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Beloved Children's Classic Takes the Stage in April | |
The third offering of the Arts in McNairy theatre season, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, opens for three performances, April 13-15. Show times are 7:30 PM Friday April 13 and Saturday April 14. There will be a Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM, April 15. Tickets will be available at the door for $10 (adults) and $5 (students). The show will either be staged at the MCHS Little Theatre or the new Latta Visitors and Cultural Center depending on how well construction goes in the next couple of months. There is also a possibility that daytime school shows will be staged exclusively for McNairy County students. The show is under the direction of Joanna Pitts.
Young people 6-18 years old will have one more chance to audition for this show since one of the original audition dates was pushed back due to scheduling conflict. Young actors of all skill levels, even first-timers, are encouraged to attend Thursday, February 2 at the Selmer Community Center. Simple group acting exercises and short script readings for the older kids are all that are required to audition.
In conjunction with the play, a "Mad Hatter Tea Party" will take place on Saturday, April 14. Children will be immersed in Alice's world and have an actual tea party with the play's witty cast of characters. Time and location will be announced at a later date, when arrangements are complete. Again, it is hoped that the tea party will take place at the Latta Building but time will tell. Follow AiM on Facebook page for the latest updates, the cast list and other news about the play and the tea party.
The fantastical tale of Alice's adventure in an strangely amusing yet occasionally dangerous wonderland has delighted generations of children. The stage play is an adaptation of Lewis Carroll's beloved children's classic and it is sure to be a hit with local audiences. The show is appropriate for all ages. |
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Latta Building Slated for June Grand Opening | |
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Ongoing construction is transforming the former Latta Ford Motor Company building into a first class visitors and cultural center. |
With new windows and doors going in and exterior renovations nearing completion, even the casual observer can tell that the Latta Building is going to be spectacular. Contractors and engineers are projecting March for a move-in date and plans are underway to have a grand opening ceremony in conjunction with the 2012 Rockabilly Highway Revival.
McNairy Regional Alliance and Arts in McNairy will share the facility with MRA providing visitor center staffing during regular business hours and AiM hosting events and productions on weekends and during evening hours. Both organizations plan to make liberal use of the meeting and displace spaces in the building. Russell Ingle, Director of Chamber Programs for MRA noted, "Arts in McNairy and the McNairy Regional Alliance have a very similar vision in that together we are committed to promoting the very best that our county has to offer. Our combined efforts focus on the history, present and future of McNairy County. The Latta building will only enable us to put a greater focus on this wonderful community and the many cultural, historical, tourism and business related assets we have." Commenting on the way the building will forge an even stronger relationship between the two organizations, Ingle continued, "It is something that the MRA staff very much looks forward to being a part of." |
| Rockabilly Highway Revival Mural II Ready to Launch | | 
More changes are coming to downtown Selmer, as the Rockabilly Highway Mural, take two, is ready for launch. The wall has been prepped and primed and is now ready for painting. Muralist, Brian Tull, estimates that painting will begin in about two weeks. The mural is funded, in part, by a Rural Arts Project Support Grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission, Arts in McNairy, Sherwin Williams, the City of Selmer and private donations. Financial assistance is still needed for the project so check the information at the bottom of the newsletter for mailing information and send in your contribution today. Thanks is also extended to Van McMahan who has generously allowed the use of his building for what is expected to be another landmark and the fourth public art installation for downtown Selmer. The project is expected to be completed by late May. The above image is a reference photo shot by the artist, depicting the visual inspiration for the mural, The Legendary Rich Gilbert and Eileen Rose. In an unrelated project, Gilbert and Rose, collectively known as the Silver Threads, will perform at the Selmer farmers market this Spring. Dates for that appearance are still pending. |
| Book Club Announces 2012 Schedule | |
The Arts in McNairy Book Club meets the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM in the conference room of Selmer's Jack McConnico Public Library. There is no meeting in December. All gatherings center around an informal discussion and the groups strives for an eclectic mix of titles to engage different interests. There are no fees associated with the club and it is open to everyone. The club discussed Winter's Bone in January and the list of remaining titles for 2012 is shown below. Come out and join book club. You need bring nothing but your yourself and your desire to discuss some interesting books and authors with a great group of people!
Feb. 16 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Shaffer and Barrows
March 15 Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
April 19 Sixth Man by David Baldacci
May 17 Midwives by Chris Bohjalian
June 21 Being Dead is No Excuse by Metcalfe and Hays
July 19 The Bone Yard by Jefferson Bass
Aug. 16 Tara Road by Maeve Binchey
Sept. 20 Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Joe Ford
Oct. 18 Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas
Nov. 15 Noel by Richard Paul Evans
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| Classic Country Cookin' - Fried Pies on February 6 | | |
 In 2011 a group, headed by AiM President Leanne Emmons and board member Carol Rawlings expressed an interest in learning about local culinary heritage and perhaps staging some educational events involving culturally significant foodways. The Culinary Arts Committee was formed to explore these possibilities and soon found significant local support for the idea. That group is preparing to launch their first project with a series called Classic Country Cookin'. The first installment will be 6:30 PM, Monday February 6 at Fannie's Florist and Bakery in Selmer. Mr. James Ellis of Bethel Springs, will be demonstrating a traditional southern method of fried pie making. Participants in the informal workshop will learn the basic techniques and maybe even get a few samples. The series is certain to be fun, educational and a sure-fire way to put and end to all those pesky new years resolutions. Future sessions will cover other traditional southern foods and cooking techniques.
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| New State Arts Plate Revealed | | |
The winning design for the new Tennessee arts plate was recently revealed. Nashville artist Leslie Haines' colorful design (right) came out on top, with designs from artists around the state also receiving good support from the voting public. A portion of all proceeds from specialty license plates sold in Tennessee benefits the Tennessee Arts Commission's numerous grant programs but the arts dedicated plates, such as this one, earn a higher percentage for cultural programs. Tennesseans for the Arts is assisting with preorders of the attractive new design which will be available later this year at a cost of $35 each. 500 preorders are needed to send the new design to production.
Learn more about Tennesseans for the Arts, meet the winning artist, see the other finalists and preorder plates at the link below.
www.stateyourplate.org |
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