From KC to Fayette Idol, 2004 was a big year for entertainment

By LINDSAY BIANCHI
lbianchi@thecitizennews.com

Between community theatre, school plays, The Fred, The Villages and all points in between, there was always something interesting to see and do in the region in 2004.

Way back in February, the Newnan Community Theatre Company surprised everyone with the “Broadway Cafe,” an evening of caberet-style entertainment pulled together by Dave Dorrell after plans to mount a production of “Steel Magnolias” had to be put on hold. The musical cafe gave NCTC alums a chance to perform their favorite numbers from some of Broadway’s best shows. Divided into four parts: Leading Ladies, Heroes and Villains, Comedy, and Love Songs, the last-minute inspiration of NTC paid off, giving birth to a new piece of local theatre.

March ushered in the newly-formed Sharpsburg on Stage’s latest dinner theater piece, “Man of the House.” Catered by Michelle Legaspi’s “Your Caterer To Go,” the intimate gathering was treated to good food and a one-hour comedy of errors. In May the SOS group returned with another menu and another humorous production, “Disorder in the Court.”

Starr’s Mill High School got into the act in March as well with an energetic staging of “L’il Abner.” The cast of over 50 students brought Dogpatch to Fayette County in a colorful and amusing production directed by David Spearman along with the help of Musical Director Dan Lane. Choreography by Ashley Mallom put the finishing touches on the school’s massive team effort that translated into a great evening of musical theatre.

In April, the Fayette Writer’s Club held a Writer’s Fair at the Fayette County Library. Ken and Blanche Babcock, Mike Loyd, Cheryl Davis, Roger Olivares, Doris Carey, Carol Buckler, Ogechi Oparah, Jean Lomax, Sitka Karmakar, Jim Gallagher, Dorothy McLaren, Joyce Jordan, and Carol Lunsford, among others all shared their talent and time with the library’s patrons for a very special event. Helen Steele, who explained ‘Angelology’ and displayed her collection of angels, directed the festivities, which included lunch.

Newnan Theatre Company was back in late April and early May with “The Miracle Worker.” Director Michael McClendon staged the drama with a sparse, but effective set, including a working water pump and a dog named Belle. The intensity of the performances were enhanced by plenty of preparation, including sign language lessons and special movement classes.

May also saw a very special event for one of the Citizen’s staff writers. Carolyn Cary’s historically accurate account, “William Thomas Overby: Proud Partisan Ranger” reached completion after six years of research and writing. Visits to the national archive in Washington D.C. and many other sites around the southeast filled in the holes that had been left open since the Civil war. Cary, who moved to Georgia from Ohio in 1959, signed copies of her book at the Fayette County Library May 8 and has attended several other signings over the past year.

Through the month of June, Offshoot Productions of Peachtree City staged their lively version of William Shakespeare’s “Comedy of Errors” at The Villages Amphitheater. The famous farce about identical twins helped to usher in the summer fun ahead. The production was made possible in part by grants from the Endowment Committee for the Cultural Arts of Fayette County and the Grassroots Program of the Georgia Council for the Arts.

The Frederick Brown Jr., Amphitheater hosted the Second Annual Battle of the Bands July 10. The contest, put on by The Peachtree City Youth Council was an enormous chance for local bands to increase their fan base and a fun, in-town event for teens.

July seemed to be the month for music as the July Jam Carnival and Music Fest came to Fayetteville. Five days of carnival fun were held in the Fayette County High School parking lot along with concerts at the villages Amphitheater Thursday through Sunday night. Country singer, Sara Evans performed Thursday evening, but the highlight of the weekend was the first, in what is sure to become an annual event, the Fayette Idol Contest. The Pieces of Eight performed a free concert Saturday evening. Sunday closed out the week of festivities with “God and Country Night,” an evening of praise and worship. The proceeds from July Jam help fund the historical renovation and revitalization efforts within the Main Street district.

The Citizen’s own Michael Boylan co-starred in Southside Theatre Guild’s first original production “Keeping Dixie,” a drama by Tammy Waldrop. The show ran from mid-July through the end of the month. Waldrop’s story of a mentally challenged mother and her son David, a bright high school student was lovingly directed by Heather May.

In August “The Boys Next Door” showed up at The Newnan Community Theatre Company, bringing yet another fine stage production to the area. The popular play written by Tom Griffin ran for three weeks and was director Michael McClendon’s last show for Newnan. McClendon also played one of the leading roles and had previously directed “To Kill A Mockingbird” and “The Miracle Worker” at NTC.

Labor Day weekend welcomed the 34th Powers’ Crossroad Country Fair and Arts Festival to Coweta County. Hundreds of artists and craftsmen from all over the country filled the festival with every variety of unique and original handiwork. The fair extended over the weekend and through Labor Day, September 6.

The second weekend in October was the time for Peachtree City’s Falcon Field “Great Georgia Airshow.” Over 30 World War II airplanes were on display along with there high flying acts like The Masters of Disaster, Scott Shockley's Chevy Jet Truck, Jim Leroy's Bulldog Airshow.

The best, if not the biggest, Christian music festival in the country, “4 Nights In October” descended on the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater October 9. The many acts included Casting Crowns, The David Crowder Band, Natalie Grant, John Reuben, The Wedding, Caedmon's Call, Downhere, and By The Tree. All funds raised from the concerts were used to fund the U-Tour, a Christian youth event.

The Sandy Creek High School Chorus and Drama Department and the Fayette Youth Chorale presented the third annual Madrigal Dinners October 28, 29, & 30, at the First Christian Church of Tyrone. The three nights of heraldry, food, pageantry, acts, and songs directed by Millie Turek and Kathy Andersen gave folks a taste of the middle ages. Professor Tripe, the Royal Insulters, Kate the Acting Instructor, and the Spork Sisters were just some of the court’s entertainment for the evening. As always, the performance was a meal and the meal was a performance!

Once again, in November, Newnan Theatre Company brought “School House Rock Live!” for the communities edification on such subjects as history, grammar, math, science and politics. The pop culture phenomenon and Emmy Award-winning Saturday morning cartoon series famous for such song lessons as “Just A Bill,”” and “Conjunction Junction” was directed for NTC’s Main Stage by Jennifer Dorrell.

Added to all of these great local happenings, The Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater’s tenth season saw the return of KC and the Sunshine Band, Paul Anka, The Beach Boys, folk-pop artists America, the musical-comedy parodies of The Smothers Brothers, The Doobie Brothers, Tony Orlando, Three Dog Night, Pam Tillis, and Creedence Clearwater Revisited. The Fred also gave jazz lovers a nod with concerts by Manhattan Transfer, Steve Tyrell and Lizz Wright.

Not to be outdone, Fayetteville’s Villages Amphitheater also featured Three Dog Night, as well as The Oak Ridge Boys, Neil Sedaka, Ronnie Milsap and The Swingin’ Medallions.

These were some of the best highlights of a great year in entertainment leaving those who attended looking anxiously forward to 2005’s line-up.