It’s the beginning of a brand-new year, and that means a whole array of things to see and do in the Southern Crescent. Plays, concerts, school functions and festivals will rapidly fill calendars with functions for young and old alike. Below is the lineup for a few area groups who want to entertain locals this year.

Fayetteville’s Villages Amphitheater prepares for its fourth year of concerts under the stars with the announcement of a new title sponsor for 2006. Fayetteville Main Street is proud to announce the 2006 Talbot State Bank Summer Concert Series.

The series will jump-start with America performing May 13. Other shows include Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals & Lovin’ Spoonfuls June 3, Percy Sledge & The Impressions June 10, Blood, Sweat & Tears with Chuck Negron July 22, and Crystal Gayle Aug. 19. Diamond Rio with Danielle Peck will wrap up the series Aug. 26.

The series reflects input from thousands of 2005 concert patrons who were surveyed.

“There’s a good mix of all genres of music represented this year,” said Nancy Price, director of Main Street. “We’ve got a diversified lineup including several classic rock, pop, folk, soul, R&B and country acts. All of our acts have Top 10 and Top 20 hits with many groups being multiple Grammy winners and one inductee into the Grand Ole Opry.

“The cost for all six concerts remains at $150 and $120 for lawn seats. Cash, Check or Visa, Mastercard and American Express are all acceptable forms of payment.”

Current series ticket holders will have the opportunity to renew their seats until Jan. 31 at 5:30 p.m. Any remaining series tickets for the 1,800-seat venue will go on sale to the public Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Historic Train Depot Welcome Center and new home of the Main Street offices. Individual tickets will go on sale March 1, providing there are still seats left at that time.

Further information can be found at www.villagesamphitheater.com or by calling Main Street at 770-461-6029.

Southside Theatre Guild has announced its first three productions of the 2006 season. Beginning Feb. 9 audiences will have a chance to see Arthur Miller’s drama “All My Sons.” This drama, by one of America’s best-known playwrights, tells the story of old wounds re-emerging when Chris returns home to announce his engagement to his missing brother’s fiancee.

STG will present Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I” in April and May. This classic musical will entertain audiences of all ages with its story about diversity and compassion and its memorable songs.

Mid-July will bring the teen production of the well-known and well-loved musical “Godspell.” The story of this production, which was conceived and originally directed by John-Michael Tebelak with music and new lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, is told almost entirely in song. “Godspell” presents the gospel of St. Matthew updated to today’s times.

Fayette-Coweta Family Theatre, Inc. has a full schedule for the 2006 season. FCFT will kick off the season when A Company of Friends, a professional division of FCFT, will present the children’s musical, “Cinderella,” Jan. 17 and 18 at the Fayette Family YMCA Lodge House in Fayetteville. A cast of 14 professional actors will bring this tale to life with colorful sets and a bit of fairy godmother magic.

FCFT, Inc. will continue their season with “On Golden Pond,” presented by the Senior Professional Dinner Theater Ensemble, March 9-12. Children will have another opportunity to see a classic musical production when FCFT brings “101 Dalmatians” to the stage April 27-30. Join Pongo, Perdita, all their puppies, the dogs of London, and a clever cat as they try to outsmart, outrun and outwit the villainous Cruella DeVil in the famous Disney classic. In June and September FCFT will present two Broadway classics, the family musical “Seussical the Musical” and Victor Hugo’s “Les Miserables.”

Tickets for most shows can be purchased at the Peachtree City and Fayetteville Libraries, via www.fcft.net or by phone reservation at 770-251-7611. FCFT also has a wide variety of workshops offered as well as auditions for upcoming shows. For more information log onto www.fcft.net.

Newnan Theatre Company presents a varied 2006 season.

The Artist Series will kick off the season with a production of “A Raisin in the Sun,” the drama by Lorraine Hansberry, Feb. 3. “A Raisin in the Sun” was the first play written by a black woman to be produced on Broadway and won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. Hansberry was the youngest and the first black writer to receive this award. The Artist Series will also include two comedies: “Sylvia,” by A.R. Gurney and Del Shores’ “Daddy’s Dyin’ - Who’s Got the Will?” in March and July respectively. The Main Stage series will get its start with “Lend Me a Tenor” on Feb. 24. This comedy by Ken Ludwig will continue into early March.

In August, NTC will sing their way into audience’s hearts with “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” a musical by Stephen Sondheim, Bert Shevelove and Larry Gelbart. Two other productions, “A Few Good Men,” a drama by Aaron Sorkin in October and the classic “A Christmas Carol” in December will wrap up the Mainstage series.

Not to be left out, children will have three productions put on specifically for them with the Children’s Popcorn Series. Frances Hodgson Burnett’s “The Little Princess” will begin May 19, “Treasure Island,” adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson comes to the stage Sept. 22 and “Folk Tales and Legends,” a compilation of American folk-tales will open Nov. 10.

Peachtree City has a new place to hear up and coming musical acts: Coffee n’ Cones coffee house. Located at 1200 Highway 74 South in Peachtree City, Coffee n Cones seats about 75 and has a good sized corner stage. The coffee house will offer a regular schedule of live music Friday and Saturday nights beginning this weekend.

The coffee house also will offer Acoustic Open Mic nights on Thursday nights and will offer musicians the opportunity to perform for $3 to compete for a cash prize and live recording of the performance.

“The room is designed as a listening room with a vibe similar to Eddie’s Attic in Decatur,” said scheduling manager Scott Ivey. “There is nothing similar to Coffee n Cones on the south side of Atlanta, and it‘s one of the best acoustic rooms around.”

Coffee n’ Cones upcoming schedule includes Red Tree with special guest Chaz Mason and Someday New with Scott Ivey this weekend. Micah Dalton will perform with special guest Rob Blackledge Jan. 13, and Wilson Empire with special guest Stacie Leigh Plunkett will take the stage Jan. 14. Luke Pilgrim, Jen Woodhouse and Ryan Horne are few more performers heading to Peachtree City.

For more information, go to www.coffee-n-cones.com or contact owner Wendy Maguire at 678-364-0839.

Peachtree City’s Frederick Brown, Jr. Amphitheater will announce the line-up for their 2006 concert series Jan. 11. Rumors have been circulating for weeks as to who will grace the stage this summer, but citizens will have to wait another week for confirmation.

There is a lot to look forward to in the coming year, so get out those 2006 calendars and start filling in those dates.

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