really difficult role, full of emotion. I am emotional and sensitive so it is easy for me from that level but difficult because I have to put so much into it." REGARDING her previous experience, Devorah says: "I was in theater most of my life; in community theater in Cleveland, Ohio where I was born.

I later attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City where I studied acting." Since then she has taught at the Cleveland School of the Arts. "I always loved singing and dancing, especially tap and also studied piano. I studied voice in NYC.

I've been here eight months and have had my ups and downs. But I am happy to be here and feel very good about the decision I made. I feel the culture has given me inner growth and inner strength." Devorah is 39 and single; she hopes to find her man here and start a family.

ROSA Howden, the director and choreographer, made aliya with her husband and three little girls in

1984 from Harrogate, England. They became involved with LOGON after they met Frieda and Bob Gilmour at a Hitachdut Olei Britannia function. For the Howdens, Carousel is a real family affair with husband, Steven, playing the male lead role, eldest daughter Victoria playing

the female second lead and youngest daughter Erin a member of the dance troupe.

Rosa explains that all her daughters are very talented and no nepotism was involved. The only reason their middle daughter is not in the show is because she has bagrut (matriculation) this year. And the Howdens are not even locals; they live in Ashkelon, a 50 minute drive away.

ROSA studied arts education in London. She became involved with LOGON after meeting Frieda and Bob Gilmour at a Hitachdut Olei Britannia evening. After showing their talents at an impromptu entertainment performance, they were asked to join LOGON and Rosa took on the choreography of Oklahoma.

She has a delightful, bubbly personality and is very enthusiastic about the production and the company. After playing leading lady and being the choreographer in the last three productions, this time Rosa takes on the task of director for the first time. She also teaches at the local arts school and sounds like an extra-super superwoman.

How does she manage to fit it all in? "I am totally exhausted all the time, but when it comes to the rehearsal, the adrenalin gets going and I am full of energy." She regards this production as her very own creation: " I can't begin to tell you how many hours I put in. I have taken Carousel as my own conception; I have actually created three characters of my own which appear in the show. From the moment the curtain goes up, it's all mine.

I won't let my actors read the stage directions. Everything is totally original - all the dances. The dance troupe is part of the company.

I hate musicals when it's song, song, song and, suddenly, the dancers appear. They are in every singing chorus number.

There are five dancers from 16 to around 40 and two Israeli guys from a kibbutz in the Negev.

What I've tried to do is to involve the company in moving, which is something I am proud of introducing to LOGON. I'm in my element in dancing rehearsals." This enthusiasm holds true for the entire company: "The people are fabulous to work with; we've had no tantrums and we're ahead of schedule." HER husband, Stephen, is an English teacher and coordinator of SET Seminars. "He has a beautiful voice; he played Curly in Oklahoma, Herman in the Most Happy Fella and last year Sid in the Pyjama Game, which was his favorite role.

LOGON has around 50 members with a hard core of 10 or so, which include this year's chairman, Bob Gilmour and his wife Frieda. Bob is in the cast, while Frieda is responsible for public relations, coordinating sales, preparing the program and other such thankless tasks. They are originally from Kingsbury, London and made aliya 16 years ago, after living in Holland for nine years.

YET another stalwart is Alan Cohen, who came on aliya from Birmingham in 1973. He was invited to join the group by a friend and has been a member since 1988 and is enthusiastic about his role in Carousel, Jigger Craigin. "I play a sailor on a whaling ship.

It's a great part; the character is a rather nasty villain who persuades the hero to take part in a robbery." Alan is married and has five children. How does the family react to his being out of the house so much? "It does create a little bit of stress but we like to feel that the end product is worth the trouble." In his spare time, Alan, who is an assistant bank manager, plays guitar and sings in a local rock 'n roll group, performing at local restaurants, at bar-mitzvas and parties.