Born in Kentucky and raised in Augusta, Ga., singer/songwriter/actor Keith Robinson is one of the stars of the much anticipated new film “Dreamgirls.”

Recently I had the chance to speak with Robinson after a screening of the film which hits theaters nationwide on Christmas Day.

Robinson, who spent time in school at Georgia State University as well as the University of Georgia, was signed to a recording contract with Motown Records while in school at UGA.

“Dreamgirls” is one of the most highly anticipated films of the year and it opens nationwide on Christmas Day.

The film, loosely based on The Supremes, is adapted from the Broadway musical of the same name. The film tells the story of the Dreamettes, a ‘60s girl group comprised of three young singers - Effie, the diva (Jennifer Hudson), Deena, the pretty one (Beyonce Knowles) and Lorrell, the quiet one (Anika Noni Rose).

I have never read “Eragon” or the sequel, “Eldest.” I knew nothing about a farm boy named Eragon, his dragon, Saphira, or a demonic sorcerer named Durza before taking my seat in the theater the other day. I had no expectations of this film knocking my socks off, which it didn’t, but I didn’t hate it either, which a lot of fans of the books apparently do. I read one review from a dad who said his son cried because of all the things that were wrong in the movie. A friend of mine was sick the day after he saw it. It may have just been a coincidence, but maybe not. Regardless, to the uninitiated, “Eragon” is just a short, wobbly fantasy movie that looks puny and weak when compared to the grand “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, but still delivers a fun escape for an afternoon.

I believe.

I believe in dragons.

And I believe in Dragon Riders.

Belief in dark, hard times for hundreds of years by people always ragged and always hungry, yet believing that the hero who will save them is on the way, is paramount to seeing Eragon.

Fern Arable (played by Dakota Fanning) is a girl who saves a pig from almost being killed by her father because of its small size. Fern promises to take care of the pig so it won’t be killed. In a short while Fern falls in love with the pig and even names him Wilbur. She loves him so much that she takes him to school with her. But alas, Fern gets busted by her teacher and told by her parents that she must get rid of Wilbur and sell him to her Uncle Homer’s farm.

Scrooge, the classic Christmas curmudgeon, will continue grumbling his way across the stage during the rest of Newnan Theatre Company’s run of “A Christmas Carol,” adapted from the timeless novel by Charles Dickens. It takes the combined effort of three spirits to help Scrooge find his way back to the true meaning of the holiday.

The award winning, internationally acclaimed, Song of Atlanta Show Chorus, along with their guests, The Atlanta Vocal Project, will perform a holiday concert at The Coweta Centre for the Performing and Visual Arts on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 8 p.m.

“I met my father for the first time when I was 28 years old. When I had children, they were going to know who their father was.”

Have I used that headline before? It seems really familiar. Maybe some other critic has used it at some other time. Who knows and who cares? If it’s a cliché, it deserves to be associated with this movie, which was fairly unoriginal and really not funny.

The Youth Council of Fayette County, Peachtree City Christian Church and the Peachtree City Parks and Recreation Department will present Winter Jam Part II on Friday, Dec. 15.

The concert, which will take place at Peachtree City Christian Church, 500 Kedron Drive, will run from from 8-11 p.m. All ages are welcome and the entrance fee is $8 with a flyer or $10 without.

Newnan Theatre Company is calling out loud for actors and singers to audition for roles in “Tambourines to Glory,” a musical comedy with original and traditional hymns.

Kaitlin Watts was crowned Miss Northgate 2006 at the pageant which was held Nov. 18 at the Centre for Performing Arts in Newnan. Other place holders include first runner up Sydney Johnson, second runner up Diana Salvatore, senior princess Lisa Lotyczewski, junior princess Chantelle Kibble, sophomore princess Hope Owens, freshman princess Maggie Dorman and Miss Photogenic Ashley Chapman.

The Senoia Area Historical Society held its annual auction Friday, Nov. 17 at The Veranda Bed & Breakfast. Shown (l-r) are Nancy Roy, Laura Reynolds, Susan Schmidt and Deborah Jenkins admiring the wedding dress of Mrs. Frank Hollberg, Sr. with her portrait in the background. Frank Hollberg, III and his wife Bonnie just recently donated the wedding dress to The Veranda which the Hollbergs built, known then as The Hollberg Hotel.

Christian City kicked-off their cell phone collection drive recently with the support of the South Fulton Chamber of Commerce. 

• Army Pvt. Barrett A. Meyer has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier received training in drill and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, core values and traditions. Additional training included development of basic combat skills and battlefield operations and tactics, and experiencing use of various weapons and weapons defenses available to the infantry crewman. He is the son of Terri Meyer of Hapeville, Ga., and grandson of Gladys Barrett of Newnan, Ga. Meyer is a 2005 graduate of Northgate High School, Newnan.

STG brings holiday hilarity to area with heart-warming production of ‘Nuncrackers’

At the surface, “Nuncrackers” appears to be a nice, little show. The songs are simple and charming and the dialogue is swift and genial. One could almost be convinced that once you throw some actresses in a few nun habits, the show is ready to go. The cast and crew of Southside Theatre Guild’s production of “Nuncrackers,” can now tell you that this is far from the truth. Since the show was cast at the end of September, everyone has been working tirelessly to put the not-so-small production together, creating the dozens of costumes that are needed in nearly all of the numbers, making the hundreds of props and decorations that bring the set to life, installing the choreography and learning the songs that are complex in their apparent simplicity.

The Fayetteville First United Methodist Church is once again sponsoring a Christmas Tour of Homes this Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 2 and 3. The homes will be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets are $15 and the proceeds will go the church's transportation fund.

When TBS was re-branded as the “very funny” network several years ago, they hyped their well loved, syndicated comedies like “Friends,” “Seinfeld” and “Sex and the City.”

Now, for the first time, TBS has produced its very first original comedy series to air on the network.

“My Boys” stars Jordana Spiro (“Must Love Dogs”) as PJ, a sportswriter for a Chicago newspaper. Her tight knit circle of friends is made up almost exclusively of guys, with the sole exception being her best girl friend, Stephanie (Kellee Stewart), who is the definition of a girl’s girl with her love of fashion and all things feminine.

I love Tenacious D. I saw them in Chicago at the House of Blues at what is now considered a legendary concert from the dynamic duo of acoustic comedic metal (before they were huge) and I snuck my way down front to see them at Big Day Out in Atlanta a few years back. I own their albums, I downloaded a bootleg concert from New Zealand, where Jack Black was filming King Kong, and I have a limited edition t-shirt. I am an example of who this movie was made for and I have to say, it wasn’t a home run.

Next Wednesday, December 6, Atlanta radio station 99X will host its legendary "Mistle Toe Jam" concert featuring the biggest line-up in its 12 year history.

The Southern Crescent Chorale, accompanied by a full professional orchestra, will perform many holiday favorites on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 4 p.m. at F.A. Sams Auditorium, 215 Lafayette Avenue Fayetteville, Ga. See the calendar for more information. Photo/Special.

On Thursday, December 7, plan to attend “A Christmas Carol” at Newnan Theatre Company. The show will do more than lift your spirits, it will also help to brighten the holidays of a family in great need of community support.

Integrative Medicine was the topic for the Newnan Kiwanis luncheon recently. Dr. John Kim, physician at the Janie Bell Powell Summit Center for Health & Healing, addressed the group.

Sugar Plum Faries and Nutcracker Princes abound

Thanksgiving is upon us and with it comes the beginning of the holiday season and all the season brings with it. Shopping, decorating, family gatherings, party giving and party going fill our days and evenings from this week until the beginning of January. These are the things that pull us into the holiday spirit, but they can also deplete our energy and test our ability to maintain the holiday cheer.

This weekend boasts the grand opening of the much anticipated Legacy Theatre in Tyrone, Ga. The theatre company will open its doors to the public with its first production, “A Christmas Survival Guide,” on Friday, Nov. 24 to a sold out crowd.

If you aren’t one of the lucky patrons to be sitting in the theatre on opening night, however, tickets are still available for the production’s other dates.

What is up with the recent round of less than stellar animated films to come out recently?

I went into “Happy Feet,” a film from the guy who brought us “Babe”-an excellent talking animals movie, with every intention of giving it my stamp of approval on viewing it. Within the first ten minutes of the film my affinity for it was confirmed and I was contemplating whether or not to add it to my personal dvd collection.

If you don’t know the pure joy that comes from watching, and re-watching, films like “Waiting for Guffman,” “Best in Show,” or “A Mighty Wind,” you may find the film “For Your Consideration” to be great fun. You’d only be half correct. The film is fun, but it is far from great.

The box office opens for Southside Theatre Guild’s production of “Nuncrackers,” on Thanksgiving Day.

“Nuncrackers,” is the Christmas musical from the makers of “Nunsense.” The Little Sisters of Hoboken are putting on their first televised Christmas special from the basement of the Mt. St. Helen’s Covent and School. In addition to their staging of selections from “The Nutcracker,” the nuns and students present rousing, original, Christmas-themed numbers in a hilarious, fast-paced show.

His ride to recovery

This Saturday, November 18, approximately 100 motorcycle enthusiasts are expected to convene at Coweta Custom Cycles in Newnan, Ga. for a 30 mile bike ride to benefit the family of a local resident.

On August 29, 2006, 40 year old Todd Thornton, a long time resident of both Fayette and Coweta counties and a father of two children ages 13 and 9, was involved in a critical accident while riding his motorcycle.

Newnan Theatre Company show continues this weekend

Pulling from timeless stories of many continents, “Folktales for Fun” by Carlos Perez is a multicultural play for young people. The Popcorn Theatre Series production, staged at Newnan Theatre Company, opened last weekend and will continue its run through Nov. 19.

“Folktales for Fun” is directed by Bert Lyons and is presented in the Black Box Theater.

“Tales from Germany, Egypt, Turkey, Liberia and other countries are included-some new and some very familiar,” said Lyons.