Let’s celebrate. Give a big cheer for the great entertainment opportunities presented in our community this past year. Name your favorite performance. Was it “Happy Days the Musical” at The Rose, Mary Persons Music and Drama department’s production of “Shrek the Musical,” or was it some other play or concert? Regardless, excellent entertainment dominated our events menu.
Last Dec. 17, a very talented hometown choral group treated us to a wonderful holiday concert that opened the brand-new Monroe County Fine Arts Center. That concert raised the curtain on an expanded menu of stage plays, and concerts never before offered in the county.
Early this year, established recording industry legends John Berry, and Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits shared their hit songs from a decade ago. Audiences soon found that professional quality entertainment was available right here in town. No longer did one have to go to Atlanta to see a good play or musical group. Monroe County is blessed to have both a top-notch public facility in the Fine Arts Center (FAC), and a theatrical treasure in the cozy Rose Theater.
Monroe County Schools assistant superintendent Jackson Daniel inherited both the responsibility of getting the FAC open and the opportunity of managing its early schedule.
“We had two primary objectives: First, we were committed to fulfilling the Center’s core mission as established by the Monroe County Board of Education, which is to support and showcase our student-based performances,” said Jackson. “And second, we wanted to maximize the facility as a community asset by using it for other activities, such as concerts by local and visiting performers.”
Looking back at the FAC schedule it appears that a very good balance was achieved between student-based presentations and outside productions. To that end, events held during the first year included student musicals by all three elementary schools as well as the middle and high schools; choral and band concerts by all grade levels; theater and music performances from Mercer University, American Idol Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks, Grammy and Dove Award winner Jason Crabb, Beatles tribute band The Return, the Middle Georgia Concert Band, and the Macon Youth Orchestra.
Fine Arts Center Hosts One-Act Play Competitions
Athletic playoffs often take ‘center-stage’ and grab the headlines if the home town team is involved. And if the team star gets a scholarship all kinds of attention is heaped on the athletic program. Could things be changing?
In October MPHS actors Abby Hodges and Jeffrey Dunbar were named Region 2-AAAA Acting All Stars in the One-Act Play Competition that was hosted by MPHS at the Fine Arts Center. Both students had lead roles in MPHS’s production of “Once on This Island.” Abby portrayed Andrea and Jeffrey was cast as TonTon Julian. MPHS’s production took third place in the competition trailing Perry and West Laurens High Schools. The six schools in Region 2-AAAA performed during the all-day event that attracted hundreds of parents and theater patrons from across Middle Georgia.
Early in November, another five schools were welcomed to the FAC for the Class A Private School One-Act State Competition, establishing the facility as a potential annual host site for inter-scholastic theater competition.
The fine arts future in the community is bright as students continue to be involved in school, community, and regional artistic productions. The partnerships between the schools, the Backlot Players, and other performance organizations in surrounding communities provide excellent opportunities for local students to feature and improve their talents. Some recent MPHS grads who gained recognition in State level competitions, Jackson Harvey and Frank Wilder, are pursuing music related degrees. The list of MPHS students who are pursuing careers in fine arts is formidable.
Ten Tenors Coming to FAC
This Christmas season brings a double treat to the FAC. Australian performers The Ten Tenors will bring their “Home for the Holidays” concert tour to Forsyth on Friday, Dec. 15. Members of the MPHS Chorus under the direction of Mr. Charles Hernandez will be the opening act for The Ten Tenors, previewing several songs prepared for their Christmas concert.
The FAC is the only Georgia venue on The Ten Tenors’ nine-state, 17-stop tour this year. The Ten Tenors have performed more than 2,000 headline concerts across the globe, and this year marks the 20th anniversary of bringing its Christmas show to the U.S. Tickets are available at www.monroefinearts.org or www.ticketalternative.com.
Backlot Players Chorale presents
Sounds of the Season
Get immersed in the holiday spirit at The Rose. The Backlot Players presents two evenings of holiday music and entertainment. Shows are 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8 and Saturday, Dec. 9. Tickets go on sale at The Rose Box Office on Dec. 4 from 4-7 p.m. For more information visit www.thebacklotplayers.org or call 478-994-0443.
Dennis Smith writes “Monroe Entertains You” highlighting the entertainment fare offered in Monroe County and the people who make it possible. Smith wants Forsyth to realize and support the riches it has in the cultural arts.
