Wednesday, November 7, 2001
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Wednesday, November 7, 2001 |
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If Mike ran 'The Fred' By MICHAEL
BOYLAN The Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater celebrated its 25th year of existence this past year and for most of the summer it was one big party. Every concert was sold out and the season ended with the Beach Boys performing two shows, a coup for the staff, which had tried to land the band for eight years. Last week, the amphitheater had a reception to honor the sponsors who help make each year a success and at the end of the evening, staff members honored director Kristi Rapson, who is resigning at the end of November. I have thoroughly enjoyed writing about the concerts since I started working here and I have enjoyed meeting with Kristi and her staff each year. She will be missed. So then I got to thinking, "Who will step up and replace Kristi?" And then I started thinking, "What would I do if I ran the amphitheater?" (Insert wavy lines and harp music as we enter a dream sequence) If I ran the amphitheater, I would keep the summer concert series the way it is because it has proven itself to be successful. There is an audience for acts like Bobby Vinton and Paul Anka, and though I am not among that audience, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. However, I do have a plethora of ideas that would have The Fred rocking. First and foremost, we should realize that there is a large population of people under 40 in the Fayette County area. So, it would be nice to present a few shows that are geared toward a younger audience. To select bands for this series, I would go by the Masquerade/Tabernacle rule. If a band can play at the Masquerade or Tabernacle, they would be affordable and the crowd that would attend one of their shows would fit in the amphitheater. The first group I would go for would be Run DMC. Not only are they among the founding fathers of hip-hop, but they are a positive rap band that stays away from profanity. The group is extremely popular with both teenagers and adults under 40. Other bands that would be appropriate would be Reel Big Fish, a popular ska band that has never really hit it huge, and Drivin and Cryin, an Atlanta-based rock band that plays just about anywhere. Other bands could be Tonic, Third Eye Blind, Arrested Development, Sevendust, and the list could go on and on. I have always found it disheartening that the county wants the youths to be proud of their area and to get more involved, but sends them to Atlanta to be entertained. They are told to stay out of trouble and then end up traveling much farther from home and staying out much later to see a concert. Yes, there would need to be beefed up security. At least, that would be the argument from city officials, but if the amphitheater can handle thousands of adults drinking during the summer concert series, why would it be more difficult with people who cannot drink legally at all? Some will say that these concerts would draw unsavory people from out of town, but not if tickets are sold the same way that summer concert series tickets are sold. Sold out means sold out. Plus, you could advertise in all the local high schools. You have thousands of students all waiting for something to do and limited seating. My next big idea is a throwback. The amphitheater, back in days of yore, was used for plays. There was at least one big musical a year there. I know, I've seen videotape of "The Sound of Music." So, why did this stop? There is constant complaining about lack of venue space here, so why not be nice and let the theater companies use it. Even if it is just for one weekend. I have a big idea for a TheaterFest, where all of the local companies and the local high school drama departments could perform their most recent work. It could be a benefit weekend. What I would like to ultimately see with the amphitheater is more use. There are ten weekends of use in the summer with the summer concert series, but Georgia has summer weather from April to November. My concert series could run every other weekend and TheaterFest could run in April, May or October. So, I guess if there is an opening at the amphitheater, this is me announcing my candidacy. I'm in the phone book.
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