It has been 17 years since Jim Minor was in the first Poke Sallet dinner theatre show. Whether for Minor’s humor and good nature, or pure torture from the other cast in the show, he has played the part of many women, and even did parodies of Tiny Tim, Tarzan, Bugs Bunny, and Tom Jones.

Minor, a former teacher at Athens High School, has volunteered with the show, a fundraiser for the Athens Senior Center, for 16 years. The first year, Jackie Jackson said, Minor was volunteered for a part. Jackson’s husband, Tee Jackson, a former principal at Athens High School, and now the superintendent of Giles County Schools, volunteered him. When Tee was asked to be in the show and could not make it he asked Minor to represent the school in the show’s cast.

The fundraiser was the idea of the senior center foundation board to help fund everyday activities, maintenance, and programs, such as Meals on Wheels, at the senior center.

“No. 1, with the economy the way it is, we have to make sure our seniors are taken care of, especially our homebound seniors,” said center director Emily Haney.

Minor has played several comedic characters over the years, he said. He’s played Tammy Wynette, Miss Piggy in a yellow polka dot bikini, a dance hall girl and a gypsy named Rose Lee. He performed as a music duo Sonny and Cher with Clara Grisholm. Minor performed as Cher and Grisholm as Sonny.

There is definitely a “Jim following,” Haney said.

“The crowd always looks forward to seeing what he’s going to do each year,” she said.

Jackie and Minor have both been a part of the slapstick show from the beginning. Jackie, a member of the foundation board, first began as a volunteer, behind the scenes decorating and serving food. This is her first year to direct the follies. She is following in the footsteps of the first directors of the show, Tom and Harriett Rost, then Judy Harvey and Jackie Greenhaw.

“It is one of the longest running shows or fundraisers in Athens,” Jackie said.

There are about 70 cast members in the skit performances and about as many as that behind the scenes. Jackie recalled how it took several people to get Minor out of a turkey suit and into a sumo wrestler suit for the next skit, in a former show. It took a person for each limb, she said.

“It takes a small village [to put on the show],” Haney said.

This year the show is themed “A little bit country.” There will be comedy skits, patriotic and religious numbers and live singing. Dinner will include prime rib, baked potato, salad, bread and New York style cheesecake. Tickets are $35 each.

Tickets will go on sale for the show at 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 16. Tickets will be on sale until the show dates, while they last, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, at the senior center. The Poke Sallet Follies will be held at 7 p.m. each performance night, Thursday, March 12; Friday, March 13; and Saturday, March 14, at the Athens Senior Center.