Here are some comments from attendees to the U.S. Navy Sea Chanters performance in Ashburn, GA:
I enjoyed the program Monday night so much. The Sea Chanters are best choir group I have ever heard. The musicians were unbelievable and the variety of music they sang was phenomenal. I do not know when I have enjoyed a musical program any more. The audience was mesmerized by their showmanship and the talent they displayed. I think this show rates in our top 10. I have told everyone that was not there that they missed the performance of a lifetime.
The Sea Chanters program was perhaps the best arts program ever presented in Turner County. In addition to the outstanding performance the entire cast made every effort to talk with both young and old and made all of us feel as though we were their guests instead of the other way around. A group of them even helped one of our elderly patrons out of a ditch she accidently drove into!
As the Sea Chanters sang in one of the many & varied songs that they performed "Oh What a Night"! How lucky Turner County was to be able to host this event. The music appealed to everyone with songs from every generation and every military branch. I know that I left with a smile on my face & a song & dance in my step. The Arts Council should be commended for sponsoring a great event. Keep up the good work.
What a thrill it was to see and hear the Navy Sea Chanters concert in our home town. Although we used to travel the world our wings have been clipped. Being able to see the new generation of such a talented naval cast on our local stage was a delightful experience. It was wholesome live entertainment, appealing to our patriotic side by recognizing local veterans during the program. We sincerely hope we will all have another chance to see comparable shows in Ashburn.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Impact of Proposed Budget Cuts to the Arts
Under the University System of Georgia’s proposed budget cuts, ABAC Arts Connection, the beating heart of arts programs and events in 12 south Georgia counties, will be left crippled, resulting in the loss of many of the arts programs that have been woven into our community over the past 34 years.
Are we really ready for the demise of the Grassroots program---a program that permits 26 emerging organizations in 12 counties to plan and present arts and cultural events? The Arts in Schools program, the Summer Enrichment program, and the Have a Seat program that every year gives numerous season tickets to at-risk children and their chaperones are programs that fall under ABAC Arts Connection, and we are at risk of losing them all.
The Arts and Entertainment Series that brings quality national and international touring companies to Tift, Turner, and Irwin counties while admitting ABAC arts students to these events free of charge is about to be hit with a lethal blow.
Are we really prepared to lose ABAC Arts Connection, an office here in Tifton that serves not only as a respected regional and statewide resource, but also as a vital resource to more than 50 local artists? If implemented, the cuts will leave us without the Wiregrass Film Festival where short, independent films are featured. It will pull the plug on the Wiregrass Young Writers Camp that is presently being organized, soon to be implemented.
The proposed cuts will leave lifeless a yearly jazz workshop featuring a world-known, professional artist and offered free of charge to ABAC students and regional high school jazz bands from across the South. The Tuesday Concert Series, produced by Dr. Susan Roe, will suffer without the publicity, staff support, and piano tuning provided by Arts Connection. And again, like many of our arts programs, the First Tuesday Series admits faculty and students free of charge.
The loss of ABAC Arts Connection will leave arts councils in Turner, Irwin, Ben Hill, Worth, Coffee, Ware, Bacon, Wilcox, Jeff Davis, Atkinson, Tift, and Telfair counties struggling to survive without the support they need to produce arts and cultural events.
What will happen to the Arts in Black Festival that celebrates African-American heritage? Along with Arts in Black, we risk losing La Fiesta Del Pueblo festival, a celebration of Latino culture, arts, and heritage.
In 2009, the total economic impact on our community as a direct result of ABAC Art Connection totaled over 2 million dollars. In 2009, one-thousand students received the equivalent of $9,000 in tickets while the First Tuesday Series, iMovie Festival, and Wiregrass Film Festival received approximately $15,000 in direct support.
The cuts will debilitate Love Affair, a premier fine arts festival that brings over 25,000 visitors to Tifton annually---visitors who spend money for food, lodging, gas and other purchases while in Tifton. The children’s art competition at the Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage and a poetry café supported by Love Affair will likely disappear along with Love Affair.
Close your eyes and imagine May without the pulsing excitement of the longest running festival in Tifton, a festival that breathes art, dance, drama, music, culture, and yes, fun into our community every year during the first week of May, a festival that admits all without charge, a festival that has been the pride of Tifton for 30 years.
If the proposed cuts are approved vital arts and cultural programs will be left on life support. It will be a sad day for not only the residents of Tift County, but for counties throughout the South.
Brenda Rose,a member of the arts community in South Georgia
Are we really ready for the demise of the Grassroots program---a program that permits 26 emerging organizations in 12 counties to plan and present arts and cultural events? The Arts in Schools program, the Summer Enrichment program, and the Have a Seat program that every year gives numerous season tickets to at-risk children and their chaperones are programs that fall under ABAC Arts Connection, and we are at risk of losing them all.
The Arts and Entertainment Series that brings quality national and international touring companies to Tift, Turner, and Irwin counties while admitting ABAC arts students to these events free of charge is about to be hit with a lethal blow.
Are we really prepared to lose ABAC Arts Connection, an office here in Tifton that serves not only as a respected regional and statewide resource, but also as a vital resource to more than 50 local artists? If implemented, the cuts will leave us without the Wiregrass Film Festival where short, independent films are featured. It will pull the plug on the Wiregrass Young Writers Camp that is presently being organized, soon to be implemented.
The proposed cuts will leave lifeless a yearly jazz workshop featuring a world-known, professional artist and offered free of charge to ABAC students and regional high school jazz bands from across the South. The Tuesday Concert Series, produced by Dr. Susan Roe, will suffer without the publicity, staff support, and piano tuning provided by Arts Connection. And again, like many of our arts programs, the First Tuesday Series admits faculty and students free of charge.
The loss of ABAC Arts Connection will leave arts councils in Turner, Irwin, Ben Hill, Worth, Coffee, Ware, Bacon, Wilcox, Jeff Davis, Atkinson, Tift, and Telfair counties struggling to survive without the support they need to produce arts and cultural events.
What will happen to the Arts in Black Festival that celebrates African-American heritage? Along with Arts in Black, we risk losing La Fiesta Del Pueblo festival, a celebration of Latino culture, arts, and heritage.
In 2009, the total economic impact on our community as a direct result of ABAC Art Connection totaled over 2 million dollars. In 2009, one-thousand students received the equivalent of $9,000 in tickets while the First Tuesday Series, iMovie Festival, and Wiregrass Film Festival received approximately $15,000 in direct support.
The cuts will debilitate Love Affair, a premier fine arts festival that brings over 25,000 visitors to Tifton annually---visitors who spend money for food, lodging, gas and other purchases while in Tifton. The children’s art competition at the Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage and a poetry café supported by Love Affair will likely disappear along with Love Affair.
Close your eyes and imagine May without the pulsing excitement of the longest running festival in Tifton, a festival that breathes art, dance, drama, music, culture, and yes, fun into our community every year during the first week of May, a festival that admits all without charge, a festival that has been the pride of Tifton for 30 years.
If the proposed cuts are approved vital arts and cultural programs will be left on life support. It will be a sad day for not only the residents of Tift County, but for counties throughout the South.
Brenda Rose,a member of the arts community in South Georgia
Monday, February 22, 2010
Review of An Evening with Lucille Ball
An Evening with Lucille Ball “Thank you for Asking”
Through the magic of a talented celebrity tribute artist, Suzanne LaRusch, the ever funny, charming and legend of TV and film, Lucy came to life in Tifton February 16. It was truly an evening with Lucille Ball. LaRusch made us completely forget that she was not the real Queen of Comedy. With a minimal set and clips from Lucy’s home movies, the night was magical. Written by LaRusch and Lucy’s real life daughter, Lucie Arnaz and directed by Arnaz, “Thank you for Asking” was clever and gave us a glimpse into the life of one of America’s treasures.
The show was part of Celebrate the Magic!, the arts series brought to South Georgia through a partnership of the ABAC Arts Connection and the South Georgia Arts Alliance. Taking place in the new, at least new to me, Fine Arts Auditorium at Tift County High, the show was well attended. The audience got to meet LaRusch after the show to get autographs.
Tifton has long been a great place for entertainment and this arts series brings a wide variety of artists to the South Georgia area.
Lavon Lacey, former Tiftonite and owner of Quantum Entertainment, Atlanta, GA
Through the magic of a talented celebrity tribute artist, Suzanne LaRusch, the ever funny, charming and legend of TV and film, Lucy came to life in Tifton February 16. It was truly an evening with Lucille Ball. LaRusch made us completely forget that she was not the real Queen of Comedy. With a minimal set and clips from Lucy’s home movies, the night was magical. Written by LaRusch and Lucy’s real life daughter, Lucie Arnaz and directed by Arnaz, “Thank you for Asking” was clever and gave us a glimpse into the life of one of America’s treasures.
The show was part of Celebrate the Magic!, the arts series brought to South Georgia through a partnership of the ABAC Arts Connection and the South Georgia Arts Alliance. Taking place in the new, at least new to me, Fine Arts Auditorium at Tift County High, the show was well attended. The audience got to meet LaRusch after the show to get autographs.
Tifton has long been a great place for entertainment and this arts series brings a wide variety of artists to the South Georgia area.
Lavon Lacey, former Tiftonite and owner of Quantum Entertainment, Atlanta, GA
Friday, February 5, 2010
Welcome to our blog!
We are on a new adventure for 2010! Welcome to the Arts and Entertainment Series blog. Periodically we will be writing about the activities surrounding the series events and arts related topics. This blog will have a variety of writers with a lot of interesting topics.
With the turn of the calendar we are in the second half of the series. We hope you enjoyed the first half – Missy Raines and the New Hip, Robert Belinic and Corbian: A Glow in the Dark Adventure. We would love to hear your feedback about your experiences at these events. You can comment on our Facebook page –Facebook I South Georgia Arts Alliance. I loved the variety of the first three events from the newgrass sounds to classical music to a cutting edge theatrical performance. The faces in the audience told so much from fresh twenty somethings to middle agers to the young and young at heart. The Arts and Entertainment Series really does have something for every one.
The second half will start of with a blockbuster of a show – An Evening with Lucille Ball: Thank You for Asking. This show gives you insight into the professional and personal life of Lucille Ball as only her daughter put together. Yes, Desi Arnaz is the director. Lucille Ball is portrayed by the very talented Suzanne La Rusch. It is a one woman show which incorporated a multi-media show. An Evening with Lucille Ball: Thank You for Asking has garnered rave reviews from its recent run in Tampa, FL. We will enjoy the show on February 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the Tift County High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for student. Better get them early…seats are going fast!!!
The U.S. Navy Sea Chanters will blow into town full of energy and songs on March 1. The official chorus of the US Navy will sing a variety of tunes from songs of the sea to patriotic standards to Broadway show tunes and pop music. They will perform in the Turner County Civic Center on March 1 at 7:00 p.m. This is a bonus concert with free admission; however, a ticket is required to guarantee seating.
Closing out the series will be a fabulous jazz concert feature Michael Phillip Mossman. This guy will blow your socks off. Mossman is multi-faceted: an awesome trumpet artist, terrific trombonist, highly successful composer and arranger. He has played and recorded with Dizzy Gillespie, Steve Turre, Tito Puente and the Count Basie Orchestra. He will appear as the final event of the ABAC Jazz Festival at 7:00 p.m. on April 22 in ABAC’s Howard Auditorium. Tickets are$15 for Adults and $10 for students.
I just love when people say there is nothing to do in South Georgia. We are so blessed to have such top quality, professional entertainment right here in our own backyard! This is big city caliber performances without the traffic, nor the cost. Join us for some great evenings of performing arts. Do not miss out!!
With the turn of the calendar we are in the second half of the series. We hope you enjoyed the first half – Missy Raines and the New Hip, Robert Belinic and Corbian: A Glow in the Dark Adventure. We would love to hear your feedback about your experiences at these events. You can comment on our Facebook page –Facebook I South Georgia Arts Alliance. I loved the variety of the first three events from the newgrass sounds to classical music to a cutting edge theatrical performance. The faces in the audience told so much from fresh twenty somethings to middle agers to the young and young at heart. The Arts and Entertainment Series really does have something for every one.
The second half will start of with a blockbuster of a show – An Evening with Lucille Ball: Thank You for Asking. This show gives you insight into the professional and personal life of Lucille Ball as only her daughter put together. Yes, Desi Arnaz is the director. Lucille Ball is portrayed by the very talented Suzanne La Rusch. It is a one woman show which incorporated a multi-media show. An Evening with Lucille Ball: Thank You for Asking has garnered rave reviews from its recent run in Tampa, FL. We will enjoy the show on February 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the Tift County High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for student. Better get them early…seats are going fast!!!
The U.S. Navy Sea Chanters will blow into town full of energy and songs on March 1. The official chorus of the US Navy will sing a variety of tunes from songs of the sea to patriotic standards to Broadway show tunes and pop music. They will perform in the Turner County Civic Center on March 1 at 7:00 p.m. This is a bonus concert with free admission; however, a ticket is required to guarantee seating.
Closing out the series will be a fabulous jazz concert feature Michael Phillip Mossman. This guy will blow your socks off. Mossman is multi-faceted: an awesome trumpet artist, terrific trombonist, highly successful composer and arranger. He has played and recorded with Dizzy Gillespie, Steve Turre, Tito Puente and the Count Basie Orchestra. He will appear as the final event of the ABAC Jazz Festival at 7:00 p.m. on April 22 in ABAC’s Howard Auditorium. Tickets are$15 for Adults and $10 for students.
I just love when people say there is nothing to do in South Georgia. We are so blessed to have such top quality, professional entertainment right here in our own backyard! This is big city caliber performances without the traffic, nor the cost. Join us for some great evenings of performing arts. Do not miss out!!
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